Good as Gold Springfield Volunteer Awards

Kris Gates was also nominated by Compass for Kids for the Heart of Gold Award. Since 2021, Kris Gates has volunteered with Compass, supporting students from both Westminster and Third Presbyterian Church sites. She mainly works with 3rd-5th graders but is also popular among younger children. Kris adapts to different classroom needs and ensures every student feels valued. Her leadership skills benefit both students and staff, offering encouragement and constructive feedback. Kris is committed to making students feel supported and heard, making her an asset to McClernand Club Compass.

Heart of Gold Award recipient, Adrienne Dalenberg was nominated by Compass for Kids. Adrienne has volunteered with the Youth Leadership Development Program for two years, leading weekly social emotional learning activities for 8th-10th graders. She finds creative ways to engage students and leverages her leadership experience as an effective facilitator. Adrienne values student input, adapting her methods accordingly, and regularly contributes ideas and resources to improve the program.

Mary Cronin was nominated by the Central Illinois Foodbank for the Heart of Gold Award. Mary has volunteered many hours with the Foodbank, helping mainly with food deliveries throughout Central Illinois. She has traveled to locations such as Quincy, Centralia, Mt. Olive, and Litchfield—covering more than 5,200 miles. She also supports events like the Kids’ Market, where she helps families select food while creating a welcoming atmosphere. At the Christmas Food Distribution, Mary helped to manage traffic to ensure that over 1,500 families received meals for the holiday

Another Heart of Gold Award recipient was Lisa Cotton. She was nominated by the Coalition of Rainbow Alliances (CORAL), where she serves as Vice President. Lisa leads service efforts like volunteering for the Animal Protection League, coordinating citywide food drives, hosting Coffee with a Cop events, and organizing teams for The Out of the Darkness walk at UIS. She excels at connecting community members, businesses, and organizations for collaborative projects. Her fundraising has enabled CORAL to donate over $14,000 to 19 organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club of Central Illinois, Helping Hands of Springfield, and Springfield Immigration Advocacy Network.

Wayne Carlson was nominated by Central llinois Foodbank as another of our Heart of Gold award recipients. Wayne has volunteered with the Foodbank for more than 10 years, contributing over 1,400 hours of service. Every Thursday morning, he tackles the “retail route,” collecting donations from multiple Springfield stores, spending
four hours sorting, boxing, and loading goods. In 2025, Wayne helped recover over 528,700 pounds of items. He often trains new volunteers, fills in as needed during the week, and supports food distributions, including managing traffic at a recent event that served over 650 families.

Patricia Carley was nominated by Springfield School District 186 for the Heart of Gold award. Patricia regularly volunteers in a first-grade classroom at Butler Elementary, having a significant positive impact on students. She shares her time, dedication, and experiences to enrich learning. Her work with Readers Theater helps students build confidence, improve reading, and enjoy teamwork. Patricia makes every child feel supported and consistently goes above and beyond, making the classroom more engaging and welcoming

Sister Ritamary Brown, OSF was nominated by Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach. Sister Ritamary began volunteering at Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach in January 2024, initially sorting donated medical supplies. She joined a new team focused on packing clean birth kits, organizing the inventory for these kits, and standardizing the packing process. Thousands of kits have since been sent worldwide. As she noted, “where a baby happens to be born should not determine his or her access to safe, clean conditions... Every birth, every baby, is a miracle from God, and we should treat it as such.”

Shaun Brady was nominated by United Way of Central Illinois for the Heart of Gold Award, where he serves on the Marketing Committee. Shaun’s reliability shines at every event—whether it’s setting up, welcoming volunteers, or stepping in wherever needed, his commitment never wavers. Twice a year, he leads teams from Heartland Coca-Cola during the Spring and Fall Days of Action, working right alongside his group to ensure each project is completed with care. Through his hands-on leadership and consistent presence, Shaun inspires fellow volunteers and truly embodies the spirit of partnership that every nonprofit seeks.

Cathy Boerke was nominated for the Heart of Gold Award by Kings Daughters Organization, where she serves as President. In recent years, Cathy has volunteered at St. Martin de Porres and created an installation for the Illinois Innocence Project. She has helped organize and distribute Thanksgiving Baskets for First Congregational Church, Temple B’rith Shalom, and Temple Israel’s collaboration. Most recently, Cathy sits on the boards and volunteers for Sojourn Shelter and Services and Springfield Center for Independent Living. Cathy is also a small business owner who offers Aging-in-Place presentations to organizations to help people stay safe and independent.

Heart of Gold Award recipient Sophia Bartletti was nominated by the Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery. Sophia served as a volunteer at the Children's Holiday Store. She provided individualized compliments to each child, fostering a positive shopping experience. Sophia was particularly adept at supporting children who were apprehensive, helping them feel more comfortable and confident while shopping. During downtimes, Sophia also assisted by maintaining the coloring area and restocking supplies.