Endres honored for volunteerism

Grand Island Dispatch, February 2, 2007

The National Fraternal Congress of America has honored Jill Endres of Grand Island, a member of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Niagara Falls Chapter, as a Fraternal MVP, or Most Valuable Participant, for the week of Jan. 15.

Fraternal MVPs are “Fraternalists-in-Action” who volunteer their time and energy to strengthen their communities through participation in local lodge activities and other charitable endeavors.

“The NFCA wishes to salute those individuals as true fraternalists,” said NFCA Chair of the Board Janice U. Whipple. “As a Fraternal MVP, Jill Endres embodies the heart of fraternalism through her hard work, dedication and generosity.”

Endres heard how Thrivent Financial for Lutherans can increase the impact that people’s kindness can make in her community. Now, she has first-hand experience in helping to make that difference happen. Last year, as youth director for the Niagara Falls Chapter of Thrivent Financial, 18-year-old Endres worked side-by-side with adult members of her chapter, acting on activity requests and helping to make sure those approved met chapter program guidelines. Her “roll-up-the-sleeves” attitude toward helping others quickly gained her respect from chapter adults and youth.

“I volunteered as youth director because I wanted to give a youth perspective to the chapter,” Endres said. “It helped to bring me down to earth in seeing the needs that people have, and how Thrivent Financial helps.”

Her caring nature has spread across a variety of volunteer efforts. She participated in various Join Hands Day activities, including clean-up work at her church. She helped with a Relay For Life race to benefit the American Cancer Society. She took part in Ride for Roswell and Loop for Lupus volunteer events, participated in an anti-drinking/driving campaign, and was a Students Against Drunk Driving volunteer.

Her success as a volunteer has been noticed by other organizations, as well. The local Rotary Club asked Endres to begin an auxiliary youth group, called Interact. Through Interact, Endres organized a sleep-out to raise awareness for the Humanity for Homeless program. For her efforts, she received the Rotary Student Award last year for volunteerism, as well as a scholarship.

Endres is a member of Young Life, a non-denominational Christian youth group, the National Honor Society, and the Grand Island concert band and wind ensemble. She was a member of her high school’s student council and served on the Grand Island Superintendent’s Advisory Council. She also volunteers at Camp TeBeCe, a summer camp run by the local Boys and Girls Club that helps children from the inner city. Now attending the University of Rochester, Endres plans on joining the Peace Corps after graduation, followed by a career in the FBI.