2017 Volunteer Hall of Fame announced

Volunteer Iowa will host a recognition ceremony on April 26 at 10:30 a.m., in the State Capitol to honor the newest members of the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame, including southeast Iowa volunteer, Fred Kelly, of Burlington

The public is invited to vote for the People?s Choice Award, which gives extra recognition for an individual?s contributions as a volunteer. Volunteer Iowa?s website, volunteeriowa.org, will feature an online polling station through April 19; the winner will be announced during the April 26 ceremony.

?We are honored to host this event to celebrate some of Iowa?s most amazing volunteers,? stated Adam Lounsbury, Executive Director of Volunteer Iowa. ?They are treasured, unsung heroes, and their dedication and incredible contributions are benefitting people in remarkable ways.?

Often described as the ?Oscars? for Iowa volunteers, the names of the 169 individuals and organizations selected for the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame since it began in 1989 are engraved on plaques permanently displayed in the State Historical Museum.

Volunteer Iowa and its partner agencies work with organizations and individuals on three main fronts. The first is to help agencies develop quality programs that use service as a strategy to fulfill their missions and address Iowa?s greatest areas of need. The second is to help engage Iowans in their communities by promoting service and expanding the volunteer base. Finally, the third area of work is to connect individuals with appropriate service opportunities by building the volunteer infrastructure.

More information is available at volunteeriowa.org.