Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 551
Fairfax, VA 22035-0065
Contact: Merni Fitzgerald, Director of Public Affairs
703-324-3187, TTY 711, Fax 703-324-2010
Media Pager: 703-324-NEWS (6397)
publicaffairs@fairfaxcounty.gov
Dec. 18, 2007
Fairfax County Citizen Corps Council Chairman Receives Award for Leadership
Fairfax County Citizen Corps Council Chairman Andrew S. Levy was the inaugural recipient of the Leader of the Year Award from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Levy was presented the award at the Virginia Public Safety Outreach Conference on Nov. 14.
The award recognizes leadership on a statewide level for an individual manager, coordinator or council member who exemplifies the Citizen Corps mission. Levy was given the award to recognize more than 1,000 documented hours of volunteer work in 2007 in such programs as Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Medical Reserve Corps, Volunteer Mobilization Leadership Team, and many others. In addition to working full-time, Levy is also the creator and main contributor to the Fairfax County Citizen Corps blog, (http://citizencorps.blogspot.com), which has been accessed by users in 44 states and 25 countries.
“In between this he manages all of the other programs like a corporate CEO,” said Terry L. Akins, volunteer public information officer for Fairfax County CERT. “He is a regular during CERT classes as a volunteer CERT instructor and as a more than memorable victim during exercises. He is a master of using humor to bring home an important training point to the CERT trainees.”
Levy’s entire family is active in volunteering and giving back to the community. His two children send cards to the military, fire and police departments, and his five-year-old daughter Gabrielle, was awarded the Presidential Service Award last year.
“Volunteering has become a part of our family’s life,” says Levy. “People from the community should take a few minutes out of their daily routines to help others. It is always a good feeling to be able to give back to your community by helping others when they really need it. Being prepared not only helps you and your family, it helps others as well. After all, you never know when you might need it yourself.”
Working directly with the Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management and the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, Police and Health departments, the Citizen Corps Council brings together first responders and other community organizations crucial to emergency preparedness and the development of volunteer opportunities and training to meet community needs. In addition, the council serves as an official Fairfax County advisory body to promote federal and state volunteer initiatives, enhance services, facilitate the exchange of information, and training and support partnerships.
For more information, visit www.fairfaxcountycitizencorps.org or contact the Office of Emergency Management at 703-324-2362, TTY 711.
###
Award presenters (from left to right) are: Brock Bierman, director, DHS/FEMA Community Preparedness Division, Small State and Rural Advocate; Sharon Woo, Virginia Department of Emergency Management, Citizen Corps and CERT training and outreach coordinator; Suzanne Simmons, Virginia Department of Emergency Management, volunteer coordination program manager; and Andrew Levy.
For more news and information, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news.