Montgomery Serves Awards 2023

Congratulations to the 2023 Montgomery Serves Awards honorees. Each has demonstrated remarkable commitment to service and volunteerism in our community, earning them Montgomery County's highest recognition for their contributions.

Neal Potter Path of Achievement Award Honorees

Honoring lifetime service by those age 60 and better

Carol Garvey, M.D.

Carol Garvey, M.D. Carol Garvey, a retired physician and former Montgomery County Health Officer, has dedicated her career and volunteer work to ensuring access to medical care, reducing inequity in health care and disparities in outcomes, and providing the best possible start in life. The Potomac resident was instrumental in founding the Primary Care Coalition, a network of organizations that provide free or low-cost medical care and has an active volunteer in numerous Montgomery County health care initiatives.

Ulessly (Bernie) Relf, Jr.

Ulessly (Bernie) Relf , Jr . has spent much of his retirement as a full-time volunteer. The Silver Spring resident volunteered for Meals on Wheels from 2010 to 2017 and has managed the St. Camillus Food Pantry from 2000 through 2023, retiring just shy of his 88th birthday. Bernie averaged 34 hours per week overseeing every aspect of operations. His efficiency, experience, personality, vision , and calm guidance enabled the pantry to serve between 400 and 700 families every week.

Volunteer of the Year Awards

Recognizing outstanding volunteer service performed the previous calendar year

Christine King

Volunteer of the Year

Christine King of Rockville co-founded the New Neighbors Interfaith Alliance in 2019. The organization brings together volunteers from Christian, Jewish, Unitarian, Bahai and Muslim faith communities who work together to ease and facilitate the transition to American life for traumatized refugees of all ages from Africa, Latin America, and Asia. In 2022, Chris spent over 40 hours each week leading efforts to resettle over 20 Afghan families.

Viveka Sinha

Youth Volunteer of the Year

Viveka Sinha, a Bethesda resident, is a junior in the math, science , and computer science magnet program at Montgomery Blair High School. She is the catalyst behind the Asian American Mental Health Initiative (AAMHI), which aims to counter the harmful effects of the “model minority” myth among Asian American students. Viveka also founded Speak Up Debate, a program that teaches public speaking and debate to fourth to eighth grade students during school breaks.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Xi Sigma Omega Chapter

Volunteer Group of the Year

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Xi Sigma Omega Chapter delivers a wide range of innovative programs and services to promote the welfare of residents in upper Montgomery County. Throughout 2022, Xi Sigma Omega members volunteered over 6500 hours of service. Their programs focused on health, education, financial stability, food insecurity, homelessness, the environment , and arts and culture.

Simply Fresh Events

Volunteer Business of the Year

Simply Fresh Events , a Gaithersburg - based catering and event planning business, is a key partner with Nourishing Bethesda in its mission to fight food insecurity . Simply Fresh has offered their time, expertise, equipment, supplies and transportation support – all in addition to donating thousands of pounds of food. The company has been instrumental in helping Nourishing Bethesda provide nutritious food and community support to neighbors in nee d and their collaboration has strengthened the nonprofit’s impact.

Congratulations and Thank You to All

Choosing our winners was not at all easy. We are grateful for the many impressive nominations and appreciate those who volunteer to make Montgomery County an even better place to live, work, play, raise a family and retire!

2023 Montgomery Serves Awards Nominees

Annie Jernigan Goldberg, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Theta Omega Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Xi Sigma Omega Chapter, Andrea Sedlock, Cathleen Barnes, Christine King, Clay Walsh, Commission on Aging, Conflict Resolution Center of Montgomery County, Conservation Montgomery, Inc., David Westreich, Diego Bernales, Doran Flowers, Elizabath Tang, Evelyn Jemionek, Fred Silver, Friends of Sligo Creek, Fuentes Family, Geoff Barker, GRF CPA & Advisors, ICM Cares, Ilan Shterenberg, Isabel Garcia-Musalem, Jaguar Scholars Leadership Program(JSLP), Jared Morris, Jean Mocarski, Jeanette Wolfe, John Lam, Kaniria Scott, Kathy Nguyen, Keller Williams Capital Properties-Rockville, KINDH, Maria Torres Benitez, May Wong, Melody Goodman, Meoma King, Naila Zidikheri, Natalie Ashenafi, Neelsville Presbyterian Church Volunteers, Paula Corpuz, Rashaod Crosson, Jr., Rhea Chelar, Ria Rajesh, Ruth Filbert, Sadhana Srinivasan, Sara Abdel, Shri Yoga, Shrikant Sabnis, Shrusti Amula, Shuaa Tajammul, Thrivers Philanthropies, Timaron Chang, Trianna Tran, Trystan Moses, Ulessly B. (Bernie) Relf, Jr., Vanesssa Thomas, Viveka Sinha, Warrior Canine Connection, WE REFUSE ABUSE ORGANIZATION, Wendy Kent

2023 Montgomery Serves Awards Nominators

Alan Bowser, Andrea Greene, Angela Kabiwa, ANU RAGHUNATHAN, Arif Mohammad, Ashenafi Arega, Balamurugan Srinivasagam, Beverly Rollins, Christy Hoang, Connor Paul, Darakshinda Farooq, Debbie Eisenberg, Deniz Ayhan, Desana M, Edward Murtagh, Emin Pala, Frances Randolph, Gerald Onyedika, Hope Collazo, ICM Cares Team, Indira Nagaraj, Interfaith Works, Jennifer Lee, Jewel Thompson, John Kinnaman, Joyce Romanus, Kaniria Scott, Karen Leggett Abouraya, Katherine Medina, Kathleen Halverson, Kathleen Landells, Kaylie Nguyen, Lilian Agwu, Lucien Parsons, Maria Grana, Marie Antoinette Davis, Mary Hammond, Mary Jackson, Maury Peterson, Megan Joe, Meredith Wolff, Namita Sandal, Nishtha Sanghani, Nourishing Bethesda, Patricia DeFino, Paula Kowalczuk, Peter Aylward, Rachel Tracz, Ravindra Agarwal, Richard Bienvenue, Ruby Garcia, Safia Muwakki, Sara Abdel, Sarah Olson, Sherlene Lucas, Siddhi Rios, Silvia Silverman, Silvia Fuentes, Sripathy Subramania, Tamara Greenspan, Tammie McRoy, Tanya Parker, Tracy Terrell, Veda Nagaraj, Violet Spencer, Weyessa McAlister

See previous years' honorees by clicking on the annual award links on the left toolbar!