Special News

NEWS RELEASE

January 28, 2014

 

Rappahannock Electric Cooperative Member Receives Good Samaritan Award

 

Virginia’s Electric Cooperatives Honor Hanover County Resident

 

(Richmond, Va.) – Carole Umbel, a Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) member from Hanover,is the recipient of the Good Samaritan Award, presented by the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC).

The Good Samaritan Award was developed to honor individuals whose body of good work has been so selfless and life-changing to others that it is held up as a “gold standard” of philanthropic community service. Umbel accepted her award at a luncheon held yesterday at the Omni Hotel in Richmond.

 

For more than 20 years, Umbel has led the Western Hanover Emergency Action Team (WHEAT), which provides emotional, spiritual and physical support to families in the Beaverdam, Doswell, Montpelier and Rockville neighborhoods.

 

“Along with her husband Ron, Carole is a firm believer in supporting one’s community through volunteerism,” said David Koogler, REC’s Vice President of Customer Services, one of many who wrote eloquently in support of her nomination. “Not only is she an active member of Beaverdam United Methodist Church, she also leads the Association to Preserve the Beaverdam Depot and has played key roles in organizing many local events, including Beaverdam’s Heritage Day, Wine Festival, Fourth of July Parade and numerous food drives, benefit dinners and auction fundraisers,” Koogler added.

 

In honoring Umbel with the Good Samaritan Award, Larry Howdyshell, chairman of the VMDAEC Awards Committee, praised her for being “a true role model of a wonderful citizen and protector of those less fortunate.”

 

Joining Koogler and Howdyshell in honoring Umbel were close friends and fellow REC members Rev. Claudia Stallings and Erika “Rickie” Smith, who each described Umbel’s far-reaching service.

 

“Over the past year, WHEAT has served from 80 to 100 families each month, providing food assistance to more than 300 local residents,” said Smith. “Carole’s ongoing efforts to secure funding and grants to assist neighbors with emergency financial needs have made Western Hanover County a more caring place to live and raise a family.”

 

Jackson E. Reasor, Jr., president and CEO of VMDAEC and Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC), the power supplier to REC and 10 other member – owned cooperatives, said “Carole exemplifies the 7^thcooperative principle of ‘concern for community, and we are proud to recognize her inspirational leadership that has made such a difference in her rural community.”

 

The Good Samaritan Award was established in 2010 and nominations are solicited from the members of the 13 electric cooperatives that serve Virginia.

 

Founded in 1944, VMDAEC is the trade association for 15 consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution cooperatives that serve Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. The Glen Allen, Va.-based Association provides its member cooperatives with employee, director, and safety education and training, government relations and legislative support, and communications services, including the publishing of Cooperative Living magazine. For more information, visit www.vmdaec.com, www.gaff-n-go.com or www.co-opliving.com.

 

REC provides electric service to over 158,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, Va., Rappahannock operates and maintains more than 16,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For information about REC, please visit us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or our website, www.myrec.coop.