Lou Mitchell Named Wake County 2006 Volunteer of the Year

9/30/2006

Lou Mitchell, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and longtime community activist, has been named the 2006 Wake County Volunteer of the Year. Mitchell accepted her award today during the Wake County Board of Commissioners’ second annual Volunteer Celebration at the RBC Center, prior to the Carolina Hurricanes’ preseason hockey game vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Mitchell, a lifelong native of Wake County, was one of 34 Commissioners’ Volunteer Awards nominees to be recognized at the event – Commissioners and County staff honored 30 individuals and four groups nominated for their hard work and dedication to Wake County. Also, thousands of volunteers and their families were treated to a reception, refreshments and the hockey game.

The Volunteer of the Year is chosen through a competitive process. Volunteers are considered for the impact of their volunteer effort, their length of service and their dedication. Ten of the nominees captured Commissioners’ Awards, of which five garnered special recognition as N.C. Volunteer Awards winners, including Mitchell.

"She honed her skills at the Junior Women’s Club in the 1960s and she hasn’t stopped!" said Tony Gurley, chair of the Wake County Board of Commissioners. "Every group who needed a champion called her. She has walked many miles along the corridors of power lending her voice to many different causes."

Mitchell, nominated by The Healing Place of Wake County, uses her understanding and respect for Wake County, its people and their needs to raise funds and friends. Currently serving also on the Human Services Board and the Blue Ribbon Committee on the Future of Wake County, her impact is widely felt. For the Healing Place, she has helped build a network of corporate, government and individual donors one person at a time by educating, informing and exciting them about being a part of the rebirth of men and women addicted to alcohol and other drugs.

"Through all her work, it’s never been about her," said Sig Hutchinson, last year’s Volunteer of the Year and the emcee of the event. "It’s always about what she can do to help people who need help."

Joining Mitchell as Commissioners’ Award winners were Gladys Estipia of Wake County Human Services’ Educate Our Women program; James Hawkins, a Foster Grandparent volunteer; Sherry Johnson, an environmental, conservation, public health and community advocate; Audrey Kelly, who founded Shepherd’s Center Break Time; Roger Luk, of Cameron Village Regional Library; Stephen MacDade, of the Morrisville Fire Department; Curt Mackey of the public library system; Rev. Charles R. Tyner, who assisted more than 60 individuals from Mississippi and New Orleans impacted by Hurricane Katrina; and the Katrina Family Circle Project, which served 10 families who came to Raleigh in the aftermath of the storm.

Of these, Estipia, Hawkins, Johnson, Mitchell and the Family Circle Project were named N.C. Volunteer Award winners.

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