VOLUNTEER NEWS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE
Montgomery Serves Awards logo
Congratulations to County's Top Volunteers!
Montgomery County has named six individuals and organizations as recipients of the 2020 Montgomery Serves Awards, our county's highest honor for volunteerism. This year's honorees, selected from among hundreds of inspiring nominations, represent some of the key ways volunteers regularly serve our community, including emergency response, food assistance, and other supports for the county's most vulnerable residents.

"Volunteers make a real difference in Montgomery County," said Molly Callaway, director of the Montgomery County Volunteer Center, in announcing the award recipients. "There are so many wonderful examples of that right now, in response to the COVID-19 emergency. Likewise, there have long been county residents selflessly serving critical needs throughout our region every day of every year. This year's Montgomery Serves Awards honorees exemplify that amazing spirit."

The awards were originally scheduled to be presented at gala ceremony this month, which has been postponed due to COVID-19 precautions. The Montgomery Serves Awards are organized by the Volunteer Center, with sponsorship provided by the Fund for Montgomery.
Volunteer of the Year Awards
honoring outstanding volunteer efforts during 2019
John Frizzell
Volunteer of the Year
John Frizzell, a Rockville resident, has served as president of Rockville Meals on Wheels since 2016, and volunteered more than 1,000 hours to the organization in 2019. His dedication, approachable leadership style, and technical know-how have enabled the organization to build its volunteer corps, improve efficiencies, and raise critical funds to complete its mission of delivering meals to Rockville community members in need every week. Read more.
Nick Casertano
Youth Volunteer of the Year
In 2019, Nick Casertano—a Gaithersburg resident and junior at St. Anselm’s Abbey School in Washington, DC—developed and led an outreach program for the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless, giving children an opportunity to use their imaginations and STEM skills to build LEGO creations. In addition, Nick regularly volunteers at Maryvale Elementary School, Carroll Manor Nursing Home, and KID Museum. Read more.
Montgomery County Students for Change
Volunteer Group of the Year
Montgomery County Students for Change—comprised of teens from 15 chapters at public and private high schools throughout the county—provides local youth with an opportunity to to tackle some of the most challenging issues of their generation, including gun violence prevention, climate reform, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. By organizing nonviolent demonstrations, lobbying, campaigning, and voter registration drives, this group is helping to change the way complex issues are addressed. Read more.
GEICO
Business Volunteer of the Year
GEICO, based in Chevy Chase, has a corporate culture that encourages and supports employee volunteerism. This includes a partnership with Shepherd’s Table—a Silver Spring nonprofit serving some of the county's neediest residents—to provide reliable monthly meal services, passionate volunteer support for events, grassroots employee fundraising, and pro bono assistance with special projects. Read more.
Neal Potter Path of Achievement Award
recognizing exemplary lifetime service by those age 60 and up
Robert Marques
As a devoted volunteer with the Montgomery County Community Emergency Response Team and the Washington Grove Volunteer Fire Department, Robert Marques has served on CERT's Go-Team, performed community outreach, instructed classes, worked with teens, and served in various administrative capacities. In addition, this Germantown resident volunteers with the Gaithersburg Help food bank, local churches, and the American Red Cross. Read more.
Wolfgang Mergner
Among the many accomplishments of long-time community activist and Takoma Park resident Wolfgang Mergner is the development of the Village of Takoma Park, an all-volunteer organization that provides support services to hundreds of seniors and persons with disabilities who wish to live actively in the community. As president of the village's board, he remains actively involved in pursuing ways to increase capacity to serve residents in meaningful ways. Read more.
Congratulations to All the 2020 Awards Nominees
Choosing these top volunteers was not at all easy. Thank you to all of this year's nominees, whose volunteer service make Montgomery County an even better place to live, work, play, raise a family, and retire!
Bruce Adams, Ann “Nancy” Aldous, Zeinab Alshinawi, Dean Arnold, Aspire International Football Academy, Associated General Contractors of America, Lou August, Addison Barrett, Todd Bauer, Cavanaugh Bell, Zoë Bell, Pavan Bhat, Birthday Cakes 4 Free, Gina Bonazelli, Laurie Bright, Amber Briscoe, Kaniria Brunner-Scott, Stephen Bull, Darryl Burton, Mary Canapary, Nick Casertano, Faith Cheung, Dr. Alan Cheung, Lisa Cline, Delores Cole, Companions of Paradise, Morton (Morty) Davis, Debunking Homelessness/Bullis School, Jonina Duker, Jenny Sue Dunner, Rosie Engman, Robert Fagan, Fairytale Brides on a Shoestring Budget, Fashion Bootcamp, Jaden Faunteroy, Mark Fine, Carol Fivozinsky, 480 Club LLC, John Frizzell, GEICO, Gretchen Gilmore, GlaxoSmithKline, Margo Goldman, Catalina Gomez, GWGVF Junior Fire Brigade, Chris Hakenkamp, Peter Han, ICCP Hunger Van, JCA Village Riders, Audrey Johnson, Justice Arts Coalition, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity/Gaithersburg-Rockville Alumni Chapter, John “Jay” Kenney, Holly Lam, Charles "Chuck" Lee, Agnes Leshner, James Leslie Linde, Little Falls Village Volunteer Team, Love Link, Madeline Lyon, Pratyusha Mandal, Robert Marques, Oscar Martinez, Kathleen McGaun, Wolfgang Mergner, Matthew (Matt) Molot, Montgomery County Muslim Foundation, Montgomery County Students for Change, Montgomery County Thrift Shop Association Inc., Christina Montgomery, Jack Morton, Raha Murtaza, National Philharmonic Chorale Volunteers, NEST4US, John Noble, Rita Noble, Ijeoma Okoro, Hakan Onel, Veronica Ostrega, Doreen Cantor Paster, Patuxent River (MD) Chapter/The Links Inc., Politics and Prose, Lauren Poteat, JaLynn Prince, Silas Ramos, Cristiana Reid-Thompson, Judy Joy (JJ) Rein, Diego Reyes, Rockville Volunteer Fire Department, Olivia Rosemond, Ariel Ruiz, Madyann Saidi, Mahendra Sapa, Greta Schumacher, Elizabeth Scott, Joyce Seamens, Shepherd’s Table, Sigma Sigma Sigma Chapter/Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., Barbara Skelly, Jeff Smith, Sebastien Sviatyi, Charlyn Tanner, Ashley Thommana, Carolyn Thompson, Kennedy Torres, Toys for Tots Germantown/Gaithersburg, Danielle Veith, Robert Wachen, Brady Wales, Lisa Weed, Kristen Weinberg, Cathy Wiss, Angela Woo, Emily Woo, Joe Wynn, Cindy Yi, Berwin Yuan 
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