Four Army volunteers receive the 2015 Emma Marie Baird Award

By Ms. Jessica Marie Ryan (FMWRC)April 8, 2015

Barbara Singleton at the AFAP Conference
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Theresa Donahoe Shares Her Care Team Volunteer Experiences
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Volunteer Appreciation Week Banner
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Fort Leonard Wood Volunteer Mary Britton
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Volunteer Mary Britton puts numerous hours in Army Family Team Building, the Mobilization and Deployment Office, Army Family Action Plan, the Installation Volunteer Coordinator Office, and her family readiness group at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Br... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Joint Base Lewis-McChord Volunteer Louise Griswold
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Volunteer Louise Griswold serves as an Army Family Team Building Master Trainer, mentors other AFTB instructors, and assists with planning several local volunteer recognition ceremonies at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. Griswold is one of four... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

SAN ANTONIO (April 8, 2015) -- Four Army Community Service volunteers will receive the 2015 Emma Marie Baird Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service.

This year's awardees are Mary Britton from Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Louise Griswold from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington; and Theresa Donahoe and Barbara Singleton both from Fort Benning, Georgia.

Each year, the award, named in honor of ACS founder Lt. Col. Emma Marie Baird, is presented to volunteers who demonstrated extraordinary dedication and service to the Army community. Volunteers must serve in ACS or a family readiness leadership group for at least five years and contribute a minimum of 3,750 hours within a five year period.

In addition to service hours, awardees must exhibit leadership while performing assigned duties that resulted in improved productivity, or new or improved work methods, programs or services.

With over 20 years of Army volunteer service, Britton put numerous hours in Army Family Team Building, the Mobilization and Deployment Office, Army Family Action Plan, the Installation Volunteer Coordinator Office, and her family readiness group at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Her major contributions include improving the Company Command Team training class, serving as a committee member for the 2010 and 2013 installation volunteer award ceremonies, and being a senior spouse to the 193rd Brigade Support Battalion steering committee.

Griswold began her volunteer service at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in 1998. She has since served as the western welcome program manager, ACS volunteer supervisor and AFTB master trainer. She was instrumental in the coordination of Fort Sill's volunteer program passing Army accreditation standards in 2004. Griswold is also one of the founders of the Fort Sill AFTB teen program. At Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Griswold continues to serve as an AFTB Master Trainer by instructing numerous classes and mentoring other AFTB instructors. She also assists with planning several local volunteer recognition ceremonies.

Donahoe's volunteer service spans multiple garrisons in both the United States and Germany. Since 1994, Donahoe volunteered in programs such as AFTB, AFAP, the Mobilization and Deployment Office, New Parent Support Group, Installation Volunteer Program, and her FRG. At Fort Benning, Donahoe is involved with AFTB and AFAP. For the past two years, she supported the garrison's AFAP conference as the program assistant, operations center volunteer and facilitator, recorder, transcriber, issue support person, and delegate trainer.

Singleton has been a dedicated ACS volunteer since 1991. During her 22 years of service, she has volunteered in nearly all ACS programs. From 2007-2009, Singleton collaborated with local AFTB master trainers to create the Maneuver Captain's Career Course Spouse Leadership Class at Fort Benning, Georgia. She also served as a delegate and facilitator, recorder, transcriber, issue support person at AFAP conferences at the local, Training and Doctrine Command, Forces Command, and Headquarters Department of the Army levels.

The award consists of a lapel pin and citation signed by the U.S. Army Chief of Staff. Each representing garrison will host a ceremony where the award and pin will be presented to the winner.

This year's Volunteer Appreciation Week is from April 12-18. For more information on how you can become an Army volunteer, visit your local garrison Army Community Service center.

Related Links:

Army Families

U.S. Army Installation Management Command

Army Family Readiness Groups

U.S. Army Family & Morale, Welfare and Recreation

Army Volunteer Corps Resources