What is specific about Nancy Heykes’ service as a lifelong volunteer is that she is willing to help everyone from any group.

“She gives generously, cares genuinely and does everything from the heart,” one person said as part of the nomination for the Walter L. Rugland Community Service Award. Nancy will be honored with that award, sponsored by Thrivent Financial. It is one of seven volunteer awards being presented at the annual Celebrating Volunteers community gala April 26 at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in downtown Appleton. The event is sponsored by the Community Foundation and The Post-Crescent.

Nancy has spent countless hours helping a wide range of nonprofit organizations, big and small, that work with people from a variety of cultures and ages. As one of the founders of the Fox Cities Rotary Multicultural Center (now Celebrate Diversity Fox Cities), Nancy laid the foundation to help bridge gaps between cultural groups while educating the community.  In retirement from Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin, she provides free legal and nonprofit counsel for the Fox Valley Memory Project and Nonprofit Leadership Initiative, and currently gives her time on the boards of Celebrate Diversity Fox Cities, IndUS Fox Valley, and Kids Forward (formerly the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families). Over the years, Nancy has also served on the boards of Goodwill NCW, Fox Cities Online, and the Volunteer Center of East Central Wisconsin.

She is called “a unifying voice” in divisive times.

Nancy will receive $5,000 to distribute to a favorite local charity or charities.

Register for Celebrating Volunteers by April 19.

Honoree Stories:

Hanns Kretzschmar Award for Excellence in the Arts – Renee Ulman

Paul & Elaine Groth Mentoring Award — Bob DeKoch

Youth Scholarship Award — Rachel Miserlian

Janet Berry Volunteer of the Year Award — Cheri Duchrow

Walter L. Rugland Community Service Award — Nancy Heykes

Health Care Volunteer Award — Jim and Sue Spierings

Business Partnership Award — Harbor House Domestic Abuse Programs and McMAHON

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