The Monika W. Andrews Creative Volunteer Leadership Award is presented to community members who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in volunteer work serving the greater Brockport community, which includes the Towns of Sweden and Clarkson. The selection committee is comprised of Linda Ketchum of Brockport, Robb Westbrook of Sweden, and Patricia Galinski from Clarkson.
The committee has selected Kari Pardun as the recipient of the 2025 Monika W. Andrews Creative Volunteer Leadership Award. Kari was nominated for this award by Dr. Brittany Profit-Rheinwald, President of the Brockport Community Connection.
Supported by six letters from community members, Kari exemplifies the innovative, transformative volunteer leadership this award celebrates. She has created new systems, forged partnerships, and mobilized people in ways that fundamentally strengthen how Brockport cares for its most vulnerable residents while building a vibrant, connected community.
Specifically, one of Kari’s significant innovations has been taking over the Salvation Army Kettle Drive in Brockport and making it easy for bell ringers to sign up online. As a board member of Brockport Community Connection (BCC), she took on full coordination of the campaign and restructured the fundraising model so that 90% of funds raised stay in the Brockport area to directly assist local families with rent, utilities, emergency fire relief, and other critical needs. This creative restructuring ensures that community generosity directly serves community needs, transforming a traditional charitable drive into a targeted, efficient system of local support.
Additionally, as co-chair of the 2025 Thanksgiving food distribution, Kari demonstrated creative leadership in scaling operations to meet unprecedented demand. Under her leadership, the program served a record-breaking 260+ families with complete Thanksgiving meal supplies. Her ability to innovate systems, mobilize volunteers, and expand capacity ensured that growing community needs were met with dignity and compassion.
Kari’s leadership also extends to crisis response and rebuilding. She has organized dozens of household goods collection campaigns, providing beds, furniture, and essential household items to families and students in need due to fire, financial hardship, or relocation. She personally delivers items and helps families move, ensuring support is not just donated but fully realized. In one case, when a family lost their home in an apartment fire and was forced to live in a hotel for months, Kari housed their dog—removing one burden during an overwhelming time. This blend of logistics, empathy, and personal action defines her leadership style.
Beyond direct services, Kari strengthens the community ecosystem that makes such support possible. As co-chair of the Brockport Arts Festival through BISCO, she helped revive the festival after the pandemic. Her work drives tourism, supports local businesses, and fosters community pride. Today, the Brockport Arts Festival is widely recognized as Brockport’s signature weekend.
Kari’s impact spans decades of volunteerism, including Girl Scout leadership, the Brockport Toy Shelf, and her unofficial role as Brockport’s “Community Relationship Builder.” She connects residents, nurtures a sense of belonging, and creates the social fabric that transforms a village into a true community. Through Girl Scouts alone, she has trained leaders, organized large-scale events, guided service projects, and supported young women in crisis—opening her home and her heart when needed.
Like the award’s namesake, Monika W. Andrews, who transformed the food shelf into a client-centered facility, Kari has reimagined how charitable resources flow through the Brockport area. Her work with the Kettle Drive created a sustainable local funding pipeline. Her expansion of Thanksgiving distribution met growing needs with creativity and compassion. Her household goods campaigns restore dignity. Her festival leadership builds the economic and cultural foundation that allows the entire community to thrive.
Kari is the epitome of a creative volunteer leader whose work makes the community stronger, more connected, and more compassionate. The committee was proud to select Kari Pardun for this well-deserved recognition.
Though the award is for individuals, the committee wants to acknowledge the Brockport Lions Club, nominated by Patricia Hayles, for a multitude of initiatives that have improved the quality of life in the community over 70 years. The committee recognizes and is truly appreciative of the service that the many volunteers within the Lions Club provide our community.
There were also three nominees deserving honorable mention: Marleen Cain, Kevin Jenkins, and Matthew Tristan. The volunteer leadership of these community members is recognized and appreciated. Nominators can resubmit nominations for their nominees for future recognition.
Provided information and photo
