|
|
|
Spirit of service is
inspiration to others
Norwalk Advocate
By Jamie DeLoma, Special Correspondent
April 21, 2007
For nearly a century, Anna Young's focus has been the needs of others.
The 96-year-old Norwalk resident said her mother, Catherine, instilled
the volunteer spirit in her nine children at an early age.
"She taught us to be kind to the fellow man," Young said. " 'If they
slap your cheek, you don't slap theirs, you embarrass them more that
way,' she would say. She was a good woman."
Young said that she has been passionate about helping others since she
was old enough to walk. "I feel I am doing something," she said.
"I have always liked to help the underdog. I'm here to give."
Young's lifelong commitment to the community will be recognized Monday,
when the Voluntary Action Center of Mid-Fairfield presents her with its
most prestigious honor, the Spirit Award, as part of National Volunteer
Month.
"The Spirit Award traditionally goes to somebody who has provided
exceptional service to the community over a lifetime," said Joan Monte,
the center's program director. "Anna is so well-known in the community.
At 96, she keeps going and going. She has made volunteerism a lifetime
commitment and mission. It's very inspirational."
At Monday's reception, to be held at 5:30 p.m. at Brien McMahon High
School, youth and adult volunteers from the agencies that the center
serves in Norwalk, Weston, Westport, and Wilton will be honored.
Most of Young's volunteer work during the past 12 years has been
coordinated through the center's Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.
"Whenever we need her, she's here," said Teri Klein, the program's
director. "She's really one of our RSVP star volunteers."
Over the past decade, Young has logged more than 6,000 hours
coordinating volunteers, organizing, recruiting and working on RSVP
mailing teams and special events for about 30 organizations, including
Norwalk Community College, Domestic Violence Crisis Center, Norwalk
Housing and the Alzheimer's Association.
"She's an amazing person," said Klein, who nominated Young for the
award. "She's full of energy, she's full of enthusiasm, she's really an
inspiration to all of us." For the past five years, Young has
secured gift certificates from local businesses to be used as door
prizes for the RSVP's annual luncheon. She also has been the top seller
in the American Cancer Society's annual fundraising car raffle.
"I do nothing, nothing for praise," Young said. "I just had to do
something to liven up the party. Everybody leaves there happy, that is
what I love. I try to get people motivated."
Amy Tucci of Norwalk said her grandmother's generosity is infectious.
"She sets a really good example for all of us. She gets us all
involved," Tucci said. "She will get you to go with her, it's a great
thing. She just truly does it out of the goodness of her heart."
And for 35 years, Young welcomed more than a dozen foster children into
her home. "I started to take care of my sister's two foster
children when she was in the hospital," Young said. "And from there on,
I got married and we took care of them. And they kept giving me more
girls to be in my home."
Over three-and-a-half decades, Young said she cared for foster children
from a few weeks to as long as 15 years. She also raised two biological
daughters. "I told them, I don't want them at home to sit all day
long. Let's advance them, let them breathe the same air as everybody
else," Young said she told state workers about her foster children. "My
job was to get them into the world. It got them advanced."
She said she has focused helping children to learn to read, write, find
jobs, become more independent and be part of a family. Although
she is no longer a volunteer foster parent, Young is involved with
nearly 30 agencies and causes. Earlier this week, she was helping her
5-year-old great-grandson, Peter Tucci, raise money for a soldier in
Iraq to purchase better body armor.
"People need to be kind to one another," Young said. "In the long run,
you will gain. You will gain sharing. You will gain friendship."
Despite her age, Young said she does not plan to slow down anytime soon.
"I'm not going to let that rocking chair get me, I will volunteer for as
long as I can walk," she said. "That's my life and I don't intend to
give it up. I'm not ready to close the book yet."
|
