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Congratulations to the 2024 Sandy Kiernat Award Recipients

4/19/24

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As part of Wilder’s National Volunteer Week celebration, we are excited to announce the recipients of the 2024 Sandy Kiernat Community Service Award, which recognizes and celebrates outstanding Wilder volunteers.

The 2024 recipients reflect multiple ways that volunteers support our community and help Wilder be a collective force for social good that works to see all people thrive.

We are honored to recognize Maggie O'Gara and Paul Storch.

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Maggie O’Gara, Ordinary Magic Committee Member

Maggie has served on Wilder’s Ordinary Magic event committee since 2022 and leads the auction sub-committee. Her leadership increases awareness about Wilder, generates hundreds of donated items, and raises funds for our organization. Maggie believes in our mission and is an energizing and generous partner we are lucky to work with in support of the children and families Wilder serves.

Prior to my current life as an attorney, I was in social work right out of undergrad. My first internship was at Wilder Foundation Bush Children’s Center…. Wilder has been a part of my life for so long and helped shape me into the attorney I am today. The organization has always been near and dear to my heart.

Maggie O'Gara

Paul Storch, Wilder Meals on Wheels Volunteer

Paul has remained a constant and dependable Wilder Meals on Wheels volunteer since 1997 – clocking over 480 hours since 2014 alone. He brings a critical eye to suggest ways we can improve our processes, and he is kind and thoughtful in everything he does to ensure meals go out accurately and on time to recipients. We are also grateful for his participation on Wilder's volunteer advisory council to shape the trajectory of volunteerism at Wilder at large.

I started out volunteering with Wilder once a month through a corporate volunteer group at my last employer. Over the years, I realized how well organized Wilder is in how they manage volunteers and decided to increase my volunteer time once I left the full-time position. It was particularly meaningful working with Wilder during the COVID lockdown period as it focused on and expanded its role in getting food out to those who needed it.

Paul Storch

The Sandy Kiernat Community Service Award recognizes and celebrates outstanding volunteers who exemplify the spirit of Sandy Kiernat, a Wilder Board Member and longtime advocate of community service. This award was as established in 2010 by Wilder’s Board of Directors to annually recognize and celebrate one or more individual or group volunteers that most exemplify the spirit of community service demonstrated by Board member and previous Chairperson Sandy Kiernat.

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