Released: Jan. 15, 2010

Contact:
Margo O’Hara
312.427.3325 x 224
margo@activetrans.org

Dedication, Passion Common Themes Through Active Trans Volunteer Celebration

A record-number of talented and noble volunteers were honored last night at the Active Transportation Alliance’s annual volunteer appreciation celebration.

Active Trans honored more than 25 people for the dedication, time and passion they donated to the advocacy organization in 2009.

For the first time, Active Trans awarded an entire high school class as Emerging Leader Volunteers; Curie Metropolitan High School students were honored for their outstanding efforts through the Drive With Care program. These students have leveraged an ordinary Driver’s Ed class and transformed it into a platform to educate and engage schoolmates around safe driving.

“Active Trans volunteers are out there every day doing the heavy lifting – both literally and figuratively – to make our programs, events and campaigns a success,” said Rob Sadowsky, executive director of the Active Transportation Alliance. “We are so grateful for their expertise, time and dedication.”

Active Trans volunteers are as diverse as the organization they support; awards were presented in several categories, including Event, Important Cog (Volunteer of the Year) and Under the Radar.

Volunteers honored last night were:

Volunteer of the Year/Important Cog
Jack Wleizien

John D'Ambrose Spirit of Volunteering Award
Brian Morrissey
Honorable Mention Sheila Burns
Honorable Mention Steven Fields

Event Volunteer
Michael Roberts
Paula Jo O'Donnell
Craig Oberman
John Adams
Areyah Benyahuda
Larry Garcia

Under the Radar
Edmond Yomtoob, Psy.D.
Elizabeth Adamczyk

Honorable Mention: Lori Klein-Blazek, Jungman School
Honorable Mention :Carolyn Kosiba, Apollo Elementary School

Emerging Leader
Mark Hermanson
Curie School Team

The Active Transportation Alliance is a non-profit, member-based advocacy organization that works to make bicycling, walking and public transit so safe, convenient and fun that we will achieve a significant shift from environmentally harmful, sedentary travel to clean, active travel. The organization builds a movement around active transportation, encourages physical activity, increases safety and builds a world-class transportation network. Formerly the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, the Active Transportation Alliance is North America’s largest transportation advocacy organization, supported by more than 6,000 members, 1,000 volunteers and 35 full-time staff. For more information on the Active Transportation Alliance, visit www.activetrans.org or call 312.427.3325.

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