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Excellence in Volunteerism

Award Winning Volunteers!

Each year the County of Orange recognizes outstanding volunteer contributions through the Excellence in Volunteerism Awards. This awards program reinforces the County's long-standing commitment to involve volunteers in a full range of activities, from policy formulation and advice to program delivery. It recognizes volunteers who generously apply their talents and expertise in meeting community needs and challenges. It celebrates the successful partnership between County employees and volunteers whose combined efforts enhance services for Orange County residents.


2019 Individual Award Winners

  • Kenya Avila - Social Services Agency

2019 Program Award Winners

  • Stay Classick - Social Services Agency
  • The Imagine Foundation - Social Services Agency

2018 Individual Award Winners

  • Kris Burns - Social Services Agency, Operation Santa Claus
  • Pat Consentino - OC Community Resources, OC Public Libraries
  • Jeri Gable - Social Services Agency, Operation Santa Claus 
  • Charles Spence - OC Community Resources, Office on Aging & Veterans Service Office
  • Cindy Stuetzel - OC Community Resources, OC Animal Care

2017 Individual Award Winners

  • Belen Barocio - Orange County Probation Department
  • Donaline Murray - OC Community Resources, OC Animal Care

2016 Individual Award Winners

  • Bart Bartlett - Human Resource Services, EEO Access Office
  • Alexandra Gallo - OC Community Resources, OC Animal Care
  • Susan & Jerry Jahn - OC Social Services Agency, Operation Santa Claus
  • Kevin Q. Pham - Orange County Public Defender's Office
  • Sharon Warren - OC Community Resources, OC Animal Care

2015 Individual Award Winners

  • Jonathan Cohen - OC Community Resources, OC READ
  • Rick Cryder - Orange County Probation Department
  • Drew Delaney - OC Community Resources, OC Parks
  • Elie Hasso - OC Public Works, OC Infrastructure Programs
  • Kristi Jolliffe - OC Community Resources, OC Parks
  • John McEntee & Clifford Shum - OC Public Works, OC Environmental Resources
  • Joan Miller - OC Community Resources, OC Parks
  • Beth Newell - OC Community Resources, OC Parks
  • Eleanor Smith - OC Community Resources, OC Parks 
  • Cynthia Widdall - OC Community Resources, OC Animal Care 

2015 Program Award Winners

  • Cats in Need Yorba Linda, Feral F.R.E.E. Volunteers - OC Community Resources, OC Animal Care
  • Reading with Fido Voluntees - OC Community Resources, OC Animal Care

2014 Individual Award Winners

  • Julia Johnson - OC Community Resources, OC Public Libraries
  • Katie Johnson - OC Community Resources, OC Public Libraries
  • Linda Kricfalusi - OC Community Resources, READ/Orange County  

2013 Individual Award Winners

  • Carole Blanscet - OC Community Resources, OC Public Libraries
  • Connie "Buffy" Buffkin - OC Community Resources, OC Public Libraries 
  • Phillip Mansour - OC Community Resources, OC Public Libraries
  • Patricia McFall - OC Community Resources, OC Public Libraries
  • Nancy & Garth Meade - Orange County Probation Department 
  • Patricia Steck - OC Community Resources, OC Animal Care
  • Debbie VanStory - OC Community Resources, OC Animal Care 

2012 Individual Award Winners

  • Allie Eckert - OC Community Resources, OC Parks
  • Pat Highfill - OC Community Resources, OC Animal Care
  • Lori Martinez - Health Care Agency
  • Russell Onkka - OC Community Resources, OC Parks 
  • Pam Talarico - OC Community Resources, OC Public Libraries
  • Janette Thomas - Orange County Probation Department
  • Akshay Verma - OC Community Resources, OC Public Libraries
  • Lynda Weisman - OC Community Resources, OC Animal Care 

2012 Program Award Winners

  • Laguna Canyon Foundation - OC Community Resources, OC Parks

2011 Individual Award Winners

  • Jody Briggs - OC Community Resources, OC Animal Care
  • Barbara Christian - OC Community Resources, OC Public Libraries
  • Marilyn Jones - Orange County Probation Department
  • John Jack Leahy - Orange County Probation Department
  • Alan Miller - OC Community Resources, OC Animal Care
  • John Sanchez - OC Community Resources, OC Public Libraries
  • Peggy Schwartz - OC Community Resources, OC Public Libraries
  • Alan Suding - OC Community Resources, OC Public Libraries

2010 Individual Award Winners

  • Ashley Caro - OC Community Resources, OC Parks
  • Jerry Daleiden - OC Community Resources, OC Parks
  • Kitt Del Sesto - Orange County Probation Department
  • Katy Devore - OC Community Resources, OC Parks
  • Stephanie Haight - Social Services Agency
  • Marianne Martineau - OC Community Resources, OC Parks
  • Erin McCarthy & Brooke Patchin - OC Community Resources, OC Animal Care
  • Jennie Phuong - OC Community Resources, OC Public Libraries
  • Sister RoseMarie Redding, CSJ - Orange County Probation Department
  • Frances Schuster - OC Community Resources, OC Animal Care
  • Beverly Talanian - Orange County Probation Department
  • Theodore Zuniga - OC Community Resources, OC Parks

2010 Program Award Winners

  • Newport Bay Naturalists & Friends - OC Community Resources, OC Parks

2009 Individual Award Winners

  • Casaundra Alvarado - OC Community Resources, OC Parks
  • Debbie Barba - OC Community Resources, OC Animal Care
  • Tina Bates - OC Community Resources, OC Parks
  • Briana DeLong - Orange County Alternate Defender's Office
  • Gayle Fisher - OC Community Resources, OC Parks
  • David Heuer - OC Community Resources, OC Parks
  • Kim Kane - OC Community Resources, OC Animal Care
  • Don Stoff - Orange County Probation Department

2009 Program Award Winners

  • Back to Natives Restoration - OC Community Resources, OC Parks
  • Lives Worth Saving - Orange County Probation Department
  • Medical Reserve Corps - Health Care Agency
  • Mission Possible - Orange County Probation Department
  • Santa Ana Canyon Historical Council - OC Community Resources, OC Parks

2008 Individual Award Winners

  • Ethan Miller Brown - Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Department
  • Peter De Meyer - Orange County Probation Department
  • Dennis Forsyth - Orange County Probation Department
  • Elliott Gleason - OC Community Resources, OC Parks
  • Annmarie Kyriazis - OC Community Resources, OC Parks
  • Sabrina Melton - OC Community Resources, OC Animal Care
  • Floy Newman - OC Community Resources, OC Public Libraries, Read/OC
  • Donna Persson - Orange County Probation Department
  • George Ridley - Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Department
  • Don Thomas - OC Community Resources, OC Parks
  • Tina Thompson - OC Community Resources, OC Parks
  • Norris Tomlinson - OC Community Resources, OC Parks

2008 Program Award Winners

  • John Wayne Airport Ambassador & Tour Guide Programs

2007 Individual Award Winners

  • Julia Breyer - OC Community Resources, OC Parks
  • Larry Johnson - OC Community Resources, OC Parks
  • Milko Luna - OC Community Resources, OC Parks
  • Cheri Miller - OC Community Resources, OC Parks