Volunteer Recognition Awards
Congratulations to our 2025 Volunteer Award Winners! Your passion, empathy and devotion are reasons why this program thrives.
Hettie Shumway Award - Nancy Scarnati
The Hettie Shumway Role Model Award is given to a volunteer who provides significant and unfailing service, is an effective role model for other volunteers and demonstrates loyalty to the hospital. This year’s recipient is Nancy Scarnati. Her compassion. kindness, and steadfast loyalty to our patients and staff illustrate the essence of exceptional volunteering. Nancy had a positive, life-changing ostomy surgery almost 50 years ago. Her volunteer service revolves around sharing her experience and helping others feel like they can return to a full and rewarding life after getting the diagnosis and surgery.
Elizabeth Crozier Award - Eugene Binder
Eugene Binder is this year’s recipient of the Elizabeth Crozier Award, presented in recognition of outstanding, long-term service to Friends of Strong and Strong Memorial Hospital. Eugene experienced coronary artery bypass surgery in March of 2000. He first began volunteering with Friends of Strong in 2003, offering encouragement to recovering heart surgery patients here at Strong. Several patients shared that hearing about his positive surgical experience and healing journey made them feel less nervous about their own future after surgery.
Louise Criticos Award - Anne Riley-Hill
The recipient of the Louise Criticos Award is Anne Riley-Hill. This honor acknowledges a Friends of Strong volunteer that meets the highest and most consistent level of service to accomplish the Hospital’s goal of Patient- and Family-Centered Care. Anne currently volunteers in Guest Services at both 180 Sawgrass Drive and Orthopedics and Rehab at 10 Miracle Drive. She gets to greet people, help with directions, and offer wheelchair assistance when needed. When starting, she was cautioned that she’d be dealing with people in pain who might be irritable, but her experience has been anything but that.
Anne says, “The folks I have encountered here have been appreciative of any help offered to them.” She is also beyond grateful for the dedicated supervisors and staff she meets when volunteering, who are always supportive, helpful, and well-organized.
Frances Brownell Supervisor Award - Marcello Wright
The Frances Brownell Volunteer Supervisor Award this year recognizes the exceptional leadership skills of Marcello Wright. His excellent rapport with the community fosters a better, more meaningful and rewarding experience for volunteers, patients and families. He truly embodies the essence of this special award. Marcello is an incredible example of patience and demonstrating how to provide excellent care in his position as Assistant Director of Guest Services. As a volunteer supervisor, some of his favorite experiences involve seeing the excitement in volunteers during their orientation. Their eagerness to help is refreshing and exemplifies the selflessness and positivity in an often-stressful environment.
Dove Award - Clara Washington
The Dove Award recognizes volunteers who have completed at least three years of courteous, respectful service and who often ‘go the extra mile’ for our patients, families, and staff. This year’s recipient is Clara Washington. Clara began volunteering over 12 years ago in the NICU Family Support Parent Program, and currently also serves as a G-Tube Buddy Mentor Leader at Golisano Children’s Hospital.
She has cherished this position, commenting on how “This fulfilling experience has allowed me to contribute to causes I deeply care about, meet and assist new people, and form meaningful, lifelong friendships. These connections have enriched my life and underscored the power of community service.”
Evening/Weekend Award - Polly Wilson
The Evening/Weekend Award recognizes a volunteer(s) who work a full time ‘day job’ and devotes one or more evening/weekend days to volunteering with Friends of Strong. This year we recognize NICU Cuddler Polly Wilson, who volunteers every Thursday between 9pm and midnight holding fussy NICU babies, or those babies that just need a little extra stimulation. The obstacles these babies and families face and the amazing nurses and doctors that care for them are true testaments to the extraordinary value of Strong Memorial Hospital, Golisano Children’s Hospital, and Friends of Strong.