Mary Rawls Named Community Action Pioneer Valley’s Volunteer of the Year

Greenfield Cooperative Bank is proud to announce that Mary Rawls was recognized as Community Action Pioneer Valley’s (CAPV) Volunteer of the Year at their annual meeting.

Mary has been a steadfast volunteer with CAPV for a number of years, consistently demonstrating an exceptional commitment to the organization’s mission to assist people who have low incomes to achieve economic stability and security. Since 2020, she has volunteered with CAPV’s VITA program, providing vital tax assistance to those in need.

“Mary doesn’t just volunteer – she dives in headfirst. She gets the trickiest VITA cases, the ones that make even seasoned tax pros pause. And she handles them with calm, kindness and a tenacity that lets us say yes to the people who need us most. Its not an exaggeration to say that Mary’s patience is the reason we’re able to serve some of our most complex clients with dignity and care,” said Sweeney of Community Action of Pioneer Valley.

Community Action Pioneer Valley relies on the support of volunteers like Mary to deliver essential services to the community. Their dedication and passion are vital to the organization’s success.

 Additionally, her involvement with Big Brothers Big Sisters dates back to 2017 as a Big Sister, and since 2018, she has served as a dedicated Board member and Finance Committee member. A long-time supporter of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, Mary has taken on the role of team captain for many years since 2002 and has been a member of the Event Planning Committee since 2018. Demonstrating a commitment to food security, she has volunteered with The Food Bank of Western Mass at their Mobile Food Bank locations in Greenfield and Turners Falls since 2018. Mary has also been a dedicated 4-H Volunteer and County Horse Show secretary since 2006. Her past involvement includes serving on the United Way’s Community Investment Committee, and currently, she contributes to the UW Women’s Way as an Event Planning Committee member since 2017. Furthermore, Mary actively volunteered and was a club member for several school booster clubs during her children’s school years, showcasing a deep commitment to various aspects of community well-being.

“Mary embodies the spirit of community involvement that we value at GCB,” said Tony Worden, President and CEO. “We are incredibly proud of her dedication to Community Action Pioneer Valley and the positive impact they are making in our region.”