Gov. Gregoire recognizes Washington volunteers

For Immediate Release: April 11, 2011

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today recognized 43 Washington state volunteers for their work to support communities at an annual volunteer recognition ceremony held each year at the Executive Mansion. The event coincides with the launch of National Volunteer Week, which runs April 10-16.

�Your contributions are sincerely welcomed and appreciated,� Gregoire told those who were recognized. �You are part of the giving spirit that makes Washington great. Our state has recently risen to tenth in percentage of residents who volunteer, and more than a third of all Washingtonians volunteer in some capacity.�

Those recognized represent 18 different counties, large and small cities and all ages. The youngest volunteer recognized today is five years old, while the oldest is 90.

�No matter your age, you have proven that we each have something to give and that each of us can serve others,� Gregoire added.

Before Gregoire took office in 2005, there was no official statewide event to recognize the service of dedicated volunteers in Washington state. Gregoire is the first governor to begin this tradition off annually recognizing those who volunteer their time during a special ceremony � which is now in its seventh year.

To learn more about those recognized today, visit: http://www.governor.wa.gov/news/Program_2011_Final.pdf