The Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service
(Volunteer MS) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022 Governor’s Initiative for Volunteer Excellence (GIVE) Awards.

The 2022 GIVE Awards Recipients are:

Gerald Schmuck of Gulfport, Outstanding Volunteer Leadership by a Public Servant

Tammy Pierce of Byhalia, Outstanding Service in Youth Mentoring 

Mississippi Coats 4 Kidz Volunteers of Batesville, Outstanding Humanitarian Service by a Volunteer Group

Stewart McMillan of Tupelo, Outstanding Service in Uplifting Communities

Shyra Galloway of Wiggins, Outstanding Service in Community Empowerment

Emily Fitzhugh of Biloxi, Outstanding Advocacy by a Youth

LaKenya B. Evans of Cleveland, Outstanding Service in Strengthening Families & Communities

James Davis of Jackson, Outstanding Achievement in Youth Empowerment

Michael Brownlee of Oxford, Outstanding Servant Leadership

Margaret Arnold of Columbus, The Marsha Meeks Kelly Award for Lifetime Achievement in Volunteer Service

Margaret is honored with this prestigious award for her service and dedication to the Columbus Municipal School District since 1996 and the positive impact she’s had on its teachers, librarians, staff, and students.

“Mississippi’s legacy in volunteerism runs deep,” said Monica Ritchie, Executive Director of Volunteer Mississippi. “We are honored and privileged to recognize these 10 outstanding individuals and institutions representing volunteer excellence for the state of Mississippi.”

The Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service (Volunteer Mississippi) will honor the recipients at a closed reception to be held at The Ivy Venue in Jackson on April 21st, 2022 from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. First Lady Elee Reeves, Honorary Chair of Volunteer Mississippi, will be in attendance; Two-time Pulitzer finalist, celebrated host of tv and radio, and editor-at-large of Mississippi Today Marshall Ramsey will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

The GIVE Awards were established through the Office of the Governor and Volunteer Mississippi to recognize individuals and organizations that have made an outstanding impact in their communities through their gifts of service, advocacy, and outreach on behalf of the citizens of Mississippi. Nominations are made by the general public, and a group of industry peers serve as judges to review the submitted information determine the award recipients. Nomination information is released by Volunteer Mississippi in January of each year.

For more information about the GIVE Awards, contact Volunteer Network Officer Krista Estes at kestes@ihl.state.ms.us, or call (601) 432-6306. To read the entire program click here.