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Gov. Rick Snyder announced Aiden Sova and the Volunteer Program at Henry Ford Allegiance Health were among the 49 winners of the 2017 Governor’s Service Awards. The winners are individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations that were selected for their commitment to volunteerism, service or philanthropy.

“These individuals and organizations are role models for other people to follow. The impact they have on other people’s lives is incredible,” Snyder said. “They show us how to overcome obstacles and do good things for other people. They demonstrate tremendous spirit and we are thrilled to recognize them.”

The Youth Volunteer of the Year Award recipient is Aiden Sova, Jackson High School Class of 2017 graduate.  The award honors individuals who are age 25 or younger who have already begun making a significant difference in their community through service.

AIDAN SOVA of Jackson is dedicated to making the world a better place and leave a legacy of hope. He has worked very hard to overcome some major hurdles in his life and maintain a positive attitude. Aidan chose to be an active and engaged community leader, who is always inspiring his peers to serve. He is the co-coordinator of Leaf Relief, a teen volunteer effort to rake for the needy, co-coordinator of Thanksgiving Giving, an annual food drive and fundraiser at Jackson High, a member of the Jackson County Community Foundation YAC, and he helped start the Purple Viking Project to raise money for Alzheimer research. It is his plan to go to college and then start his own nonprofit to help youth. “Aidan has introduced many people to the joy of volunteering and ‘giving back’ to their community, and helps them find their niches in community service too,” said Kathleen Lavery, Aidan’s nominator. “He will have a positive impact wherever he is; Jackson is a better place because he is here.”  Aiden was named the Jackson Citizen Patriot Youth Citizen of the Year in January, 2017.

The Outstanding Volunteer Organization Award recipients are the Volunteers of Henry Ford Allegiance Health.  The award honors service clubs, nonprofit, faith-based, veteran, disaster preparedness and other organizations that make a demonstrated difference in their community.

VOLUNTEERS OF HENRY FORD ALLEGIANCE HEALTH have been supporting health and wellness in Jackson for 100 years. In 2016, 467 volunteers served a total of 48,932 hours and donated over $123,000 to the Henry Ford Allegiance Health Foundation. Volunteers can be found in almost every department at the hospital. They serve at the front desk, escort visitors, staff the gift shop, serve in the surgery family waiting room and try to make visiting families as comfortable as possible during a stressful time. Cancer center volunteers assist patients as they receive IV treatment, and volunteers with the Caring Hand Program knit and create cards for patients. “What I love is the people,” said a volunteer of over 30 years at the hospital gift shop. “You just have to be friendly to people. Volunteering makes you feel good, and that’s what it’s all about.”

The Gov. George Romney Lifetime Achievement Award  recipient is Evelyn Brown of Detroit.  The award honors an individual who has shown a lifelong commitment to community involvement and volunteerism.  Evelyn’s selfless actions have touched the lives of countless Detroit residents and her leadership has made a difference across the nation.  She started helping others decades ago while attending college in the 1960’s. Along with other students, she led the struggle to enfranchise the African-American voters in Mississippi, where 45 percent of the community was African-American, while only five percent of that population was registered to vote. Working with Civil Rights groups, the students successfully impacted voter registration.  Professionally, Evelyn became the founding Director of Detroit’s Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). She assembled a local advisory board, created local policies and raised the initial $1 million funding to help African-Americans gain fair access to quality housing, state of the art schools and ideal communities.

Sova, Volunteers of HFAH, Brown and the 46 other Governor’s Service Awards winners will be honored during a special ceremony hosted by the Michigan Community Service Commission on Monday, Aug. 21, at the Detroit Opera House. The event will also commemorate the Michigan Community Service Commission’s 25thanniversary. The public is invited to attend at no cost, but please register at https://mcsc.ticketleap.com/2017-governors-service-awards.

“We are excited to celebrate the Michigan Community Service Commission’s 25th anniversary by honoring the state’s wonderful volunteers, philanthropists and organizations,” said Ginna Holmes, Michigan Community Service Commission executive director. “Each winner has a unique story about helping those in need, improving their community and making a difference in Michigan.”

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