Press Releases

Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum Volunteer Honored for Their Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 31, 2008

Contact: Nancy Coggins, APR
405.235.3313 or 405.760.9053
nc@oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org

OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL VOLUNTEERS HONORED FOR SERVICE

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum volunteers were honored for the contributions of time and talent they have made to the Memorial in the last year. Volunteers were feted at a “Big League” basketball dinner, featuring keynote speaker Sam Presti, General Manager of the OKC Thunder.

Sixty-one volunteers gave 8275 hours of time to the Memorial in 2008, a contribution equaling a monetary gift of $129,752. Volunteers provide assistance in the Museum, greeting visitors, providing guidance through the exhibits and answering questions. They also work to preserve and catalog collections in the Archives, help in administration as well as talk to groups and individuals on the Outdoor Symbolic Memorial. Almost half a million visitors from all 50 states and 71 foreign countries were given a warm Oklahoma welcome by Memorial volunteers this year.

Special award winners were

Jenny Crane, Yukon, Okla. – Outstanding MVP
Crane has given 325 hours of service to the Memorial in 2008 and more than 525 hours in the last two years.
Bob Bish, Oklahoma City, and Marguerite Christman, Midwest City, – MVP Above and Beyond Awards
Bish contributed 200 hours of service to the Memorial in 2008 and has given a total of 835 in the last six years. Christman gave 221 hours to the Memorial in 2008 and has given 1066 in the last six years.
Dr. Ellie Lottinville, Oklahoma City, – June Ranney Special Service Award
Lottinville gave 243 hours of service to the Memorial in 2008 and has given a total of 1654 hours since 2001.

Memorial volunteer Jo Wolf from Oklahoma City was also honored as the volunteer who has given the most hours during 2008. Wolf contributed 631 hours of service to the Memorial in 2008 and has given 4540 hours since 2001. Wolf also received the Presidential Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Award, given to volunteers across the country whose contributions exceed 4000 hours in service to an organization.

“The time and talent these individuals give to the Memorial are crucial for us to be able to operate the Memorial and Museum to the standard we have set in terms of visitor service,” said Joanne Riley, Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum Operations Director. “They are always here with a smile and great information for the hundreds of thousands of visitors who see the Memorial as part of their Oklahoma experience each year.”

Memorial volunteers typically work four-hour shifts on a weekly, twice weekly or semi-weekly flexible schedule during museum hours of operation. If you are interested in volunteering at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, please contact Joanne Riley at 405.235.3313 or jr@oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org.

The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum was created to honor “those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever” by the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The Memorial and Museum are dedicated to educating visitors about the impact of violence, informing about events surrounding the bombing, and inspiring hope and healing through lessons learned by those affected.

For more information on the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, call 888.542.HOPE or visit www.oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org.
###

« Back to Press Releases | Archived Press Releases »