Francine Nelson - Serve Virginia

Francine Nelson

RICKETTSFRAN10131--C-CAP Director Fran Ricketts 10/24/2013 MATT ARMSTRONG PHOTO

Francine Nelson

May 3, 2023

Senior Corps RSVP Volunteer of the Year Francine Nelson, Volunteer Prince William, Manassas Francine Nelson, a retired educator, has dedicated her time and talents teaching fourth grade students in Prince William County the skills they need to handle being at home alone at the end of the school day. The ‘Safe at Home Safe Alone” program is a partnership between Volunteer Prince William, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, American Red Cross and Prince William County Sheriff’s Office. Ms. Nelson’s participation in the program has reached more than 1,700 students, many of whom attend Title I schools. Her calm demeanor and steady, step-bystep guidance has done much to instill students’ faith in themselves and make them feel better able to handle the challenges of being home alone. Ms. Nelson clearly loves what she does and is one of those individuals who was born to teach and work with children and youth. The success of “Safe at Home Safe Alone” is due in large part to her ongoing support and expertise. Read more Volunteer Stories! Submit a Story!

Adrienne Knox

Story of Service: Adrienne Knox

Adrienne Knox served eight consecutive years as a South Anna PTA board member, carrying the weight of maintaining a functional and successful PTA and helping ensure continuity from year to year. Her dedication to her community is apparent in her warmth and problem-solving abilities to make every person in her community feel heard. Her loyalty and dedication to the South Anna PTA has not only kept it afloat for an entire generation of Spirit Riders, but has allowed it to flourish as well. Adrienne does not approach situations as problems, but as opportunities to improve. Being extremely organized allows her...

Dana Dougherty

Story of Service: Dana Dougherty

Congratulations to Dana Dougherty of Arlington - winner of the 2018 Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Adult Volunteer! Dana Dougherty’s passion for healthy living is getting children and families moving in Arlington! Dana began her quest at Oakridge Elementary, an urban school also known as an “international neighborhood school” with a population speaking more than 40 languages. Here she spends countless hours creating and running an “all are welcome” morning fitness program and family fitness nights. Dana also realized the need for students to have “movement breaks” throughout the day in order to refocus on learning. She created 2Fit2Quit,...

1bb631e0-d6d1-4269-94ef-203a2d23cb46_rw_1920

Shriya Boppana

Story of Service: Shriya Boppana

As founder of Becoming a Voice, Shriya Boppana is a sex trafficking and sexual health education advocate. She holds sexual health education workshops in orphanages, schools, and extracurricular youth organizations to educate young children about safe and unsafe touch in Fairfax County Public Schools as well as in her home state of Andhra Pradesh in India. She also serves on the Virginia, D.C., and Maryland Human Trafficking Task Forces working with the U.S. Department of Justice and local law enforcement groups to identify trafficking schemes, extract victims, and integrate them back into society. Shriya has now educated more than 19,600...

Dr. Sheila Williamson-Branch

Story of Service: Dr. Sheila Williamson-Branch

Having offered years of service and expertise to Serve Virginia, Dr. Sheila Williamson-Branch is the outgoing Vice Chair of the Governor's Advisory Board on Service and Volunteerism (GAB), serving as a Board member since 2018. "I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time serving on the GAB as a committee chair, reviewer of grants, and as Vice Chair," reflects Sheila. "Meeting and learning about the many programs Serve Virginia was involved with was most enlightening. Serving on the board allowed me to be a part of an organization that truly cares about non-profit organizations and the communities they serve." Sheila first became involved...

Crystal Curtis

Story of Service: Crystal Curtis

Crystal Curtis, Appalachian Community Action and Development Agency AmeriCorps VISTA Member of the Year - AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members bring their passion and perseverance where the need is greatest: to organizations that help eradicate poverty. Ms. Curtis is the Appalachian Community Action Agency’s first dedicated staff member to address the drug/opioid addiction issue which is crippling Southwest Virginia. As an AmeriCorps VISTA, Crystal has been highly effective in raising community awareness about the agency’s program and expanding its reach throughout the community. She has been a constant presence at educational and drug take back events and even...

Betty L. Robinette

Story of Service: Betty L. Robinette

Congratulations to Betty L. Robinette of Wytheville - winner of the 2021 Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Senior Volunteer! For people who live in rural areas, fighting hunger is a serious issue. Communities like Southwest Virginia face a number of challenges – from scarcity of grocery stores and food pantries compounded with a lack of transportation to diminishing job opportunities and higher rates of unemployment. This is where Betty Robinette saw a growing need and did more than step into make a difference. Betty was the catalyst that started the Community Food Kitchen in 2012. When the...

What’s Your Volunteer Personality?

Pair your passion with purpose. Take our Volunteer Personality Quiz and find out which volunteer direction is best for you.