One can never say “thank you” enough. In any way, shape or form, we all like to be thanked for giving of ourselves. I know it is true for myself that by receiving a meaningful thank you, even for the smallest of things, I feel appreciated and am more likely to share time, talents or treasure again.On March 10, Batavia United Way hosted an event to sincerely thank major donors, sponsors, volunteers and supported agencies for their assistance in 2010. Batavia United Way board members mingled with approximately 65 invited guests over refreshments in a stunning space (located at 160 First Street …

Members of Batavia Women in Business really know how to cook. Actually, we really know how to pack lots of ready-to-cook dry meals within a two-hour time-frame.Participating in our second year of volunteering at Feed My Starving Children organization in Aurora, group members (plus family, friends and neighbors) packaged 34,560 meals. This will feed 95 children every day for one year, according to the group's staff members.Our 160 boxes of food equated to 2.2 boxes per person, well above the expected quota of 1.3 boxes.Not only did this total surpass the projected output, it outdid last year’s…

“Maybe there is a diamond in them.” Not likely, but it is an interesting justification for the $246 total that kept coming up when I recently purchased four muffins at Dimples Donuts. In reality, the sum was simply the result of repeated error by the cash register operator. The muffins were for Helen Conrad; a small thank you for her agreeing to visit with me about her recently deceased husband, William R. Conrad, Jr. It is ironic that the clerk would suggest diamonds, however, because you could easily consider Bill Conrad a ‘diamond’ in the nonprofit world. During his career of nearly fifty-…

Welcome. The Heart of Batavia is an ongoing discussion about the people and groups of Batavia, with an emphasis on volunteering and nonprofits; as well as other Batavia stories that will hopefully warm your heart and make you smile. As long as I can remember, I have believed you should help others—although as I was growing up I didn't realize it was called "volunteering." My conviction in helping out was cemented when I was newly married. I grew up on a farm in Eastern Iowa, but was currently living in Rockford, Illinois. It was November of 1982 and my dad had a heart attack. He was in St. …