Outstanding Volunteers Nancy Truluck, Jeanette Kelly and Brian Rigney.

(BRADENTON, FL - April 17, 2007) After Jane Frisco retired from the Hillsborough County school system and moved to Manatee County, she still wanted to use her talents and abilities to help children succeed in school. That is why she started serving as a volunteer at Prine Elementary.

“I started to volunteer because I wanted to make a difference, but I found out that I got as much out of it as the children,” said Frisco, who volunteers in the fourth-grade class taught by her daughter, Brenda Funderburke. “It's great to see the light of learning go on in their heads and I enjoy every minute of the time that I volunteer.”

Special volunteers from around the Manatee County School District were honored Tuesday, April 17, at the 2007 Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Luncheon at Carrabba's Italian Grill located on Cortez Road in Bradenton.

The guest list included Outstanding Volunteers selected from different school sites, their volunteer coordinators, principals and others who support volunteer efforts in local schools.

School Board Chairman Harry Kinnan and School Board member Robert Gause also attended the luncheon and Assistant Superintendent Lynette Edwards was the featured speaker.

“I'm always honored to be in the presence of those people who touch the lives of our students everyday,” Edwards said. “You interact with our children in a positive way that encourages them, and you let them know at an early point in their lives that they need to give back when they grow older.”

Volunteer Jane Frisco and daughter Brenda Funderburke.

In addition to a tasty lunch and Edward's kind words, each volunteer received a small gift and a certificate recognizing their contributions to the children of Manatee County.

“This is really nice,” said Janet Weidner, who volunteers at Rowlett Elementary. “I put in a lot of hours, but I never expected this. It's a nice surprise.”

All schools are encouraged to nominate volunteers in three age categories: Youth (20 years and under), Adult (21-61) and Senior (62 years and over). Those nominations are sent to the district office where one volunteer in each respective category is chosen to represent the district. The district then submits those three volunteers to the Florida Department of Education for state-wide recognition.

Nancy Porter, Outstanding Volunteer Jeanette Kelly and Tillman Principal Debbie Houston.

The three volunteers selected to represent the Manatee District for this school year were Brian Rigney (Youth category), who volunteers at Manatee Technical Institute and Manatee High; Nancy Truluck (Adult), who volunteers at Sea Breeze Elementary; and Jeanette Kelly (Senior), who volunteers at Tillman Elementary.

The Department of Education divides the state into five separate regions and Manatee County is located in Region IV. The DOE named Brian Rigney, 19, as the Oustanding Youth Volunteer for Region IV and he was recognized by Education Commissioner Jeanine Blomberg on April 20, 2007, in St. Petersburg at the Florida Association of Partners in Education (FAPE) Conference.

“This makes me want to strive to do more,” said Kelly, a retired teacher who was joined at the luncheon by one of her former students - Tillman Principal Debbie Houston.

“It's great for the district to show that we are appreciated and that we do make a difference,” Kelly said.