News Release
Every year generous Oklahomans across the state donate countless hours to making the state a better place in which to live. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) recognized some of those individuals recently at the annual 2016 Volunteer and Community Partner Awards Ceremony, held at the Oklahoma History Center.
“Leading the Way” was the theme for this year’s event. The ceremony honored volunteers and community partners whose efforts made a difference in the lives of others.
“In lean budget years it becomes increasingly important for us to collaborate with our community partners, stakeholders and volunteers,” said Karen Jacobs, Administrator for the DHS Office of Community and Faith Engagement. “Each year our citizens donate countless hours and continue to lead the way in helping their communities. This ceremony was our way of honoring them for their efforts.”
The Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Enid and North Central Oklahoma received the Karen D. Jacobs Award for Exemplary Community Service. Over the past decade, RSVP members donated more than two million volunteer hours of service to the state and their community. Adding a dollar amount to those hours equates to more than $40 million in service to local communities.
The award is named for long-time DHS employee Karen Jacobs, and is given to the organization or individual that inspires, motivates and involves the most volunteers in a single project or series of projects to support the DHS mission.
"I have witnessed the services these volunteers provide, and I am always amazed and humbled by the work they do,” Jacobs said. “Oklahoma is truly blessed to have such genuine, caring individuals."
Last year Oklahoma had nearly 800,000 people who volunteered more than 85 million hours of service. Their efforts provided more than $37 million in services to Oklahoma.
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