Nine local volunteers have received Presidential Volunteer Service Awards for recognition of their longtime dedication to helping the people of Martin County.

The volunteers each have performed more than 4,000 hours of volunteer service this millennium. They are registered with Martin Volunteers, a program of United Way of Martin County, which records their hours of service with other local organizations.

Martin Volunteers works with more than 100 agencies countywide to place and register volunteers and keep a record of volunteering in Martin County.

The following nine individuals have earned the President's Volunteer Service Award for lifetime service. The total of volunteer hours listed below is for hours recorded from July 2000 through February 2008:

• Joseph Carlin, 4,046 hours.

• Dolores Celona, 5,878 hours.

• Nancy Deacon, 8,095 hours.

• Bill Deacon, 4,884 hours.

• Mim Huffam, 7,281 hours.

• Eleanor Proper, 7,281 hours.

• James Rigby, 5,026 hours.

• Mary Rigby, 4,858 hours.

• Sally Santamauro, 4,674 hours.

These honorees have dedicated their time and talent to agencies that include House of Hope, the Society of St. Vincent De Paul, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, the Martin County Library System, the Elliott Museum, the Salvation Army, Hibiscus Children’s Center, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and the White Doves Holiday Project.

Volunteers Eleanor Proper, Joseph Carlin, Sally Santamauro and Dolores Celona are joined by United Way exceutive director Jim Vojcsik (center) and Martin Volunteers advisory board president Eric Kiehn.

Jim and Mary Rigby at House of Hope with Carlene Stangle, the volunteer coordinator at Martin Volunteers.

The first three Martin Volunteers to receive the President's Volunteer Service Award, from left: Mim Huffam, Bill and Nancy Deacon.

HISTORY OF THE AWARD

In his 2002 State of the Union address, President Bush issued a challenge to all Americans to make time to help their neighbors, communities and nation through service. He called on each person to dedicate at least 4,000 hours – or two years – to service over the course of their lives.

In 2003, President Bush created the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation to find ways to recognize the valuable contributions volunteers are making in our nation. The council in turn created the President's Volunteer Service Award program as a way to thank and honor Americans who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service.

The President's Volunteer Service Award recognizes individuals, families and groups that have achieved a certain standard – measured by the number of hours served over a 12-month period or cumulative hours earned over the course of a lifetime.

Locally, Martin Volunteers has begun to recognize volunteers for cumulative hours earned over the course of a lifetime. In order to account for the hours, the volunteers must be registered with Martin Volunteers

In addition to tracking volunteerism in Martin County, Martin Volunteers coordinates the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and such large-scale projects as the White Doves Holiday Project, the School Supplies for Students Drive, the Executive Service Corps of the Treasure Coast, leadership development for volunteer coordinators, and disaster services.

For more information about Martin Volunteers, please visit www.martinvolunteers.org or call (772) 220-4472.