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Volunteer Central of Greater Tulsa Inc. honors outstanding local volunteers for their gift of service to the community.
Kate Jones, event co-chair; Kelsey Jones, finalist, Youth Volunteer of the Year; Dave Foreman, board president; and Steve Smith, event co-chair.
Twice a week Ginger Morrow gets up close and personal with horses.
She feeds them, grooms them and cleans and sweeps their personal spaces.
Working with animals can be a thankless job, but for this Tulsa teenager, it’s an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others.
“Ginger shows excellent work ethic and leadership skills … is consistent, on time and very dependable,” says Jackie Selph, volunteer coordinator for American Therapeutic Riding Center. “We can ask Ginger to do anything; she never complains and always completes the task at hand without supervision.”
As a barn assistant, everything Morrow does is important to the health and well-being of the horses, which also has an impact on the riding program, which serves adults and children with emotional and physical challenges.
Morrow is just one example of the more than 12,000 volunteers of all ages and backgrounds who work as unpaid staff with organizations addressing social and environmental issues and special populations.
Volunteer Central of Greater Tulsa Inc. promotes volunteerism and its benefits to volunteers, the organizations and beneficiaries served by the volunteers and to Tulsa. Additionally, the organization educates volunteer administrators in effective volunteer resource management, connects people with opportunities to serve and mobilizes for targeted community needs.
Each year during National Volunteer Week, Volunteer Central presents President’s Volunteer Service Awards and honors Change Agents at an annual gala, A License to Change.
On Aug. 14, Ginger Morrow will be among 31 nominees honored at Volunteer Central’s “A License to Change: Here’s Serving with You, Kid!” event. Held at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame Depot, 111 E. First St., the event will include a 6 p.m. reception, followed by dinner at 7 p.m.
Taking their cues from the classic film “Casablanca,” Kate Jones and Steve Smith, License to Change chairs, and their committee have planned entertainment by Chris Crawford, Heather Richetto-Rumley and pianist Scott McQuade; dinner prepared by chef Rick Kamp of Rick’s Café Americain; a silent auction; and casino gaming and prizes.
Top patron sponsor is The Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation. Additional sponsorships are available from $250-$20,000; individual reservations are $75.
Volunteer Central of Greater Tulsa Inc. is the eastern Oklahoma affiliate of Points of Light Institute/HandsOn Network, the nation’s largest volunteer and citizen action network.
