So, let’s just say that Nydia Villafane has some serious spunk! A mother of three, full-time working mom, and all-around helper, Villafane is the latest recipient of the SBLI Superstar Volunteers Program.
Villafane didn’t ease into volunteering but instead jumped right in when her daughter started kindergarten. She pitches in wherever there’s a need, from handling Box Tops collections to face painting at the annual Santa breakfast. And, yes, she was even willing to wear a duck suit to sell tickets for an annual local charity event.
Villafane’s selection has the distinction of kicking off the second year of the SBLI Superstar Volunteers program, a team effort of PTO Today and SBLI (The Savings Bank Life Insurance Company of Massachusetts). The program, which began in January 2012, gives well-deserved national recognition to school volunteers who are nominated by their peers. We profile these superstars on our site and the SBLI site, and SBLI donates $500 to each superstar’s school!
In its first year, the SBLI Superstar Volunteers program recognized 18 volunteers from a huge number of nominations. You can read more about the 2011-2012 winners here. Because the program has been so popular, SBLI and PTO Today decided to extend the program for another year! An additional nine will be selected in the program’s second year and each will receive $500 for his or her school.
So, keep sending in nominations and letting us know about the great volunteers at your schools! We believe stories like Nydia’s inspire everyone and show how volunteering really does make a difference!
