As an honoree on the January 2024 Serve Virginia Honor Roll, Tracy Keller has been an ambassador of girl leadership since her teen years in Girl Scouts. There, she earned the highest award, the Gold Award, for creating and carrying out an elementary educational program on prevention of tobacco use. Now, more than thirty years later and as CEO of the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast since 2005, Tracy continues to facilitate conversations that empower girls and women, and helps shape programs within her community. Recently, Tracy embraced the challenge of volunteering as the lead for the Empowering Girls...

2024 Governor's Volunteerism & Community Service Award honorees Michelle Smeltzer and Nichole Johns serve the community of Warren County, Virginia, through a variety of volunteer organizations. They are committed to working for the betterment of the community, volunteering together at community organizations such as the Warren Coalition, Concern Hotline, Dinner Together, House of Hope, and Reaching Out Now. Together, Michelle and Nichole amassed close to 1,000 hours of community service in the past year.  They also serve on the Board of Directors for Hope and Rest Temporary Shelter (HARTS), which Michelle help create when she saw the need and then worked...

Congratulations to Aniya Hubert - winner of the 2020 Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Young Adult Volunteer! Aniyah, a senior at Averett University, began volunteering at a young age and continued throughout her high school and college career. She has served organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Bacon Street Counseling Center, Thrive Peninsula Food Pantry, Sister4Sister on campus service group supporting young girls, and online as a crisis textile to aide individuals experiencing trauma. A double major in Marketing and Psychology, Aniyah was just inducted in the National Society of Leadership of Success because of her high...

Child Health Investment Partnership (CHIP) of Roanoke Valley is a trusted early childhood home visiting program in Southwest Virginia. Since 1988, CHIP has empowered over 28,000 children and their families, providing the support needed for a healthy, successful start. They partner with pregnant moms, children from birth to first grade, and their caregivers, pairing them with Community Health Nurses and Family Case Managers who offer guidance on accessing medical services, managing chronic conditions, and promoting healthy development. CHIP's mission wouldn’t be possible without the support of their incredible volunteers. Whether it’s helping with events, assisting with administrative tasks, or supporting...

Ms. Faridah Abdul-Latif was one of the first residents to move-in to Loudoun View Senior Residences, an affordable housing community, when it opened in September 2022. Since then, she has volunteered twice monthly at the building’s onsite food distribution in partnership with Loudoun Hunger Relief. Her volunteerism supports community building at the property and she relays messages to staff who ensure a to-go bag of groceries is waiting for residents who aren't able to attend the regular pick-ups. Ms. Faridah also serves on True Ground Housing Partners’ Resident Council, where she offers her skills to other properties in Arlington and worked...

Debbie Farrar is a retired police officer and has also been a group exercise instructor for most of her adult life. As a volunteer, she currently teaches SAIL (Stay Active and Independent for Life), an evidence-based fall prevention program centered around a strength, balance and fitness program for adults 65 and older. Debbie recalls, "I heard about SAIL from a friend of mine who is in her 70s and asked Loudoun County’s Cascades Senior Center about it. I went through teacher training in 2023 and have been teaching ever since. The program lasts for 12 weeks. I have a student...