About the award

(Information from the JDF website, www.jdrf.org).

Every year, the JDRF Southwest Ohio chapter recognizes a special volunteer who goes above and beyond in supporting the chapter and is a positive ambassador for the organization.

From the Greater Cincinnati area, the Cynthia Marver Marmer Volunteer of the Year is recognized at the Cincinnatian of the Year Gala in May. Representing the northern area, the Dayton Volunteer of the Year is recognized annually at the JDRF One Walk at Kings Island.

Past recipients of the Cynthia Marver Marmer Volunteer of the Year Award
Carla Palmore, 2012
Burke Neville, 2013
Anne Zaring, 2014
Mara Wolf, 2015
Jamie Gindele, 2016
Laura Cramer, 2017
Mark Kacher, 2018

Past Recipients of the Dayton Volunteer of the Year Award
Walt Hibner, 2013
Paul Labbe, 2014
Hallie Addington, 2015
Jon Faulkner, 2016
Diane Schoeffler-Warren, 2017
Amy Maggard, 2018

Frequently asked questions

When is the nomination deadline?
Nominations must be received by Dec. 1 of the preceding year.

What are the selection criteria for this award?
To be considered for this award, nominees must have been involved with JDRF for a minimum of five years. The committee will carefully consider each nominee’s years of service, level of commitment, whether or not involvement has been continuous, and strength of their fundraising. Ideal nominees are those who are strong positive ambassadors for the organization.

Who is not eligible to receive this award?
Previous award winners, JDRF staff, self-nominations, and members of the selection committee are not eligible for this award.

Who is on the selection committee?
The Cynthia Marver Marmer Volunteer of the Year Award is voted upon by a volunteer committee comprised of past recipients of the award, the JDRF chapter executive director and board president. The selection of the winner each year must be decided by a 2/3 majority vote. The Dayton Volunteer of the Year Award is voted upon by a committee consisting of chapter staff.

Can I submit more than one nomination?
We only accept one nomination per person. If multiple nominations are submitted by the same person, the committee will only accept the first one. If a nomination form is submitted with more than one name (example: a couple) it will not be considered.

If my nominee does not win, does that person receive notification and does the nomination roll over?
No, nominees who are not selected are not notified, but yes, nominees not selected for the award are rolled over for consideration for two additional nomination cycles.

When will the winner be announced and are they required to attend the Cincinnatian of the Year Gala or JDRF One Walk Kings Island?
The winners will be announced at the annual One Awards ceremony in December. It is strongly encouraged that the winner attend the gala to accept their award, but it is not required.

Who was Cynthia Marver Marmer?
Cynthia Marver Marmer was a longtime chapter volunteer who was one of the people instrumental in getting the Southwest Ohio chapter off the ground. She was a regular fixture in the office, always helping out with whatever task was needed and inspiring others. Cynthia passed away in 2011 and was honored posthumously as the Cincinnatian of the Year in 2012. The award was established that year in her honor and memory.

Written by: Richard Maloney, JDRF Volunteer