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Health & Fitness

Mary Ann Cadorna Receives Volunteer of the Year Award

On September 23, 2012, in Contra Costa County, Mary Ann Cadorna, was honored as one of the top three Volunteer of the Year Award recipients.

On September 23, 2012, in Contra Costa County, Mary Ann Cadorna, was honored as one of the top three Volunteer of the Year Award recipients. This was the 11th Annual Culture to Culture Awards, 5th Annual Senior Volunteer Awards, and 5th Annual Mental Health Volunteer "Pushing Hands" Awards, given and hosted by its founder ChiaChia Chien. There were a total of 30 volunteers, 3 group volunteers, and 7 Pushing Hands Awards that were nominated and voted on. The Judges included Dolores Fox Ciardelli, Managing Editor of the Danville Express, Stuart Hing, Superior Court Judge of Alameda County, Barbara Smith, Senior Award Judge, and Joyce Cram, Superior Court Judge, Contra Costa County. This event was held at the Shadelands in Walnut Creek, CA.

Fast forward, it's hard to imagine that I have been volunteering for the last ten years. Since I've been in real estate, I've sung at over 50 care homes, assited living facilites, rehabilitation centers and senior communities. In addition, to all the other volunteer work and volunteer participation in real estate and most of all the various county wide community organizations.

However, in the last year and a half I have devoted my efforts to the town of Danville, CA. This happened when Danville and I said I do to each other with a marriage of values. Out of that was born http://www.DanvilleRADIO.com. I am so humbly grateful, to receive this recognition, for what I give is truly from the heart. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart to every one at the Culture To Culture Foundation and ChiaChia Chien it's gracious founder.

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Voulteering is hard work, and it has to be a mission, otherwise, you will shed a lot of what I have aptly named "VolunTears." One has to go where they feel they may serve their mission the best, and one cannot depart from the heart of that cause and from what they do.

For me, volunteering is not an ambition it's a mission! There is no better way to serve your respective communities and make a positive difference than to give as a volunteer! And yet, if the organization shoe doesn't fit, it's OK, you've got to give giving and you've got to keep trying. Eventually you will find an organizational shoe that does fit and you will make a great difference for the love of what you do for your community/ties.

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My volunteering has caused me to coin two sayings: "Together we're the Unity in Community" and "It's not important that I get regonized for what I do, it's important that I recognize what I can do!" Typically, I get jeered for my voulnteering from fellow business people and/or those who don't understand it's sincerity. For the ones you sincerely serve that love and appreicate what you do, will help convert those jeers into cheers. Then you will know the worth of those VolunTears! At the end of the day, we can all make such a postive difference. If you have gifts, skills and acadamia, consider sharing the aforementioned and make the world a better place, by enriching it with what you have to offer!

Currently, I'm instructing Country Western Line dancing at the Danville Senior Center (115 E. prospect Ave) on Wednesdays at 11:50 AM. Of course the classes are free, but the fun and sharing that good time with a group "is priceless!"

Above, is the photo of me and now District ll Supervisor, Candace Andersen, ironically she awarded me the plaque. This is voulteering come happily full circle from jeers, VolunTears, to Cheers!

By Mary Ann Cadorna

www.MaryAnn.AM

AM 1220 and streaming www.KDOW.biz

Sundays 9:00 - 10:00 AM

MaryAnn.AM @ FACEbook.com

www.HomesGPS.com (buying or selling your home)

www.DanvilleRADIO.com

On Danville RADIO @ Danville.patch.com

www.youtube.com/maryanncadorna

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