Enid Area Volunteers Honored for Service to Their Community

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Two Enid area volunteers were honored for the service they have provided to their community during the OKDHS Annual Volunteer Recognition ceremony.
Receiving an award were Dr. Barbara Whinery and Jake Whinery for their work with the 4RKids Foundation. Dr. Whinery created 4RKids Foundation, Inc., a 501 (c) (3) in 2003 to offer opportunities for non-institutionalized developmentally delayed individuals after graduation from the public school system. In 2007, Dr. Whinery had a vision to find a place of employment for persons with disabilities and through 4RKids purchased a Putt-Putt franchise to employ and train disabled and non-disabled staff.

Jake Whinery received the Leader of Tomorrow Award for his many volunteer hours and fundraising efforts for 4RKids Foundation. Whinery worked hundreds of volunteer hours last year to raise $7,288.50, breaking his previous fundraising record. Whinery also has dedicated nearly every summer vacation day since 2007 to volunteering at the Putt-Putt purchased to provide employment opportunities for the disabled.

Gov. Brad Henry’s Cabinet Secretary for Human Services, OKDHS Director Howard H. Hendrick, presented the awards and congratulated the honorees.

The ceremony, Volunteers Light the Way, was held on April 22 in the Chesapeake Room of the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City.

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