Healthy Beginnings honors Volunteer of Year
Celebrating 20 years of focusing on children,Healthy Beginnings honored one of their valued volunteers, naming Kerry Zenich Volunteer of the Year.
The presentation took place during the program’s annual Volunteer Appreciation luncheon held Thursday at Aspen Hall in Bend.
Guest speaker was News Channel 21’s morning anchor (and program Board Member), Renee Nelson.
Renee spoke of the extraordinary value of this volunteer service program. She noted that the screening and care children and parents receives provides value beyond measure and that the service offers reassurance and support to families in our community, answering questions about their child’s health and development that would take months to determine without this community screening.
Kerry, a nurse from St. Charles provides health screening services in nearly all communities throughout Central Oregon.
At any one of our 18 screening clinics, a child and parent will find Kerry offering valuable and relevant parent education and information, helping parents define and understand realistic goals while providing suggestions, helping to ensure that more children get a healthy start.
Kerry also provides needed outreach in Sisters and Redmond and even serves as the program’s representative with the Sisters’ Early Childhood Resource Team.
Her efforts have helped reach hundreds of children and she is always willing to add one more task to her list – especially if it means helping a child or a family in need.
“Kerry is indeed a exceptional ambassador for Healthy Beginnings,” explained Holly Remer the program’s Executive Director.
Healthy Beginnings relies on volunteers to facilitate all aspects of the program. Volunteers with all levels of experience are welcome.
The program provides 18 free health and developmental screenings for children, birth through age 5 in Central Oregon. It has an extensive, award winning volunteer program and provides training for those interested.
Healthy Beginnings is a non-profit organization supported by over 400 volunteers and is sponsored by a wide variety of generous groups in Central Oregon including the United Way of Deschutes County.Healthy Beginningsis one of many programs offered through theHigh DesertEducation Service District.
For more information about HB’s volunteer program, contact the Anna Marie Casey, at 541-383-6357 or visit the program’s website at www.myhb.org.
NewsChannel 21 is proud to count Healthy Beginnings as one of our “21 Cares for Kids” partners.
