Volunteer of the Year: 2025 MNHPC Conference

Every year MNHPC recognizes two exceptional volunteers to receive the MNHPC Volunteer of the Year and MNHPC Veteran Volunteer of the Year awards. The individuals recognized with these awards demonstrate exceptional commitment, service, and compassion in serving others at the end of their lives. We will publicly recognize the award winners at MNHPC’s 2025 Conference.

Do you know of an outstanding volunteer who deserves recognition? Consider nominating them for the 2025 award.

Criteria for Volunteer Award Nomination:

Nominee must be a current volunteer and have at least 3 years of hospice volunteer experience. The volunteer must work directly with patients residing in Minnesota and may serve in other capacities as well.
Nominee exemplifies the hospice philosophy and serves as an effective ambassador on behalf of hospice.
Nominee has demonstrated exceptional service to hospice.
Nominee demonstrates to those with whom he/she works a thorough understanding of the role of the hospice volunteer.

Nomination Requirements:

Your name
Your phone
Your email
Name of nominee
Name of Hospice organization and location
Veteran volunteer or regular volunteer
Upload one photo of volunteer - either a headshot or volunteer in action
Five words that describe nominee
Nomination Statement (limit 200 words)

You do not have to include all of the following suggestions, but it is recommended to include specific examples, quantify the nominee's service, and illustrate the profound effects of their work. This will help create a powerful narrative that celebrates their dedication and exemplifies the true spirit of hospice care.

Suggested Criteria for Nominating an Individual for a Hospice Volunteer Award:

Illustrate the nominee's unique qualities with engaging stories that demonstrate their compassion and dedication.
Provide details of the nominee's history and relationship to hospice, including the number of hours served, patients supported, and involvement in volunteer activities.
Highlight the impact the nominee has had in strengthening the hospice program and enriching the lives of patients and families.
Describe how the nominee's service aligns with the core values of hospice care, such as compassion, dignity, and support.
Include specific examples, quantify their service, and illustrate the effects of their work to create a powerful nomination narrative.

2025 Volunteer of the Year Award Nominees:

Chelsey Parr has been on the Sanford Fargo Hospice team as a hair stylist volunteer for the last several months. Chelsey is in her 30’s. She has been married to her husband, Peter, for three years. She is a beautician at M.J. Cappelli in Fargo, North Dakota. Chelsey’s flexibility in being able to meet each patient where they are - the Hospice House, the patients’ homes or nursing home facilities – is invaluable. Chelsey has the gift of observation, knowing when to speak and just what to say. Her genuine nature cannot be hidden. She quickly puts each patient at ease as she starts to do her magic. In Chelsey’s words, “What I enjoy most is being able to bring an everyday experience, like getting your haircut, into their lives. It really doesn’t matter what the haircut looks like in the end; the patients are just so thankful to have a bit of normalcy brought back into their lives, even for just an hour.” She remembers after her first patient’s haircut, the patient and his wife (both in their 90’s) were filled with joy over the experience. She said, “It is moments like this that make it all worth it.”