| Cleo Stuckrath receives award for outstanding volunteerism |
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Long-time resident and stalwart volunteer Cleo Stuckrath received the Neil Henry Volunteer Recognition Award from the City in April in acknowledgement of her outstanding volunteer work with the Senior Center and the annual “Showtime” melodrama performance.
Cleo began her 35-year career as a volunteer with the City by teaching tap-dancing and ukulele classes at the Senior Center in 1973. Cleo also formed the “Dancing Grandparents,” a group of dancing seniors who perform at no cost at nursing homes and senior retirement homes in the area.
In 1983, Cleo established and served as the first president of the Santa Clara Women’s League specifically to raise funds to support nursing services at the Senior Center. These services provides two part-time registered nurses to whom seniors can come for assessment of specific health problems, blood pressure readings, classes that provide self-help information on relevant topics, as well as screenings by medical professionals. These nurses also visit homebound seniors who have health-related needs, allowing them to remain in their own homes and improve their quality of life. These services are all provided free of charge to senior residents.
Her idea for a fundraising vehicle was “Showtime,” an original melodrama (written, produced, and directed by Cleo) with a catchy title such as “Dastardly Deeds at Doomstown (or) Poor Piteous Paulina,” and a variety show featuring talented locals. Now in its 25th year, “Showtime” has become a must-see event, and it has raised more than $250,000 to benefit the health program.
In 2005 she received the “Champion of the Community” award at the 2005 California and Pacific Northwest Recreation and Park Training Conference. The award is presented for outstanding public service that influences and improves the quality of a community through parks, recreation and community service.
Cleo has also served on the Senior Advisory Commission. Her fifth term will expire in 2007.
The Neil Henry Volunteer Recognition Award was established to honor community members who, while serving in an official capacity, distinguish themselves for activity significantly above and beyond the norm of volunteerism and who, through their own initiative and dedication, have performed exceptional or exemplary long-term service to the Santa Clara community. |
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