JVN Celebration of Volunteering Awards 2022
In memory of Leonie Lewis z”l
The Power of Volunteering at JVN’s Celebration of Volunteering Awards
This year’s JVN Celebration of Volunteering Awards 2022 took place on 15 January 2023 at The Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire.
It was a record-breaking year for our awards event. Almost 400 guests from the Jewish and wider community arrived at the stunning Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire to see 90 charity award winners from 46 charities receive their individually personalised trophies. Hosted by renowned community compere, Nigel Rothband, the evening offered up a mix of simcha, memories, community spirit and inspiration as we heard from charity professionals, executives and of course, the volunteers themselves who make an enormous contribution to the community and are our unsung heroes. A new ‘Power of Volunteering’ video about how JVN makes a difference for charities and volunteers was unveiled during the evening.
This year’s awards ceremony was held in memory of our founding director, Leonie Lewis MBE z”l . Leonie’s family attended and spoke at the awards about the Leonie, Life and Legacy campaign that was launched in her memory. The campaign has already received more than £46,000 in donations.
The evening showcased volunteers from four award categories: Volunteer of the Year, Volunteer Team of the Year, Young Adult Volunteer of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award.
An independent judging panel, headed by Dame Mary Marsh, studied each nomination individually and chose the outstanding winners from each category. These awards were announced and presented on the night and each preceded with a short video from their nominating charity.
The outstanding winners:
Wohl Legacy Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award was Dr David Spitzer, volunteer at Kef Kids
Ian & Jane Pearl, Parents of a Kef Kids user
"Our child has highly complex medical needs and we have only been able to send him to Camp Kef (so we can get respite) due to Dr MD Spitzer volunteering his time and expertise summer and winter for years! He takes on this enormous responsibility with humility, good humour, warmth and love. At the same time, the assurance he provides all of the parents enables us to truly relax and enjoy our break. Finally, his entire family are part of his team, giving their time and using their individual talents to bring joy to the kef kids! He is an exceptional doctor, an incredible person and an outstanding volunteer."
Investec Outstanding Volunteer Team of the Year Award was Digital Volunteers, volunteer team at Royal Free Charity
Jon Spiers, CEO, Royal Free Charity
“We’re delighted that our incredible digital volunteers have won the outstanding volunteer team of the year award. When lockdown began, we had real concerns around patients not being able to attend virtual appointments due to digital exclusion. The volunteers have helped thousands of patients attending our sleep and ventilation clinic at the Royal Free Hospital across the past two years and saved the NHS many, many hours of professional time. This programme was originally only meant to be a pilot, but our trust has asked us to continue it indefinitely as the volunteers are providing such invaluable support. Thank you to all of them.”
Edwards Family Foundation Outstanding Young Adult Volunteer of the Year Award was Ben Brownson, volunteer at Maccabi GB
Ashley Lerner, CEO Maccabi GB:
“Ben is a truly deserving winner of the Outstanding Young Adult Volunteer Award”. From the first time I met Ben, some 13 years ago, as a participant on our Leadership programme, Ben has always had Maccabi at the centre of his life and volunteering. Whilst golf is his passion, Ben always is the first to volunteer to support one of our projects, always on hand to assist his colleagues and the professional team and always doing it with a smile on his face. We are truly lucky to have such a committed volunteer within our Organisation and I am looking forward to working with him further in the future. Thank you, Ben, from everyone at Maccabi GB”
The Citron, Sivan and Sefton Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award was Rita Newmark, volunteer at Jewish Care
Daniel Carmel-Brown, Jewish Care Chief Executive says,
“I want to congratulate Rita on behalf of everyone at Jewish Care on receiving this much-deserved award in recognition of the outstanding contribution she has made to the community by volunteering for over 50 years since she and a small group of friends began Meals on Wheels.
Since then, Rita has continued to give her skills, time and expertise delivering meals, and doing so much more, to nurture and inspire many others to volunteer for what is now Jewish Care’s Meals on Wheels service. Now providing 700 meals each week to 300 older people it has been a lifeline to thousands of people over the years. What Rita and the small group of dedicated volunteers began all those years ago, continues to bring the community together across the generations.”
Nicky Goldman JVN’s Chief Executive:
“We were delighted to welcome nearly 400 people in the room at the JVN Celebration of Volunteering Awards, the first held in person since 2019, on Sunday evening. Setting new records, we had 90 award winners nominated by 46 charities in the Jewish community and wider charity sector. It's such a wonderful endorsement of the integral role that volunteers play in each of our organisations.
I am so proud that JVN, together with Howard, Adam and Ben Lewis, celebrated the life and legacy of Leonie Lewis MBE z”l at the JVN Celebration of Volunteering Awards.
We launched our programme 'Leonie's Life and Legacy', which involves partnering with organisations she held dear, on events to inspire people into volunteering throughout 2023 - as she would have loved to do. The fundraising campaign, initially £36,000, now exceeded, has a new target of £66,000, a thousand for each year of her life https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/leonieslegacy.
On a personal note, Leonie Lewis was my mentor, my colleague, my friend. Her memory will always be a blessing to all those who she inspired throughout her life.”
DOWNLOAD >> JVN Celebration of Volunteering Awards Brochure
