Volunteers and organizations recognized for supporting parks

Volunteers with Friends of Accotink Creek collect litter from the stream. [FACC]

The Fairfax County Park Authority has honored the Friends of Accotink Creek (FACC) with an Elly Doyle Park Service Award. 

FACC volunteers protect the watershed by removing trash, replacing invasive plants with native species, monitoring wildlife populations, and educating the public about preserving nature and reversing the impact of climate change.

The 2021 Elly Doyle Awards honor 47 volunteers, organizations, and public officials for their support for Fairfax County parks. 

Other award winners with a connection to the Annandale/Mason District area include the following: 

• Hidden Oaks Nature Center volunteer Bob Dinse received a Sally Ormsby Environmental Stewardship Award for maintaining and improving the Old Oak Trail, donating hundreds of dollars worth of native plants and birdseed, and assisting park visitors. 
• Another Sally Ormsby award was presented to the Green Spring Extension Master Gardeners. The organization educates the public on sustainable gardening practices, leads nature programs for children, and trained more than 60 Master Gardeners. 
• Three volunteers at Green Spring Gardens – Janet Hammes, Aimee Martin, and Liz Promen – were honored for making face masks to protect staff during the Covid pandemic. 
• Jose Acosta of Annandale received an award for taking care of the snakes, turtles, amphibians, and other animals in the 17 tanks at the Hidden Oaks Nature Center when Covid limited the number of volunteers. 
• Larry Zenker of Springfield received an award for his longtime stint as a volunteer at the Audrey Moore RECenter in Annandale.  
• Another volunteer at Audrey Moore, Henry Champagne of Springfield, was recognized for his caring and positive attitude toward kids taking swimming lessons. 
• Pam Pontillo of Falls Church received a volunteer award for her work at Providence RECenter with the adapted fitness class for teens and young adults with mild intellectual disabilities. 
• Wayne and Angela Valis and the Valis family received an Eakin Philanthropy Award for their longtime support of the Pinecrest Golf Center, including the establishment of the Valis Family Golf Learning Center featuring a TrackMan indoor golf simulator.