MVP geared up to recognize ‘amazing’ Madison volunteers

MADISON – Local volunteers will receive the spotlight next week when Madison Visionary Partners (MVP) hosts its third annual Madison Visionary Awards, a community-wide event to celebrate the people who make Madison a great place to live, work and play.

The awards ceremony will recognize nine Madison volunteers on March 27 at the Jackson Center. It begins at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are on sale and limited sponsorships are available until March 20.

During the luncheon, awards will be given to the Community Volunteer of the Year, Youth Volunteer of the Year, Philanthropic Business Person of the Year and Madison Visionary of the Year.

Nominations were accepted and finalists were selected to recognize the exceptional contributions in each category.

“We had such a wonderful response from the community during the nomination process. We have a great group of volunteers and businesses who will be highlighted for their work in Madison,” said MVP Executive Director Christina Hearne.

Nominees include Com- munity Volunteer of the Year finalists Jim Chamberlain, Marc Jacobson, Crystal McBrayer, and Jeanetta Wilson.

Philanthropic Business Person of the Year finalists are Carole Jones, The Jurenko Foundation and Bill Roark, Starfish Holdings.

Youth Volunteer of the Year finalists are Amanda Browning-Madison Academy, Marcus Butler-Sparkman High School, and Isabella Giesbrecht-Bob Jones High School.

“One of the elements of Madison’s success is its people and MVP strives to honor the volunteers who work every day to build community in our city,” said Christina Hearne, Executive Director of MVP. “We have many people doing good and most often, they are the ones working behind the scenes. What better way to bring them in the spotlight than through these awards?”

Finalists are featured in the March edition of Madison Living Magazine.

Hearne said the awards highlight a key element in MVP’s mission as Madison’s community nonprofit. In addition to fundraising for large projects, MVP is also working on building a community of volunteers who want to bring small projects, events and programs to Madison.

“Madison’s leaders have a vision for our community that MVP, along with other community organizations, can help bring to reality,” said Brenda Matthews, Chair of the MVP Board of Directors. “Support for our mission is integral as we continue to grow as a city and a region.”

Also part of the awards program will be the presentation of recipients of the Community Impact Grants. MVP is granting $15,000 to local nonprofits for programs and events that will benefit the Madison community. “Any way we can enhance and support the nonprofit activity in Madison is going to be beneficial to the community. We have some great projects that are going to get funding,” said Hearne.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit mvpmadison.org/ visionaryawards. Tickets will be on sale until March 20.

A look at each finalist for Community Volunteer of the Year is found below. Next week, we will feature the finalists for Youth Volunteer of the Year and Philanthropic Business Person of the Year

CRYSTAL MCBRAYER Community Volunteer of the Year Finalist

After moving to Madison over 25 years ago, Crystal McBrayer quickly found that volunteering helped her become part of the community. As a young adult, she joined a local church and was drawn to serve in various ministries to include Youth, College, Worship, and Celebrate Recovery. She also spent time volunteering in Madison City Schools as her child progressed from kindergarten through high school graduation. “Madison has been so good to me and my family. It is home,” McBrayer explained.

“Over the years, my volunteer efforts have expanded as Madison has grown, and I’ve had the privilege of contributing to more areas of community service,” McBrayer said. “As I’ve continued volunteering, my focus has shifted toward supporting causes that align with my heart and the needs of our community, always to leave a lasting positive imprint on Madison.”

One of McBrayer’s most impactful causes is the Madison Street Festival, the largest and longest running event in Madison. Every year, held on the first Saturday of October, the free family- friendly celebration is one of Madison’s signature events and is put on by an all-volunteer committee. As President, McBrayer oversaw the successful 40th anniversary of the Madison Street Festival in 2022 after Covid-19 caused the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 events. Committee members attribute the success of the event to McBrayer’s positive attitude, concern for others, and tireless work ethic.

In 2023, the Madison Street Festival doubled their local impact in the community through grants to organizations, and they continue to look at how to increase their impact. The 2024 event drew over 40,000 visitors to Downtown Madison. Earlier this year, the MSF awarded $25,000 in grants to local educational organizations, its biggest amount yet to support local students of all ages.

“MSF has touched countless lives over the years, and it’s an honor to be part of its legacy and the group of passionate volunteers who bring this event to life each year,” McBrayer said. “The festival isn’t just an event–it’s a testament to the strength of our community and the power of volunteerism. We wouldn’t be able to continue this legacy without the tireless dedication of volunteers, and their efforts truly serve as the heartbeat of MSF.”

McBrayer is inspired by the selfless service she sees from other community volunteers. “Local causes thrive because of volunteers, and there’s nothing quite as rewarding as giving your time and talents to support a mission and help your community grow,” McBrayer explained.

“To anyone hesitant about getting involved, I would say: Start by finding a cause that resonates with you and give your time without expecting anything in return. Not only will the cause benefit from your efforts, but you will too–volunteering creates a sense of connection, purpose, and fulfillment that can’t be replicated in any other way. The more you give, the more you receive in ways you may never expect.”

JEANETTA WILSON Community Volunteer of the Year Finalist

Jeanetta Wilson, a vital volunteer to the Madison Public Library, serves as the treasurer of the Madison Friends of the Library. More importantly, she also manages the Friends Bookstore located inside the library and runs the Friends’ quarterly used book sales. She spends hours of time every week sorting and pricing donated books and restocking the bookstore at the library. She also stores many boxes of books at her home, since the Friends do not have storage space for excess books at the library. While most donations are brought to the library by patrons, on many occasions Jeanetta has traveled to donors’ homes to pick up especially large donations, or donations from elderly or homebound people.

Jeanetta’s work with the bookstore and book sales raises tens of thousands of dollars for the Friends each year. Friends contribute to the library’s general operating budget every year ($16,000 in 2024). In addition, the Friends are able to purchase items and services for the library outside of its normal operating budget. Some recent examples include children’s author visits, outdoor musical instruments, specialized equipment and supplies for the makerspace, upgrading the automated materials handling system, and the new digital sign outside the library. All these purchases benefit the community by providing enhanced experiences and services at the library, and none of them would be possible without Jeanetta’s dedication.

Jeanetta said she can easily pinpoint the moment in her life when she began her volunteerism journey. “It was July 31, 2008. A local oncologist came into my 46-year-old husband’s ICU room at Huntsville Hospital and told us that 98% of Mark’s bone marrow was full of highly mutated Multiple Myeloma cancer cells and there was currently no cure for this type of cancer,” she recalled. “Over the remaining 16 months of his life, our family was the recipient of unbelievable support from family, friends, co-workers, Madison neighbors and strangers.”

During the months before her husband’s passing, Jeanetta said supporters donated blood, dropped off food, did yard work, sent encouragement and visited. They also helped organize a bone marrow donor registration drive at Asbury church. And they huddled around Jeanetta and Mark’s three children, ages 15 to 21, helping to watch over them while Mark was undergoing experimental treatment in Little Rock, Arkansas.

“Following Mark’s death, my perspective and life totally changed, and I owed a debt to my community that I felt sure I could never fully repay,” Jeanetta said.

She and others who had lost a spouse to cancer formed a grief support group, which often supported the American Cancer Society (ACS) through the local Madison Relay for Life events. Jeanette also served on the North Alabama ACS yearly Gala committee.

After twelve years of volunteering for the ACS, Jeanette began helping Madison Friends of the Library (FOL). She became the vice president in 2014 and treasurer in 2022.

Also in 2014, Jeanetta organized a walk for the Rett Foundation in honor of Blakely, a 2-year-old granddaughter from one of the families that had given her so much support. “We raised $20,000 but more importantly, the family made contacts with other Rett families and organizations that put them on a path to information, support and the ability to change the course for other girls with Rett Syndrome” Jeanetta said.

In 2016, Jeanetta was elected to the Boeing Employee Community Fund (ECF) Board. This 12-member board was responsible for dispensing several hundreds of thousands of dollars donated by employees each year to local charities.

After retirement, Jeanetta embarked on the current leg of her volunteering journey. “When we reopened the library and store following the COVID shutdown, I offered to help in the bookstore,” she said.

Jeanetta quickly realized she had unexpectedly found her volunteering home with the bookstore. “I loved everything about it; the interaction with the community, the new friends I made, helping someone, especially a child, find a book that sparked their interest, seeing new book titles that sparked my interest, organizing the store to satisfy my engineering brain’s need for order,” she stated. “I loved knowing I was helping a lot of regular customers deal with their loneliness by just being a friendly face to listen and care for a little while, providing an very economical way for parents to build their kids’ home libraries and providing a revenue stream that helped set our Madison library apart in the county wide system.”

JIM CHAMBERLAIN Community Volunteer of the Year Finalist

Jim Chamberlain is a long-time local conservationist and outdoor enthusiast. He is currently a citizen advocate for Greenways & Trails to the city of Madison and has served on the Land Trust of North Alabama Board, Sierra Club Board, and as President of Madison Greenway & Trails (MG&T). Jim’s volunteer efforts and advocacy have greatly enhanced the green spaces in Madison. He and wife Mary Beth have lived at the base of Rainbow Mountain for 36 years, and their kids grew up hiking its trails. In retirement, he is working to document the history, beauty, and increasing importance of local nature areas to our rapidly growing community.

He led the all-volunteer effort with the Land Trust to build new trails on Rainbow Mountain, including the most recent Rainbolt Trail, which consisted of 30+ volunteers who worked 600+ hours on the trail for the past 18 months.

“My dad was a Scout leader, and I grew up camping, backpacking in the 60’s environmental movement,’ Jim said in explaining his love for nature. “My family moved to Madison in 1986 and has enjoyed the natural beauty of the city since. As a Boy Scout troop leader for my son, our appreciation for nature and the outdoors grew.”

Jim Chamberlain has made a positive difference to Madison in many ways. Several years ago, MG&T was very instrumental in the development of the Bradford Creek Greenway, several trails on Rainbow Mountain, the Mill Creek Greenway and more. After that, MG&T went on a hiatus. Jim single-handedly got the group back together in 2022 and recruited many new active volunteers. The organization has made significant progress since then promoting additional greenways and trails to benefit the residents in Madison.

Greenways and greenspace are essential to the physical and mental health of Madison’s residents, and Jim understands that more green places are needed now before available land for these treasures is gone.

“We all need to carefully consider how the city’s long-term growth affects our lands, waters, and biodiversity. Leaving some urban areas pristine carries both health and economic benefits. It’s a very enjoyable way to get exercise. Research shows that a walk in a green space area versus a walk on a city street, the difference in the physical and mental benefits is measurable. If we don’t protect our greenspaces, our quality of life will decline and maybe we’ll become a less attractive place to live, even impacting property values,” Jim stated.

As MG&T’s president, Jim is inspiring and leading the group in several projects and delegating activities to new volunteers, expanding the progress they are making. They developed the new Rainbolt Trail on Rainbow Mtn (ribbon cutting in Oct 2024) and MG&T’s trail crew is actively maintaining/renovating existing trails and building stone steps where needed.

Jim has also been successful bringing together several organizations with similar interests to work on a common goal more trails and greenspace in Madison. He is also a member of the Madison Recreation Advisory Board, working closely with Madison Recreation and Parks Director Kory Alfred on greenways and greenspace projects.

Jim’s foresight, inspiration, and action are creating new places to walk and hike in Madison, and MG&T and the Land Trust are working with the city on the location of one or more trails that will be designed and built in 2025. He initiated the idea of a trails map (along with key city features) for Madison, which is in the design stage.

Jim has not only provided administrative support to MG&T as the president he has also provided manual support working on new and existing hiking trails in Madison. Jim has coordinated several authors and environmentalists to speak at public forums at the Madison City Library.

The benefits and contributions that Jim is making in Madison are visible with the new Rainbolt Trail, Nature Talks at the Madison Library and long-lasting collaboration between multiple organizations to create more trails and a Nature Preserve in Madison in 2025. He returned life to a Madison environment-oriented organization that had lost momentum and energy.

Jim’s early, active and continued understanding that Madison and our surrounding community need accessible green space is unmatched. His love of the outdoors and willingness to share his passion for the good of the community and her residents has provided outdoor experiences for many years to come.

MARC JACOBSON Community Volunteer of the Year Finalist

Long-time Madison resident Marc Jacobson has watched the city grow and evolve. After attending West Point and serving seven years of active duty in the Army, Jacobson earned a Masters from The Johns Hopkins University and moved to Madison in 1987. He served in the Army Reserves until retiring from duty in 2002. In 2017, Jacobson retired as Vice President with SAIC after 25 years of service.

“I’ve always believed in service—it’s something that was ingrained in me during my time in the Army and has been important to me over the years,” said Jacobson. “During my time in Madison, I’ve now served on over 30 boards and committees, giving me the opportunity to know the community well and to make positive contributions in a number of areas. But at the end of the day, it all comes down to one thing—helping build a stronger, more connected community.”

As a Madison City Council member from 1992 to 2004, Jacobson assisted as a liaison between city departments and community agencies such as the Madison Board of Education. He was heavily involved in efforts to build the first Madison Public Library and revitalize Downtown Madison.

Jacobson was also part of the group that created the Madison City School system. “At the time, we knew our community needed its own school system to ensure our kids got the best education possible,” explained Jacobson.

“It was a huge undertaking, but we had a dedicated group of people who believed in the mission. Seeing the schools thrive today and knowing they will continue to educate and benefit students for years to come is extremely gratifying. It also reinforced for me that when a group of passionate, proactive people come together, real change can be accomplished. That mindset has shaped the way I approach every volunteer effort since—whether it’s working with the Rotary Club, helping local businesses, or supporting veterans’ organizations. If I commit, I’m all in.”

For Jacobson, volunteering is a way to meet people and feel more connected in your community. “I always tell people— just start somewhere. You don’t have to take on a huge project or commit hundreds of hours or dollars. Find something that interests you, whether it’s education, local government, veterans’ support, or coaching a youth sports team. The key is to get involved in a way that feels meaningful to you,” said Jacobson.

“If someone is hesitant, I’d recommend they just show up to a meeting, volunteer for one event, or talk to someone who is already involved. You might be surprised at how much of a difference you can make with even a small effort. From there, you might become hooked on public service like I was.”

Jacobson’s varied service experience over the years has taught him that volunteering can be fun. “I’ve had the opportunity to build handicap ramps and beds for children in need, clean up the Rainbow Mountain Trail, serve members at the Senior Center, plant milkweed for Monarch Butterflies, lay rock in the Garden of Hope, plant trees at the Mill Creek Greenway, ring Salvation Army bells, decorate the Gazebo and then serve hot chocolate during downtown Christmas activities, serve pizza to residents of the Tut Fann Veterans Home, pack Thanksgiving baskets and help distribute thousands of food boxes for those in need during COVID, and many other activities that have been fulfilling – and fun – for me,” he explained. “There’s a lot to be said for community service!”

Most recently, Jacobson has focused his volunteer efforts on Rotary, Redstone Village, and the local chapter of AUSA, which has over 460,000 members.