97-year-old Awarded “Volunteer of the Year” by the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of SUNY Rockland Community College

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: October 12, 2007

CONTACT: Lisa Saunders

(845) 574-4244

97-year-old Awarded "Volunteer of the Year" by the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program
of SUNY Rockland Community College

Suffern, NY - The SUNY Rockland Community College Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) will host a luncheon to honor its 97-year-old “Volunteer of the Year,” other award-winners, and the 700 volunteers, 41 who are over the age of 90, who serve more than 150 local non-profit agencies.

The 34th annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon, to be held November 7, Noon - 3 p.m., will follow an Expo, 10 a.m. – Noon, where non-profit agencies will present volunteering opportunities. The luncheon will be held at the Platzl Brauhaus in Pomona. More than 400 volunteers and local dignitaries will attend to honor the RSVP volunteers who have served 80,000 hours so far this year.

Awards/Honorees:

Volunteer of the Year Award: Mrs. Gussie Levine

The 97-year-old Monsey resident has been an active member of RSVP since 1976. Her volunteer history includes being a Phone Friend (telephone reassurance for elementary school students), Clerical Assistant at Nyack Hospital and Northern Services Group, knitter and crocheter for local nursing home residents, and at the retirement community where she resides, FountainView, she has served as Library Aide, Fundraising Sales Person, Newsletter Reporter and Book Club Group Leader. Most recently, Levine became a published book author with "The Wall That Grew and Grew," a story inspired by her work with nursery school children at Head Start.

Spirit of RSVP Award: Mr. Robert Huntoon

Huntoon has been with RSVP since 1993, volunteering at the Rockland County Departments of Tourism, Environmental Resources, Health, and Highway; as well as Keep Rockland Beautiful, RSVP Office, Trailside Museum and Bear Mt. Zoo, and SUNY Rockland Community College.

Spirit of RSVP Award: Dr. Laurie Miller McNeill

As Director of Grants Development at Rockland Community College, McNeill has been instrumental in assisting Gerri Zabusky, Director of RSVP, in obtaining grants that support RSVP’s programs, such as the van service for seniors unable to drive to their volunteer positions. Most recently, McNeill’s collaboration with Zabusky resulted in an $84,000 grant over three years from the United Way of Rockland County, which will partially fund this free transportation service.

RSVP Station of the Year Award: Summit Park Hospital & Nursing Care Center.

The Summit Park Hospital & Nursing Care Center has been an RSVP Volunteer Station since 2004. Currently, 43 RSVP volunteers are actively engaged in more than 10 different service initiatives.

For more information, contact Gerri Zabusky, Director of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), at 845-356-6818, gzabusky@sunyrockland.edu

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Rockland Community College, a unit of the State University of New York, is located 25 miles northwest of NYC. The majority of its students transfer to four-year colleges, and many find immediate employment upon earning their associate's degree or certificate. The College also offers others, from preschoolers to senior citizens, the opportunity to simply learn something new. Quality education...at a price you can afford.