The following individuals have been nominated by their department for Volunteer of the Year and as true examples of the VIP spirit.
Animal Shelter - Kathi Cavanagh
Kathi is a real go getter! She has a vibrant personality which makes people feel welcome when they enter the shelter to visit the animals. She has completely overhauled the volunteer program. She leads volunteer orientations, trains new volunteers and tracks volunteer hours, she revamped the volunteer handbook and hasd written job responsibilities. She is currently working on creating a fostering program. Kathi also helps with the Adoption Counselor program and off-site events.
Douglass Community Center - Loretta Revely
Loretta has provided outstanding and dedicated service to the Douglass Center for the past 15 years. As a single mom of three, Loretta finds time to help organize workshops and leisure activities for the center’s young ladies’ organization. She also counsels the young girls on life skills, helping them with very difficult decisions. The positive attitude she brings into any group is uplifting and her love for giving is unconditional.
Plano Fire Rescue Association - Barbara Homrighauser 
Barbara has made such a positive impact on the Plano Fire Department and the PFRA that it’s hard to believe she has been involved for only two years. She is always enthusiastic and her upbeat attitude is contagious. Barbara is the Secretary for the PFRA, a member of its Board of Directors and Co-Chair of the 2008 Plano Fire Department Picnic. She still finds time to volunteer many hours at Fire Administration either manning the front reception desk or helping with various office duties in the Public Education Office. Barb’s work is organized and thorough, and she always walks in the door with a smile on her face and a willingness to help out where needed. Barbara was also instrumental in the formation of the Station of the Month program to honor our Plano firefighters and is one of the most active drivers in the Paramedic Shuttle program.
Literacy for Life - Janice Schieffer
Janice strives to help adults become productive members of the community by building literacy skills and self-esteem. For the past 7 years, Janice has been an invaluable asset to the Literacy for Life program. Her patience, understanding and appreciation for other cultures have enabled her to create special bonds with her adult students.
Therapeutic Recreation – Dawn Hassell
Dawn was one of VIP’s first volunteers, starting back in 1986. She is one of the foundation pillars of the Kids Night Out program and has been volunteering for the program for over 20 years. She is the resident craft lady. Each month she brings a different creative craft for the kids to make. She loves working with the kids and is very patient and understanding of their needs.
Plano Senior NET - Dick Trankle
Dick is one of the main reasons the Plano Senior Recreation Center has a successful SeniorNet Computer Program. Since 2005 he has taught the Introduction to Computers classes to seniors. He also facilitates a Digital Camera Club. Without Dick’s help, the Senior Center would not have been able to get hundreds of seniors started using computers. Few know this, but Dick has helped many seniors in purchasing their first computer and helped set them up in their homes. Dick has also been an enormous help with special events that are offered at the Center. He can motivate and lead a group of fellow volunteers like no other!
Library Links with Seniors Group
This group of volunteers brings library programs to senior care homes, touching the hearts of many seniors. The volunteers meet monthly to share ideas, materials, and concerns, and then design a program especially for their senior care home. The bonds that are created from visiting the seniors leave a lasting impression on all those involved. In 2007 the LLS volunteers contributed 782 hours to the program and reached 1, 141 residents at numerous facilities. A typical program involves a fun topic that encourages the residents to talk about their own memories and experiences. While enjoying music, food, photos and jokes, the residents are reminded of the good ‘ole days.
Live Green in Plano - Jan Eppard
Jan has enthusiastically stepped up to help with every type of project that the department as offered. She has taken a leadership role within Plano Community Garden; she comes to every work day, pitches in, and helps to keep everyone on task. She has a keen sense of humor that makes work parties fun. We really appreciate her devotion to organizing the Plano Community Gardeners. Her leadership and her vision for the garden have helped to move the project forward and have been instrumental in building a gardening community. Jan also serves on the Live Green in Plano Advisory Board. She has worked at the Reuse Center, trade shows, city events and the Environmental Discovery Center since 2005.
Plano Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association
Since 1991, the alumni association has provided trained citizens volunteers who assist our police department with designated activities’ answering phones in the chief’s office, helping in records administration, Open Garage Door Patrol, Motorist Assistance, homeland security checks, Skywatch, handicap patrol, warrant calls, collecting toys and money for abused children, and event assistance. All programs help enhance relations between the community and the police department and assist our law enforcement agencies. This past year 170 members donated 6, 010 hours of service to the COP.
Keep Plano Beautiful Commissioners
Keep Plano Beautiful (KPB) is a Plano City Council appointed commission that empowers individuals to take responsibility for enhancing their community through community development and litter awareness and prevention. Commission members have done an outstanding job on identifying the needs concerning litter prevention and beautification in our community and taking the lead in finding solutions for those needs. Through their involvement during Homeowner Association meetings and community events, KPB Commission members have encouraged adults and kids alike to think about how to protect the environment in innovative and fun ways. They are a group of very dedicated and professional individuals.
Volunteers In Plano - Award Winning Team.
Plano has achieved outstanding results in 2002 with the effort of VIP’s. Over 86,000 hours were donated, and the programs value this year alone is over $1.1 million. For almost two decades, the City has sponsored an excellent volunteer program that strategically targets the needs of its staff and community. Volunteers assist with data entry, marketing, web design, filing, and translation of letters, tapes and booklets. The assignments vary widely – Office volunteers include clerical assistant, ordinance clerk, Police and Fire Academy Alumni assist at public events, man the fire shuttle and handicap patrol parking programs, help with crime prevention, Senior Center uses 100 volunteers to serve meals, teach line dancing, teach computer classes, Therapeutic Recreation and Douglass Community Center continue to expand programs for the underprivileged and for special needs people of all ages, and enhance services to diverse populations in camp programs and homework. Libraries have programs to help students with homework, link seniors at residence homes, teach new immigrants how to speak and read English, help citizens with genealogy, and mend books to keep them looking like new. Public Works programs teach children and adults about recycling, composting and water quality through stories, puppet shows, and classes.
Teen Group
The City of Plano is honored to work with the next generation that will lead our great country. The 1600 individuals that volunteered in 2002 made a positive impact on our community, teen peers, younger students, parents and families, and of course City staff.
The youth of Plano are dependable, respectful, intelligent and hard working. They have shown the ability to commit to a task and overcome challenges. Their dedication to the various departments of the City of Plano is invaluable. Many of the departments they volunteer for would not be possible without their gift of their time and energy. They are role models for their peers, teaching them to give back to the community. Our volunteers have great communication skills, are able to break down barriers, utilize listening skills and present proper courtroom etiquette. They present a positive mind set to the community. They span all ethnic and racial boundaries. These youth volunteers are punctual, enthusiastic, willing to learn, and are able to prioritize and accept constructive criticism. All of these volunteers draw on their own experiences to help fellow peers strive to excel. The integrity of these teens has proven to be a gift to themselves as well as to the world.