2021 Volunteer of the Year

Meet Timothy

Timothy Knell was nominated by Laura Fine, the volunteer coordinator at the Washington Area Humane Society (WAHS).

In her nomination, Fine tells a compelling story about Knell’s extraordinary efforts during the pandemic: not only did Tim foster several cats, but he also created videos of himself reading books to the shelter cats. The videos became a hit with the public and led to additional cat adoptions. Tim was also a key volunteer in the success of the WAHS’s emergency food bank program, ensuring that those shut-in due to the virus were able to receive food needed for their pets.

"It’s not about the hours, but the impact," Fine writes,

"Tim has made an impact on the community and in the cat department and we are so grateful to call him a volunteer! But if you are counting, Tim has spent 885 hours making a difference for the Washington Area Humane Society!"

GBU Life’s members are connected through their commitment to their local communities. GBU has several programs which support members across the country with their volunteering and fundraising efforts. The Making a Difference: One Hour at a Time program donates $15 to an organization for each hour a member volunteers there. GBU’s Give Back Groups program matches members’ fundraising efforts and offers reimbursement for dollars spent by members to assist with community projects.

“It is members like Tim that really further the mission of GBU," said GBU National Vice President Matt Blistan. “His commitment to his community through something he is passionate about is what we look for in our Volunteer of the Year.”

As a thank you for Tim’s efforts, GBU presented the Washington Area Humane Society with a $1,000 check on July 28.

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