Community Connections - 2024-25 (English) - 14

National Volunteer Week
In celebration of National Volunteer Week in 2024 from April 21-27, Program Enrichment Awards recognized two
individuals and four volunteer teams who made noteworthy contributions to their programs in 2023. Volunteer
managers countywide were invited to nominate volunteers for this annual enrichment award program. A selection
committee chose the following volunteers to be recognized and awarded $1,000 in funding for their programs.
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Jenn Ochs: Mobility for All Ambassador
(M4A) - Community Planning and
Permitting/Transportation Planning
Jenn is a volunteer ambassador with the Mobility for
All program. She teaches people with mobility barriers
how to use smartphone apps like Lyft, Uber Ride,
Google Maps, RTD, and Transit. Jenn is an outspoken
advocate for people with disabilities, always ready
to engage in M4A workshops, meetings, and events;
onboard new ambassadors; and highlight opportunities
for change, such as identifying missing cut curbs
at intersections. During 2023, Jenn volunteered a total
of 1,425 hours and supported 25 people while attending
to her duties as Miss Wheelchair Colorado 2023!
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Patty Rhodes: Colorado Master Gardener
- Parks and Open Space/CSU Extension
As a master gardener, Patty educates the
public on home horticulture issues. From behind-thescenes
help in the office and public education events,
to working in the Food Pantry Garden, everything
she tackles is done with grace and a positive attitude.
Patty logged 343 hours of volunteer time for the 2023
season, while the required amount is 24!
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Matt Henderson (pictured), Joanne
Ashmun, Charles Bailey, Donna Braun,
Prudence Carter, Kevin Cummings,
Trish Devlin, Bob Jamieson, Gerra Lewis,
Claudia Romans, Jan Sdao:
Medicare Counseling Program - Community
Services, Area Agency on Aging
These Boulder County volunteers are SHIP (State
Health Insurance Program) Medicare counselors
who provide nonbiased education and information
to Medicare eligibles to help them with their billing
issues and appeals claims. These volunteers continually
train to stay current with not only Medicare rules
and regulations, but also in Medicaid, so they can help
clients understand their benefits and coverage and
how the two programs fit together. Volunteers attend
training sessions on a wide variety of topics, including
Medicaid, brain injury, hospice, fraud prevention,
home health, skilled nursing, etc. They work February
through December each year in support of Medicare
beneficiaries and their families. In 2023, the program
recorded 1,303 volunteer hours! During the Medicare
Open Enrollment season, these amazing volunteers
had 891 service hours with 892 contacts.
For more information about Boulder County's Volunteer program, please visit BoulderCountyVolunteers.org.
Boulder County government has a range of one-time and ongoing volunteer opportunities.
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bouldercounty.gov

https://BoulderCountyVolunteers.org http://www.bouldercounty.gov

Community Connections - 2024-25 (English)

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