Saluting 2009 AIN volunteer honorees at the annual Tea and Fashion Show sponsored by Presbyterian Women at Panorama Presbyterian Church 9/26/09     Rev. Gary Dart (Panorama Presbyterian Church), AIN Board Chair Karen Bading, AIN Care Coordinator Rev. Ann Mills, Marion Arciaga (PW, Panorama Presbyterian Church)           AIN Volunteer of the Year Kay McNeil, AIN Board Chair Karen Bading, AIN Care Coordinator Rev. Ann Mills           Rev. Gary Dart, Kay McNeil, Karen Bading, Rev. Ann Mills       Photos courtesy of Maria Eylar

Announcing 2009 AIN Volunteer Awards After seventeen years of AIN Volunteer Appreciation Luncheons, challenges this year encouraged us to use more creativity and resourcefulness.  We absolutely DO intend to express our real appreciation to our volunteers in 2009!  The difference is that this year we will be announcing our featured honorees here by e-mail and then traveling to them to present the awards. The group we are highlighting this year is located some distance to the north of our South Pasadena office.  Representatives have faithfully attended past Volunteer Appreciation Luncheons over the years, and for several years now their women have sponsored their own annual Tea and Fashion Show with community participation.  Attendees bring baby and infant care items for Angel Interfaith Network. Our mission partnership with Panorama Presbyterian Church in Panorama City goes back to at least 1995 when the first donation of hospital bedside bags and devotional items was given to “Project Angel.”  “These are just the beginning!,” wrote Grace Clancey in a prophetic note accompanying the donations.  Evelyn Dreis and Ismay Bullock were other early supporters from that era.  AIN Care Coordinator Ann Mills recalls that the church responded enthusiastically to an appeal for gifts for pediatric oncology patients at the holidays soon after that.  Rev. Gary Dart serves as pastor to the Panorama City flock and dons a tuxedo to wait tables for the annual Tea and Fashion Show. This year’s individual Volunteer of the Year is a former Moderator of the Presbyterian Women at Panorama Presbyterian.  We have long recognized the energy, creativity, leadership and readiness to respond to emergency requests that Kay McNeil has demonstrated.  She made a hit at last year’s Tea and Fashion show, modeling an outfit in tune with “hard times.”  No one has ever worn garbage bags with more style and grace!  Congratulations to Kay, to PW Moderator Marion Arciaga and all the women of Panorama Presbyterian who made the Tea and Fashion Show last July such a classy event. Currently AIN is in conversation with the church for an appropriate date to present the awards and tokens of our appreciation.