Ferrum College Freshman, Ben Thacker, recently won the “2007 Young Adult Volunteer of the Year” Award from the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and the National Center for Assisted Living.  He earned the award for his service to the Beverly Living Center in Charlottesville, VA. Local residents know the facility as “The Cedars.”  

“I don't think of what I do as volunteering. I think of it as a part of who I am,” said Thacker in his acceptance speech.  “Because of my experience, I think that I have a better understanding of the importance of respecting and cherishing the lives and wisdom of my elders.”

Thacker began volunteering at the Cedars just days after he was born.  His mother would bring him to work and let the residents help care for Ben.  Since that time, he has volunteered in almost every department at the facility.  He has painted rooms, raked leaves and hung pictures.  His projects have also ranged from building parade floats to making homemade apple butter.  But most importantly, Ben has given one of life’s most important commodities to the residents at the Cedars; his time.  He has spent countless hours playing checkers and calling out numbers at bingo.  He has even arranged for residents to attend his baseball games each spring.  “Ben is a shower of blessings,” said Ruth Estes, a resident at Golden Living who wrote a letter of recommendation on Thacker’s behalf.  “I really love him.  He is like a son to me.”

Thacker is currently a freshman at Ferrum College in Ferrum, VA. “We are thrilled to reward Ben for his years of service to our facility, and for the positive impact he has made on the lives of our residents,” said the facility’s Executive Director, Scott Overstreet.  “Ben is a true role model for people of all ages.”

Earlier in the year, Thacker also won the “2007 Volunteer of the Year Award” from the Virginia Health Care Association.  This made him eligible for the national award.  Thacker is the son of Bruce and Margaret Thacker of Crozet, Va., and he is a 2007 graduate of the Miller School.
Thacker will be the guest of honor at a special celebration dinner planned at the Golden Living headquarters in Ft. Smith, Arkansas tonight, November 7th for a special recognition.

Ferrum College is a four-year, private, co-educational, liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Ferrum offers a choice of nationally recognized bachelor’s degree programs at a cost well below the national average for private colleges. For more information on Ferrum, visit www.ferrum.edu.