As part of National Volunteer Month and National Volunteer Week (April 10-16), over 100 members of the Miami Dolphins Special Teams Driven by Chevy celebrated their one-year anniversary at Sun Life Stadium.
“We are overwhelmed by the energy, dedication and determination by the volunteers who were a part of the inaugural year,” said Adam Grossman, Miami Dolphins Senior Vice President of Public Affairs. “There is a great need for community service, and the Dolphins are committed to building an unparalleled volunteer force for our community.”
In 2009, South Florida ranked dead last in the nation in percentage of volunteers and volunteer hours per. To combat this problem, the organization created the Special Teams Program, a volunteer group that offers hands-on services to communities and families in need, to partner with existing organizations on worthwhile social, civic and charitable programs and to support community efforts in times of emergency. To date, the program has 3,204 volunteers that have logged 43,835 of community service, making them the most impactful group of its kind.
At today’s celebration, the Dolphins presented three volunteer awards, The Volunteer of the Year which went to Ron Hatchett of Miami, Volunteer Captain/Quarterback of the Year that was given to Andy Weisenborn of Sunrise and recognized Palm Beach resident Sheldon Porter with the Most Driven Volunteer. All three awards were given as part of the team’s partnership with Chevy and each winner received $1,000 to be donated to the charity of their choice.
Ron is originally from the Tortola British Virgin Islands and moved to the United States in September 2007. He speaks fluent Spanish and has volunteered over 320 hours of community service for the special teams program in one year. Ron is a dedicated member that takes the bus to every special teams volunteer event because he doesn’t have his own transportation. He didn’t have a job when he arrived in the country so he felt the best opportunity to learn and engage others was through volunteering.
“I really appreciate this honor,” Hatchett said. “One of my main goals is to do volunteer work. I have had a great opportunity to help others based on the special teams events I have been to. It is a great sense of fulfillment to be a part of this program.”
As winner of the Volunteer of the Year Award, Ron will be flown to New York for the 2011 NFL Draft where he will announce a Dolphins draft selection at the podium in Radio City Music Hall.
Andy, from Sunrise, took home Volunteer Captain/Quarterback of the Year honors. A cancer survivor, Andy amassed 416 hours of community service in his first year with the program.
“Volunteering gives you a sense of fulfillment and it is fun to be around other people with the same interest,” said Weisenborn. “And if you’re a football fan, it gives you a chance to be directly involved with a first class organization.”
Sheldon, from Palm Beach, was named the Most Driven Volunteer in honor of Chevy. He achieved the most hours of any special teams member with 650 and counting. Sheldon’s son passed away in 2010, so he started volunteering with our program to cope with the loss of his son. This year, his wife had a heart attack but he still came out to volunteer and brought her occasionally. Sheldon used his incentive points for tickets to travel to the team’s victory at Green Bay and also hosted a tailgate party for volunteers during a preseason game.
“You get what you put in. If you want to feel good about yourself, volunteer,” said Porter. “I’ve gained a year of life due to volunteering and my son believed in volunteering and giving back. I knew he would want me to keep going, even though he is no longer with us.”
Additionally, over 50 special teams members received a Presidential Service Award for their dedicated service to the community.
Photos Credit Miami Dolphins