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Volunteer Awards 2008

Every year, Family Service Toronto honours extraordinary efforts of volunteers through a series of special volunteer recognition awards. Each award has a different focus and reflects a different set of criteria. Read about this year's award winners.

Family Service Toronto Marjorie Cuthbertson Award

The purpose of this award is to recognize the outstanding efforts of a volunteer who has made an exceptional contribution to the work of Family Service Toronto and the families and communities that we serve. The recipient is a role model to others and provides dedication, commitment and leadership through their volunteer efforts. This award recognizes a current Family Service Toronto volunteer who has made a measurable contribution to, or has significantly supported the work of, one or more programs.

Eligibility: Any person over the age of 25 registered as an Family Service Toronto volunteer. Length of volunteer service at Family Service Toronto does not influence selection. All current board members and staff are ineligible for nomination.

This year's award recipients were Iraj Mahdi and Reverend Derek Stapleton.

Iraj Mahdi

Iraj is a Next Steps Program co-facilitator who is well respected by program participants. He is insightful, reliable, committed and passionate. In addition to co-facilitating groups, Iraj explains agency rules and group guidelines to new clients, helps with group registrations, sign-ins and sign-outs, and performs a number of other administrative tasks. Iraj has volunteered in the Next Steps program for many years, and we have benefited greatly from his remarkable contributions.

Reverend Derek Stapleton

Reverend Derek Stapleton is a volunteer co-facilitator in the Next Steps Program. He pursues the program’s agenda – to enhance women's safety and to hold men accountable for their violence – with great dedication. Reverend Stapleton demonstrates a commitment to Family Service Toronto’s anti-oppression principles, as he treats each and every one of the men attending the program with respect. His assertive skill and attitude foster accountability for their behaviour in the past and hope for change in their future. In his many years with the Next Steps Partner Assault Response Program, Reverend Stapleton has made an enormous and positive impact on the “Room Full of Men.”

Family Service Toronto Pat Fleming Seniors Volunteer Award

Many people are looking forward to longer lives. However, some won't enjoy the dignity and respect older citizens richly deserve. With the Family Service Toronto Pat Fleming Seniors Award, Family Service Toronto recognizes a volunteer who has made a significant contribution to our work with seniors. The recipient will be a person who understands the vulnerability and marginalization of many of the seniors Family Service Toronto serves. The recipient's work will have contributed to increasing the wellness, self-esteem, safety and self-respect of seniors.

Eligibility: People of all ages currently registered as volunteers with Family Service Toronto. All current board members and staff are ineligible for nomination.

This year's award recipients were Zahra Basiji and Margaret Redford

Zahra Basiji

Zahra is a volunteer leader in the Iranian Seniors group of the Illahee Community Connections Program. She helps organize meetings and workshops, and helps prepare refreshments at gatherings for seniors. Zahra also organizes outings to places of interest, such as Niagara Falls and the Butterfly Conservatory. Always willing to go the extra mile to help others, Zahra visits seniors who are isolated and lonely. The affection and respect she shows others is reciprocated by her peers, and the impact of her work is tremendous. Zahra is a true example of voluntarism and dedication. 

Margaret Redford

Margaret has been an active participant on the Seniors Advisory Council since its inception over four years ago. She faithfully attends meetings and actively contributes to the planning of the Council. Recently, Margaret worked with the Council to develop a successful grant proposal for Senior Moments, a project that focuses on negative and positive aspects of aging. An ambassador of FST, Margaret actively promotes the work of the Seniors and Caregivers Unit in her other volunteer capacities outside the organization. Margaret's continual service with the Seniors Advisory Council has been instrumental in providing guidance and support to the Council.

Family Service Toronto Community Service Award

With this award, Family ServiceFamily Service Toronto honours the outstanding contribution(s) of an individual or group to the well-being of our city and its citizens. Nominees can come from all sectors and will have demonstrated having made a positive impact on life for individuals and/or families by being an agent of change, a role model for inclusivity and/or a leader in improving life in Toronto.

Eligibility: The nominee(s) do not have to be registered FST volunteers. All current board members and staff are ineligible for nomination.

This year's award recipients were George Fierheller and Arlene Moscovitch

George Fierheller

George Fierheller is a staunch advocate of volunteerism, and is an active leader in our community. Some of his leadership roles have included Chairman of United Way Campaigns in Ottawa, Vancouver and Toronto, and he has also served as Chair of the Board of the United Way of Greater Toronto.

Mr. Fierheller has received many accolades in his lifetime. In 1998 Mr. Fierheller received the United Way of Canada’s André Mailhot Award – the highest award presented by the United Way of Canada. In 2000, he was appointed a Member of The Order of Canada. During the International Year of the Volunteer in 2001, Mr. Fierheller was named the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. One cannot help but be inspired by Mr. Fierheller’s generous spirit, dynamic energy and commitment to serve.

Arelene Moscovitch

Arlene is a Sistering volunteer and a trained Clinical Aromatherapist. Her weekly Aromatherapy Program is unique, as Arlene offers the only free drop-in aromatherapy treatment in the city. Arlene’s ability to work with even the most marginalized women is remarkable. She has worked with many women who are HIV positive, women who are dying of AIDS, cancer and other terminal illnesses, as well as women who have mental health and addictions issues. The effectiveness of her treatments is outstanding. Arlene is an example of how community members can work with local social service agencies to provide disadvantaged women with services that they would not otherwise be able to access.

Family Service Toronto Youth Volunteer Award

Young volunteers become tomorrow's leaders. This award recognizes young people who are deeply engaged as volunteers at Family Service Toronto or elsewhere and, as a result, make outstanding contributions. Whether alone or as part of a group, in providing direct service to clients, spearheading a special project or crusading on behalf of a larger social issue, the nominee(s) will embody Family Service Toronto's values, such as increasing access and participation in the community and building strong communities.

Eligibility: Youth between the ages of 16 and 24. An individual volunteer or part of a group of volunteers in any type of nonprofit organization, charity or community group. All current board members and staff are ineligible for nomination.

This year's award recipients were Cindy Yi and Amanda Sistilli.

Rafal Dittwald

Rafal volunteers with the Campaign 2000 Youth Action Committee – also known as YAC – and demonstrates his ongoing commitment to the Committee by initiating, leading and engaging youth at many of the Committee’s meetings. Rafal has gone above and beyond the call of duty to develop and maintain the YAC website, and to this day remains the sole person to do so.  His expertise in web design and strong ability with graphic arts keep YAC on the leading edge of communication & outreach. Rafal’s leadership makes him a role-model for other YAC members.

Simone Wedderburn

Simone volunteers in the Family Service Toronto Community Parent Education – or COPE – Children’s Group Program. Her warmth, compassion, intelligence and humour are great assets to the program. Simone demonstrates sound judgement and personal flexibility in her dealings with the children, and her feedback is highly trusted and valued. She has volunteered in numerous COPE groups, and is always available when needed. Simone is a pleasure to know and work with; someone we at Family Service Toronto look forward to seeing when the next COPE season arrives.

Archive: Volunteer Awards 2007, Volunteer Awards 2006, Volunteer Awards 2005 or Volunteer and Staff Awards 2004

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