ACKNOWLEDGED & HONORED
Gordon Hamm
On June 21, 2025, we celebrated Gordon Hamm, nominated by Bill Saak and Randy Swink for his support and dedication to the Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary School.
For over 12 years Gordon has worked tirelessly for this school! He organizes volunteers for the classrooms. He has collected over 6,000 books for students, and countless boxes of cereal, shoes, and Christmas gifts! One of his biggest accomplishments was making sure that each and every student received a logo’ed school t-shirt! He has personally donated over $50,000 to the school that he earned by cleaning and detailing over 600 cars!
Outside of the school, he sells t-shirts for Red Shirt Fridays in support of the Marine Corps League.
There is no person more deserving of recognition than Gordon!
Van Bui-Thompson
On June 4, 2025, we honored Van Bui-Thompson at the Abundance of Love Fundraiser.
Van has an amazing story which includes being imprisoned by the Viet Gong and escaping from Communist Vietnam. She has led a life of giving back ever since!
Here in The Villages, she serves as a cultural ambassador, and is a dancer and dance instructor. She uses her skills to organize and arrange artistic variety shows, and has raised 10s of 1000s of dollars for groups like the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1036, the Rotary Club of The Villages, relief efforts for Ukraine refugees, and several social and volunteer clubs.
Peter Russell
On May 22, 2025, we honored Peter Russell who was responsible for making VHA (Villagers Homeowners Advocates) what it is today and worked tirelessly to build Shared Harvest, The Villages community garden that grew and donated over 27,000 lbs. of produce to the needy in 2024!
Barara McManus
On March 11, 2025, we honored Barbara McManus, the President of the Wildwood Soup Kitchen, and an endless giver to the Kitchen and its patrons.
Barb started volunteering in 2015 as the Drivers Coord. Soon after she became the President. She works extremely well with donors, clients, and volunteers.
2024 Soup Kitchen stats: 364 active volunteers, 314 on-call volunteers, 108,813 home-delivery and take-out meals provided, 48,064 sandwiches made, and 11,845 weekend snack packs prepared! Open 6 days/week, with dine-in and take-out available T/Th/Sat.
Rocco Tucker
On March 4, 2025, we honored Rocco Tucker at a softball game at Everglades. Our thanks to his neighbor, Francois Hansen, for playing a part in this. Rocco was honored for his exceptional kindness.
He recently rode his bike from The Villages to Paris Island to raise $12,000, along with his softball team, to help those with brain injury.
Al Arnold
On March 4, 2025, we honored Al Arnold, president of VHA Helping Hands at their board meeting. Al has shown exceptional kindness in his work with this group, which loans medical equipment to any Villager or visitor in need.
Al is also very active in several military related groups, is a leader in Villages Honor Flight, and does work for the Military Officers Association. He is selfless to these causes and a constant Giver of his time and talents.
At the presentation he kept saying that it wasn’t HIM, it is all the great people around him! Just another testament to his humility!
John Scott
On January 14, 2025, we had the privilege of honoring John Scott from the Woodworkers Clubs for the exceptional kindness he has shown in his work with this group.
Sue Roper
On October 21, 2024, we honored Sue Roper – Tri-County Women’s Veterans