Joanne was selected over candidates from Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and West Virginia. This prestigious award is presented annually to the volunteer in the region who has dedicated more than 10 years of their life to working with youth and exhibits exceptional commitment and contributions to 4-H and the community.
An active 4-H volunteer for more than 27 years, Brown was recognized this year for her caring, positive, youth-focused attitude in her service to the Massachusetts 4-H Youth Development Program. Throughout her work, she has promoted a healthy youth-adult leadership model, encouraging youth in thoughtful decision making, efficient time management, responsibility and content mastery.
One of the cornerstones of her work in 4-H is around community service, where she regularly works with youth members to create useful items for people in nursing homes as well as recovering cancer patients. She consistently encourages club members to participate in county and state-wide programs to become active members of the community, turning the youth into ambassadors for positive citizenship.
"The Salute to Excellence is the greatest honor that 4-H gives to our volunteers in the field, and none in the region were more deserving this year than Joanne Brown," said Jennifer Sirangelo, CEO & President of National 4-H Council. "She has dedicated her life to helping 4-H grow confident, capable and caring kids with the life skills to thrive in today's world, and she continues to positively influence the lives of our youth."
Brown is now a finalist, along with three other candidates from across the country, to win the Salute to Excellence National Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award.