Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter Honors Volunteers of the Year

SPRINGFIELD — The American Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter is proud to honor its Volunteer of the Year recipients. They were feted during a Red Cross volunteer-appreciation event on Friday, June 18 at Wachusett Mountain in Princeton. This year’s recipients are:

• Evelyn Sullivan of Palmer, who works as a Disaster Action Team captain, providing leadership to bring help to members of her community. She also serves as a Disaster Action Team supervisor, a Client Casework Support Team member, a Technology Team member, and an emergency-response vehicle driver.

• Mariah Nolan of Lakeville, who is this year’s award recipient for youth programs at the college level. She helped to build up youth clubs in Central and Western Mass. and oversaw the Red Cross team of club coordinators, helped get the Mount Holyoke College Red Cross Club off the ground, and revamped various communication materials.

• Antoinette Leaks of Springfield, who is this year’s award recipient for communications services for her hard work in the Ambassador program. She helped get the revamped Ambassador program off the ground in 2013 and has trained 85% of the current 108 ambassadors, while still donating time training ambassadors and ambassador trainers as the program continues to grow.

The Red Cross of Massachusetts extends sincere thanks to all 3,100 active volunteers, who provide valuable time and service to help their neighbors down the street, around the corner, and across the state. The Red Cross is a volunteer-led organization and is constantly seeking new volunteers to help fulfill its mission. For more information on volunteer opportunities, visit www.redcross.org/ma.