The annual award was established in 2001 to recognize outstanding contributions that volunteers make to enhance our community and benefit our citizens in City programs.  Our volunteers help in our diverse collection of programs, by doing such things as coaching youth sports, delivering books to seniors, and preserving and maintaining open space, just to name a few.   
 
In recognizing the importance of volunteers to Lafayette, the City of Lafayette has established an annual award to acknowledge citizens who volunteer in City programs.  The City of Lafayette Volunteer of the Year Award has been established to bring attention to the many volunteers who help make Lafayette a better place to live, as well as promoting and expanding the ethic of service to all our citizens.  This award is meant to celebrate a Lafayette volunteer whose commitment to community and service to others is exemplary.
 
We celebrated our 2009 volunteers at the City Council Meeting on Tuesday, April 20, 2010. 

Awards	Volunteer of the Year	Volunteer Group of the Year
2001	Glenda Chermak
2002	Joe & Juanita Connelly
2003	Tim Evans	Lafayette Library Homework Center Tutors
2004	Flo Richmond	Senior Center Lap Robe Group
2005	Cindy Moir	Friends of the Library
2006	Nick Waneka	Reading Buddies
2007	Barbara Chisolm	Police Department including the Restorative Justice Program
2008	Grant Swift	1st Runner up Lela Rippeth

 As part of the City of Lafayette’s celebration of National Volunteer Week, Mayor Chris Cameron and City Administrator Gary Klaphake presented the Volunteer of the Year awards at the April 20th City Council meeting.