Carmel, N.Y. – (3/30/12) – Over 30 women from throughout the Hudson Valley were honored at Senator Greg Ball’s (R, C – Patterson) Women of Distinction Hall of Fame. Among them was, Janice Hellwinkel who was recognized for her distinguished volunteer service and civic commitment as a Woman of Distinction representing the Town of North Salem, New York.
Created and hosted by Senator Ball, The Women Of Distinction Hall of Fame was designed to honor outstanding women from throughout the 40th Senate District. Each city, town and village within the Senator’s district was asked to nominate a woman to be honored at the event. All the nominees were formally honored and inducted in the Hall of Fame at a district-wide ceremony at The Donald B. Smith, Putnam County Emergency Services Building in Carmel, NY.
In partnership with her husband, Howard, Janice Hellwinkel has run a family-owned small business for the past 21 years. Ms. Hellwinkel volunteers with the North Salem Girl Scouts as Scout Leader for Troop 2245, where she helped to establish the North Salem Girl Scout Scholarship Fund, which awards the Diane M. DeVito Scholarship and the Elizabeth G. Butler Scholarship Award, with the Elizabeth G. Butler Angel Foundation as a board member, with the North Salem Lions Club as President, and with the American Legion Memorial Day Parade Committee, the Joe Bohrdrum Park Tree Lighting Committee, the North Salem Ladies Auxiliary Street Fair Committee, the North Salem League, and the Steward R. Mott Foundation.
Ms. Hellwinkel has earned a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for her extraordinary community service as president of the North Salem Lions Club, the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, a New York State Assembly Citation for her work with Art Against Abuse, and the Putnam/Westchester Girl Scouts “Outstanding Leader” Award.
When asked why she enjoys volunteering, Ms. Hellwinkel says, “Volunteering is generally considered an altruistic activity, intended to promote good or improve human quality of life, but people also volunteer to meet others, to have fun, and a variety of other reasons. Volunteerism is the act of selflessly giving your life to something you believe free of pay. Although if a person volunteers they may not earn money, it produces a feeling of self-worth and volunteers earn respect instead of money.”
“The women who are here today were nominated by their communities, hand-picked because they chose a path of leadership, living a life of service before self,” said Senator Greg Ball. “Each one of these women here today is so well deserving of this honor because they have built a reputation of action, compassion and integrity a path that that stands as an example to all.”
For more information or to speak with Senator Ball, please contact Joe Bachmeier: (845) 200-9716.
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