Tulsa Area Volunteers Honored for Service to Their Community

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Tulsa area volunteers were honored for the service they have provided to their community during the OKDHS Annual Volunteer Recognition ceremony.
Receiving an award was the Tulsa Advocates for the Protection of Children. Julie Gustafason, president of the TAPC, accepted on the group's behalf. Created in 2005 when the Childrens Services Advisory Board and the Tulsa Community Children's Foundation merged, TAPC activities include direct and support services for children at the Laura Dester Children's Emergency Shelter and for children in the foster care system. TAPC also supports foster, kinship and adoptive parents through a variety of community support programs. These include the CARE program, education program, summer enrichment program, community support services, shelter support services and advocacy.

This public/private partnership between TAPC and OKDHS is unique and is seen as a model for others in the state. The organization's efforts were successful for bringing a new facility to Tulsa. The new Tulsa County Emergency Shelter is currently under construction and will replace the Laura Dester Shelter.

Mary Schaum was honored for her work with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program A-TEAM, Airport Ambassador and with the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.

RSVP volunteers serve multiple non-profit agencies and completed 21 projects in 2009. As an Aiport Ambassador, she assists passengers and helps maintain a safe airport environment for travelers. Once a week, she assists the Community Food Bank's Food for Kids program, packing backpacks with healthy food for children to take home on weekends. She also provides regular assistance to the OK Special Olympics office in Tulsa.

In 2009, she logged 343 volunteer hours. Schaum's energy, promptness, reliability, efficiency and sense of humor exemplify the best in volunteerism.  

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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