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Volunteer Awards 2007

Every year, FSA Toronto honours extraordinary efforts of volunteers through a series of special volunteer recognition awards. Each award has a different focus and reflects a different set of criteria. Read about this year's award winners.

FSA Toronto Youth Volunteer Award

Young volunteers become tomorrow's leaders. This award recognizes young people who are deeply engaged as volunteers at FSA Toronto or elsewhere and, as a result, make outstanding contributions. Whether alone or as part of a group, in providing direct service to clients, spearheading a special project or crusading on behalf of a larger social issue, the nominee(s) will embody FSA Toronto's values, such as increasing access and participation in the community and building strong communities.

Eligibility: Youth between the ages of 16 and 24. An individual volunteer or part of a group of volunteers in any type of nonprofit organization, charity or community group. All current board members and staff are ineligible for nomination.

This year's award recipients were Cindy Yi and Amanda Sistilli.

Cindy Yi
Cindy brings great energy to her work with Campaign 2000's Youth Action Committee and her creativity is most apparent when she is engaged in the YAC brainstorming sessions. As a young woman attending Stephen Leacock Public School in Scarborough, she is one of the youngest active members in the group.

In addition to helping organize YAC's international Youth Week launch party, Cindy took a leadership role in reaching out to diverse youth in the Peel region during YAC's Make Poverty History event there. Cindy is a role model for young women in Scarborough and her sustained and lengthy commitment to YAC continues to demonstrate her passion for social justice issues.

Amanda Sistilli
Amanda is a young woman from Etobicoke studying Engineering at the University of Toronto. Her constant ability to generate fresh new ideas at every meeting she attends is probably the most distinctive quality about her personality.

Amanda is not only able to raise difficult questions, she is someone who also brings solutions to the table and is an active and enthusiastic volunteer at YAC meetings and related events.

FSA Toronto Community Service Award

With this award, FSA Toronto honours the outstanding contribution(s) of an individual or group to the well-being of our city and its citizens. Nominees can come from all sectors and will have demonstrated having made a positive impact on life for individuals and/or families by being an agent of change, a role model for inclusivity and/or a leader in improving life in Toronto.

Eligibility: The nominee(s) do not have to be registered FSA volunteers. All current board members and staff are ineligible for nomination.

This year's award recipient was Halim Amini.

Halim Amini
Halim is an outstanding citizen of Toronto. After suffering a great personal tragedy, Halim decided that he would make a difference in the Afghan Canadian community, a community in which many members carry trauma and loss to their Canadian experience.

With his leadership, he and a group of other volunteers have created Sabawoon Afghan Family Education and Counselling Centre better known as SAFE Counselling. Halim is the founder, their major financial supporter and a tireless community leader.

Halim has also formed relationships with the Canadian Mental Health Association, Community Resource Connections and East Metro Youth Services. He recently found time to work with FSA, Flemingdon Health Centre and the fledgling Afghan Canadian Seniors Centre (which he helped create) to create a pilot program at Flemingdon Health Centre for isolated Afghan Seniors.

FSA Toronto Marjorie Cuthbertson Award

The purpose of this award is to recognize the outstanding efforts of a volunteer who has made an exceptional contribution to the work of FSA Toronto and the families and communities that we serve. The recipient is a role model to others and provides dedication, commitment and leadership through their volunteer efforts. This award recognizes a current FSA Toronto volunteer who has made a measurable contribution to, or has significantly supported the work of, one or more programs.

Eligibility: Any person over the age of 25 registered as an FSA Toronto volunteer. Length of volunteer service at FSA Toronto does not influence selection. All current board members and staff are ineligible for nomination.

This year's award recipient was Darlene Mili.

Darlene Mili
Darlene has been a volunteer counsellor with David Kelley Services since June 2003. In this time she has provided more than 800 individual and couple counselling hours to more than 45 people in the LGBTQ community.

Darlene's counselling work includes a range of issues. She consistently moves people towards increased competence and confidence in dealing with life transitions, more effective personal relationships and more participation in their communities. By strengthening individuals, couples and families through counselling, Darlene plays a key role in building a stronger LGBTQ community.

FSA Toronto Pat Fleming Seniors Volunteer Award

Many people are looking forward to longer lives. However, some won't enjoy the dignity and respect older citizens richly deserve. With the FSA Toronto Pat Fleming Seniors Award, FSA Toronto recognizes a volunteer who has made a significant contribution to our work with seniors. The recipient will be a person who understands the vulnerability and marginalization of many of the seniors FSA Toronto serves. The recipient's work will have contributed to increasing the wellness, self-esteem, safety and self-respect of seniors.

Eligibility: People of all ages currently registered as volunteers with FSA Toronto. All current board members and staff are ineligible for nomination.

This year's award recipient was Leila Warnock.

Leila Warnock
Leila exemplifies senior volunteerism. For four years, Leila has supported the work of the Seniors and Caregivers outreach program working in the office and on community outreach mailings. Leila has been described as dedicated, patient and with a great sense of humour.

If you've seen a flyer for our seniors program in a hospital, church, community centre or library, it's because Leila helped get it there. A consistent worker, Leila unfailingly offers her time to the program and is pro-active in making suggestions for positive change.

If you require any further assistance or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mindy Khu, Volunteer Support Assistant, at mindykh@fsatoronto.com or call 416.595.9230 ext. 234 .

Archive: Read about our Volunteer Awards 2006, Volunteer Awards 2005 or Volunteer and Staff Awards 2004

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