• Connecting people with opportunities to serve
• Engaging in activities that build the capacity for effective local volunteering
• Promoting and fostering volunteerism
• Participating in strategic initiatives that mobilize
  volunteers of all ages, ethnicities and genders to meet local needs

Tom and Vicki each share at least 15 hours of their time weekly with several nonprofit organizations.  They have served more than 500 children during their time with the Centerville-Washington Township Park District, where they volunteer weekly as both volunteer naturalists and resident butterfly experts.  In addition to creating a butterfly garden for the park district, they also assist with butterfly gardens at both Cox Arboretum and Hithergreen Senior Center.  Tom utilizes his skills in woodworking to complete projects for Cox Arboretum.  The couple is currently completing a Master Naturalist training program provided by Five Rivers MetroParks.  Previously Tom assisted with the extensive renovation of the Aaron Nutt Cottage for the Centerville-Washington Township Historical Society, a project that lasted more than one and a half years.  Vicki assisted with the project by regularly providing food for the renovation volunteers, sewing curtains for the house and creating a quilt to assist with fundraising efforts.  Vicki also serves as a driver and a member of the Strummers musical group for Hithergreen Senior Center, in addition to quilting with the Creative Quilters.

Tom and Vicki recently celebrated their fortieth wedding anniversary.  In addition to having two children, they also have two grandchildren.  In their free time, Tom enjoys photography and Vicki enjoys quilting.  They also have created a butterfly garden to enjoy in their own backyard.  Before retiring Tom served as an electrical engineer at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base for twenty years and as an instructor for the University of Dayton, where he is now a Professor Emeritus.  Vicki previously served as a both a speech therapist and a stay-at-home mother.

While volunteering has always been a part of their lives, Tom and Vicki increased their involvement following Tom’s retirement.  “After I retired, we consciously made the decision to give back to the community we’ve been taking from for years,” says Tom.

“I come home with much more than I’ve given,” says Vicki.  “We choose to live united with the environment.  To quote Chief Seattle, ‘We are part of the Earth and it is part of us.’”

“Tom and Vicki are helping to get people outdoors to discover our parks as both educational and recreational settings,” says naturalist Kristen Marks.  “They define volunteerism by giving their time not only to Centerville-Washington Park District but to other organizations as well.”