Delaware's Volunteers & National Purpose Prize Winners Recognized

Paul Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award

Winner Harry N. Monck III

Harry N. Monck III truly exemplifies what the namesake of this award, Paul Wilkinson, stood for in both volunteerism and community service.  For more than 50 years, Mr. Monck had dedicated his life to many of the same projects for which Paul Wilkinson was known. Since the mid-1990s, Mr. Monck has served his community through RSVP, working tirelessly for Del-EASI, an organization of retired environmental professionals.  For this organization alone, Mr. Mock has accumulated more than 2500 hours of service. In addition to his work with Del-EASI, Mr. Monck has spent decades working with the Boys Scouts of America organization and is currently busy volunteering with his church and helping to provide transportation and assistance to the elderly.

 

Individual Winners – New Castle County 

Louis Amabili - Public Safety

For over 50 years, Louis Amabili has battled fires in his native Delaware.  For 17 years, Mr. Amabili volunteered at the Hockessin Fire Company.  He then helped found the Delaware State Fire Service Training Center, where he served as Director from 1964 to 1997.  During that time he also was appointed to the President’s National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control and co-authored the Commission’s congressional report “American Burning.”

 

Thomas Bayard - Education

For almost three decades Thomas Bayard has volunteered his time, talent, and energy to the Wilmington Friends School.  Mr. Bayard began volunteering for the School in 1981 when his daughter was in kindergarten and continued his service far beyond her 1994 graduation.  Though he jokes he has “never left kindergarten,” Mr. Bayard extended his volunteerism to many other areas of the school.  And, it is estimated that over the years, he has donated more than 7000 hours of service. 

Barbara Dukart - Social Justice/ Advocacy

Barbara Dukart has been an essential volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House even before it opened its doors. Ms. Dukart’s in-laws were the first owners and operators of McDonald’s restaurants in Delaware that helped bring the vision of the Ronald McDonald House to this state.  She was integral in the grassroots fundraising that was the foundation of the building project.  It was Ms. Dukart’s passion for volunteering and projects that led her to add the “Save a Pop tab” initiative to the House’s fundraising efforts. Over the years, “Save a Pop tab” has raised thousands of dollars for the House. 

Rich Faucher - Human Needs

For more than 15 years, Rich Faucher has dedicated his time decorating the Ronald McDonald House for their annual Share a Night fundraiser. Each November, Mr. Faucher comes to the House in the middle of the night and on weekends to get it prepared for the event- his commitment to families and children knows no bounds.  His involvement in decorating the Ronald McDonald House stems from the Faucher families own Christmas lighting display, which has been a tradition for more than thirty years- he was even named the “Official Santa Clause of Delaware” by then-Governor Mike Castle. 

Scott Martin - National Service

Though an RSVP volunteer for two years Scott Martin has made volunteerism a major part of his life for most of his life. Prior to retiring, he spent much of his professional life directing volunteer programs, including RSVP and the State Volunteer Resource Center.  Mr. Martin not only volunteers his time to serve the community, he uses his considerable talent and expertise to lead others in meaningful civic engagement.  Volunteerism is clearly Mr. Martin’s passion and he has served the community though a variety of volunteer activities including giving presentations on disaster preparedness and spending countless hours promoting Coming of Age Delaware.   

Betty Wagner - Arts and Culture

For more than 30 years, Betty Wagner has volunteered for Hagley Museum in a variety of capacities.  A long time volunteer interpreter on Workers’ Hill, Ms. Wagner brings to life the history of the Gibbons House and the Brandywine Manufactures’ Sunday School. She is also involved in the needlework group, has been a gallery aide, assisted with Christmas decorating, helped to compile the Hagley cookbook, and captured the lives of others through oral history interviews. 

Individual Winners - Kent County 

Linda Chick - Human Needs

Linda Chick has been an active member of the Unit Board of the Greater Milford Boys and Girls Club for over 10 years, serving as Resource Development Chairperson for the last four. When Ms. Chick began volunteering with the Milford Boys and Girls Club, she single-handedly developed and executed Kidfest, an annual fundraiser for the Club.  Since its inception, Kidfest has become a major fundraiser, raising thousands of dollars and increasing community awareness for the Club. 

Lawrence Kibler - Public Safety

Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence Kibler joined the Civil Air patrol (CAP) in September 1980. Since then, he has dedicated countless hours to building relationships and maintaining contact with various agencies to support disaster preparedness throughout Delaware.  Lt. Col. Kibler gives almost 2,000 hours annually to support these initiatives and continue his training in order to serve the people of Delaware.   

Jeanie Kleimo - Human Needs

Since founding the National Council on Agricultural Life and Labor (NCALL) in 1976, Jeanie Kleimo has served as a volunteer board member and also chairs the Loan Fun Committee.  As Chairperson, Ms. Kleimo oversees a committee of five to set policy, review and approve loans for affordable housing and community projects throughout Delaware.  Ms. Kleimo also works with the American Field Service (AFS) to place exchange students with host families, which helps expand international relationships by “connecting lives and sharing cultures.”  She also started the Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing, which engages local churches to take turns volunteering shelter and meals during the coldest months for the homeless in Dover. 

Dick Matlack - Arts and Culture

Since retiring to Delaware a few years ago, Dick Matlack now sees volunteering at the Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village as his career!  In 2008 alone, Mr. Matlack donated almost 600 hours to the Museum in a variety of ways.  He mows the Museum’s lawn weekly, helps maintain all 15 of the buildings, participates in all fundraisers, prepares seasonal decorations, and much more.  In addition to all he does for the Agricultural Museum, Mr. Matlack also volunteers at Fifer Orchards on the weekend, driving the tractor for hay rides. 

Robert “Biff” Newnam - Community Service

For more than 40 years, Robert “Biff” Newnam has volunteered in his community and shows no signs of stopping!  Mr. Newnam volunteered for the Marydel Hartley Little League from 1978 to 2002 as a senior league manager and coach.  Since that time, he has held the position of District Manager; coordinating operations for eight little leagues, recruiting and managing staff, and much, much more.  Though baseball season is but a few short months, Mr. Newnam donates countless hours throughout the year to ensure a smooth running season for all. 

Ann Russell - National Service

Ann Russell, or “Miss Ann” as she is affectionately known, became a volunteer with the Foster Grandparent Program in 1985.  Since that time, she has served in three local schools and each year, teachers vie for her services from one year to the next.  Once school is out for the summer, Miss Ann heads to the Central Delaware YMCA to teach young children how to swim.  Miss Ann has given over 20,000 hours to improving the lives of children in her community for generations. 

Individual Winners - Sussex County 

Floss Brady - Education

Since 2001, Floss Brady has chaired the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 28’s Education Program.  What was once an almost non-existent entity is now flourishing program which benefits all schools and students in the Millsboro area.  Each month, Ms. Brady dedicates more than 100 hours of her time to give presentations in schools, honor teachers during National Education Week, and to distributes school supplies to needy children.  One of the projects closest to her heart is the annual Read-a-Thon she organizes every year which recognizes outstanding students as well as their teachers.  

Malcolm Foster - Community Service

At 86 years old, Reverend Malcolm Foster shows no sign of stopping volunteering to make his community a better place.  He is extremely involved in the Milford Community band and is one of the few remaining founding members still serving.  As retired chaplain for the US Army, he is the first to volunteer for any patriotic program the Community Band holds.  He also started the “Veteran’s Cove” at the Milford Senior Center, the only Senior Center in Delaware which has room and space dedicated to honor those who served our country.

      

(Biographies courtesy of the State Office of Volunteerism)