John Voket was presented with a 2014 National Ambassador of Hope Award on October 15, during the monthly Hearts of Hope-Newtown painting party.

Hearts of Hope (HOH) Founder and Executive Director Judy Pederson said Wednesday morning that “An Ambassador of Hope is awarded to someone who goes above and beyond in service to others.”

Nominations were received from four states, she said Wednesday night. Ms Pederson was in Sandy Hook, at the Newtown United Methodist Church, where HOH-Newtown hosts its monthly painting parties.

“There were so many amazing candidates that were nominated,” she told those in attendance. “The one theme that follows through for the people who were selected to be an Ambassador of Hope is that this person puts himself or herself above the needs of others, in the service to others. The stories we received, and the people we were able to meet, they are incredible.”

An associate editor for The Newtown Bee, Mr Voket was one of six people selected for the honor. It is the first time the award has been presented by Hearts of Hope, a volunteer-driven nationwide community service program. Developed by Ms Pederson, MSW, LSW, FT, the program allows people of all ages and artistic abilities to paint palm-sized clay hearts — described at ourheartsofhope.org as those “who wish to show caring and compassion in the form of a small keepsake gift” — that are then delivered to people in need.

The program was developed in January 2002 in response to 9/11. More than 48,000 hearts have since been created and distributed. Newtown residents were introduced to Hearts of Hope in February 2013, when dozens were hung around town in time for discovery the morning of Valentine’s Day.

“I had the opportunity to meet John during my first visit to Newtown with Hearts of Hope,” Ms Pederson said Wednesday night. “In about three feet of snow, John trudged around with us as we hung hearts all over town. It was quite a remarkable experience.”

A local chapter was organized, and began hosting monthly painting parties at NUMC by May. The chapter was officially recognized in July 2013, and celebrated its first anniversary with a large gathering in the church hall this past June.

A Heart of Hope Luncheon was held September 20 in Princeton, N.J. The Ambassadors of Hope finalists were all invited to the event, but Mr Voket was unable to attend.

“John couldn’t be with us,” Ms Pederson explained on Wednesday, “because he was volunteering for one of the organizations he gives his time to.”

Mr Voket was volunteering that day at the Newtown Health Fair.

He was nominated for the Ambassador honor by Newtown Bee reporter Nancy Crevier. Ms Crevier joined Mr Voket for the brief ceremony Wednesday evening.

“When I heard about this honor,” Ms Crevier said Wednesday evening, “I was compelled to nominate my colleague, John. When I saw what they were looking for, I thought John doesn’t even live in Newtown, but he covers so much news that he’s probably in town even more than some of us who live here.

“But beyond that,” she continued, “he’s always donating his time and his talents around here.”

Mr Voket has served on the Relay For Life of Newtown Committee, and served as an emcee for a number of American Cancer Society events. More recently, among other things, he has signed on to be a driver for Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

“I thought, ‘When does he have time to do that?’ But he just seems to always be able to squeeze in time for other people. He’s a very gentle and loving person, and I thought John should have this,” she said, drawing applause from the room.

Mr Voket was presented with a beautifully framed certificate. He was also given a Heart of Hope that had been painted specifically for him by HOH-Newtown Chapter Historian Candy Wain. The heart featured the logo of Bee Publishing Company.

“I wouldn’t have the opportunity to give back if there wasn’t a community like Newtown to give back to,” Mr Voket said. He will also share the honor, he said, with his wife, Melissa, a hospice nurse; Judy Thomas of Sandy Hook, who made the first contact between the organization and her hometown, “because this community would not have felt the love and positive healing effects of Hearts of Hope if Judy hadn’t initiated this,” Mr Voket said; as well as his colleagues at The Newtown Bee and NVAC.

Picking up the heart designed by Ms Wain, Mr Voket thanked those in the room who were working on new hearts for future distribution.

“I can tell you, having received a couple, during a couple of dark days I had last year, that they really do make an intense and permanent difference when they’re hanging there in your presence,” he said. “I really want to thank all of you for coming in every month. Please keep making these.

“Sadly, there are so many communities that are suffering from terrible tragedy who could use the wonderful feelings that these Hearts of Hope bring when they are either seen hanging in the community or presented to people who have suffered a crisis,” he said.

In addition to Mr Voket, the following were selected to be Ambassadors of Hope: Joni Jasterzsbki of Wayne, N.J., who was responsible for bringing HOH to Verona, N.J., schools in 2009 and every year since, resulting in “approximately 750 hearts to breast cancer patients per year,” said Ms Pederson; Olga Taborda of Norwalk, a breast cancer survivor who has worked at Whittingham Cancer Center in Norwalk for more than ten years; Jimmy Gonzalez of Bridgeport, a former City of Bridgeport animal control officer, who founded A Hand for a Paw, an animal rescue and food pantry; Agnes Burke of Stanhope, N.J., for her volunteer work with the homeless in her community; and Billy Cook, a 13-year-old from Paramus, N.J., who founded a nonprofit called Billy’s Baseballs, “where they collect and sign baseballs that are given to the military worldwide,” said Ms Pederson.

An initial $500 prize that was going to be donated to the charity of the ambassador’s choice has been expanded to $600. Hearts of Hope will make a $100 donation on behalf of each ambassador.

Mr Voket, who was informed of the additional honor on Thursday morning, said he will be selecting a local charity but did not immediately know which one.