GOVERNOR CRIST NAMES JOEL WILLIAMS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AS POINT OF LIGHT IN HONOR OF DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH
July 2, 2008
Contact:
GOVERNOR’S PRESS OFFICE
850-488-5394
TALLAHASSEE — Governor Charlie Crist today recognized Joel Williams as this week’s Point of Light for outstanding volunteerism. For over 10 years Joel has donated his time to the Easter Seals of Tampa. Easter Seals’ mission is to give exceptional services and ensure that people living with autism and other disabilities have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play.
“It gives me great pleasure to honor Joel for his service to the Tampa community during Disability Awareness Month,” said Governor Crist. “His unwavering support for the Easter Seals has provided many Floridians with disabilities the help they need.”
Joel serves on the executive committee of Easter Seals. Through his expertise in promoting fund-raising efforts, he enhances services to children in Florida. In the past year, Joel was invited to serve on the State Board for Easter Seals. There, he continues to work to support the building of a new Easter Seals facility in the Tampa community.
Outside of his many accomplishments with the Easter Seals, Joel also volunteers with other organizations in the Tampa area. He has participated in the Paint Your Heart Out campaign, a Tampa organization that paints homes of low-income elders. He has been a little league baseball coach for two years. Joel is a board member for the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am Golf Tournament, which raises funds for local charities.
The Governor’s Points of Light Award, sponsored by Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises, recognizes a Florida resident who demonstrates exemplary service to the community. Award recipients are announced each week. A panel of judges composed of leaders in the areas of volunteerism and service evaluate all nominations and make recommendations to the Governor. The Volunteer Florida Foundation manages the program. For more information, or to nominate, go to www.VolunteerFloridaFoundation.org.