Volunteers take a bow -- and awards

TAMPA -- At age 17, Brian Orloff spends countless hours at the bedsides of dying people, documenting their memories in scrapbooks and videotaped interviews. Their stories become gifts for their loved ones: a living record after their deaths.

Orloff, a senior at Palm Harbor University High School, has devoted much of his free time to hospice patients for five years.

On Tuesday, he received the Golden Achievement Award, the highest honor that the area United Way gives to volunteers.

"It was a total shock," Orloff said. "It was kind of humbling."

He was one of a dozen people recognized as the area's top volunteers of 2001 during a ceremony at the DoubleTree Hotel in Tampa. More than 120 volunteers were nominated.

They were recognized by the United Ways of Pinellas County and Hillsborough County, as well as the organization Pinellas Cares. The two United Way chapters are merging into one organization, United Way of Tampa Bay.

William "Mac" MacDonald won the Michael A. Zagorc Award for volunteering despite physical challenges. MacDonald, a volunteer with Pinellas County Extension Services, goes from place to place with his toolbox making repairs, even though he's nearly deaf and uses a wheelchair.

Cindy Schneller and Brian McCall, who volunteer with SPCA of Pinellas County, won in the animals and environment category.

Betty Laing, a volunteer at Largo Cultural Center, and Kathy Myers, a volunteer with the Plant City Arts Council, won in arts and entertainment.

Lynn Gruber and Terry Wolford, who volunteer at Tampa Palms Elementary School, won in education.

Edie Dopking, who volunteers at Quantum Leap Farm, won in the health category. Dolores Castaldo, who volunteers at Benedict Haven, won in human services.

G. Randy James, who volunteers for the Hillsborough Education Foundation, won for leadership. Jamie Floyd, who volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pinellas County, won the youth award. Accenture won the Partners in the Workplace award.

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