The Virginia Living Museum in Newport News has presented its highest honor, the Golden Paw Award, to Joseph R. Witt and the museum’s volunteer corps to recognize their outstanding service.
“Joe has overachieved in every role he has undertaken” at the museum,” said VLM President Charles Wornom in presenting the award Sept. 29. As board president from 2007 to 2009, “Joe led a capital campaign that dramatically changed the landscape of the museum. …And he made certain the Opportunity Fund went into the win column.”
When the bank called in the museum’s construction loans in late 2008, Witt led the Opportunity Fund campaign, recruiting a team of nearly 40 volunteers to raise the money the old fashion way – by visiting with donors one by one, telling the museum’s story and asking for help. With the help of a $6 million anonymous challenge grant, Witt and his team were able to raise $3 million and meet the Dec. 31, 2009 deadline.
Witt thanked everyone for their support of the museum and of his efforts and praised the museum’s more than 400 volunteers, “who equal 19 and a half full-time-equivalent employees. If we had to pay for those employees, it would bankrupt the museum.”
“I am deeply appreciative and humbled by this award,” said Witt, adding he once told museum founder Harry Wason, “It’s easy to work hard for a place like this. It’s been a real privilege to serve.”
Witt is executive vice president of Old Point National Bank and a resident of Newport News.
He was earlier recognized for his Opportunity Fund efforts with the 2010 Ann Brownson Award for service from the Virginia Association of Museums.
The museum also presented a Golden Paw Award to its entire volunteer corps. “Day after day, over 400 volunteers are a life force and major strength of this museum. You’ve got to be passionate to show up at 7 a.m. and cut up fish to feed to the otters or pull weeds in the gardens during 90 degree summer scorchers,” said Wornom. “But they do it out of love and we couldn’t do it without them.”
From interpreting Chesapeake Bay creatures at the Touch Tank and operating the telescope to helping prepare animal diets, volunteers work in all aspects of the museum. About 30% work behind-the-scenes caring for the museum’s animals and plants, about 60% interact directly with guests as exhibit interpreters, while the remaining 10% work in administrative capacities, collections, with classroom teachers and in the Museum Store.
The volunteer award was accepted by Tede Johnson of Newport News, who has volunteered more than 12,000 hours during the past 22 years. In April Johnson was named 2010 Volunteer of the Year by the American Association for Museum Volunteers.
“What we do is a labor of love. Some of us you see, but many you do not see…cleaning cages, exercising animals,” said Johnson in accepting the award. “There are 422 of us volunteers. We outnumber the staff 4 to 1. We’ve given 37,324 hours this year….Our ages range from 15 to 90-plus.”
The awards were presented during a reception Sept. 29 honoring museum supporters. The award is a bronze bobcat statue by Eastern Shore sculptor David Turner.
The museum began giving the Golden Paw Award in 1995 to recognize outstanding service and support of the museum. Past recipients are: Warwick Rotary Club, Junior League of Hampton Roads, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert V, Kelly, Sr. (deceased) and Herbert (Bert) V. Kelly, Jr, George R. Goodson, Jr., Harry H. Wason, Mary Sherwood Holt, Cynthia C. Andrews, James B. (Jake) Thomas, Jr., Dr. John Q.A. Mattern II, the Abbitt family, Ferguson Enterprises, Inc., the city of Newport News, Charlie and Mari Ann Banks and John R. Lawson II.
The Virginia Living Museum is a private non-profit museum and education center. It has been in operation since 1966 and is accredited by both the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the American Association of Museum. It is located at 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News.
For more information call 757-595-1900 or visit the web site at www.thevlm.org.
-30-