Volunteers are the heart and soul of the Arthritis Foundation. Their energy, passion and commitment are the fuel that drives the fight against arthritis.
Each year the Foundation honors individuals and families who personify the spirit of volunteerism by raising funds and awareness to help support arthritis research, advocacy and programs. The recent award winners profiled on these pages are proof positive that one person – or one family – really can make a difference!
Lorraine Potocki Award
Julie Butscher
Julie Butscher and her husband, Mark, of Centennial, Colo., helped start the Rocky Mountain Arthritis Walk after their two children were each diagnosed with juvenile arthritis (JA) at 18 months. In the four years since they began, they’ve increased their planning committee from three volunteers to 20. Julie is on the National Arthritis Walk Committee, and as head of her local Walk Steering Committee, she supports events throughout Colorado, Wyoming and Montana.
Julie received the 2008 Lorraine Potocki Award for her Walk efforts, including her knack for recruiting walkers.
Heart of the Mission Award
Valerie Munro
Valerie Munro of Sparta, N.J., started volunteering for the Foundation’s New Jersey Chapter when her daughter Victoria was diagnosed with JA at age 2. “I think I do what any mother would do,” says Valerie, who received the 2008 Heart of the Mission Award.
Her modesty belies her efforts. In 2008 Valerie helped pioneer the New Jersey School Program, a student education initiative that helps raise funds and awareness about arthritis. She is now developing a program that will allow teachers to earn continuing education credits while learning about arthritis in children.
Two years ago she helped start a new Arthritis Walk, for which Victoria, now 10, served as youth chair in 2008. Valerie also serves as District Advocacy Captain to garner support for arthritis causes among her state’s legislators.
Table Host of the Year Award
Jay Denny
Jay Denny’s six-year involvement with the Arthritis Foundation in Virginia grew from Ask Event table host to committee member to Pitch Person. The Richmond, Va. resident is the current board chair, and volunteers at all of his local Foundation events, as well as the Advocacy and Kids’ Summit in Washington, D.C.
What earned him the 2008 Table Host of the Year Award is his skill in recruiting volunteers and donations: Guests of Jay’s at previous years’ events have gone on to serve as board members, table hosts and event committees, many making multi-year volunteer commitments to the Foundation.
Jingle Bell Run Spirit Award
Cathy Buckley
Cathy Buckley got involved with the Foundation 18 years ago, after watching her sister-in-law struggle to get Cathy’s niece, Lauren, correctly diagnosed with JA.
Cathy received the 2008 Jingle Bell Walk/Run Spirit Award for her work as chair of the North Puget Sound Branch of the Pacific Northwest event. In her three-year tenure, she has set fundraising and attendance records.
Online Fundraising Innovation Award
Roger Carr
Roger Carr volunteers in honor of his wife, Kim, who has several forms of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and lupus. He’s worked as a local board member in Virginia and served as an adviser to the Foundation’s national office on the Let’s Move Together campaign. This past year he also served as the chair of the Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk.
Roger received the Online Fundraising Innovation Award for his use of the fundraising Web site, Kintera. He developed a blog for the Arthritis Walk to increase traffic to the site, with links to media coverage, invitations to pre- and post-parties, tips and fundraising challenges.
Community Excellence Award
Gail Grimmett
Gail Grimmett of Smyrna, Ga., earned the Community Excellence Award by tapping her co-workers at Delta Airlines to get involved to help not only her husband’s polymyalgia rheumatica, but also the millions of others with arthritis. “Team Delta” has participated and served on the committees for the Arthritis Walk and golf events in Georgia. Gail is on the local board of directors and executive committee, was chair for the 2007 Annual Campaign and lead committee member in 2008. She’s a regular speaker at events, sharing her personal story to help promote volunteering.
Gala Excellence Award
Kerry Shaffer
Kerry Shaffer of Whitefish Bay, Wis., didn’t even know about the Arthritis Foundation until she learned its research helped her get the osteotomy in her 40s that restored 98 percent of her knee function. Over the past 10 years she’s served as a local board development chair and member of the executive and wine committees, and she is currently on the business resource development committee.
Shaffer earned the 2008 Gala Excellence Award for her work as chair of the Mystery Ball. Each of the four years she’s overseen the event, she’s broken fundraising records, raising more than $750,000. She’s quadrupled the event’s committee of six to 24, and helped the board achieve 100 percent participation.
“I wish I had a million dollars to give,” says Kerry. “But since I don’t, my time is the next best thing.”
To find volunteer opportunities, contact your local office or click here.
Thank you for your interest in volunteering for the Arthritis Foundation. We recommend contacting your local Foundation chapter to see what volunteer positions are available. You can find contact info to your local chapter at www.arthritis.org/chaptermap.
Thank you,
The Editors
Arthritis Today magazine
Mary Carn
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