Venie awarded as NRCA Volunteer of the Year

Chip Venie receives The Philip M. Sadler Community Service Award for NRCA Volunteer of the Year. Chip’s wife Cynthia received the award on his behalf as he is in Michigan volunteering.

The Philip M. Sadler Community Service Award for NRCA Volunteer of Year is given in memory of Philip M. Sadler, Pulaski attorney, community leader and humanitarian, active supporter of New River Community Action, Pulaski County Emergency Needs Task Force, New River Valley Habitat for Humanity, Pulaski Free Clinic, March of Dimes, Hensel Eckman YMCA, organizer of NRCA’s former SHARE (Self Help and Resource Exchange) program, and many other community projects serving citizens in need.

Chip is a volunteer with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program starting with the 2021 Tax Season. Chip volunteered from February to April of 2022, completing a total of 95 volunteer hours. Chip preformed a variety of duties while working with the program including training other volunteers, intakes, tax preparation, quality reviews, financial counseling and coaching, and mentoring the new site coordinator.

Chip is currently going back to school to get a third bachelor’s degree in Financial Counseling. He already has a degree in law and is a licensed tax accountant. Chip made time to volunteer every week while going to school to complete a two-year degree in one year.

Nominator, Lacey Desper, our VITA Coordinator reports that Chip drastically accelerated her ability to learn and teach new volunteers.

Chip helped recruit two students into the volunteer program that will be joining the program next year and tirelessly promoted the NRCA VITA program. He also took a student under his wing to mentor them and helped them make important decisions regarding their educational and professional future He was an invaluable asset to the agency and the consumers he served.