Philip Vann of Colliers International named Judith M. Davis Volunteer of the Year Award winner
February 8, 2018
United Way of the Midlands is pleased to announce the recipient of the inaugural Judith M. Davis Volunteer of the Year Award, Philip Vann of Colliers International.
“This award honors the spirit of Judy Davis’ commitment to constantly improving the Midlands,” said Sara Fawcett, United Way President & CEO. “We were pleased to have so many qualified candidates to choose from, and we look forward to Philip and our other Young Leaders Society donors to carry on her legacy of service.”
In addition to being a YLS donor, Vann serves as Co-Chair of the Opportunity Committee with the United Way Campaign Committee. He has volunteered as a tutor with United Way’s Midlands Reading Consortium for almost 10 years. He has served on the board of Youth Corps of Columbia and on the Development Committee for Children’s Trust of South Carolina.
“If there is a crisis or an opportunity to serve, Philip steps up,” said John Folsom, President & CEO of Colliers International. “During the flood of October of 2015, he worked for three solid and long days with fellow Colliers staff and strangers to ease the burden on flood victims. Whenever Colliers presents an opportunity to serve, such as at United Way, Harvest Hope, Transitions, or Home Works, Philip is among the first to volunteer.”
The award recipient was selected based on a demonstrated commitment to community service and a desire for professional development. The recipient must be an active donor in United Way of the Midlands’ Young Leaders Society, possess a minimum of 50 hours of community service in the past year, has at least one year of nonprofit volunteer board or committee service, and must be currently employed with a for-profit organization. The recipient will receive tuition and travel expenses to attend a Harvard University Leadership Development course in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
“I am truly humbled to be chosen as the inaugural recipient of the Judith M. Davis Volunteer of the Year Award,” said Vann. “While I never had the opportunity to work directly with Judy, I continue to hear stories of her involvement with the United Way and other charitable causes throughout the Midlands which, in turn, inspires me to continue reaching out to others. It is not just about sitting on boards or committees; you can have just as big of an impact by interacting with those less fortunate or having greater struggles than you. Read to a child. Buy the homeless gentleman a cup of coffee. Smile to a stranger. You might be surprised at how it can change their life, and yours as well.”
To learn more about becoming a Young Leaders Society donor, visit www.ylsmidlands.com.
About United Way of the Midlands
United Way of the Midlands is the most organized, efficient and accountable system for investing in the community. With more than 70 Community Impact Partners, United Way works to identify and respond to the critical human service needs of Calhoun, Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg and Richland counties. Funds are raised through workplace campaigns, grant writing and individual donations. For more information, please visit www.uway.org.
