Six local residents were honored recently by The Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley during the group’s 2017 Breakfast for Champions’ Award ceremony at Coca-Cola Park, Allentown.

Honored at the ceremony were Mia Bobenko of Orefield, who volunteers at The Gress Mountain Ranch; Janet and Donald Hagenaur of Whitehall, who volunteer with the Union and West End Cemetery Association, Allentown; Kris and Ian Buss of Breinigsville, who volunteer with the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley; and Kathryn O’Keefe of Allentown, who volunteers with the Girl Scouts of Eastern PA.

Also honored at the breakfast were Vivian Smith, who volunteers at Gracedale Nursing Home, Nazareth, and Bonnie Hall, who volunteers at Crayola, Easton.

Kathryn Gress with The Gress Mountain Ranch told The Press why she nominated Bobenko for the Sandy Kelly/UPS Youth Volunteer Scholarship Award, sponsored by UPS.

“From the day I met Mia, I knew she was special,” Gress said. “Mia is an all-around girl, my right- and left-hand lady for the Gress Mountain Ranch.”

Gress said she wanted to do something with the Volunteer Center to acknowledge all Bobenko’s grand efforts and commitment to the home for abused and neglected animals.

“Mia is the best definition of a ‘volunteer’ on all levels,” Gress stated. “We are very proud of Mia at The Gress Mountain Ranch.”

Bobenko also spoke with The Press.

“It feels rather amazing to have been nominated and to receive this award,” Bobenko said, adding volunteering is an amazing and fulfilling opportunity.

Barbara Miller, president of the Union and West End Cemetery Association told The Press why she nominated the Hagenaurs for the Sam and Betsy Torrence Partners in Volunteerism Award, sponsored by the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.

“In 1998, Janet and Donald Hagenaur and a core group of 10 volunteers took over the bankrupt Union and West End Cemetery, a historic Civil War cemetery in downtown Allentown, created in 1854,” Miller said. “For 19 years, Don and Janet have mowed the 20-acre Union and West End Cemetery … every week April through October.

“Janet answers hundreds of queries from Pennsylvania and all over the world, researching grave locations, historical and genealogical information about persons buried in the cemetery, updating burial and veterans’ information.”

The Hagenaurs commented about their nomination.

“I can’t believe we have been nominated,” Janet Hagenaur stated.

“There are others who are more deserving then us,” Donald Hagenaur added.

Lisa Kappes, assistant executive director with the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley, explained why she nominated Kris and Ian Buss for the Family Volunteer Award sponsored by Louise Wright.

Kappes said the mother and son team have gone above and beyond for the foundation for five years.

“Kris and Ian have been counselors each year for Camp Smile,” Kappes said. “Two years ago, Kris was promoted to head counselor of the whole camp.

“She helps with the organization of all the campers and counselor applications and medical forms.”

Kappes said Ian has been an amazing counselor, who works enthusiastically with the kids and is the favorite of many.

“He is always willing to run extra errands and do anything needed,” Kappes said. “I am so happy they won the Louise Wright Family Volunteer Award.”

Kris and Ian Buss spoke about winning the award.

“We feel honored and truly blessed to work with the organization,” Kris Buss stated. “We are lucky to be a part of the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley family and all it does for the community.”

Ian Buss told The Press it feels nice to be picked out of so many volunteers and be recognized for doing something he and his mother truly love.

Brittany Sedler, recruitment manager with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania explained why Kathryn O’Keefe was nominated for the Excellence in Volunteer Management Award, sponsored by The Morning Call newspaper.

Sedler said O’Keefe is highly dedicated and motivated to see as many girls in the Allentown School District as possible reap the benefits of Girl Scouts.

“She took management of a failing service unit last year and got them moving in the right direction,” Sedler said. “This year, her unit merged with another unit and now covers the entire school district.”

“She did not let this intimidate her but instead set her goals higher,” Sedler stated. “She will try anything to recruit more girls and find more volunteers.”

Sedler said O’Keefe’s goal for this year is to serve at least 200 girls in traditional Girl Scouts, but her ultimate goal would be to have even more girls join Girl Scouts in Allentown.

O’Keefe commented on being a volunteer in the Lehigh Valley after the Breakfast for Champions award ceremony.

“I am just a volunteer, albeit a very humbled volunteer after this morning,” she said. “Hearing of all the great work volunteers are doing in and around the Lehigh Valley, even after receiving such an honor, only makes me feel as if I’m still not doing enough.

There are so many girls who can benefit from being a part of Girl Scouting.”

The Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley is committed to educating, motivating and coordinating programs and services in promotion of engaging volunteers in the community.

Karen Daly Smith, chief executive officer with Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley, told The Press this was the 24th year having the Breakfast for Champions.

“The Breakfast for Champions is an opportunity for the nonprofits in the Lehigh Valley to recognize their volunteers,” she said. “Awards are done by nomination and we have different judges for each group.”

To learn more about the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley, visit volunteerlv.org.