Good as Gold Springfield Volunteer Awards

Name: Good as Gold Springfield Volunteer Awards
Address: UIS Student Union, Springfield, IL, 62703, US
Telephone: (217) 206-7716

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Good as Gold Springfield Volunteer Awards

The Good as Gold Ceremony was established in 2009 to recognize local volunteers, nonprofit organizations, and businesses.

The ceremony is a joint effort between the UIS Volunteer, Junior League of Springfield, and United Way of Central IL.

05/29/2026

Wayne Carlson was nominated by Central llinois Foodbank as another of our Heart of Gold award recipients. Wayne has volunteered with the Foodbank for more than 10 years, contributing over 1,400 hours of service. Every Thursday morning, he tackles the “retail route,” collecting donations from multiple Springfield stores, spending
four hours sorting, boxing, and loading goods. In 2025, Wayne helped recover over 528,700 pounds of items. He often trains new volunteers, fills in as needed during the week, and supports food distributions, including managing traffic at a recent event that served over 650 families.

05/28/2026

Patricia Carley was nominated by Springfield School District 186 for the Heart of Gold award. Patricia regularly volunteers in a first-grade classroom at Butler Elementary, having a significant positive impact on students. She shares her time, dedication, and experiences to enrich learning. Her work with Readers Theater helps students build confidence, improve reading, and enjoy teamwork. Patricia makes every child feel supported and consistently goes above and beyond, making the classroom more engaging and welcoming

05/26/2026

Sister Ritamary Brown, OSF was nominated by Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach. Sister Ritamary began volunteering at Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach in January 2024, initially sorting donated medical supplies. She joined a new team focused on packing clean birth kits, organizing the inventory for these kits, and standardizing the packing process. Thousands of kits have since been sent worldwide. As she noted, “where a baby happens to be born should not determine his or her access to safe, clean conditions... Every birth, every baby, is a miracle from God, and we should treat it as such.”

05/25/2026

Shaun Brady was nominated by United Way of Central Illinois for the Heart of Gold Award, where he serves on the Marketing Committee. Shaun’s reliability shines at every event—whether it’s setting up, welcoming volunteers, or stepping in wherever needed, his commitment never wavers. Twice a year, he leads teams from Heartland Coca-Cola during the Spring and Fall Days of Action, working right alongside his group to ensure each project is completed with care. Through his hands-on leadership and consistent presence, Shaun inspires fellow volunteers and truly embodies the spirit of partnership that every nonprofit seeks.

05/22/2026

Cathy Boerke was nominated for the Heart of Gold Award by Kings Daughters Organization, where she serves as President. In recent years, Cathy has volunteered at St. Martin de Porres and created an installation for the Illinois Innocence Project. She has helped organize and distribute Thanksgiving Baskets for First Congregational Church, Temple B’rith Shalom, and Temple Israel’s collaboration. Most recently, Cathy sits on the boards and volunteers for Sojourn Shelter and Services and Springfield Center for Independent Living. Cathy is also a small business owner who offers Aging-in-Place presentations to organizations to help people stay safe and independent.

05/21/2026

Heart of Gold Award recipient Sophia Bartletti was nominated by the Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery. Sophia served as a volunteer at the Children's Holiday Store. She provided individualized compliments to each child, fostering a positive shopping experience. Sophia was particularly adept at supporting children who were apprehensive, helping them feel more comfortable and confident while shopping. During downtimes, Sophia also assisted by maintaining the coloring area and restocking supplies.

05/20/2026

The final Youth Volunteer Award finalist was Maryam Fahiz, who was nominated by Compass for Kids. Maryam, a student at Glenwood High School, began volunteering with Compass early last year. She quickly became an engaged classroom volunteer, forming strong connections with students and helping them with academics, especially math. Combining her passion for photography with her volunteer work, Maryam designed and led a month-long photography lesson. Over the summer, she assisted with projects and served as photographer for Camp Compass events. This year, she returned as a classroom lead, teaching Social and Emotional Lessons, supporting club rules, and creating educational games like Math Basketball. Maryam is dependable, creative, and dedicated, making her a valued member of the Compass team

05/19/2026

Ella Shin was nominated by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum for the Youth Volunteer Award. Ella is an excellent representative for the ALPLM. She is always willing to go above and beyond, including mentoring younger volunteers and training new volunteers. Ella welcomes guests with kindness, generosity, and cheer. She is professional and poised, working well under the pressure of large crowds with
few volunteers.

05/18/2026

Youth Volunteer Award finalist Caroline Scherschel was nominated by the Animal Protective League. Caroline is a dedicated volunteer who makes a significant impact at the shelter. She regularly walks the dogs, giving them valuable time outside their kennels, and helps clean cat cages, including those in isolation. Caroline also washes and sanitizes bowls, toys, and handles shelter laundry, helping the facility run smoothly. Her reliability and willingness to assist wherever needed are greatly appreciated by both staff and animals

05/15/2026

Youth Volunteer Award finalist, Aidan Roberts was nominated by the Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery. Aiden, a volunteer at the Children's Holiday Store, was recognized as
being patient with the shoppers and gently guiding them as needed. They not only helped them stay on budget in the kindest way but also made sure the gifts they picked out were exactly what they wanted. Aiden was also incredibly helpful not just by assisting the kids to shop but also by tidying up the coloring area and restocking during downtime

05/14/2026

The winner of the 2026 Youth Service Award is Stella Lopp who was nominated by the United Way of Central Illinois Student Group. Stella is a dedicated student leader from Glenwood High School whose volunteerism has had significant local mpact. As President of Student United Way in Springfield, Stella organizes service events and recruits members, ensuring meaningful community engagement. Her group’s initiatives include providing comfort items for NICU families, supporting local fundraisers, leading food drives, improving neighborhoods, and connecting with senior residents. Additionally, Stella is part of the National Honor Society and is a varsity athlete, balancing academics, extracurriculars, and community involvement with maturity and purpose.

Address

UIS Student Union
Springfield, IL
62703

Telephone

(217) 206-7716

Website

https://www.uis.edu/volunteer/communitypartners/goodasgold/

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