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🎉 Congratulations to the 2025 Governor's Volunteer Service Adult Honorees!
Your dedication and service continue to inspire communities throughout Delaware. We proudly celebrate your achievements and thank you for making a difference!
Mary Ann Doland – 2025 Individual Honoree
Mary Ann Doland founded and manages all aspects of Hug Buddies, an organization that makes stuffed animals for children and other persons experiencing a life crisis. She recruits and oversees volunteers, raises funds, purchases supplies, maintains a supply of necessary items, schedules and hosts Sew-Ins (even in her own home!), where the animals are made. She also identifies and coordinates with agencies that can give the Hugs to those who need one whether homeless, an indigent newborn, a child involved in a court case, fire or police incident, experiencing domestic abuse or in dementia care. Mary Ann does the bulk of the hand embroidery that makes these animals so adorable.
In 2024, Hug Buddies distributed 168 hand sewn animals. A child court advocate shared the impact of a Hug Buddy: An 11-year-old girl was being asked a myriad of questions about having been abused by a family member. Her head was down, and she gave very quiet answers, obviously stressed. After a time, she asked the court personnel how much longer it would be and then if she could use the restroom. Upon her return, the advocate offered her a Hug Buddy. She chose a pink one and put its little arms around her neck. She held it so tight! She embraced it through the rest of the questioning as if she were holding onto a life raft. After her ordeal was over, she shyly asked if she could keep it and of course, was told, “Yes.” This is what Mary Ann’s work is all about: comforting a child in crisis.
John Ferguson – 2025 Individual Honoree
John serves as the Auxiliary Communication Leader for Sussex County Division of Emergency Management. John has 30+ years of volunteer service ensuring amateur radio communications (AUXCOMM) during numerous severe weather events and large-scale special events. In 2024, AUXCOMM logged 2,757 hours of service, and incredibly, 407 of those were John’s. His commitment didn’t stop there.
In 2023, John assumed the position of Emergency Response Team (CERT) Manager. John assists local communities in preparedness and response during times of need and has re-ignited this critical team. Under his leadership, two new communities established CERT programs in 2024, engaging a total of 65 new volunteers. Together, they logged over 1,400 hours.
John organized a 20-hour Basic Training course following FEMA training guidelines, ensuring that CERT volunteers are trained, organized, and equipped to assist in emergencies. Thanks to John's leadership, the program has expanded its reach, preparing more people to teach and respond in times of crisis. A genuine leader, when John calls for “feet on the street,” you can be sure his feet are right there too!
Sandra Frunzi – 2025 Individual Honoree
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For the past ten years Sandy Frunzi has been the coordinator of Sussex Correctional Institution’s Thresholds program, which teaches decision-making, problem solving and goal setting skills to incarcerated individuals. Because of the excellent rapport that Sandy has developed with the administration and staff at SCI, 112 inmates, twelve inside facilitators (incarcerated teachers), and twelve community facilitators participated in the Thresholds programs this year. The programs included three ten-week basic courses, writing classes, and workshops. She trains and encourages inside facilitators to create and lead workshops on decision making, mindfulness meditation, and resilience. Sandy maintains a database for all statistical data, prepares high-quality program materials, including workbooks, facilitator manuals, and handouts. Sandy creates a classroom atmosphere that reflects positivity, respect and acceptance. Her humor adds levity to a somber institution. As a result of Sandy’s leadership, in the past ten years over 500 incarcerated men have benefitted from Thresholds. This statement from a formerly incarcerated individual personally describes her impact: “Sandy has been and continues to be an instrumental part of my life. She believed in me from the moment I first took the Thresholds program as an inmate at SCI. She continued to support me as I became an inside facilitator and now the first in Delaware to return as a community facilitator. She is a major reason why I volunteer!”
Matt Gaffney – 2025 Individual Honoree
Founded in 1938, the Rehoboth Art League operates five buildings on 3.5 acres of historic, wooded property. While the organization is known for exhibitions, learning opportunities, and arts-driven events, its historic gardens have been revitalized thanks to volunteer Matt Gaffney.
A master gardener and board member, Matt volunteered more than 200 hours in 2024 to restore the formal Homestead Garden, originally designed by founder Louise Corkran in the 1930s. Matt led the redesign, reinstalling historic species and incorporating beneficial native plants. He also spearheaded the creation of a Native Demonstration Garden near the pottery studio, turning it into both a learning space and peaceful retreat.
Matt helped form a partnership with the Delaware Master Naturalists, leading to the creation of a new campus tree map for public use. His personal commitment is evident—he can be found on-site from May through September weeding, pruning, and planting. Matt’s volunteerism has transformed the Rehoboth Art League campus into an artistic and horticultural gem for all to enjoy.
Hayat Omar – 2025 Individual Honoree
Hayat Omar has dedicated over 780 hours to volunteer service and has been giving back to the community for years. She runs a monthly food drive at Bellevue Community Center, organizes multiple weekly food giveaways throughout the area—rain or shine—and leads clothing drives, all while dedicating her time to making the community a better place. She has a huge, kind heart and is always willing to help others. A proud Lion, Hayat attends every meeting and has even traveled to other countries to assist wherever she can. She is also a key volunteer for the youth show, The Monthly Focus, where she helps fill the theater each month and supports its mission to uplift and inspire young people. Hayat is there for everyone who needs her, from young to old, and is truly one of the kindest, most caring individuals in the community.
Diane Ruffino – 2025 Individual Honoree
In 2025, Diane Ruffino will retire from her volunteer role at Beebe Healthcare after nearly 32 years of service. In addition to raising four children, she dedicated most of her life to service. Before moving to Delaware, she volunteered in New Jersey at Fairleigh Dickinson University and the League of Women Voters. Her volunteer work at Beebe began in 1993, shortly after moving to DE. She saw an ad calling for volunteers and answered it. Since then, she volunteered 10,000 + hours over 32 years at Beebe. Diane began by helping the Dietary Office, making trays for patients with special dietary needs. She later transitioned to Medical Records where she dictated doctors’ reports into medical records. Eventually, she moved to the mailroom, where she delivered critical mail and documents throughout the hospital. Each role played a critical role in supporting our team and the services we provide to patients. Her smile is a staple in the halls of Beebe. She is a bright light and does not let anything stand in her way.
In healthcare, there are many unique requirements including annual compliance training on topics such as HIPPA, confidentiality, infection prevention, and more. In recent years, training was moved online. Despite her discomfort with the online platform, Diane came to our office to complete the annual compliance training. She NEVER complained. Diane is kind, dedicated, compassionate, and selfless. Her decades of service have inspired so many others to volunteer and give back to their community.
Sarah Shepard – 2025 Individual Honoree
Sarah Shepard’s volunteer service exemplifies dedication, leadership, and meaningful impact across Delaware. In 2024 alone, she devoted over 658 hours to addressing critical community needs—especially for children in foster care, individuals experiencing poverty, and those seeking workforce development support.
As a board member for Fosterwell, Sarah secured three grants, raised more than $12,000, and organized corporate partnerships that provided 500 holiday gifts (valued at $17,000) to children in foster care. Her passion for workforce empowerment led her to teach job readiness classes at the Milford Food Bank, helping participants polish their résumés and improve their interview skills. She also coordinated a Mobile Pantry Event at Dover Motor Speedway that served over 261 vehicles.
Recognizing the barriers many face to advancing their education, Sarah partnered with Placers and Edgewell Personal Care to launch accessible GED courses in Kent County. She spent 87 hours conducting research, writing grants, and building relationships with local schools. Beyond these initiatives, she contributes to Project Comfort, CityLight Vineyard, Newark Charter’s Easter event, Easterseals, and Leadership Delaware. Sarah's hands-on approach, strategic mindset, and commitment to sustainable solutions have created a lasting impact on the lives of Delawareans.
Harvey C. Smith Jr. – 2025 Individual Honoree
Harvey C. Smith, Jr. has been the volunteer Mayor of Odessa for a few years now but the impact he has made in this volunteer position is simply unmatched. You can often find Harvey in Town Hall, greeting residents, working with outside vendors and connections, or taking part in community meetings. He also volunteers for multiple community events, is a member of a Rotary Club, and an honorary member of the Odessa Volunteer Fire Company.
Before Harvey became the mayor, there were only a handful of residents involved in town government. Since he has stepped into the position, transparency has improved, and the town has become more of a community. Town meetings are often packed, and most commissions are full because Harvey has made a commitment to ensuring that everyone's voices and concerns are heard.
He has also gone out of his way to furnish Town Hall with items he has purchased at his own expense, just to make sure town residents are more comfortable in this shared space. Although this is a volunteer position, Harvey treats it as though it is a full-time, paying one. He is always a phone call away for anyone and their concerns. His commitment to our community is truly inspirational. Harvey is a prime example of everything a volunteer and community servant should be. He is kind and welcoming, yet firm when necessary. He is a true gift to our community and to our state as a whole.
Jean Stofa – 2025 Individual Honoree
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Jean Stofa is a prime example of an ultimate and dedicated volunteer. She is a shining light for The Grand Opera House Volunteer Show Corps and Volunteer Delaware 50+. She has been volunteering at The Grand Opera House for 25 years. For the last 10 years, she has consistently ranked among the top three with the most volunteer hours – in 2024 alone, she logged 525 hours. As one of five Squad Leaders of The Grand Opera House Volunteer Show Corps of 227 ushers, she coordinates the volunteers for each show she is assigned to manage. She also manages The Grand's Stages of Discovery shows, where academics and arts collaborate to provide creative learning opportunities for students. Stages of Discovery provides creative learning opportunities for students from preschool through 12th grade.
Besides coordinating shows she is the Volunteer Delaware 50+ ambassador to The Grand. She ensures that all incoming volunteers are informed about the organization and that all the volunteer opportunities are available in New Castle County. She does all this with the most cheerful and kind countenance. Everyone who has worked with her knows how dedicated she is to the Grand Opera House and volunteering.
In addition, she volunteers at Hagley Museum's two biggest fundraising events – the Fireworks Show and the Car Show. She is also a member of the Volunteer Delaware 50+ Advisory Council of New Castle County.
Latisha Watlington – 2025 Individual Honoree
Latisha Watlington dedicates herself to the KISH Home transitional living program, volunteering 175 hours in 2024 for young women aging out of the foster care system. Latisha was inspired to assist the young ladies because she knew how it felt to live in a transitional living home and wanted to give back by empowering the young ladies with workshops, teaching them independent living skills, leadership skills, money management, and learning self-confidence.
In 2024 alone, 175 hours were spent providing mentoring programs to inspire young women to develop self-awareness, promote excellence in the mind, and body, and teach them how to make an impact in their family and community. Latisha has been recognized by media outlets and magazines, spotlight features, and continues to grow, driven by inspiring leadership to many young women who are residents at the transitional living home.
Judith Gupton Wiley – 2025 Individual Honoree
Judith Gupton Wiley is a dedicated volunteer for whom volunteerism is second nature and a way of life, with a focus on children. Last year, she completed approximately 700 hours of volunteering. From 2006 to 2010, she served as a court-appointed advocate for children in Delaware. She also volunteered at orphanages in five developing countries, inspiring others to volunteer their time and resources to create pillowcase dresses for girls in these countries.
Judith was motivated to let children living in at-risk situations know that they were special and loved. This became the catalyst for her to write a book in 2008 to donate to children. In 2011, she founded Delaware’s nonprofit organization, Children Empowered by Love, Inc., for the sole purpose of connecting with this vulnerable population. The book is a tool to encourage children and introduce them to the joy of reading. She has read her book to elementary school students across Delaware and has donated approximately 1,000 copies.
She came into the nominator’s life almost five decades ago as a freshman high school English teacher. Over these many years, she has consistently given her time and resources in support of disadvantaged children and young people.
Bags2Mats for the Homeless, DE – 2025 Adult Group Honoree
The Bags2Mats initiative, launched in 2019 by Volunteer Delaware 50+ member Linda Mason from Sussex County, has since grown into a vibrant community project aimed at supporting those experiencing homelessness. Volunteers crochet 3' x 6' mats from repurposed plastic bags, creating water-resistant surfaces that offer comfort, insulation, and protection from the cold ground.
The project expanded in 2022 when Camille Vance led the first workshop in New Castle County. By 2024, the program flourished further, adapting to the plastic bag ban by incorporating dry-cleaning liners and newspaper sleeves. Known affectionately as the “Recycle Queen,” Mary Connell played a pivotal role, helping the group recycle 920 pounds of materials in 2024. Of that, only 320 pounds went directly into mats. To encourage more volunteers, the program incorporated looms, with Bob Ludolph coordinating the effort. In partnership with Delcastle Technical High School’s Carpentry program, six looms valued at—$1,200—were crafted by students to support the cause.
In 2024, NCC volunteers contributed 2,605 hours of work, valued at $77,003, contributing to the 138 grand total number of mats since 2022. Statewide, the initiative has donated 638 mats, with Sussex County volunteers leading the way. Despite being a small group of 23 in NCC, the Bags2Mats volunteers are making a significant impact—proving that even small efforts can contribute to tackling homelessness and empowering people of all ages and abilities to make a difference.
Charity Crossing Warehouse Team – 2025 Adult Group Honoree
Charity Crossing (CC) is a volunteer run non-profit based in Delaware, serving the communities in and around Delaware. We handle an average of one or two 53-ft truckloads of donations at the CC warehouse from partners including Amazon, Bombas, Earth Breeze, and Walmart. This team plays a key role in the successful operations of Charity Crossing with unloading and sorting the donations. With limited space at the warehouse, efficient space management is essential to sort and store the donations safely for easy distribution to various weekly serve locations and monthly special giveaways. This team also plays a vital role in guiding and managing the volunteers to sort and pack the donations.
Here are the mind-blowing facts from 2024:
Number of donation trucks received and unloading events held: 46
Number of sorting events at CC warehouse: 206
Number of volunteers managed during unloading and sorting events: 2,520
Total volunteer hours supporting warehouse activity: 8,500 hours
Number of weekly and monthly giveaways held, benefiting 62,400 individuals: 507
Approximate value of the donations handled by this group: $1.153 million
The warehouse is the core of Charity Crossing—and this group’s members are the guardians. Rain, shine, or snow, this team kept the warehouse operating efficiently. They are fondly called the “Warehouse Family” for showcasing teamwork and backing each other throughout the years of successful operations.
Delaware Master Naturalist Program – 2025 Adult Group Honoree
The Delaware Master Naturalist Program (DMN) mission is to train citizens as ambassadors and stewards of Delaware’s natural resources and ecosystems through education and volunteer opportunities. It began in 2019, led by the UD Cooperative Extension, Delaware Nature Society, and a Steering Committee. Upon finishing required initial training, DMNs give back to our natural world with volunteer services of education and outreach, service projects, and citizen science. Volunteerism is extended to our communities through 21 Delaware organizations called Local Organizing Partners (LOPs).
There are currently 118 certified DMNs. In 2024 DMNs contributed 9,173 volunteer hours, up from 5,510 in 2023. Using the Independent Sector volunteer hour value results in an impact of $307,200 invested. LOPs benefit from hours provided for grant applications and impact statements. DMN outreach and education includes touring of sites, lectures, and classes in parks and preserves. Service projects include tree planting, invasive species removal, trail maintenance, bird box monitoring, oyster shell bagging, wildlife rescue, and litter patrol. Citizen science contributions include freshwater stream monitoring, invasive species assessments, and monitoring of Horseshoe Crabs, Diamondback Terrapins, Ospreys, and overall environmental health.
Recent notables include helping with the Lewes 4th Street Preserve initiative and achievement of top recognition honors given by an LOP to a pair of DMNs.
Dream Team Volunteers – 2025 Adult Group Honoree
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From behind the scenes here at the Delaware Regional Dream Center our core Dream Team Volunteers—Sharon Hodges, Stephanie Gibson, and Pam Strosnider are here without fail, completing the packing of our 25 lb. non-perishable food Boxes of Hope. They return on the last Friday of each month to distribute over 200 Boxes of Hope to community members during our drive-thru. seasonal community events, including Easter basket drive, Back-2-School backpacks, Hope Day, and Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway.
In 2024 alone, they helped us distribute:
• 5,193 Boxes of Hope
• 350 Easter Baskets
• 1,150 School Backpacks
• 405 Frozen Turkeys
Their dedication brings hope to thousands of Delaware families throughout the year.
Kishma George – 2025 Paul Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Honoree
Kishma George serves as the leader and director of KISH Home, based in Delaware, where she has dedicated over 20 years to empowering young women transitioning out of the foster care system. Through her unwavering commitment and selfless volunteerism—contributing more than 250 hours per month—Kishma provides essential support and mentorship to these young women, many of whom would otherwise face homelessness, exposure to drugs, or other dangerous circumstances.
KISH Home offers life skills workshops, housing support, and emotional guidance to equip these women with the tools to thrive independently. Kishma’s relentless advocacy and hands-on involvement have transformed countless lives, creating a safe haven for vulnerable young women who might otherwise be forgotten. Her ability to inspire hope and foster independence is a testament to her compassionate spirit and enduring dedication.
Without Kishma’s tireless efforts, many of these young women would be left without the support they need to build a brighter future. Her lifetime of service and unwavering passion for uplifting others embodies the spirit of the Paul Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award. She is a true beacon of hope and an inspiration to all.