March 5, 2008

Hood River recipients of the Violet Richardson Award, an international award that recognizes young women for exemplary volunteer service, were honored at the Feb. 6 meeting of Soroptimist International of Hood River.

First place winner was Elvia Santillan, whose nomination will be forwarded to the next level of competition. Runners-up Marlene Cervantes and Inga Hansen were also honored for their notable accomplishments.

Elvia Santillan received a personal check for $100, and SIHR donated $250 in her honor to her selected cause, The Next Door, Inc. Marlene Cervantes and Inga Hansen each received $50. SIHR donated $50 to Inspiration Circle in honor of Marlene Cervantes and $50 to Helping Hands Against Violence in honor of Inga Hansen.

Each girl documented the volunteer work that she has done in the community and wrote an essay about why she volunteers.

“Be the change that you want to see in the world,” said Elvia Santillan, who works with the “Si Se Puede” (Yes, We Can) program to stop underage drinking. Santillan has traveled to Portland and Washington, D.C., to advocate for her cause, which is to work as a peer in stopping underage drinking. Santillan is also active in Leaders for Tomorrow, Inspiration Circle, MECHA, HOSA, and Nuestra Communidad Sana.

She said, “I love volunteering. I feel that a little piece of help can make a person feel loved and appreciated.”

Marlene Cervantes has served as a youth leader in the Inspiration Circle, the organization she selected for her SIHR donation. She works at its fund-raisers and helps organize its events. In addition, she works at HOSA, has helped with Christmas and toy drives, solicited for United Way, worked on voter registration projects, and been a volunteer weekend baby sitter for her aunt.

“I’ve learned that it takes time and patience to volunteer. As a volunteer, I appreciate working hard and giving all my effort for something valuable,” said Cervantes.

Inga Hansen selected Helping Hands for the donation made in her honor. Her application included photos of her as a fifth-grade Girl Scout doing monthly crafts with residents of Hawk’s Ridge Assisted Living Center.

“Girl Scouting, the last 11 years, has opened many doors for me,” said Hansen. With the Scouts, Hansen has worked on projects for FISH, Habitat for Humanity and a cancer awareness project.

“The organization that has moved me the most in my life is Helping Hands Against Violence,” said Hansen. “I do not have any pictures from helping there because of the confidentiality.” Instead of presents for her 16th birthday, Hansen chose for her friends to make cash donations to Helping Hands.

Presently Hansen is working with Helping Hands to form a high school group CONSENT, whose mission is to empower students in establishing and honoring personal boundaries.

Rebecca Brochu, from Next Door Inc. and Inspiration Circle, and Lori Buchanan, from Helping Hands, were on hand to thank the girls for the work they had done on behalf on their organizations.

“The well-being of every community depends upon dedicated volunteers,” said June Knudson, president of SIHR. “These three young women are experiencing both the joy and new opportunities that lifelong volunteerism can bring into our lives. Elvia, Marlene and Inga are a credit to us all.”