MABVI Volunteer Appreciation Brunch Honors Outstanding Volunteers

Dave Couture, Ken Bowles, Volunteer Coordinator Jen Buchanan along with Ken and Jen's guide dogs at the awards presentation

At MABVI’s Volunteer Appreciation Brunch, we honored our wonderful volunteers for all that they do!

At an event on the eve of the Boston Marathon, we recognized the hard work and dedication of the volunteers in MABVI’s Volunteer Program, which included presenting certificates for “years of service” milestones as well as awards for distinguished achievement.

The Jane Falk Award for Distinguished Volunteer Achievement went to Dave Couture, who has been volunteering with a visually impaired Cambridge resident named Ken for 21 years. Learn more about Dave and Ken and how their relationship has evolvwed into a friendship over 21 years in these profiles recently published in the Arlington Advocate and the Cambridge Chronicle.

Allie Dagg, her parents Dave and Stacey, Nina Livingstone, and Volunteer Coordinator Jen Buchanan at awards presentation

Our Family Volunteer Award went to Allie Dagg, 15, and her parents David and Stacey, who have been volunteering with Nina Livingstone through our Family Volunteer Program for over 2 years. Our Family Volunteer Program allows those under 18 to volunteer with an individual with visual impairment in their community alongside a parent or guardian. Learn more in this article from the Newton Tab profiling Allie, her family, Nina, and the great relationship they have all formed through our program.

Dr. Richard Jamara, MAB CEO Barbara Salisbury, and MABVI Director of Volunteer and Support Group Services Kyle Robidoux

The New England College of Optometry (NECO) was honored with our Volunteer Community Partner Award to recognize their commitment and dedication to supporting MABVI’s mission and our Volunteer Program in particular. Learn more, including comments from NECO’s Richard Jamara upon accepting the award, in this article from NECO here: NECO Receives Community Partnership Award from MABVI.

Thank you to all of our outstanding volunteers. If you would like to make a difference for someone in your community, please apply to be a volunteer here: Apply to Volunteer.