By BARBARA BARBIERI

With her husband, Andy, and friends in attendance, Ginny Vogel was honored as the Bette A. Erxleben Volunteer of the Year 2023 at a luncheon at Lighted Gardens Thursday.

Above, Ginny Vogel, the Wells County 2023 Volunteer of the Year, accepted the award with a speech

Those attending the 12th annual event were welcomed by Wells County Foundation President Jessica Bricker with past honoree Tony Garton offering the pre-luncheon invocation.

Ginny Vogel stands alongside several Wells CASA volunteers, as well as Circuit Court Judge Kenton Kiracofe. (Photos by Sydney Kent)

Following the luncheon, Vogel spoke about her teaching career, her family and her current involvement with Court Appointed Special Advocates. Presenting the award to Vogel, on behalf of the Wells County Foundation, was Stephen Pastore.

Pastore noted that, under Vogel’s guidance and leadership, the county CASA program has flourished. She has built a dedicated team of volunteers, coordinated with local agencies, and developed effective strategies to guide the volunteers to serve the best interest of children in Wells County.

In addition, he continued, she has devoted many hours to activities at the First Presbyterian Church, as she serves on the Christian Education committee. She has taught Bible school, planned fall festivals and currently teaches a Sunday School class for middle and high school students. 

Teachers and fellow administration from the Bluffton-Harrison Metropolitan School District were in attendance at the luncheon to help honor Ginny Vogel. (Photo by Sydney Kent)

After accepting the award, Vogel gave a short speech. Foundation Director Tammy Slater announced that the $1,000 award to Vogel was being presented by her to Community Care with Kristen Walker accepting the check.

Vogel was in the teaching field for 36 years and retired from the Bluffton-Harrison school system as a guidance counselor in 2019. Following her retirement, she became the organizer of CASA in Wells county with the aid of Circuit Court Judge Kenton Kiracofe. She has trained 19 volunteers in the county to represent children in court cases.

The Vogels are parents to three adult children (two daughters and one son) and five grandchildren.

The Bette A. Erxleben Volunteer of the Year award is presented annually by the Wells County Foundation, with the award being named after the foundation’s
first director.

Past recipients of the award since 2011 have been: Carol Baker, Joan Furey, Beth Lampton, Howard Rich, Barbara Barbieri, Lynn Elliott, Jim Schwartzkopf, Wanda Smith, Becky Goshorn, Tony Garton and Michael Carter.

barb@news-banner.com

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR