The Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Complex (RJSJCC) honored the many volunteers who play a vital role in assisting the students in their quest to become productive members of society. The 17th Annual Volunteer Appreciation Banquet was held on Thursday, August 26, 2013 at the Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Complex campus. With the theme of “One Person Can Make a Difference,” volunteers, staff and youth came together to give thanks to all the people giving of their time to help the young women housed at Ron Jackson.
This annual event honors all the volunteers who spend countless hours on the RJSJCC campus mentoring, tutoring, leading Bible studies, providing chaplaincy services and/or serving as members of the Brownwood Community Resource Council for the benefit of TJJD youth. Several volunteers were recognized for their outstanding service during the course of the year in various categories.
April Jameson, RJSJCC superintendent, opened the banquet with a quote from Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” That is the attitude and belief of the 255 active volunteers who spend thousands of hours of service at the Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Complex. In fiscal year 2012, volunteers gave 11,679 hours of their time.
The evening’s meal was catered by Cook’s Fish Barn and was enjoyed by all. Barbara McBride, Community Relations Coordinator, along with several youth at Ron Jackson provided a reenactment of the “starfish story” which included personalized letters of appreciation to the volunteers written by students. The RJSJCC choir performed beautiful music with their harmonicas and the PAWS students with their canines demonstrated the Canine Good Citizenship skills they learn during the K-9 program.
The recipients of the RJSJCC Volunteer Awards were: Donald Newsom, Outstanding Mentor Award; Ladon Spence, Volunteer Achievement Award; Chaley Perkins, Dr. Edward Garrett Individual Volunteer Award; Mary Ann Rowan, Mickey Harr Chaplaincy Volunteer Award; Claude and Anna Jackson, Family Award; Ministry of the Third Cross (ACTS), Group Award; Tara Williams, Employee Volunteer Award; Wanda Drew, Spirit Award; Penny Riggs, Service Award; Dr. Joe Speck, Agmart, Brownwood Women’s Club, Darryl Howard, and Corinne T. Smith Animal Center, PAWS Donor Awards. In addition, 36 Ron Jackson volunteers were awarded the prestigious President’s Volunteer Service Award which recognizes United States citizens and lawfully admitted permanent residents of the United States who have achieved the required number of hours of service over a 12-month time period – or cumulative hours over the course of a lifetime.
Those interested in becoming a volunteer are asked to contact the Community Relations Office at the Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Facility at 325-641-4240 or 325-642-4241.
Pictured above are 2013 Ron Jackson Volunteer Banquet Awardees: (Bottom Row) D. Newsom, M. Mascorro, C. Valles, T. Barley, V. Garza, D. Garza, A. Jackson, C. Perkins, M. Rowan, (Top Row) T. Williams, L. Valles, J. Speck, J. Cate, L. Spence, and C. Jackson (not pictured are W. Drew, P. Riggs and D. Howard).