More than 22,000 individuals served as volunteers in Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) during the 2014–2015 school year, donating more than 690,000 hours of service, valued at $15,562,883.
On Thursday, April 30, at VBCPS’ annual community celebration of these volunteers and community partners, 86 Volunteers of the Year were honored—one from every school in the district. This year’s award-winning volunteers included parents, grandparents, high school students, soldiers, citizens and former educators who donated their time to assist with academics, athletics, activities and the arts.
From among this prestigious group of volunteers, Denise Hoffman, Tidewater Jewish community member, was one of three named 2015 Citywide Volunteers of the Year by the Virginia Beach Council of PTAs. In addition to serving on various committees, chairing the teacher appreciation committee and implementing the WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) program at Christopher Farms Elementary School, Hoffman also leads the school’s Beach Bags program. Thanks to her efforts to collect donations from area businesses and personally pack weekly Beach Bags, nearly 30 students at Christopher Farms are provided food to take home for the weekend. “As with most great Samaritans, very few people know the ‘true angel’ behind this project. Denise slips in to do her good deed each week and wants no public recognition for what she does,” says Teri Breaux, principal.