District 212 staff member honored as volunteer of the year by IMRF

DISTRICT 212 STAFF MEMBER HONORED AS VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR BY IMRF

Leyden High School District 212 staff member Hilda Marshall is the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) "Volunteer of the Year" honoree. Every year the retirement system recognizes one IMRF member for his or her noteworthy volunteerism. Marshall is being honored for her 19 year commitment as a mentor in the Y-PALS program at the Kelly Hall YMCA located on Chicago's West Side.

Three to five times a week Marshall makes the 35-mile trip from her home in Matteson to lead the mentoring program that meets the needs of young people growing up in high-risk environments. Youth participants and adult volunteer mentors are matched together as "Y-PALS". Mentors work with the youngsters to provide individual tutoring, emotional support, new experiences and companionship, as well as modeling healthy behavior and constructive life choices.

"I have sacrificed quite a bit of time as a volunteer, but I wouldn't have it any other way," says Marshall, who is a cashier in District 212's fiscal services department. "If you give your time to someone or something else, it will be you who receives the most in return."

IMRF Executive Director Louis Kosiba says "Hilda is a great example of an IMRF member who has positively influenced so many young individuals by sharing her time and talent. We're thrilled to honor her."

On December 10, 2015, Marshall and six other IMRF member-volunteers were honored at a ceremony at the IMRF's headquarters in Oak Brook. In honor of Marshall's recognition as Volunteer of the Year, members of the IMRF staff donated $1000 in her name to the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. IMRF's other member-volunteers were honored with $100 donations to their preferred service organizations.