VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
The Telluride Foundation’s Volunteer of the Year Award is given in recognition of someone who has unselfishly contributed to our regional community through volunteerism, community service or philanthropy. The recipient is nominated though an open community process and selected by Telluride Foundation.
At an annual community celebration, the recipient(s) is awarded a grant of $5,000 to be given in their name to the local nonprofit of their choice as well as a commemorative plaque.
The 2025 submission deadline has passed. The Telluride Foundation will announce the VOTY selection soon.
After thoughtfully reviewing a record number of nominations, it is with gratitude and admiration that The Telluride Foundation announces Emily Haight & Leila Serphin as the 2024 Volunteer of the Year award. This year, the Foundation chose to spotlight the robust culture of volunteerism in Norwood, a community from which amazing volunteers are nominated each year. The Foundation is honored to recognize these two outstanding individuals for their tireless dedication and significant impact on the Norwood community and the greater West End region.
Emily Haight, who moved to Norwood in 2013, has devoted herself to enhancing the quality of life in Norwood and the greater Wright’s Mesa area through her years of service to multiple community organizations. She currently serves as the President of the Uncompahgre Medical Center Board, Treasurer of the Lone Cone Legacy Trust (LCLT) Board, coordinator of the annual LCLT Harvest Celebration Dinner, and is a member of the Lone Cone Library Board. Emily’s commitment during major leadership changes, capital campaigns, and organizing community events has been invaluable to these organizations.
Leila Seraphin, a Norwood resident since 2014, is being recognized for her selfless dedication to local food and food security programs in the West End and beyond. As a founder of the Fresh Foundation, Leila has been instrumental in supporting local farmers and providing community members with local produce, addressing critical food security and economic issues in the region. Her leadership has been crucial in initiatives such as the Norwood Food Pantry and the Norwood Community Garden, and she helps where she can with the Senior Meals and Library Free Lunch Programs.
Our 2024 winner shares this honor with Terry Tice (2003), Lissa Margetts (2004), John Micetic (2005), Bill Carstens (2006), John Pryor and Jane Hickcox (2007), Kathy Green (2008), Marilyn Branch (2009), Dan and Greer Garner and Andrea Benda (2010) and Billy “Senior” Mahoney (2011), Anne Brady (2012), Dean Rolley (2013), Kristin Holbrook (2014), Gary Freedman (2015), Elaine Fischer (2016), Wendy Brooks (2017), Susan Rice (2018), Barb Gross (2019), and San Miguel County Search and Rescue and Cat & Barthold Lichtenbelt and Marti & Partick O’Leary (2020), Corinne Cavender, Lollie Lavercombe, Cara Wilder (2021) Claudia Garcia Curzio, Julia Millan Avila, and Andres Jacinto Alonzo (2022), and David Sussman (2023).