The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc. today announced the winners of the Conservancy's 2013 and 2014 volunteer of the year awards.
The honorees were recently recognized at an awards dinner conducted at Angela's at the Crosswalk restaurant in historic downtown Plano.
The group's Sam Mania volunteer of the year award is an award which was named after the Plano Conservancy's first volunteer.
The 2013 Sam Mania award winner is Jeannie Reilly of Plano. The 2014 Sam Mania award winner is Genie Hammel of Plano. Reilly and Hammel are both heavily involved in the children's programming at Plano's Interurban Railway Museum, where the Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation directs programming and has its office. Hammel leads children's story time at the museum most Fridays, and Reilly leads story times some weeks, as well. Both are involved in children's programming development for the museum.
The group's Maggie Sprague historic preservation recognition award, which is new, was named after Plano Conservancy former co-director Maggie Sprague of Plano. Sprague, who is passionate about historic preservation, is one of the founders of The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc. Her devotion to historic preservation, dedication to excellence and years of hard work provided the foundation on which The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc. is built.
The 2013 Maggie Sprague volunteer of the year award is Bonnie Peter of Plano. The 2014 Maggie Sprague volunteer of the year award is Candace Fountoulakis of Plano.
Bonnie Peter volunteers at the Interurban Railway Museum as a docent and also organizes The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc.'s participation in the annual local Archaeology Fair event and is instrumental in overall planning for the event. Candace Fountoulakis serves on The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc.'s board of directors and is heavily involved in the group's cemetery preservation efforts and other historic preservation initiatives.
"I appreciate all of our volunteers so very much. What we have been able to do over the years to serve the community is just incredible," said Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation Co-Director Russ Kissick of Plano. "All of our volunteers have provided such a great contribution and really made our work successful. Without the volunteers we have, we would not survive. Our volunteers are like family to us."
While daily seeking new ideas and avenues to enhance the city's Interurban Railway Museum and striving to further interest in historic preservation through scholarships and other educational programming, The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc. has also been successful in offering historic preservation initiatives such as an annual city-wide archaeology education event, National Preservation Week activities and much more.
"I am so proud of the work that our volunteers do," said Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation Co-Director Jeffrey Campbell of McKinney. "Each of you have a passion...for serving children, for preserving cemeteries and so much more. I am glad we have this great opportunity to recognize some of our amazing volunteers."
"We do not only work at Plano's Interurban Railway Museum, we are also very involved in historic preservation and provide a variety of related programming," added Kissick. "But no matter what our project, without our wonderful volunteers, we would not be able to do all of the amazing things we do!"
About The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc:
The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc., a Texas corporation 501 (c)(3) non-profit, is an organization dedicated to promote civic pride in the past, to increase preservation awareness through education and public outreach, and to provide financial assistance to protect and preserve our heritage resources for this and future generations. For more information, please visit www.planoconservancy.org or call 972-941-2117.