Kravis Center

Kravis Center Applauds Star Volunteers

At ‘Under the Sea’ Salute

 More than 500 outstanding Kravis Center loyalists were enthusiastically applauded at the annual Volunteer Salute held recently in the Gimelstob Ballroom. And they, in turn, gave a standing ovation to several key award winners:

+ Volunteer of the Year: Jim Scanio of West Palm Beach

+ Usher(s) of the Year: Helen & Ted Albert of Lake Worth

+ Rookie(s) of the Year: Lidia Vazquez of West Palm Beach and Ed Kopf of Lake Worth

With this year’s theme of “Under the Sea,” the Kravis Center’s Volunteers gathered for the annual Volunteer Salute which is held every April during National Volunteer Week. The annual banquet honors the hundreds of generous and hardworking people who dedicate their time and talent to the Kravis Center and the community it serves.

Kravis Center Chief Executive Officer Judy Mitchell presented the Volunteer of the Year Award to Jim Scanio, hailing him for his “outstanding dedication” in multiple departments.

“He works for both the Front of House and Information Systems (computer) departments, and is here four-to-five times a week, always answering our pleas for last minute help,” said Mitchell, quoting Mame Burkett from the Kravis Center’s IS department who praised Scanio for being “conscientious, polite and smart. Boy Scouts have nothing on him, and he is a true pleasure to work with.”

Dejeanne Jules presented the Usher(s) of the Year Award to Helen & Ted Albert, Kravis Center volunteers since 2006. “This lovely couple is always all smiles and always willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that our guests have a pleasant experience while attending our performances,” she said.

The 2009/2010 Rookie of the Year Award was presented by Nancy Urban, a Kravis Center Event Manager, to Lidia Vazquez and Ed Kopf. “Both of these people are very enthusiastic, extremely flexible, have helped us out in a pinch, and are always available to assist on very short notice,” she said. “They’ve both spent entire days here on several occasions working both matinee and evening performances, always with a smile on their face and a great attitude.” 

Maureen Gardella, Director of Guest Services, kicked-off the Kravis Center’s annual Volunteer Salute. “It takes a team to make things run around here and that team includes all of our volunteers, and the time they give us is invaluable,” she declared. “By my quick count so far this year, operational volunteers, Board standing committee members, and our Board of Directors have given the Kravis Center more than 53,000 hours. At a reasonable hourly wage they have saved us over half a million dollars this season alone. Their time, limitless energy and spirit of community have helped to make the Center a leader in the performing arts sector. We truly could not do this without our hundreds of loyal volunteers.”

As part of the festive event’s “Under the Sea” theme, Erin Buchele, a sixth grade student at Bak Middle School of the Arts and a member of Young Singers of the Palm Beaches, sang “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid.