Featured Volunteers

Ever since Ms. Townsend-Thornton retired in January of 2006 she has been an active volunteer; her service to others, however, began long before that.

Ms. Townsend-Thornton grew up in Mississippi and came to Cleveland from 1957 to 1959. She then joined the army for six years, and shortly after returned back to Cleveland where she has remained since 1966.

Feelings of gratefulness motivated Ms. Townsend-Thornton to begin volunteering. She began at the Army Recruiting Services where she completed paperwork and documentation necessary to enlist men and women in service. She moved on from this position to the ones that she currently holds, assisting every Tuesday at the Cleveland Public Library gift shop and every Wednesday as the receptionist at the Greater Cleveland Volunteers office, in addition to partaking in many special team events.

In addition to having profound gratitude for people and places that have served her throughout her life, it is Ms. Townsend-Thorton’s unique perspective on volunteerism that distinguishes her service and that inspires her work.

Ms. Townsend-Thornton remembers taking day trips to the public library as a little girl and recalls how amazed she was by the fact that she could go there and stay all day if she wished. Cherished childhood memories like these confirm her belief that “You can’t just keep taking. There comes a time when you have to give back.”

According to Ms. Townsend-Thornton, volunteering is not “working for nothing,” rather, it is the opportunity to contribute to your community and to the wellbeing of society by doing things without wanting or expecting compensation.

Mr. Ziff wasn’t kidding when he said that he can attribute his volunteerism to his wife, Sally. Soon after he retired from a long career as an electrician, Mrs. Ziff encouraged her husband to remain active and pushed him out the door to volunteer somewhere, and so he did!

Mr. Ziff began volunteering at Mount Sinai Hospital, where he established himself as a bonafide jokester, bringing smiles to anyone and everyone who crossed his path and taking an especial liking to the children. Wearing an assortment of hats ranging from a giant hamburger to a Christmas tree, Mr. Ziff visited children at the hospital while they were receiving their treatment, wheeling a cart of toys and tricks and bringing to them a heartfelt smile and an invaluable friendship during a time when they needed one the most.

He recalls an unexpected reunion with one of the young boys he befriended during his time volunteering at the hospital, and how incredibly delighted the now teenager was to see Mr. Ziff again. It’s no surprise that he was awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award in 2007.

Born and bred in the Cleveland area, Mr. and Mrs. Ziff demonstrate the genuine nature of Clevelanders by bringing joy to everyone they encounter. Mrs. Ziff joined her husband as a volunteer at Mount Sinai Hospital after she retired. She did additional work at University Hospitals, Montefiore Medical Center, the Gathering Place and Providence House.

In addition, the couple has volunteered at Menorah Park, the Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center, and has done mailings at John Carroll University and at the Greater Cleveland Volunteer office.

“We try to do what we can do,” and they have done a lot. After both Mr. and Mrs. Ziff retired, they did most of their volunteering as a couple. In 2006, they were honored by the State of Ohio for their service as a couple married over 50 years and still volunteering together.

Mr. Singh's spirituality grounds his philosophy on volunteerism, and invigorates him to reach out to those in need. Mr. Singh is from India, however has lived in the Greater Cleveland area for the past sixteen years.

After having raised and provided for his own family, he felt it was time to contribute by serving the community that he is a part of. He began his volunteer work with Greater Cleveland Volunteers last year at the MedWorks Clinic and has remained dedicated to this event.

"We are all different. We all come from different walks of life, and have different opinions, but inside, we share the same soul." Beyond giving service to others, and fulfilling what he sees as his personal duty to the community, Mr. Singh expresses his belief that "whether one is black, white, purple or orange," showing compassion to others through our kindness and our service is how we can make society a better place for everyone.