Member Spotlights

Victoria, Sonoma County

Victoria, Green Valley 4-H Club, Sonoma County

Helping cancer patients enjoy the outdoors? Check. Coordinating a food drive for two needy families? Check. Donating cookies and cards to abused children? Check. Receiving a prestigious national community service award? Check. These incredible accomplishments are all in a day’s work for Victoria! Victoria, a member of the Green Valley 4-H Club, has certainly made the most of her 4-H experience.

Victoria was recently honored with the esteemed Daily Point of Light Award for her extensive community service activities. This decoration honors individuals across the country who are helping to meet critical needs in their communities. The award was presented to Victoria at the Civic Energy Awards Luncheon, a private event held on the occasion of the 2009 National Conference on Volunteering and Service in San Francisco. Maria Shriver, California’s first lady, opened the celebration with congratulations to the award winners, and Neil Bush, Chairman and CEO of Points of Light Foundation, presented the award to Victoria.

Victoria has made community service the focal point of her 4-H involvement. She loves working with Bob Burke’s Cancer Kids throughout all of their events, namely Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and summer barbeques. In addition, Victoria makes Valentine cards and cookies for seniors who receive Meals on Wheels dinners. She gathers teddy bears and Christmas cards for residents of Valley of the Moon, Sonoma County’s only shelter for abused, abandoned, and neglected children. Victoria brings her bunnies to Ag Days, a program which exposes 6,000 urban school kids and teachers to the world of agriculture. Victoria’s next big project will allow her to interact with 4-Hers all over the state; she is excited to serve as a California State 4-H Ambassador for the 2009-2010 term.

Author: Megan Reese, State 4-H Office Student Assistant, mereese@ucdavis.edu