Vote for Mesa County Volunteer of the Year
What age group makes up the majority of our community’s volunteers? Seniors! That’s why we’re giving Mesa County organizations a chance to recognize their outstanding senior volunteers at BeaconFest.
All nominees will be honored on stage at Grand Junction BeaconFest on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Grand Junction Convention Center, with a recognition ceremony at 1 p.m.
But only one will be named Volunteer of the Year—and we need your help!
Read about each of this year's nominees then scroll down to the bottom to cast your vote!
Voting closes Friday, April 4 at 4 p.m.
MESA COUNTY NOMINEES
Doreen Burger
Nominated by Community Hospital
Doreen started her volunteer career with Community Hospital in March 2007. She has volunteered with the front desk, gift shop, patient support and special projects in her 18 years and over 4,600 hours of service. Now at the young age of 84, she continues to come in monthly with baby blankets and hats she has knitted for our new babies. She has offered a bright and welcoming smile to our patients, staff and families for years and now brings comfort and warmth to the next generation. She truly embodies the spirit of giving back and the joy she receives from being a part of a volunteer program.
Gail Gnirk
Nominated by Roice-Hurst Humane Society
Gail is not only an exceptional volunteer but a dedicated advocate for the cats and kittens in our community. Her compassion and kindness make her an invaluable part of Roice-Hurst Humane Society and the Grand Valley. Gail began volunteering in the spring of 2022, initially caring for shelter cats. In 2024, she expanded her role, dedicating her time to our Feline Socialization Program, where she worked with fearful cats to help them trust humans and find loving homes. Her patience and dedication have transformed the lives of many cats who might have otherwise been overlooked. Beyond animal care, Gail plays a vital role in our daily operations. She assists with administrative tasks, mentors volunteers, prepares adoption packets and transports adoptable cats and kittens to J&M Aquatics and ensures they receive the best care. She always steps up where needed. To date, Gail has contributed over 500 volunteer hours, demonstrating an extraordinary level of commitment.
Curtis Hadley
Nominated by Museums of Western Colorado
Curtis Hadley embodies the very essence of volunteerism at Museums of Western Colorado, dedicating 462 hours in 2024 alone, bringing his total service to an astounding 1,535 hours. Curtis served on our board from 2016 to 2020 but stepped down to fully commit as a hands-on volunteer. Rain or shine, Tuesdays and Thursdays, he’s at Cross Orchards, tackling everything from special events to exhibit maintenance, vehicle repairs and infrastructure upkeep for Museum of the West, Dinosaur Journey, Cross Orchards and Riggs Hill. With a robust mechanical background from his career at Chevron, Curtis brings expertise and a can-do attitude to every task. A natural docent, he captivates students with his knowledge and passion. He’s the go-to guy for transporting equipment to Mygatt Moore Quarry digs and is a trusted driver for museum events. A leader in safety, he helped develop crucial operations and safety manuals for the Ride-on-Train. Curtis communicates with honesty and respect, always willing to share his insights while remaining open to other perspectives. He’s a mentor and inspiration to other volunteers.
Kyle Hunke & Gabriele Mayer-Hunke
Nominated by Visit Grand Junction
Kyle and Gabriele exemplify dedication, passion and exceptional service, making them invaluable assets to the Grand Junction Visitor Center. Their commitment to volunteering is unparalleled—Kyle serves at both the Grand Junction Visitor Center and the Colorado Welcome Center in Fruita, while Gabriele, a former St. Mary’s Hospital volunteer, now devotes her time exclusively to the Grand Junction Visitor Center. Kyle is also a member of The Guys Giving Club, while Gabriele is actively involved with the honorary teachers’ sorority Delta Kappa Gamma and holds emerita status at Colorado Mesa University. Both are members of Humanists Doing Good, further demonstrating their commitment to community involvement. Together, they have dedicated an impressive 1,140 hours to the Visitor Center in less than three years—Kyle with 753 hours and Gabriele with 353 hours. Kyle and Gabriele set the gold standard for customer service. Their warm and knowledgeable approach leaves a lasting impression on every guest they meet.
Nancy Lewis
Nominated by Kids Aid
Nancy has been a tremendous volunteer for Kids Aid for 16 years! She is always the first to arrive, last to leave and has the most incredible work ethic. She has become the leader of the Thursday crew and leads them with joy and laughter. She has more energy than most and never shies away from doing whatever job needs done. Nancy participates in our community outreach events and warehouse work days, packing bags and delivering them. She never hesitates to jump in where we need her. She is a true servant and has helped make it possible for so many children in our community to have weekend food. Nancy is an incredible human and is a true joy to have here at Kids Aid!
Jane Lostumbo
Nominated by Hilltop Community Resources
Jane Lostumbo makes a lasting impact through her work with Supporting Our Seniors (SOS). During the pandemic, Jane saw firsthand the effects of loneliness and isolation on seniors. She began volunteering by delivering meals to residents of the Cottages before transitioning to SOS, where she provided rides to medical appointments, the pharmacy and grocery stores. Seeing the heavy workload on ADRC (Aging & Disability Resources) staff, Jane stepped up to assist with ride scheduling. Jane is known for her strong connections with volunteers, participants and staff. She makes other drivers feel heard and gets them the information they need to be successful with their rides. Jane contributes 2-3 hours per week, coordinating over half of SOS ride requests and connecting with 10+ volunteer drivers. This makes a significant impact on the work of our limited staff and enables us to keep the program open and growing.
LaRue Nagy
Nominated by HopeWest
Since 2019, LaRue has dedicated an incredible 1,861 hours to HopeWest, pouring her creativity and passion into everything she touches. Each Friday afternoon, you’ll find her in the store, chalk painting furniture that would otherwise be unsellable. With just a few coats of paint and a whole lot of love, she transforms them into one-of-a-kind treasures, ensuring they can support the missions of HopeWest. LaRue’s artistry doesn’t stop there. She takes her work home, crafting extraordinary works of art from donated items—intricate jewelry pieces from broken baubles, shadowboxes from forgotten odds and ends and even reinvents grandfather clocks into stunning seasonal displays. The Heirlooms team often challenges her with artistic curveballs, asking, “Do you think you can make something out of this?” Without fail, she astonishes us with her ingenuity and vision. LaRue is also the driving force behind our Heirlooms eBay store, meticulously photographing, researching and listing items, bringing in an additional $13,000 in proceeds last year alone.
Brian & Joyce Olson
Nominated by Meals on Wheels
Brian and Joyce have been driving for Meals on Wheels for the past 22 years. They have delivered over 15,000 meals to homebound seniors in our community. They started volunteering for the program through the Newcomer’s Club back in February 2003.Every Friday, they use their own vehicle to drop off lunch and have even stepped in to cover for other drivers on vacation. They have also donated funds to help cover the cost of the new building where Meals on Wheels is located. Now, due to health reasons, they are retiring from their service. Though they may have delivered their final meal, their impact continues as other volunteers are determined to “beat” their record.
Deanna “D” Plunkett
Nominated by A Little Help
D embodies the spirit of A Little Help, going above and beyond since joining in October 2024. She organized one of our largest Service Saturday groups and has since completed 19 requests, from tech help and yard work to transportation and light repairs. Her dedication, kindness and willingness to step up make a meaningful difference for older adults in our community. D’s passion for helping others, inspired by the care she hopes her own mother receives, creates a ripple of compassion and connection that truly stands out. D told us: “I love working with A Little Help. I live too far from my own mom to give her ‘a little help’ from time to time, so I feel like there’s some cosmic karma at play when one of her friends or neighbors helps her out.”
Jeanice Swank
Nominated by Mesa County RSVP
Jeanice Swank began volunteering for RSVP in July 2005, accumulating 8,000 volunteer hours. While she has served many local nonprofits, she has remained most faithful to St. Mary’s Hospital, where she has dedicated over 10,650 hours since joining the gift shop in 1999. Non-profits would not be able to exist without volunteers like Jeanice—she makes everyone and everything around her better. Jeanice is a shining example of servanthood and we are a better organization because of her presence. Jeanice has made volunteering at St. Mary’s her second career. She served as the Gift Shop bookkeeper for many years, crocheted and donated countless baby afghans and sweaters for sale, and took on various volunteer roles—all with the goal of helping and caring for others. She has also given her time to Friends of St. Mary’s (formerly St. Mary’s Auxiliary) and volunteered at the Heart and Vascular Center’s registration and information desk.
Elaine Taylor
Nominated by Good Samaritan Free Clinic of Western Colorado
The Good Samaritan Free Clinic of Western Colorado was founded seven years ago with a goal of eliminating barriers, increasing access and improving health equity for uninsured, underinsured, undocumented and underserved people in the Grand Junction community. Elaine Taylor, RN, created this clinic as a safety net for those whose only other option would be an expensive trip to the emergency room. As volunteer executive director, Elaine has personally recruited volunteers to serve as board members, clinicians, nurses and receptionists while leveraging her background as a senior medical administrator to build community partnerships and secure funding through grant writing and donor support. She has also made the clinic a teaching institution for CMU physician assistant and nursing students and St. Mary’s Family Practice residents. In 2024, the clinic performed 144 physicals on patients from 25 countries. Elaine is the clinic’s volunteer backbone, prioritizing patient care above all else. She fills in any and all positions in the clinic to ensure that patients are attended to with care and efficiency.
