Stoney Creek resident receives a national volunteer award
Lucia Marchionda, 23, was honoured by the federal government last month with an Emerging Leader Award
A Stoney Creek resident has received a national award of excellence for volunteerism.
Lucia Marchionda, 23, was honoured by the federal government last month with an Emerging Leader Award.
As the Ontario regional winner, Marchionda selected Hamilton Health Sciences as the recipient of a $5,000 federal government grant.
Presented as part of Canada’s Volunteer Awards, the Emerging Leader Awards recognize individuals who have made significant contributions toward improving the lives of others in the community.
A St. John Henry Newman Catholic Secondary School alumnus, Marchionda racked up more than 3,000 community service hours as a high schooler, balancing a hectic schedule of academics and community service.
In 2018, she received the Junior Citizen of the Year award from the Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce. In April 2022, Marchionda accepted the Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers at a virtual ceremony officiated by Ontario Lt.-Gov. Elizabeth Dowdeswell.
Her volunteer service extends across several Hamilton organizations, including the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board, Ontario Physical Literacy Summit, the Abruzzese Federation of Hamilton, St. Anthony of Padua and St. Francis of Xavier Roman Catholic Church, Arcelor-Mittal Hamilton Grassroots Soccer, Saltfleet Stoney Creek Soccer and others.
Marchionda created an accessible digital platform to help students engage in community leadership roles while fulfilling their graduation requirements.
During the pandemic, she organized volunteer events and initiatives to help students earn community service hours.
The $5,000 grant Marchionda secured through her Emerging Leader Award will benefit the Wish Heart Fund at McMaster Children’s Hospital. Named in honour of baby Jack Wishart, the charity aims to provide items of comfort and care for children receiving cancer care at the hospital.
Marchionda said her father instilled in her the saying, “kindness is free.”
“Therefore, if you’re able to, go out in the world and make a difference and shine a light on the world in any capacity you can,” she noted in an email. “You’ll never know how much a small act of kindness can impact someone’s life.”
Marchionda added: “Volunteering allows me to give back and help others in the community, especially for those who are in need of a positive light. You’ll never know what some individuals go through and who needs just a friendly or smiling face. That’s why I volunteer. I want to help others in any capacity I can and impart the act of kindness and humility to the world.”
Marchionda is currently pursuing her passion for education as a teacher candidate in the concurrent education program at Brock University.