| Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now, Inc. “The Greater Norwalk Area’s Community Action Agency” Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now, Inc. (NEON a private non-profit organization, is the community action agency serving the greater Norwalk Area including New Canaan, Westport, Weston, Wilton and Darien. |
| Spirit of Service is Inspiration to Others |
NORWALK - For nearly a century,
Anna Young's focus has been the
needs of others.
The 96-year-old Norwalk resident
said her mother, Catherine, instilled
the volunteer spirit in her nine children
at an early age.
"She taught us to be kind to the fellow
man," Young said. " 'If they slap your
cheek, you don't slap theirs, you embarrass them more that
way,' she would say. She was a good woman."
Young said that she has been passionate about helping
others since she was old enough to walk.
"I feel I am doing something," she said. "I have always liked to
help the underdog. I'm here to give."
Young's lifelong commitment to the community will be
recognized Monday, when the Voluntary Action Center of
Mid-Fairfield presents her with its most prestigious honor, the
Spirit Award, as part of National Volunteer Month.
"The Spirit Award traditionally goes to somebody who has
provided exceptional service to the community over a
lifetime," said Joan Monte, the center's program director.
"Anna is so well-known in the community. At 96, she keeps
going and going. She has made volunteerism a lifetime
commitment and mission. It's very inspirational."
At Monday's reception, to be held at 5:30 p.m. at Brien
McMahon High School, youth and adult volunteers from the
agencies that the center serves in Norwalk, Weston,
Westport, and Wilton will be honored.
Most of Young's volunteer work during the past 12 years has
been coordinated through the center's Retired and Senior
Volunteer Program.
"Whenever we need her, she's here," said Teri Klein, the
program's director. "She's really one of our RSVP star
volunteers."
Over the past decade, Young has logged more than 6,000
hours coordinating volunteers, organizing, recruiting and
working on RSVP mailing teams and special events for about
30 organizations, including Norwalk Community College,
Domestic Violence Crisis Center, Norwalk Housing and the
Alzheimer's Association.
"She's an amazing person," said Klein, who nominated Young
for the award. "She's full of energy, she's full of enthusiasm,
she's really an inspiration to all of us."
For the past five years, Young has secured gift certificates
from local businesses to be used as door prizes for the
RSVP's annual luncheon. She also has been the top seller in
the American Cancer Society's annual fundraising car raffle.
"I do nothing, nothing for praise," Young said. "I just had to
do something to liven up the party. Everybody leaves there
happy, that is what I love. I try to get people motivated."
Amy Tucci of Norwalk said her grandmother's generosity is
infectious.
"She sets a really good example for all of us. She gets us all
involved," Tucci said. "She will get you to go with her, it's a
great thing. She just truly does it out of the goodness of her
heart."
And for 35 years, Young welcomed more than a dozen foster
children into her home.
"I started to take care of my sister's two foster children when
she was in the hospital," Young said. "And from there on, I
got married and we took care of them. And they kept giving
me more girls to be in my home."
Over three-and-a-half decades, Young said she cared for
foster children from a few weeks to as long as 15 years. She
also raised two biological daughters.
"I told them, I don't want them at home to sit all day long.
Let's advance them, let them breathe the same air as
everybody else," Young said she told state workers about
her foster children. "My job was to get them into the world. It
got them advanced."
She said she has focused helping children to learn to read,
write, find jobs, become more independent and be part of a
family.
Although she is no longer a volunteer foster parent, Young is
involved with nearly 30 agencies and causes. Earlier this
week, she was helping her 5-year-old great-grandson, Peter
Tucci, raise money for a soldier in Iraq to purchase better
body armor.
"People need to be kind to one another," Young said. "In the
long run, you will gain. You will gain sharing. You will gain
friendship."
Despite her age, Young said she does not plan to slow down
anytime soon.
"I'm not going to let that rocking chair get me, I will volunteer
for as long as I can walk," she said. "That's my life and I don't
intend to give it up. I'm not ready to close the book yet."
Copyright © 2007, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.
Anna Young's focus has been the
needs of others.
The 96-year-old Norwalk resident
said her mother, Catherine, instilled
the volunteer spirit in her nine children
at an early age.
"She taught us to be kind to the fellow
man," Young said. " 'If they slap your
cheek, you don't slap theirs, you embarrass them more that
way,' she would say. She was a good woman."
Young said that she has been passionate about helping
others since she was old enough to walk.
"I feel I am doing something," she said. "I have always liked to
help the underdog. I'm here to give."
Young's lifelong commitment to the community will be
recognized Monday, when the Voluntary Action Center of
Mid-Fairfield presents her with its most prestigious honor, the
Spirit Award, as part of National Volunteer Month.
"The Spirit Award traditionally goes to somebody who has
provided exceptional service to the community over a
lifetime," said Joan Monte, the center's program director.
"Anna is so well-known in the community. At 96, she keeps
going and going. She has made volunteerism a lifetime
commitment and mission. It's very inspirational."
At Monday's reception, to be held at 5:30 p.m. at Brien
McMahon High School, youth and adult volunteers from the
agencies that the center serves in Norwalk, Weston,
Westport, and Wilton will be honored.
Most of Young's volunteer work during the past 12 years has
been coordinated through the center's Retired and Senior
Volunteer Program.
"Whenever we need her, she's here," said Teri Klein, the
program's director. "She's really one of our RSVP star
volunteers."
Over the past decade, Young has logged more than 6,000
hours coordinating volunteers, organizing, recruiting and
working on RSVP mailing teams and special events for about
30 organizations, including Norwalk Community College,
Domestic Violence Crisis Center, Norwalk Housing and the
Alzheimer's Association.
"She's an amazing person," said Klein, who nominated Young
for the award. "She's full of energy, she's full of enthusiasm,
she's really an inspiration to all of us."
For the past five years, Young has secured gift certificates
from local businesses to be used as door prizes for the
RSVP's annual luncheon. She also has been the top seller in
the American Cancer Society's annual fundraising car raffle.
"I do nothing, nothing for praise," Young said. "I just had to
do something to liven up the party. Everybody leaves there
happy, that is what I love. I try to get people motivated."
Amy Tucci of Norwalk said her grandmother's generosity is
infectious.
"She sets a really good example for all of us. She gets us all
involved," Tucci said. "She will get you to go with her, it's a
great thing. She just truly does it out of the goodness of her
heart."
And for 35 years, Young welcomed more than a dozen foster
children into her home.
"I started to take care of my sister's two foster children when
she was in the hospital," Young said. "And from there on, I
got married and we took care of them. And they kept giving
me more girls to be in my home."
Over three-and-a-half decades, Young said she cared for
foster children from a few weeks to as long as 15 years. She
also raised two biological daughters.
"I told them, I don't want them at home to sit all day long.
Let's advance them, let them breathe the same air as
everybody else," Young said she told state workers about
her foster children. "My job was to get them into the world. It
got them advanced."
She said she has focused helping children to learn to read,
write, find jobs, become more independent and be part of a
family.
Although she is no longer a volunteer foster parent, Young is
involved with nearly 30 agencies and causes. Earlier this
week, she was helping her 5-year-old great-grandson, Peter
Tucci, raise money for a soldier in Iraq to purchase better
body armor.
"People need to be kind to one another," Young said. "In the
long run, you will gain. You will gain sharing. You will gain
friendship."
Despite her age, Young said she does not plan to slow down
anytime soon.
"I'm not going to let that rocking chair get me, I will volunteer
for as long as I can walk," she said. "That's my life and I don't
intend to give it up. I'm not ready to close the book yet."
Copyright © 2007, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.
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| NEON, Inc. 98 South Main Street Norwalk, CT 06854 Phone: 203-899-2483 Fax: 203.899.2430 admin@neon-norwalk.org |
The Advocate, April 21, 2007
