Volunteer of the Year
2023 Volunteers of the Year:
Deb and Sid Zachary
Introducing our 2023 Volunteers of the Year – Sid and Deb Zachary, along with their therapy dog, Cooper! This incredible trio topped nearly every staff member’s “Top 5 Paws & Think Volunteers” list.
The Zacharys began their Paws & Think volunteer journey in October 2022, with Sid and Cooper, an adorable English Cream Golden Retriever, excelling in our therapy skills training class. They quickly immersed themselves in volunteering, with Deb by their side helping. The team has brought joy to numerous venues, including Allison Transmission, Amazon Fulfillment Center in Plainfield, Brooke’s Place, Butler Library, IUPUI, and more. They also serve as part of our Paws to Heal teams at Ascension St. Vincent and Riley Children’s Hospital.
Dependability, empathy, and compassion are qualities of an exceptional volunteer, and Sid and Deb embody these attributes wholeheartedly. Since they started volunteering, they have logged over 300 hours of service and impacted over 4,700 individuals. We thank the Zacharys for their dedication to serving our community and congratulate them on their well-deserved recognition!
2023 Lead Volunteer of the Year:
Cindy Cale
Announcing a new accolade to complement our Volunteer of the Year is the distinguished title of Paws & Think Lead Volunteer of the Year. This recognition celebrates those extraordinary individuals who devote a significant 2-5 hours each week to support our programs or assist with vital administrative tasks. And it is with great pleasure that we present the honor of 2023 Lead Volunteer to Cindy Cale!
Cindy, who now resides in Texas, continues to volunteer remotely behind the scenes, demonstrating that our volunteers can make a significant impact from anywhere. When she relocated, Cindy remained committed to Paws & Think, serving as our AAI Manager of Classes and Evaluations. She schedules new and aspiring therapy teams for our Handler’s Class, Therapy Skills Class, and evaluations, and manages the reevaluations of current therapy teams.
Cindy’s behind-the-scenes efforts ensure everything runs smoothly at Paws & Think, making her invaluable to our team. As a long-time volunteer, her passion and commitment have made a lasting impact. Congratulations, Cindy, on being our 2023 Lead Volunteer of the Year!
Previous Volunteers of the
2022 Volunteers of the Year: Carolyn Ausbrooks & Lauren Colbert
2021 Volunteer of the Year: Marsha Thomas
2020 Volunteer of the Year: Kathy Janes
2019 Volunteer of the Year: All Volunteers
Watch the video of how our volunteers supported the community during the pandemic.
2018 Volunteer of the Year: Debbie Ryan
2017 Volunteer of the Year: Lynsey Smith
2016 Volunteer of the Year: Wendy Hendricks
2015 Volunteer of the Year: Diane Aurand
2014 Volunteer of the Year: Susan Pratt
2013 Volunteer of the Year: Margaret Drew
2012 Volunteer of the Year: Tom Janes
2011 Volunteer of the Year: Lisa Snyder
2010 Volunteer of the Year: Carol Davenport
2009 Volunteer of the Year: Rhaya Shilts
2008 Volunteer of the Year: Debbie Feltz
2007 Youth Volunteer of the Year: Sara Gibson
2007 Adult Volunteer of the Year: Jodi Van Slyke
2006 Youth Volunteer of the Year: Amanda Clevenger
2006 Adult Volunteer of the Year (inaugural): Jill Boyer
2005 Youth Volunteer of the Year: Leslie Hannah
2004 Youth Volunteer of the Year (inaugural): Keith Diemer
