Pleasanton Senior Center honors volunteers

Close to 200 volunteers have been honored for their more than 12,000 hours of service last year at the Pleasanton Senior Center.

The volunteers who worked in various capacities were recognized at a ceremony recognizing their contributions.

“They’ve created “a center that has the vision and flexibility to anticipate the changing needs of our mature adult community,” said Pleasanton City Councilwoman Kathy Narum. “Your commitment is truly amazing.”

Raymond Figueroa, Recreation Coordinator at the center, presented the Nan Cohan Volunteer of the Year award to Bill and Carol Breen, who have donated 2,619 hours since 2006 and have served in the bingo program for 10 years.

Other nominees, also chosen by their peers, were Dan and Yvonne Cevello, JoAnn Duncan, Regina Linse and Dee Meyers.

The award is named after Nan Cohan, who supervised the Senior Recreation Program from 1974 to 1996.

Other volunteers recognized were Ron and Sandy Volpa, Bev Giovanetti, Margaret McGee and Mary Tange. All have contributed thousands of hours at the center. Tange, alone, has contributed 5,078 hours since 2002.

The Community Partner of the Year award was presented to Mike Riesberg from Sears Optical Services. Since 2008, Riesberg has been volunteering his services to make minor eyeglass adjustments and repairs. The service was so popular that the center added other service partners on the same day, including hearing aid cleaning services, pharmacy consultations and blood pressure checks.

The Senior Center celebrated its 20th anniversary last year and this year has launched a 501©3 non-profit arm called Friends of the Pleasanton Senior Center. Donations can now be made directly to the center and are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

To find out more about the center’s programs or the non-profit, call 931-5365 or visit www.pleasantonseniorcenter.org/