Volunteer Recognition

The Annual Volunteer Recognition Awards is New Canaan’s opportunity to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary individuals and groups that are the backbone of our local nonprofit community.

Awards are given out to volunteers who live in New Canaan or who do their volunteer service in the town of New Canaan. Awards are given in the following categories:

Youth - MVP

Youth - Hall of Fame

Hands-On Rookie of the Year

Hands-On MVP

Hands-On Hall of Fame

Outstanding Volunteer Group

Nomination Process

Can you think of an outstanding volunteer that fits into one of the
above listed categories?

Please note that nominees must either be residents of New Canaan or volunteer in New Canaan.

The Volunteer Recognition nomination period is now closed. We look forward to celebrating our 2026 honorees, who will be notified in mid-February. Please join us for the Volunteer Recognition Awards on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at Town Hall, as we honor the outstanding contributions of our community volunteers.

Please email Brendan McMorrow at bmcmorrow@newcanaancf.org if you have any questions.

Congratulations to our 2024 Volunteer Award Recipients

        Hands-On Hall of Fame  – Tom Davies, Lapham Community Center

        Board Leadership – Mark Markiewicz, New Canaan Museum & Historical Society

        Hands-On, MVP Award – Linda Wolfgruber, New Canaan Mounted Troop

         Hands-On, MVP Award – Jim Fox, Future Five

        Hands-On, MVP Award – Ty Tan, New Canaan Beautification League

        Hands-On, Rookie of the Year Award – Silvana Cardona, New Canaan Fire Company No. 1

        Outstanding Group, Community Heroes – New Canaan EMS Volunteers

       Outstanding Group, Community Impact – Swap Shop Volunteers

        Youth MVP Award – Ryan Boulanger, Person to Person

        Youth MVP Award – Adelaide Tuff, Open Doors

        Youth Community Leadership – Leo Mikkola-Patel, NCHS

        Youth Initiative – Grace Baker, Waveny Lifecare Network

        Community Foundation Award - Meghan Gould, NCCF

        Jim Cole Inspiration Award – Barbara Johansen, Staying Put in New Canaan

Thank You To Our Partners

We are grateful for the support of local organizations that help us celebrate our volunteers.