28th Annual Cornucopia Luncheon

Rise V is a group of young professionals that prioritize volunteering in the community. They were started by Dr. Twain Henry and his wife Jean. They commonly volunteer with Catholic Charities, City of Lubbock, Habitat for Humanity, and the Give Kids a Smile Dental fair. They have inspired a college group to start serving: Rise V - Second Fellowship. Their motto is “Imperfect People Doing Good,” which Catholic Charities’ Carol Alonzo says is a “good reminder that no one can do everything, but everyone can do something.”

Doug Aldridge is a valuable volunteer at Lubbock Meals on Wheels. He covers his route 6 days a week, stays late to help clean the coolers, and arrives early to set out frozen meals. He is also an active member of the Volunteer Advisory Council, and helps with events like Mardi Gras and Senior Secret Santa. Aldridge is someone that Meals on Wheels can always rely on, and with 506 hours of volunteer work last year alone, he is an essential part of the organization.

Sybille Neuber does it all for the West Texas Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She is the chapter’s Board Chair, serves on the education team, and helps with the Out of the Darkness Walk. Last year she underwent training to become a Healing Conversation Coordinator, and she even took on chairing the Ride to Fight Suicide motorcycle run, even though she “knew nothing about motorcycles.” After losing her son Daniel to suicide in 2016, she is passionate about learning how to better heal and to help others do the same. Neuber is a great example of the AFSP’s mission to save lives and bring hope.

A total of 60 students on staff at The Daily Toreador completed 150 volunteer hours, only a year into the program’s volunteer initiative. Under the guidance of editor-in-chief Marianna Souriall, the students volunteered with Special Olympics of the South Plains, South Plains Food2Kids, Literacy Lubbock’s annual Book Festival, and Los Hermanos Familia’s Cesar Chavez Day Adopt-a-Highway. Despite hectic academic schedules and other involvements, these students have shown remarkable dedication to making a positive impact because they “really care about Lubbock, their home away from home.” Next semester, The Daily Toreador will set a 99-hour volunteering goal.

Haven Penland is an active, involved, and creative volunteer for East Lubbock Art House. After first going to the first session of the Summer Art Camps, Haven has consistently helped out organizations with preparing for various programs, setting up and cleaning up and with making sure other young people participating in various programs feel involved and valued. She cares so much about ELAH and has mentioned that it’s her favorite place. She never wants to go home because “there’s lots of work to do” and because they need her help.

Maggie Nelson volunteers in multiple capacities at Children’s Home of Lubbock. Maggie brings her personality and strengths to the Foster Care Support Group, in which she provides childcare for foster and biological children of foster families. As a caregiver, Maggie uses her ability to create a fun and inclusive environment as she meets the basic needs and supervision of kids while creating new memories. She’s even organized events as the president of her student association, PASO, to bring groups to host things like Easter egg hunts and Christmas parties. With her willingness to learn, show up, and go above and beyond, Children’s Home of Lubbock and the kids they care for are better because of her impact.

Antonio Ramirez is completing his junior year at Texas Tech University studying Medical Laboratory Sciences with a Specialization in Physician Assistant. Originally from Venezuela, Antonio’s mission is to give back to his community and the country that helped him and his family. On top of being in 12 organizations including a Multicultural Fraternity and being an ambassador for TTU, Ramirez has logged over 300 volunteer hours at Ronald Mcdonald House Charities and many other places. He has been a staple in their family room and a key component in serving families. In addition, he has taken the initiative to help RMHC keep their programs running through helping and encouraging their recycling efforts.

South Plains Young Marines is an outstanding group of young people that range in age from 8-18. This group instills discipline, healthy habits, and community service in the young people that enroll in the program. Community service is a requirement in joining South Plains Marines. They volunteered as the Color Guard in the Patterson Branch Library’s annual African American History Month program. They have volunteered in several cleanup efforts such as cleaning up Clapp Park and cleaning up the Silent Wings Museum.

Tenzin Pradhan created his own non-profit organization called B.L.E.S.S. Foundation, which works on helping provide kids with neurological disorders necessary attention and care by donating toys and equipment. Tenzin held a toy drive that raised and donated around 500 dollars worth of toys to the UMC Children’s Hospital. Tenzin is also a ‘Head Tutor’ at Robin’s Nest Tutoring; when asked why he started, he said that “knowledge is something a child can acquire alone, but the interactions with the tutor can cause a lifelong effect within the child’s heart.” Tenzin has an ability to naturally gather a crowd and has an overwhelming perseverance whenever he’s committed to a goal.

Sonya Garcia is not volunteering; to her, being of service to others is a way of life. Whether you’re enjoying recent city park restorations, buying Girl Scout Cookies, the recipient of a West Texas Home Builder Association grant or making donations to Meals on Wheels, you’ve been impacted by Sonya’s dedication to our community. She is a fearless leader by example and has a true skill for making everyone feel welcome. She challenges those around her to make a difference. Whether it’s a short visit on her Meals on Wheels route, or a tough conversation she’s willing to have with an 8th grade girl she mentors through the SPARK program, she leads an extraordinary life of helping. She is an indispensable part of the Junior League of Lubbock.

Volunteers from Texas Mutual Insurance have made an immeasurable impact in the lives of the most vulnerable members of our community by assisting Communities in Schools of the South Plains. These efforts have included stocking holiday food boxes for families, donating goods for campuses, participating in teacher appreciation for different schools, organizing clothing and food pantries, and so much more. In addition, they have given their time to Honor Flight, American Heart Association, Volunteer Center of Lubbock, Buckner’s, Caleb’s Closet, and others. The work they do highlights their commitment to helping the community.

David and Kristen LaFreniere are the epitome of service. At Lubbock Impact, David has his process in the kitchen down to a science. He leads volunteers on proper food handling and always makes sure that the food gets to the table hot and ready. Meanwhile, Kristen holds down the dining room, boldly walking groups of volunteers through every step of the Community meal night and catching up with participants. Both David and Kristen also share why it’s important, and how food has such an important impact on someone’s life. They’re attorneys by day, but on Wednesday nights they are fierce advocates for Lubbock Impact and their community.

Kris Perez, the volunteer coordinator at South Plains Food Bank, has successfully coordinated more than 36 thousand hours of volunteerism in the last 12 months. Kris finds volunteers to help with disaster relief, building food boxes, or distributing food to those in need, many times on short notice. He always meets this challenge with a smile on his face. With exceptional organizational skills and a deep commitment to serving others, Kris makes every volunteer feel valued and motivated. He is always willing to go the extra mile in matching volunteers’ skills with appropriate tasks. Kris is loved by both the volunteers and the employees of the South Plains Food Bank.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention West Texas Chapter, officially established in September 2022, serves a vast area encompassing 84 counties in West Texas, with a strong focus on Lubbock and its surrounding regions. The chapter is dedicated to saving lives and providing hope to those affected by suicide. Through programs and events like the Education Team, the Out of the Darkness Walk, the Ride to Fight Suicide and the Bold Goal Initiative, the AFSP is committed to expanding its impact through education, community engagement, and a robust volunteer network. Their initiatives are crucial in fostering a safer and more informed community, ultimately working towards their mission to prevent suicide and offer hope to those in need.

George Dawson walked into the offices of Literary Lubbock on April 18th, 2008, and was accepted as a math tutor before his first sentence left his mouth. Since then, he has made a profound difference in his students’ lives and potential success. With a calming manner and an inexhaustible patience, he uses his years of high school math teaching experience at Lubbock ISD to teach students correct formulas and how to find accurate solutions. Working with hundreds of students over the years, he still “beams with pride and excitement” when he learns that a student passes the GED test. His work at the Lubbock Dream Center’s GED program has been inexpressibly valuable. He not only tutors, however; he runs routes for Meals on Wheels, volunteers at the South Plains Food Bank, and he and his wife Karen are very involved with their church. George and his gift of teaching is invaluable, as he forever improves the lives of his students.