Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories

Niagara Falls Volunteer Hall of Fame honors 5 for exceptional service to community

Submitted

Tue, Aug 6th 2019 01:20 pm

2019 honorees include Georgia Robinson Bradberry, Jane Schroeder, Don King, Laurie Davis, Jasiah Jackson

On Thursday, Aug. 29, local residents who have demonstrated an extraordinary lifetime commitment to service will be inducted into the Niagara Falls Volunteer Hall of Fame. This year’s honorees are Georgia Robinson Bradberry, Jane Schroeder, Don King and Laurie Davis (posthumously). Jasiah Jackson will be honored with the inaugural GenNext Award, which was established to recognize outstanding youth age 18 and under for exemplary service to the community.

The 2019 class will officially be inducted during Niagara University’s Volunteer Fair at the Four Points by Sheraton, located at 7001 Buffalo Ave., Niagara Falls. The induction will take place at 6 p.m. and will be conducted by Congressman Brian Higgins, Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster, and Niagara University President Rev. James J. Maher, C.M.

Higgins said, “We are proud to recognize these dedicated Niagara Falls residents upon their inauguration into the 2019 Volunteer Hall of Fame. Each has made a positive impact on their community and helped make Niagara Falls a better city, and I am proud to honor their efforts.”

Dyster added, "We are proud to usher in the Volunteer Hall of Fame Class of 2019, as these five outstanding individuals continue to serve as a testament to the profound impact volunteerism has on our local community. I have no doubt that, through their dedicated efforts, this extraordinary group of individuals will continue to inspire and instill a love of community in others, allowing us to honor their achievements in this tradition for many generations to come.”

Maher said, “Grassroots efforts like the ones these five individuals have undertaken make a tremendous impact on their community. Service to others is at the heart of Niagara University’s Catholic and Vincentian mission, and these five honorees exemplify that mission. As a result of their dedication to helping others, the City of Niagara Falls has greatly benefited. We are pleased to celebrate their contributions through the Volunteer Hall of Fame.”

The Niagara Falls Volunteer Hall of Fame, a collaborative effort of Niagara University’s IMPACT/ReNU Niagara program, Dyster and Higgins, was launched in 2017 to honor, document and recognize significant volunteer efforts by individuals who have been long-term contributors toward community improvement. Candidates are nominated by the public and selected by a committee of past Hall of Fame inductees. Eligible candidates must be residents of the City of Niagara Falls and have a minimum 15 years of community service.

Volunteer Hall of Fame Class of 2019

•Laurie Davis (posthumously): Description from nominator: “Laurie was deeply involved with and was the backbone of the Main Street Business Association for many years. She initiated and promoted the annual celebration of Flag Day on Main Street. She was influential in locating the new Police Station and Court House at the current location on Main Street, preventing some ill-advised potential locations from becoming reality and burdening the community in the future. Though she has not been with us for a few years now, we miss her positive attitude and her ability to get things done.”

•Georgia Robinson Bradberry: Description from nominator: “I’ve had the privilege of working with Georgia in a couple different capacities. I am the program coordinator for our Niagara Falls USA Volunteer Greeter Program, where Georgia has served as a Greeter; welcoming visitors at conferences and in Niagara Falls State Park to this destination. Georgia provides a friendly smile and accurate, thorough information about Niagara Falls USA – her home and community that she is passionate about. Georgia has been a volunteer of this program for approx. six year and is always eager and reliable to volunteer when she can. I have also had the pleasure of serving with Georgia on the NF Historic Preservation Society. Georgia works tirelessly, dedicating her time and energy to preserving the city’s historical assets and its stories through various programs and projects, such as the Historical Homes Tour, Archaeological Dig with UB and the ‘Coloring Historical Niagara Falls’ coloring book. She also volunteers for the Castellani Art Museum and the Buffalo Niagara International Airport.”

•Jane Schroeder: Description from nominator: “Jane’s volunteer involvement with local organizations began during her ‘paid’ years and has continued unabated into her retirement 15 years ago. Now 74, she brings her considerable skills and infectious enthusiasm to everything she tackles. Jane began volunteering at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center in 1986 and – 33 years later – continues to be one of the most active members of our dedicated corps, contributing more than 300 hours annually. She is president of the Medical Center Auxiliary – the hospital’s principal volunteer/fundraising organization. Jane’s volunteer service extends far beyond the confines of the hospital. She is a member of the board of Meals on Wheels, where she substitutes as a delivery driver and, for a number of years, maintained the financial records for the organization. As a member of the board of the YWCA of Niagara she twice served as co-chair of the organization’s annual Tribute to Women, a major community event and fundraiser. She is active in her church – St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran in Niagara Falls – where she has served as council president and secretary. In recognition of her many contributions to the community, she was named Senior Citizen of the Year by the Niagara County Office for the Aging in 2016. A Niagara Falls girl through and through, Jane is tireless in her efforts to make the city a better place. It would be most fitting to see her selected as a member of the Niagara Falls Volunteer Hall of Fame.”

•Don King: Description from nominator: “Don King has become one of the well-known citizens of his hometown. Hometown is a key word here as he has served his community in a variety of positions over the years. King was a longtime member of the Niagara Falls School Board, serving for close to 40 years. During that time, he served as president and vice president of the board, and also chaired the board’s curriculum, public information, and finance committees. In addition to his school board service, King has also been a longtime member of the board of directors for Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center and the Niagara Falls Public Library board of trustees. King has also served in membership and leadership positions with the Rotary Club of Niagara Falls, the YMCA, United Way of Niagara, and the National Conference of Christians and Jews (what is now called the National Conference for Community and Justice). In addition to his direct volunteer service, Don, as Chairman of the Polly King Art Group, has been incredibly gracious in making his mother’s artwork available for events and fundraisers and other good causes across the region.”

•Jasiah Jackson (GenNext Award): Description from nominator: “Jasiah Jackson is basically a rock star. She is the President of the Niagara Falls Youth City Council, a group of teenagers looking to improve the city by engaging their peers in volunteerism and civics. In this role, she led seven teens to petition the Niagara Falls City School District to repair and upgrade the water fountains at NFHS because they had fallen into disrepair and because hydration is so critical. She also led a campaign to get youth involved in the participatory budgeting process (PB360) in Niagara Falls. She realizes that often times young people's voices are left out of the conversation and her leadership led to teens being one of the most represented demographics in PB360. Additionally, she was a part of a group of teens that organized a march to City Hall to address gun violence. Rather than just protest, Jasiah and her peers scheduled appointments with their elected officials to discuss the topics. Jasiah trained the participants on how to use data to make a compelling case for the need to address gun violence.”

Hometown News

View All News