Congratulations 2015 Golden Heart Recipients and Honorees

Photo by Jason Mann.

The 13th annual Golden Heart Volunteer Celebration was held April 23, 2015, at Stone Harbor Resort in Sturgeon Bay to honor outstanding volunteers in our community. It also recognizes the importance of the organizations through which they work and support the Volunteer Center’s programming.

Bret Bicoy, president and CEO of the Door County Community Foundation, provided the keynote address. He described how giving of one’s self is central to building a stronger Door County and a happier life. Nick Freimuth served as master of ceremonies. Each nominee received a complimentary dinner and a crystal sun catcher created by Grace Rossman and Tara Niko Rossman.

Award recipients received $500 to donate to a Door County charity of their choice in addition to a custom-designed art piece by Chad Luberger of Plum Bottom Pottery and Gallery. The three youth scholarship recipients received a $500 academic scholarship.

For more information on the Volunteer Center and its Golden Heart Volunteer Celebration, visit volunteerdoorcounty.com, call 920.746.7704 or email [email protected].

Congratulations to the 2015 Golden Heart honorees and recipients (*) listed below.

Adult Golden Heart Honorees:  Bob Agnew*, United Way; Christine Anderson, Neighbor to Neighbor; Ashley DeGrave, Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes; Katie Faulkner, Bargains Unlimited; Tonya Felhofer, Door County YMCA; Kevin Grohskopf; Ann Hickey, Boys & Girls Club of Door County; Barb Schaefer, Door-Tran; and Jan Welborn, We Are HOPE, Inc.

Arts & Culture Honorees:  Dan Austad*, Door County Maritime Museum; Jim and Jean Berkenstock, Midsummer’s Music Festival; Kerstin Conner, Door Shakespeare; Lou and Daniele Covotsos, Door Community Auditorium; and Charli Lundstedt, Northern Sky Theater.

Environmental Stewardship Honorees:  Friends of Peninsula State Park; John Hippensteel*, Crossroads at Big Creek.

Group Honorees:  AARP Tax Volunteers; The Haunted Mansion (Cory Vandertie, Judy Jesse, Sue Marchant)*; The Husbands of the Sturgeon Bay Visitor Center (Dean Paschke, Kelton Reitz, James Siminar); and Ministry Door County Medical Center Skilled Nursing Facility Beauty Shop Volunteers.

Youth Scholarship Recipients:  Alyssa Dantoin, Southern Door High School; Sarah Felhofer, Sturgeon Bay High School; and Samantha Spohn, Sevastopol High School.

Lifetime of Service:  Tim Ash; Pat Horvath*, Door County Habitat for Humanity; Judy Jesse; and Elfriede Leporte, Boys & Girls Club of Door County.