In yesterday’s headliner, we celebrated Shirley Fischer, our 2016 Distinguished Service Award winner. Today we are honored to introduce you to the 2016 Volunteer of the Year.

NNEMAP’s Volunteer of the Year Award was established in 2005. Each year since then, the award, given in memory of Bob and Vera Lichty, has been bestowed upon one or two deserving volunteers who consistently went above and beyond the call of duty during the preceding year.

The 2016 award winner has a name that is somewhat synonymous with greatness in the pantheon of American popular culture. A record-breaking professional football player. An earth-shattering, barrier-breaking musician. And now, a nonprofit organization board member and treasurer.

If you haven’t guessed yet, the winner of the NNEMAP Volunteer of the Year Award for 2016 is Jim Brown. As the Board Treasurer, Jim is engaged in practically every facet of NNEMAP’s operations. In addition to keeping financial records straight, he has helped transition and modernize the organization’s accounting practices. As treasurer, Jim helps with audits and IRS reporting and manages payroll and all accounts. He also serves at NNEMAP fundraisers–and always answers our cries in the night promptly and professionally. In his spare time, he has a full-time job and attends Linworth United Methodist Church.

Being NNEMAP’s treasurer is a demanding volunteer position, but Jim manages this all with a great sense of humor and the sunniest of dispositions. Pardoning the financial pun, he is a truly invaluable asset to the organization.

So our Jim Brown isn’t the famous Cleveland Browns running back. Our “James” Brown isn’t the Godfather of Soul. But in so many ways, his volunteer spirit and dedicated service exemplifies the heart and soul of NNEMAP. Congratulations, Jim, on a hard-earned award, and thank you for everything you do for NNEMAP!

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Didn’t win an award? Hey, there’s always next year! But–you can’t win if you don’t volunteer. To find out when and where you can serve NNEMAP Food Pantry, call 614-297-0533 or e-mail Assistant Director Sean Becker at sean@nnemappantry.org today!