Volunteers in Parks Banquet

CRPA annually hosts our Volunteers in the Parks (VIP) Banquet each January to recognize the previous year’s volunteers. During this banquet, guests enjoy dinner, a motivational speaker, prizes and gifts, and one volunteer from each group is recognized as a volunteer of the year for that organization. From those selected by their respective groups as the volunteer(s) of the year, a panel of judges selects one volunteer as the Cherokee County Distinguished Volunteer of the Year.

2022 Volunteers of the Year

Distinguished Volunteer of the Year - Mike Grummer
Excellence in Volunteer Service Award - GA Academy Baseball & Softball Club

Allatoona Rowing Association - Larry Lodisio 
Canton Baseball - Duffy Sparks
Cherokee County Special Olympics - Merry Hofmeister
Cherokee Senior Softball Association - Marty Aftewicz
Cherokee Impact Soccer - Riley Wildeman
Cherokee Youth Basketball (CYB) - Mike Grummer
Cherokee Youth Football Association - Jason Van Vacter
Cherokee Youth Girls Flag Football (CYGFF) - Jeb White
Cherokee Youth Lacrosse (CYL) - Ben Wyne
Cherokee Youth Softball (CYS) - Ken McKenzie
Cherokee Hockey In-Line League (CHILL) - Matt Hackett 
Creekview Boys Youth Lacrosse - Chris Aiello 
Creekview Girls Youth Lacrosse - Robbie Fletcher
Dwight Terry Baseball - Deb Wright
East Cherokee Baseball  - Rodd Thrasher
Friends of Garland Mountain - Jesse Brookshire 
Georgia Academy - Josh Blackmon
Hobgood Baseball - Tim Smith
Leisure Spectrum/ Community Outreach -  Delaine Cagle
NASA Top Hat Soccer - Cesar Fernandez
North Cherokee Baseball - Harmony Parton
North Georgia Falcons - Jeff Hodges
Pelicans Swim Team - Ashley Donahue
SORBA Woodstock - Leigh Pruitt

Past Excellence in Volunteer Service Award

  • 2021 -  Friends of Garland Mountain
  • 2020 - SORBA Woodstock
  • 2019 - Hobgood Baseball
  • 2018 - Friends of Garland Mountain 

Past Distinguished Volunteers

  • 2021 - Yvonne Curtis - Georgia Academy 
  • 2020 - Mollie Guy - Cherokee County Special Olympics
  • 2019 - Delaine Cagle - Leisure Spectrum
  • 2018 - Rob & Tracie Strozier - Miracle League
  • 2017 - Lori Bane - Hobgood Baseball
  • 2016 - Ray Deluca - Cherokee Senior Softball Association
  • 2015 - Amy Turcotte - CYFA, Holly Pineda - Special Olympics
  • 2014 - Duffy Sparks - Cherokee Youth Baseball
  • 2013 - Delaney Spurlock - Leisure Spectrum
  • 2012 - Steve Diamond - CHILL
  • 2011 - Dan Carmicheal - Cherokee Reds
  • 2010 - Marguerite White - CYFA