Vote for the 2026 Volunteer of the Year
Volunteer of the Year voting is closed. Join us in honoring these amazing Volunteers at BeaconFest at the Grand Junction Convention Center on Thursday, April 16. The ceremony starts t 1 p.m.
Genie DiDonato
Nominated by Mesa County RSVP SHIP
At 83, Genie DiDonato embodies lifelong service and compassion. Her volunteer journey in Mesa County began with Mesa County RSVP as a homeless advocate with Grand Valley Peace & Justice. She later served as a Senior Scholar and eventually became a SHIP counselor. Over the past 10 years, Genie has logged an extraordinary 3,145 volunteer hours in Mesa County, serving a range of local organizations. In 2021, she helped in schools during COVID and served as a SHIP counselor all at once. Today, she remains an active SHIP counselor and fielded more than 250 calls during the most recent Medicare Open Enrollment period. When asked about her most meaningful role, Genie doesn’t hesitate: it’s her involvement with her great-grandsons. Genie does more than volunteer. She builds, advocates, mentors, empowers and uplifts. From Medicare counseling that helps seniors afford daily essentials to nurturing the next generation, she is a shining example of what it truly means to serve.
Jack Greenhill
Nominated by EUREKA! McConnell Science Museum
Jack Greenhill began volunteering at EUREKA! in 2019 and has donated more than 1,200 hours of his time. Over the years, he has helped with countless school field trips, often choosing the ones with the greatest number of students. He also checks exhibits and repairs and maintains them when they aren’t working properly. Jack served as a museum docent during a field trip attended by his great-grandson’s fourth-grade class. We are thankful for Jack’s dedication to helping students learn while they visit EUREKA!
Shirley Hall
Nominated by Community Hospital
Shirley Hall began volunteering at Community Hospital in July 2015 and has generously contributed nearly 3,500 hours of service. She volunteers two days a week at the main entrance and previously served in the surgery department. Shirley’s welcoming smile and vibrant personality help patients and staff feel comfortable in the hospital. She truly lights up the room with her laughter! Shirley has also helped train new volunteers, and her friendly demeanor helps make our volunteer team feel like family. At 87, she inspires others to stay active and open to new experiences and friendships.
Jim Hawkins
Nominated by HopeWest
Jim Hawkins is a cornerstone of the HopeWest volunteer team, serving since 2017 and contributing 1,158 hours across many areas of the organization. A former Army Reserve National Guard member, Jim shares a special bond with veteran patients through HopeWest’s We Honor Veterans program. This connection was beautifully demonstrated when he fulfilled a “life story” wish for a career Navy radio man by spending hours recording his memories and creating a keepsake book for the patient and his daughter. With Stephen Ministries training and specialized spiritual support training through HopeWest, Jim provides compassionate support to patients and families through companion visits, respite care and spiritual care. At Heirlooms for Hospice, he sorts donations and is our go-to volunteer for assessing sporting goods donations. He also supports HopeWest special events, including the auction team. Jim embodies the spirit of selfless service and profoundly changes the experiences of aging, illness and grief for every family he impacts.
Lori Henderson
Nominated by Homeward Bound of the Grand Valley
Lori Henderson shows complete empathy for all the individuals we serve at Homeward Bound of the Grand Valley, especially through what she calls “small assists.” When one of our ice machines broke, Lori bought a new one. She also donated three outdoor cooling units to bring relief to patrons who stay outside during the hottest months. Each week, she gives her time to serve meals at both of our locations. Lori has also offered job opportunities to guests when requested, and has provided not only food donations but full meals at no cost to our agency without ever expecting anything in return. She doesn’t come by just for show. Lori is part of our foundation and is known and loved by all at Homeward Bound.
Steve Kendrick
Nominated by Meals on Wheels
Over the past seven years, Steve has delivered more than 4,500 meals to homebound seniors. In addition to food, Steve brings an extra dose of kindness and friendship to his customers. He takes time to learn about each person’s life, struggles and needs, and he looks for ways to connect them with local support programs. On his own time, Steve has done yardwork and hauled away trash for customers. During the holidays, he delivered a gift basket to a senior in need and has even provided small financial gifts to help them. At one time, we had a customer who was over 100 years old. Steve spent hours listening and talking with her. He learned about her family, and would call them for her when needed. Because Steve is outgoing, he is one of the drivers trusted to take VIPs along on his route. Meals on Wheels is blessed to have him on our team.
Vicky Lampe
Nominated by Roice-Hurst Humane Society
Since 2022, Vicky Lampe has dedicated more than 1,500 volunteer and foster hours to Roice-Hurst Humane Society. On any given day, she may be snuggling cats in the cat room, helping at a pet vaccination clinic, assisting with spay/neuter surgeries or working an adoption event. If you’ve adopted a pet from Roice-Hurst, there’s a good chance you received a supportive call from Vicky to check in. As a foster, she opens her home to fragile cats that don’t thrive in a shelter setting. Vicky shows up with a positive attitude and a willingness to help wherever needed. She has also gone above and beyond by completing animal welfare courses on her own time so she can better serve the shelter and the animals in its care. Her compassion, dedication and hard work have touched the lives of countless pets and people locally.
Jeremy Marner
Nominated by Hilltop Community Resources
Jeremy Marner exemplifies the spirit of volunteerism through compassion, generosity and dedication to Hilltop residents, participants, staff and supporters. He began volunteering with Hilltop’s Life Adjustment Program on Christmas Eve 2024. In just one year, he contributed more than 700 hours as a resident companion, activities ambassador and event support volunteer. He consistently shows up with an open heart, a willingness to serve and a genuine desire to make life brighter for those around him. Jeremy’s impact is felt throughout the program. Residents, staff and fellow volunteers describe him as attentive, joyful and dependable. His service reflects Hilltop’s core values of relationship, integrity, courage, growth, inclusivity and fun. Jeremy’s enthusiasm, reliability and wholehearted commitment make him an extraordinary volunteer and a beloved presence at Hilltop.
Karen McGuirk & Laurie Buniger
Nominated by Museums of Western Colorado
Karen McGuirk and Laurie Buniger are sisters whose volunteer service has made a lasting impact at Museums of Western Colorado. Together, they support all three museums, enriching programs, collections and visitor experiences. Laurie has volunteered for nine years and logged more than 1,600 hours. She works extensively in collections and serves as a docent at the settler table in the “Lifeways” educational program, helping students connect with history through hands-on learning. She also volunteers at events and regularly contributes baked goods. Karen has logged 815 volunteer hours. She works in the Paleo Lab at Dinosaur Journey and shares her dinosaur knowledge. She also contributes to the library and collections at Museum of the West, and supports the Native American history portion of the “Lifeways” program. Together, they also lead Story Time at Dinosaur Journey, with Karen reading and Laurie guiding crafts.
Mike & Barb Oliver
Nominated by Visit Grand Junction
Visit Grand Junction Volunteer Ambassadors Mike and Barb Oliver are outstanding champions of the community. Their generosity and reliability have made them trusted, familiar faces at the Grand Junction Visitor Center and the Museums of Western Colorado. They also have a strong history of service with Habitat for Humanity and with World Hunger Relief, Inc. Together, Mike and Barb have contributed 2,368 hours at the Grand Junction Visitor Center over the past 15 years. What truly sets them apart is the way they make people feel. They greet every guest with warmth, patience and kindness, creating welcoming experiences that reflect the best of Grand Junction. Their positive attitudes, teamwork and heartfelt commitment strengthen every organization they support.
Kyle Webb
Nominated by Mesa County Libraries
Kyle Webb’s dedication to Mesa County Libraries’ 970West Studio has been transformative. For years, he has led monthly classes, Q&A sessions and one-on-one tutoring, empowering creators of all skill levels. His contributions show initiative and leadership, including co-hosting photography open houses and the Teen Self Care Fair, and helping shape studio improvements. Kyle does more than support events. He elevates them. His presence at library board meetings and other key gatherings also reflects a rare level of engagement. His thoughtful service has made a lasting impact on both the studio’s programs and the people they serve.
Kate Lujan & Penny Wright
Nominated by Family Health West
Penny Wright and Kate Lujan are an extraordinary volunteer team at Family Health West Wellness for their service with Rock Steady Boxing classes for people fighting back against Parkinson’s disease. Penny has volunteered for nearly 3 1/2 years and Kate for nearly two years. During classes, they assist with equipment, exercise reminders, managing class flow and moral support. Both women are patient, kind and dependable. They bring joy and encouragement to every class and consistently go above and beyond, both during their scheduled volunteer time and outside of it. Our boxers are just as grateful for them as I am.
Stan Zygmunt
Nominated by New Dimensions Lifelong
Learning Institute
Stan Zygmunt is a longtime volunteer for New Dimensions Lifelong Learning Institute, which offers Grand Valley adults 50 and older noncredit classes for academic and personal enrichment. A popular volunteer instructor, Stan teaches science-based classes and draws on a remarkable career that included developing methods to manage government weapons waste. Stan also serves on the Advisory Committee, Curriculum Development Committee and Vetting Team. He also launched and coordinates Midday with New Dimensions. Since the program began, Stan has coordinated 26 lectures at the Main Library and Clifton Library, with total attendance of more than 1,400 community members.
