Pictured left to right: Christine Greco, Andrea McCormick, Lynda Chud, First Lady Rose Dunleavy, Lt. Governor Dahlstrom, Margaret Varlamos, Emily Machos, Katherine Mead (not pictured: Bristy Larsen)
First Lady’s Volunteer Award 2024
Contributed by Anonymous
First Lady Rose Dunleavy congratulated seven Alaskans at the First Lady's Volunteer Award luncheon at the Governor’s Residence in Juneau, Alaska on May 6, 2024. First Lady Rose Dunleavy shared how this is one of her favorite events of the year. She spoke about how the volunteers in attendance are all selfless, caring and make positive impacts in their communities.
Palmer resident, Christine Greco was honored to be included with the other 6 volunteers that were being recognized. Christine absolutely loves giving of her time with the teenagers in the MatSu Valley. She says it is such a joy to help them get involved with serving in the community and it makes her heart happy when she sees them having fun and connecting with those that they help out.
John 13:34 "I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.”
2024 Volunteer Honorees from the MatSu Valley:
Christine Greco, Palmer
The hockey community in Alaska wouldn’t be the same without the dedication and volunteerism of Christine Greco. While not only volunteering to manage several youth hockey teams, Christine coordinates volunteer opportunities for the youth players to give back to their community, demonstrating the need for volunteers and how rewarding it can be. The young athletes have helped at local school events such as carnivals, reading to students, and packing up classrooms when labor is needed. The athletes have officiated and coached younger hockey players in tournaments, helped community members move, shovel or plow snow, rake and complete yardwork along with giving of their time to help Special Santa close up shop. Christine also coordinates the Rocking Hockey event in Palmer where local hockey players volunteer with special needs students on the ice. Christine goes above and beyond providing opportunities for the athlete to be involved in their community and give back to those that have supported them. She is a role model by the selfless way she leads and is the definition of an outstanding Alaskan.
Lynda Chud, Wasilla
Lynda has been a volunteer at the local homeless youth Center, MyHouse located in Wasilla, for over 10 years. As the MyHouse Empowerment Coach, Lynda facilitates the Women’s Empowerment Group. She volunteers several times each week to meet individually with clients or to take a group out for a special field trip. Lynda loves to take the residents of MyHouse out to dinner, to a local play, art shows or music events. Lynda is a retired schoolteacher and has experience working with youth who have been trafficked and who have experienced extreme trauma. She has voluntarily gone to training and participated in classes that will give her the knowledge needed to give youth the encouragement they need to hang on, have hope and heal. Lynda has impacted the lives of so many youth in such a positive way. She shows them love and courage. Lynda is recognized for the incredible asset she is to MyHouse, to the community and to our beautiful State.