The ITN Affiliate Volunteer of the Year Award is endowed by the Israelite Family to honor Max Israelite and his beloved wife Helen.
Max Israelite was a founding member of the original Independent Transportation Network board of directors.
His belief in and support for ITN remain a great inspiration. Max’s son, Larry Israelite, now serves on the ITNAmerica Council of Advisors. The Israelite family reviews all nominations and selects the national winners in all three categories—ITN Affiliate, ITNCountry and Trusted Transportation Partner.
What are the awards?
- Affiliate Awards—Each ITN Affiliate selects a volunteer to receive a Volunteer of the Year Award. All Affiliate award winners are automatically nominated for the National ITN Volunteer of the Year Award. One national winner receives a $500 check in addition to the traditional modified Tzadakah box by Toby Rosenberg of Rara Avies Pottery.
- ITNCountry Award—Each ITNCountry community nominates a volunteer for the national award. The winner receives a modified Tzadakah box by Toby Rosenberg of Rara Avies Pottery.
- Trusted Transportation Partners—Each TTP nominates a volunteer for the national award. The winner receives a modified Tzadakah box by Toby Rosenberg of Rara Avies Pottery.
The ITNAmerica Volunteer of the Year Award is a modified Tzadakah Box.
In Hebrew, Tzadakah means righteousness or an act of charity. In many Jewish households, a Tzedakah box is laced at the door and coins are dropped into it for the needy.
Toby Rosenberg, a noted potter famous for her Judaica, modified her Tzedakah box design to convey the many places in the community to which ITN volunteers help older people connect—the eye doctor, the library, the grocery store, the hairdresser. Each box features a small ITN car driving along a road on which the volunteer’s name is painted. Every volunteer award is handmade and customized by name for every winner.
Annual Volunteer of the Year
| 2021 | Charles Coulston | ITNBluegrass |
| 2020 | Bob Porta | ITNSouthernDelaware |
| 2019 | Jeff Craig | ITNMontereyCounty |
| 2018 | Mark Mellow | ITNCentralOklahoma |
| 2017 | Jeff Hitchcock | ITNStCharles |
| 2016 | Pat Hickman | ITNMemphis |
| 2015 | Linda Davis | ITNSunCoast |
| 2014 | Dr. Richard Giffen | ITNCharlestonTrident |
| 2013 | Kathleen Richardson | ITNBluegrass |
| 2012 | Ibrahim Skandarani | ITNGreaterBoston |
| 2011 | Gregory Rowe | ITNNorthCentralCT |
| 2010 | Althea West | ITNStCharles |
| 2009 | Terry Brown | ITNCharlestonTrident |
| 2008 | Judy Zogus | ITNOrlando |