Volunteer Service Awards

2024 Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree, Eileen Ellsworth

Each year, the Volunteer Fairfax Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an individual who, over the course of at least 15 years, has made significant contributions to Fairfax County through extraordinary service to the community. This year, the Volunteer Service Awards Selection Committee has selected Eileen Ellsworth for her community impact and Regional leadership as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia (CFNOVA).

For 18 years, Eileen led CFNOVA and took the organization to new heights before retiring at the end of 2023. CFNOVA is known for advancing social and economic mobility, racial justice and equity, inclusive systems of economic growth, and community resilience.

While Eileen was at the helm, the Community Foundation developed The Permanent Fund for Northern Virginia, a collection of several permanent community endowments that today include the Innovation Fund, the Environment Fund, the Ross Roberts Fund for the Arts, the Latino Engagement and Achievement Fund, the Education Fund, the Safety Net Fund, the Military Personnel and Their Families Fund, the Aging Fund, the Mental Health Fund, the Racial Justice and Equity Fund, the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Fund, and the Child and Youth Development Fund. Today the Permanent Fund stands at $33 million which includes the value of both current and planned gifts.

During Eileen’s term, CFNOVA awarded over $90MM in grants and scholarships to needy organizations and individuals in NOVA. Due to Eileen’s leadership, CFNOVA is now known for engaging in most of the important social and civic ventures in the region.

2024 Executive Leader of the Year – Jeff Bentley

The Volunteer Fairfax Executive Leader of the Year award is presented to an executive for outstanding corporate leadership in the areas of volunteerism and civic engagement in the community during the past year. This year, the Volunteer Service Awards Selection Committee has selected Jeff Bentley, President and CEO of Northwest Federal Credit Union for his dedication to communities in need.

As a leader, Jeff Bentley understands the power of example. His dedication to communities in need has created a strong culture of volunteerism at Northwest Federal. The organization gives every employee 24 paid hours for volunteering in the community. This support encourages employees to volunteer as needed, helping serve the families in need in the communities of Fairfax County. He works closely with the philanthropic arm of Northwest – the NW Foundation – with four fundraising drives per year: food, winter clothing, school supplies, and diapers.

Additionally, he works with the Foundation’s scholarship program, which to date has distributed $2 million in scholarships to over 400 students; changing the lives for children who would not normally be able to afford higher education.

AWARD FINALISTS

Rising Star

Reserved for an individual who has emerged as a young leader that serves and advocates for a cause important to them and/or has recently become known for their outstanding volunteer service for a local cause or nonprofit.  

2024 Finalists:

• Anthony Amos
• Andrea Booher
• Abby Grosvenor
• Kimberly Sopko
• Thomas Ye

Volunteer Manager

Reserved for a volunteer management professional who showed innovation and leadership in volunteer recruitment, training, programming, and/or retention, whose work significantly and tangibly impacted the success of their organization. 

2024 Finalists:

• Julie Dixon, Capital Caring Health
• Jeffrey Katz, Fairfax County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
• Victoria Younes, Kaiser Permanente
• Amy Tristan, English Empowerment Center

Volunteer of the Year

Presented to a volunteer whose individual service demonstrated significant impact towards achieving at least one nonprofit or agency’s goals. Special consideration given to nominees who also inspired others to engage in serving their community. 

2024 Finalists:

• Arlette Clayton
• Monica Craven
• Watkins Gray
• Michael Mixon
• Erika Rabidoux

Volunteer Program of the Year

Presented to a nonprofit or Fairfax County Government agency for outstanding and visionary contributions to the community through its volunteer program during the past year. This award recognizes a volunteer program that has extraordinary community impact in the local region. 

2024 Finalists:

• Capital Caring Health Volunteer Program
• Food for Neighbors
• Rebuilding Together Express
• Rustic Love
• Together We Rise Against Hunger

Outstanding Corporate Citizen of the Year

Presented to a business with a presence within Northern Virginia for outstanding contributions during the past year to the community. The company has been a longtime advocate for the community and has a reputation for excellence in corporate social responsibility efforts. Special consideration will be given to applicants whose corporate social responsibility initiatives include employee incentives to participate in community engagement (i.e. paid volunteer leave, organized team or company days of service, matching donation policies).  

2024 Finalists:

• Able Moving & Storage
• Apple Federal Credit Union
• Brightspot

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. When will the awards be presented?

A. The Volunteer Service Awards will be presented in person on May 9, 2024 at the Country Club of Fairfax from 4-6p.m.

Q. Can I self-nominate or can we nominate our own company/organization?

A. Absolutely! Using the link at the top of this page, submit your application by March 15th.

Q. I have a question that I do not see answered here. Who should I contact?

A. Please email VolsRUs@volunteerfairfax.org with any questions you have and a staff member will respond as soon as possible.