2025 Fred Fletcher Outstanding Volunteer Awards

Carr McLamb
Harvey Karsevar Award Winner

This year’s Harvey Karsevar Award winner for Outstanding Basketball Coach is James “Carr” McLamb. Coach McLamb has coached basketball with Raleigh Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Athletics since 2002. A Raleigh native, Coach McLamb reflects on playing in the City’s Junior Basketball League as a youth at Jaycee Park, where Coach McLamb got the opportunity to play for another influential coach and role model in his life, George DeLoache. It was because of this influence that Coach decided to pass along his love for the game to the next generation of young, aspiring athletes.

Coach McLamb demonstrates this in his philosophy to help prepare kids for life by teaching them the importance of teamwork, dedication and sportsmanship, and the most important…FUN! Furthermore, he believes this is a great way to promote and build character and confidence.

It is because of his dedication to the Raleigh basketball program, and the overall impact he has left on his players and Parks staff, that Coach Carr McLamb is truly deserving of this year’s Harvey Karsevar Award for Outstanding Basketball Coach.

John Price
Outstanding Athletic Volunteer

Coach Price has coached youth flag football and baseball since 2021. During his role as coach, he never failed to lead his teams in a positive way throughout the course of the season.   Though Coach Price stresses the value of winning, his greatest strength is his dedication to promoting a positive and fun environment for all to learn, retain, and succeed. His positive demeanor makes being in his presence both enjoyable and meaningful for all that work alongside him.

Furthermore, Coach Price is always one of the first coaches to acknowledge the importance of rewarding positive sportsmanship in athletes. This is never more evident than when he verbalizes how grateful he is to the Athletics staff when the program seasonally awards selected youth league participants for their dedication to promoting positive sportsmanship in sports.

Terry A. Henderson
Outstanding Financial Contributor

In 2021, Terry Henderson contacted the City of Raleigh Museum in hopes of helping them with the 100th anniversary celebration of the Hayes Barton neighborhood. He wrote a history of the neighborhood, organized events for the weekend celebration, and hoped to work with the museum to create a pop-up museum in an empty storefront in the neighborhood. Terry demonstrated a deep love for the history of his community with unlimited energy to ensure the celebration was meaningful and fun for his neighbors.

In 2023, Terry Henderson’s faith in the museum inspired him to reach out to the Friends of the COR Museum and offer to lead the organization through a major strategic planning process at a critical moment.Terry provided valuable advice on how to begin a top-to-bottom reorganization and helped envision a new redirection. Besides providing this leadership, from a private citizen who had no formal connection to the museum, Terry demonstrated his support by donating $5,000 to fund a strategic planning process.Terry has demonstrated a dedication to the community and the museum’s mission that far surpasses most community members and museum volunteers.

Red Hat
Outstanding Greenway Volunteer

Red Hat’s Climate Change Community of Practice reached out to Dorothea Dix Park in 2022 to see how they might support the park’s development as well as volunteer. This conversation quickly led to Red Hat helping at not only Dix Park and the Rocky Branch Trail, but also other parks within our system. They have participated in everything from Adopt-A-Trail, Sunflower Ambassadors, to mulching and volunteering in the City of Raleigh Greenhouse.

Red Hat’s main focus is the Adopt-A-Trail Program where they have adopted the section of Rocky Branch Trail greenway that runs through Dorothea Dix park and along Western Blvd. Red Hat has dedicated an entire committee to helping coordinate these volunteer opportunities. They have been a meaningful way for employees to not only give back to their community, but also to meet and engage with one another. Red Hat volunteers are heavily invested in learning more about the parks and oftentimes engage in meaningful conversations around everything from the greenway to the creek study, to Raleigh Parks in general as they work alongside staff.

In addition to their enthusiasm for the Adopt-A-Trail program, Red Hat is heavily invested in Raleigh Parks as a whole. One story in particular comes to mind of when Park Maintenance needed volunteers to help spread 170 yards of mulch at Nash Square. This project is usually done by volunteers due to the layout and heavy usage of the park not being conducive for the use of machinery. Without hesitation, Red Hat jumped at the opportunity when asked if they would be interested. Then they showed up in force and prepared to work hard.They are truly dedicated to our park system.

Nominated by Seth Klopp, Natural Resources and Parks Manager for Dorothea Dix, Pullen, John Chavis, & the Raleigh Rose Garden

Dave Grecky
Outstanding Adopt-A-Park Volunteer

Dave Grecky is an extremely dedicated volunteer to the Fletcher Park Garden Program, commonly referred to as “Fletcher Fridays”. This program meets weekly to help with horticulture projects at Fred Fletcher Park. Dave logged 76.5 hours at Fletcher in 2024, somehow improving on his 74 hours spent volunteering in 2023. In rain, wind, or sleet, Dave shows up ready to work all the same.

Dave Grecky has done just about every task there is to do—pruning, planting flowers and bulbs, mulching, raking, and picking up trash. However, Dave prefers, and excels, at being the ‘Wheelbarrow Man’. The group gets a lot of work done in our two-hour block, which means they tend to generate a lot of debris. Whether it’s branches, plants, mulch, or flowerpots, Dave is there with his trusty wheelbarrow ready to load or unload. Dave works smoothly with other volunteers, monitoring their buckets while they work and emptying them as soon as they’re even halfway filled. Dave is a huge piece of what makes our Fletcher Friday program so effective and efficient.

Dave Grecky seems to remember the name of every person and dog that he crossed paths with at Fletcher, which does a great job at fostering community and bringing in new volunteers. He’s a great listener and will follow up with questions with genuine interest and care. Dave is the glue that keeps our Fletcher Friday group together and what makes our team feel like family.

Jane Fenn
Outstanding Adult Program Volunteer

Jane Fenn has been an incredible contributor to the Active Adult Community in the Raleigh area. She teaches a weekly line dance class at the Five Points Center for Active Adults, providing a fun way to socialize and exercise. The amount of time and effort she puts into each class is invaluable, and is reflected in the enjoyment she brings to her program participants. She motivates young and old alike to get their bodies moving and keep their minds sharp. The best part? She always does it with a smile.

In between instructing, Jane Fenn checks in regularly with center directors to ensure the proper dance class levels are being offered, and that they are reaching as many people as possible. The patrons and staff at Five Points love having Jane and her enthusiastic drive in our center!

Empower All
Outstanding Volunteer Group

Over the course of their volunteer engagement, Empower All has selflessly dedicated over 400 hours of their time, energy, and talents to creating meaningful experiences for our community through special events and a transformative STEM-focused summer camp.

Empower All has been instrumental in the success of several special events hosted by our department. Their meticulous planning, organizational skills, and enthusiastic participation have ensured that each event was well-executed and enjoyed by attendees of all ages. Whether coordinating event logistics, leading activities, or warmly engaging with participants, the group demonstrated an unwavering commitment to creating inclusive and enjoyable experiences for everyone involved.

One of their most remarkable achievements was the development and implementation of a summer camp centered on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics). Recognizing the importance of equipping young minds with 21st-century skills, Empower All designed a program that balanced education and fun through hands-on activities. From robotics and coding workshops, to environmental science experiments and engineering challenges, their thoughtfully crafted curriculum inspired curiosity and fostered a love for learning among participants.

Empower All exemplified leadership, teamwork, and a genuine passion for service.Their positive attitude and ability to connect with both children and adults created a welcoming and encouraging environment that resonated with everyone they worked with.The impact of Empower All’s efforts extends far beyond the hours they contributed. Their dedication has enriched our community, strengthened our programs, and left a lasting impression on the many lives they have touched.

River Cane Wetland Park Community Advisory Group
Outstanding Project Volunteer- Group

This dedicated group of community members has gone above and beyond in their efforts to shape the vision for the River Cane Wetland Park. Through their selfless contributions of time, expertise, and passion, they have played a pivotal role in the development of the new park’s Master Plan, ensuring that it will become a cornerstone of environmental preservation, recreation, education, and community engagement for generations to come.

The creation of a master plan for a park as ecologically and culturally significant as the River Cane Wetland Park is no small task. It requires a deep understanding of the local community’s diverse needs, aspirations, and values, as well as a commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability. The advisory group has proven to be an invaluable partner throughout this process, providing thoughtful, constructive, and actionable insights at every stage of planning. Their dedication to ensuring the plan reflects the needs of both the environment and the community has been remarkable.

Their expertise and lived experiences as members of the community provided critical perspectives that have been integral to the plan’s success. More than simply offering feedback, the group demonstrated true leadership by working collaboratively to champion important values such as inclusivity, environmental justice, and cultural preservation.

Their collective efforts have set a new benchmark for community involvement in the public planning processes. By elevating the voices of the community, embracing a forward-thinking approach to environmental sustainability, and advocating for equitable access to recreational spaces, the group has created a legacy that will benefit the people of Raleigh for decades to come.

Sarah Reeves
Outstanding Project Volunteer- Individual

Sarah Reeves has been an unwavering advocate for Dix Park from the very beginning. As a member of the original Dix Park Master Plan Advisory Committee, she dedicated countless hours to meetings and events, engaging the community in shaping the park’s future. Sarah has been a consistent presence at community festivals like Falling for Local and Earth Day, generously volunteering her time and energy to support these events.

Most recently, she took on a leadership role in overseeing the landscaping project at the Stone Houses, where, as a trained horticulturist, she developed and led the planting plan. Under her guidance, a variety of plants were installed, enhancing the beauty of the historic houses' grounds. For the grand opening, Sarah and her friends even created plant identification markers for everything that had been planted.

In addition to her hands-on work at Dix Park, Sarah and her husband, Terry, have been steadfast supporters of the Dix Park Conservancy. As founding partners, they made an early investment in the park’s success. Sarah’s creativity and commitment extend to the holiday cards she sends out each year, which often feature Dix Park themes. In 2022, she sent a watercolor ornament card featuring a painted bunting, to 200 friends while donating $10 per card to the Conservancy. Sarah’s leadership also extends to her work with the downtown Raleigh Rotary Club, where she has been a driving force in raising awareness about the park. Her efforts led to the club choosing to host its 110th anniversary gala at the All Faiths Chapel at Dix Park in March 2025, in support of the park and the upcoming Thomas Dambo trolls installation.

Nominated by Kate Pearce, Executive Director of Dix Park and Nick Smith, Chief of Staff of the Dix Park Conservancy

Alexis Arterberry
Outstanding Park Volunteer

Alexis Arterberry has been volunteering with the City of Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department for the past 10 years over a wide variety of events and community center locations. She has donated hundreds of hours of her time to ensuring events run smoothly and are enjoyable for the community. Her main location has been at Marsh Creek Community Center where she has volunteered at every event Marsh Creek holds. Although she has volunteered in a number of different roles, most recently she assisted with making balloon animals for the Marsh Creek Community Day. This demonstrates that she is the type of volunteer that is prepared and ready to jump in where needed.

Alexis has been such a reliable volunteer that she is well known by staff across the department. When other centers need a helping hand, they know they can count on Alexis to step in. She has been at Worthdale Community Center working their fall festival. Kiwanis Neighborhood Center, Abbotts Creek Community Center, and Laurel Hills Community Center helping with the many egg hunts, as well as, other events located around the city.

In addition to her dedication to volunteering with community centers, she joined the Community Advisory Group for the new River Cane Park located on Kyle Drive (also awarded a Fred Fletcher Outstanding Volunteer Award this year). She has been and continues to be a dedicated member who seeks the best for her community.

Corrine Kallman
Outstanding Program Volunteer

Corrine Kallman is an amazing volunteer line dance instructor at Brier Creek Community Center, and is dedicated to providing these classes for her community. She has played a vital role in expanding the line dance classes being offered at Brier Creek over the last few years. With her help, the program has grown from averaging around 10 - 15 students per single class, to averaging around 30 - 40 total students for two classes (beginner and advanced levels).

This has been possible because of the hard work, dedication, and expertise of teaching line dance that Corrine has displayed. Anytime our other dance class needs coverage, Corrine gladly steps in to be the lead instructor so that we don't have to cancel our classes. Corrine always enters the center every Wednesday evening with a smile, excited to see all the staff, line dance students, and ready for another fun evening! We are very lucky to have Corrine Kallman as a volunteer at Brier Creek Community Center!

Lily Rankin
Outstanding Teen Volunteer

Lily Rankin joined the Raleigh Youth Council during her sophomore year, with an undeniable passion to serve. Despite being an underclassman, her leadership abilities were apparent almost immediately, allowing her to make meaningful contributions to the council. She was a general member during her first year, the 2023 - 2024 Raleigh Youth Council Sergeant at Arms, and continues as general member.

During her time with the council, Lily has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to serving her community. She has completed 57 total service hours, serving several demographics. Lily has participated in our Specialized Recreation and Inclusion Halloween and Valentine Dances, Miracle League, and Made4Me, which all serve individuals with special needs and disabilities. She has served the youth population through Santa’s Workshop, Toys from Teens, Gift Wrapping, A Seussical Celebration: Reading Event, and Trunk-or-Treat events. She has made environmental impacts through park cleanups and invasive species removals. 

Lily has also served the community by using her voice at the Human Relations Commission’s Teen Town Hall and a Dix Park Programming Roundtable Talk. She serves the broader community at the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC and through community murals. In addition to her involvement in the before-mentioned service events, she actively contributes to organizing and supporting Raleigh Youth Council hosted donation drives. Lily’s love for and dedication to serving the community is evident in all she does. She has been a valuable asset to RYC and we can always count on her to show up.

Brandi Neuwirth
Outstanding Cultural Resources Volunteer

Brandi Neuwirth has been a long-standing member of the Latta University Historical Foundation, a non-profit committed to share, educate, and engage with the community about Latta University. The university was an African-American co-educational institution founded by the Reverend Latta, a freed enslaved person, and teacher, to educate underprivileged and orphan children in Raleigh’s Black community.  A descendent of the Latta family, Brandi has run the Foundation for several years and in 2024 helped to support the opening of the Latta University Historic Park.

As part of the opening, Brandi was on the planning committee for the Grand Opening on April 20, 2024. This included organizing members of her family and community to join. Since that event, Brandi has worked with staff to create special programs and events in 2024 and 2025.

Opening Latta University Historic Park as a historic site has been a long-term goal of Brandi’s that she has been working tirelessly towards for many years. Now that it’s finally happened, she has thrown herself back into the work to support the additional phases of construction and further programs to cement the park in the community. Brandi’s dedication and volunteer work is truly appreciated by Historic Resources staff.

Heart of Carolina Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
Award of Excellence

The Heart of Carolina Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen started a Youth Aviation Academy which has encouraged young people to pursue degrees, careers, and licenses in the aviation industry. Over a decade later, the HOCC has seen staffing changes, the Youth Aviation Academy has changed locations, and the program has had to rebuild visibility since the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet, through all the changes, the HOCC members' dedication to remembering the original airmen and inspiring the next generation has remained vigilant and admirable.

This past Fall the Youth Aviation Academy saw record attendance and engagement. HOCC members worked with Raleigh Parks staff through every aspect of this program to make it the most successful season yet. The plans to expand the program's capacity and offerings for this coming Fall are already in motion. HOCC volunteers led four informative sessions over four months that featured a career panel, flight simulators, drone flights, and science experiments that taught the participants how aircraft can fly in the air.They also coordinated with NCDOT’s Division of Aviation to create a free field trip to their hanger at Raleigh-Durham International Airport where students learned about the NCDOT's relief efforts for Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, heard from one of the state's pilots, had the chance to sit in the cockpit of one of the state-owned planes, and enjoyed a box lunch while they worked on a plane craft.

Their positive impact on the next generation, their tenure of partnership with Raleigh Parks, and their commendable efforts to carry on the legacies of the original Tuskegee Airmen deserve nothing but the highest of honors and Raleigh Parks is truly grateful for their dedication.