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Our Volunteers Make an Impact

The generosity of our volunteers has a profound and lasting impact on the students, parents, and educators using Learning Ally’s audiobook solutions and professional learning programs. When you volunteer, you are committing to sharing the most precious resource – your time – to make life better for those in need. That’s why every year, Learning Ally celebrates volunteers who consistently go above and beyond in their service with the Mary Alyce and John Merow Distinguished Volunteer Service Awards.

Mary Alyce and John Merow

The Mary Alyce and John Merow Distinguished Volunteer Service Awards

The annual volunteer service awards are named in honor of Mary Alyce and John Merow. The generous philanthropic gifts donated by Mary Alyce and John Merow’s estate and foundation provide Learning Ally with an incredible opportunity to invest and enhance our solutions for students, educators, and families. We honor and celebrate the Merows and their generosity with solutions designed to address the specific needs of students and educators in an ever-changing learning environment.=

Mary Alyce Merow was a longtime volunteer who accumulated over 4,000 service hours recording audiobooks in the New York studio over several decades. She was part of the Wednesday morning “Breakfast Clubbers” group of volunteers, and we dedicated booth Number 7 in honor of the Merows. She also served as Secretary and a member of our National Board of Directors.

Thanks to the dedication of thousands of volunteers, the generosity of 50 foundation partners, over 10,000 donors, and the support of 70 corporate partners, Learning Ally is making a powerful impact nationwide. Together, we’re reaching 24,000 schools across 2,950 districts in all 50 states—ensuring students across the U.S. have equitable access to the tools they need to learn, grow, and thrive.

While we know that our volunteers choose to donate their time selflessly and without the expectation of recognition or reward, we want them to know how much their dedication is appreciated. On behalf of Learning Ally staff members, students, educators, and parents, we are grateful to each of you. Whether you are a long-time volunteer or joined us recently, your support makes a difference. Thank you, volunteers!

Mary Alyce and John Merow Above and Beyond Awards

Volunteers awarded the Above and Beyond Award are recognized for consistently going the extra mile in their volunteer service. These volunteers are selected individually by staff members who work closely with our volunteer teams. Volunteers who receive this award are chosen for their passion, hard work, and selfless donation of their skills and time across various volunteer roles. We appreciate you!

See Recipients

Volunteer Staff Member Nominated Recognized for…
Michael Faillace For truly going above and beyond, calling hundreds of donors, ensuring they felt appreciated for all of their support.
Maria Lelie For truly going above and beyond, calling hundreds of donors, ensuring they felt appreciated for all of their support.
Betsy McClure Betsy is an extremely thoughtful and precise AllyVerse Listener. She is always kind and supportive to the narrators she works with. She has provided valuable feedback on the new AllyVerse platform. She talked from her experience and positive place during our Listener Webinar session that really buoyed the volunteers that attended. AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us as Listener to one of the first books in AllyVerse!
Katherine Abraham Betsy is an extremely thoughtful and precise AllyVerse Listener. She is always kind and supportive to the narrators she works with. She has provided valuable feedback on the new AllyVerse platform. She talked from her experience and positive place during our Listener Webinar session that really buoyed the volunteers that attended. AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us as Listener to one of the first books in AllyVerse!
Cheri Nightingale Betsy is an extremely thoughtful and precise AllyVerse Listener. She is always kind and supportive to the narrators she works with. She has provided valuable feedback on the new AllyVerse platform. She talked from her experience and positive place during our Listener Webinar session that really buoyed the volunteers that attended. AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us as Listener to one of the first books in AllyVerse!
Christina Trejos Betsy is an extremely thoughtful and precise AllyVerse Listener. She is always kind and supportive to the narrators she works with. She has provided valuable feedback on the new AllyVerse platform. She talked from her experience and positive place during our Listener Webinar session that really buoyed the volunteers that attended. AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us as Listener to one of the first books in AllyVerse!
Bob Anderson Bob is a highly productive AllyVerse narrator and has provided helpful feedback on the new AllyVerse platform. AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us record one of the first books in AllyVerse
Katherine Abraham Bob is a highly productive AllyVerse narrator and has provided helpful feedback on the new AllyVerse platform. AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us record one of the first books in AllyVerse
David Yudin He spent many long months working on a long book for us in the summer and fall of 2024. His dedication is unmatched!
Katherine Abraham He spent many long months working on a long book for us in the summer and fall of 2024. His dedication is unmatched!
Maryfran Annese Prolific and dedicated narrator in AllyVerse and the old platform. She has been consistently recording for us since the AV launch and provided valuable early feedback. AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us record one of the first books in AllyVerse
Katherine Abraham Prolific and dedicated narrator in AllyVerse and the old platform. She has been consistently recording for us since the AV launch and provided valuable early feedback. AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us record one of the first books in AllyVerse
Bill Payne Bill provided valuable listener feedback during the AllyVerse launch. AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us as Listener on one of the first books in AllyVerse.
Katherine Abraham Bill provided valuable listener feedback during the AllyVerse launch. AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us as Listener on one of the first books in AllyVerse.
Joe Clarke Textbook Pre-Production / Joe is a defacto leader for Textbook Pre-Production team and helps staff beyond compare. We rely on his expertise to keep our reference documents organized and complete.
Cheri Nightingale Textbook Pre-Production / Joe is a defacto leader for Textbook Pre-Production team and helps staff beyond compare. We rely on his expertise to keep our reference documents organized and complete.
Cynthia Shelmerdine Textbook Pre-Production / AllyVerse Pronunciation; Cynthia provides essential Textbook set up help and has been a true sounding board as we ramp up and work to improve AllyVerse Pronunciation Guide processes.
Cheri Nightingale Textbook Pre-Production / AllyVerse Pronunciation; Cynthia provides essential Textbook set up help and has been a true sounding board as we ramp up and work to improve AllyVerse Pronunciation Guide processes.
Linda Mancia Textbook Pre-Production/ Textbook Final Editor; Linda is an essential member of the Textbook team!
Cheri Nightingale Textbook Pre-Production/ Textbook Final Editor; Linda is an essential member of the Textbook team!
Shelley Cincotta Textbook Pre-Production Team/ Shelley gets special recommendation based upon her work with the Textbook Pre-Production team!
Cheri Nightingale Textbook Pre-Production Team/ Shelley gets special recommendation based upon her work with the Textbook Pre-Production team!
Davida Bagatelle Textbook Listener/ Davida takes her review of narrator audio seriously and always approaches from a student centered approach.
Cheri Nightingale Textbook Listener/ Davida takes her review of narrator audio seriously and always approaches from a student centered approach.
Jim Connell AllyVerse narrator who has recorded consistently since joining the new platform while paying thoughtful attention to pronunciations.
Katherine Abraham AllyVerse narrator who has recorded consistently since joining the new platform while paying thoughtful attention to pronunciations.
Valerie Fenwick AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us record one of the first books in AllyVerse
Katherine Abraham AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us record one of the first books in AllyVerse
Cheri Nightingale AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us record one of the first books in AllyVerse
Christina Trejos AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us record one of the first books in AllyVerse
Meliora Dockery AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us record one of the first books in AllyVerse
Katherine Abraham AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us record one of the first books in AllyVerse
Cheri Nightingale AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us record one of the first books in AllyVerse
Christina Trejos AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us record one of the first books in AllyVerse
James Sie AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us record one of the first books in AllyVerse
Katherine Abraham AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us record one of the first books in AllyVerse
Cheri Nightingale AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us record one of the first books in AllyVerse
Christina Trejos AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us record one of the first books in AllyVerse
Rick Kozelka AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us as Listener to one of the first books in AllyVerse!
Katherine Abraham AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us as Listener to one of the first books in AllyVerse!
Cheri Nightingale AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us as Listener to one of the first books in AllyVerse!
Christina Trejos AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us as Listener to one of the first books in AllyVerse!
Don Sheetz AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us as Listener to one of the first books in AllyVerse!
Katherine Abraham AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us as Listener to one of the first books in AllyVerse!
Cheri Nightingale AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us as Listener to one of the first books in AllyVerse!
Christina Trejos AllyVerse Pioneer Tester! Helped us as Listener to one of the first books in AllyVerse!
JB Kump Among LA’s most dedicated & talented volunteers, is currently wrapping up recording of a particularly lengthy & difficult project (also LA’s final EB project, which may warrant mention as I think he’d regard that as a feather in his cap.
Ian McInnes Among LA’s most dedicated & talented volunteers, is currently wrapping up recording of a particularly lengthy & difficult project (also LA’s final EB project, which may warrant mention as I think he’d regard that as a feather in his cap.
Ellen Campbell One of LA’s most prolific & hardworking volunteer narrators, was a particular boon to our efforts regarding CPS in ’23 & ’24
Ian McInnes One of LA’s most prolific & hardworking volunteer narrators, was a particular boon to our efforts regarding CPS in ’23 & ’24
Vincent Oddo I believe Vincent may have logged more hours in the past decade than any other volunteer, he would have to be top 5 at minimum. Loves LA like few others & I think would feel prouder than most to receive this award.
Ian McInnes I believe Vincent may have logged more hours in the past decade than any other volunteer, he would have to be top 5 at minimum. Loves LA like few others & I think would feel prouder than most to receive this award.
Ronell Hurt May be LA’s MVP narrator for the past few years, tackles projects of any type with eager enthusiasm. Also makes strikingly few mistakes, especially with her workload in mind. Most projects of hers that I’ve vetted personally (which have been many) I could pass along to post-production w/out needing to ask for a single pickup. Would also recommend her for the loan-to-own program, should it resume.
Ian McInnes May be LA’s MVP narrator for the past few years, tackles projects of any type with eager enthusiasm. Also makes strikingly few mistakes, especially with her workload in mind. Most projects of hers that I’ve vetted personally (which have been many

Mary Alyce and John Merow Overachiever Awards

Volunteers awarded the Overachiever Award are recognized for going the extra mile and making significant contributions to Learning Ally’s mission in the past year. This award is presented to volunteers who have donated a significant amount of their time, ranging from 50 to 1,000 hours of service in just one year. These wonderful volunteers donated an awesome amount of service hours from the last Volunteer Appreciation Month in April to this April.

See Recipients

250-499 Hours

  • Maryfran Annese
  • Joseph Clark
  • Donald Sheetz
  • Kathy Lee
  • Diane Nawrocki
  • Ellen Campbell
  • Linda Mancia
  • Sheila Kerwin
  • Beira/Alice Winter/Allen
  • April Forwood
  • Betsy McClure
  • Gerard Iturralde

100-249 Hours

  • Cynthia Shelmerdine
  • Barbara Stoebenau
  • James White
  • Halina Bustin
  • Robert Anderson
  • Clifford d’Autremont
  • Ann Krohn
  • Don Kovar
  • James Whisson
  • Meliora Dockery
  • Shelley Cincotta
  • Jim Myerberg
  • Richard McCurdy
  • Angelina Li
  • Les Wiesenfelder
  • Robert Sutherland
  • Noelle O’Reilly
  • Richard Kozelka
  • Haoyu Teng
  • Renee Rogers
  • Richard Piper
  • James Morrison
  • Andrew Li
  • Mara Finerty
  • David Yudin
  • Susan Crawford
  • Mary Beth Garber
  • Thomas Lockhart
  • Alan Carner
  • Vicki Davis
  • Sheree Koppel
  • Vincent Oddo
  • George Vella-Coleiro
  • J.B. Kump
  • Valerie Fenwick
  • James Sie
  • Steven Sittig
  • Bill Payne
  • Anne Raugh
  • Iris Zheng
  • Melanie Morton

50-99 Hours

  • BettyAnn Kram
  • Cameron Afzal
  • Olivia McClymonds
  • Kurt Heringhausen
  • Seyeon Hong
  • Yukta Paduru
  • David Vincent
  • Meghan Loy
  • Daniel LaRiviere
  • Joe Diomede
  • Anne Rudisill
  • Qiyun Zhou
  • MaKayla Crayton
  • Janet Cappers
  • Howie McDonell
  • Sarah Peters
  • James Strong
  • Susan Newman
  • Deane Bell
  • Davida Bagatelle
  • Dylan Benyi
  • Jennifer Jinmaku
  • Susan Snookal
  • Alexandra Bowen
  • Jim Connell
  • Eric Raff
  • Al Kendziora
  • Stacey Dugan-Wilcox
  • Jennifer Perree
  • Divyanshu Gautam
  • Mark Simmons
  • Robert Ellsworth
  • Donna Vogel
  • Emily Campion
  • Barbara Kadlec
  • Juveriya Maheen

Mary Alyce and John Merow Lifetime Milestones

Volunteers awarded the Lifetime Milestones Award are recognized for donating an extraordinary amount of service and hitting a new major milestone in their service hours this year. Volunteers who receive this award demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting Learning Ally’s mission. Thank you so much!

See Recipients

8,500 Hours

  • Diane Nawrocki

5,000 Hours

  • Halina Bustin

4,500 Hours

  • Ann Krohn

4,000 Hours

  • Richard McCurdy

3,500 Hours

  • Ellen Campbell

3,000 Hours

  • Jim Myerberg
  • Betsy McClure
  • James White
  • Richard Piper

2,500 Hours

  • Maryfran Annese
  • April Forwood

1,500 Hours

  • Cynthia Shelmerdine
  • Gerard Iturralde
  • Linda Mancia
  • Valerie Fenwick

1,000 hours

  • Richard Kozelka
  • Deane Bell
  • James Sie

500 hours

  • David Vincent