CHARLESTON — It’s better to give than to receive.

Twelve special individuals and organizations from all around West Virginia were honored at Thursday night’s Governor’s Service Awards banquet at the Charleston Civic Center, for their outstanding volunteerism and community service.

Event coordinator Moya Doneghy called the annual event “a celebration of volunteerism in West Virginia.”

“The people being honored tonight serve as role models for what others can become,” Doneghy said.

Governor Joe Manchin and wife Gayle were on hand to present the awards to the 12 honorees including local recipients Beckley Newspapers, The Shepherd’s Center of Greenbrier Valley and Dr. Vivian Crane.

“Someone once said no act of kindness, no matter how small is ever wasted,” Gov. Manchin told the audience. “There’s countless ways in which people can get involved whether it’s volunteering in nursing homes, hospitals, adopt-a-highway… Real charity doesn’t care if it’s tax deductible or not.”

Prior to handing out the awards, Manchin told The Register-Herald the Governor’s Service Awards banquet provides an opportunity to thank “special people and special places that went beyond the call of duty.”

“And Raleigh County-Beckley being one of them, were so excited and we just want to say thank you. That’s what so special about West Virginia. We care. And we try to help one another.”

The Register-Herald was presented the Governor’s Service Award in the Business category for its work with Mac’s Toy Fund, which strives to meet the needs of under-served children in Raleigh County; the Raleigh County Make-It-Shine campaign, which involves a variety of litter-sweep projects; the BN Art Gallery and numerous other organizations and causes.

“It’s a very prestigious award that we’re very excited about,” Beckley Newspapers Publisher Frank Wood said. “The job of the daily newspaper is to inform, educate, support and serve — and serve is a very large segment of those four categories.

“The newspaper is a very skilled and caring group of people that like to give back to the community. They don’t do it for recognition. They do it to help the region in which they live,” Wood said.

Although Beckley Newspapers Inc. has received numerous regional, state and press association awards over the years, Wood said winning a statewide community service award was “humbling.”

“The one award that I stress the most to any of our departments is community service. If we can win one award and it’s community service — we’ve done our job.”

The Shepherd’s Center of Greenbrier Valley and Dr. Vivian Crane, also of Greenbrier County, were honored as well.

“I recommend this activity to other people. Give back, and be a volunteer,” Crane said. “You’ll receive more than you give.”

Dr. Crane has focused her lifetime of service on education, disaster relief, spiritual comfort and senior citizens by volunteering with the Concord College Alumni Association, the American Red Cross, the United Methodist Church and the Greenbrier County Committee on Aging.

The Shepherd’s Center of Greenbrier Valley is an interfaith ministry organized for older adults. The organization has grown to a coalition of 22 local church congregations with more than 170 local volunteers who provide services to more than 200 adults in need.

“This speaks to the efforts of many to make our community better for older adults, as well as to engage us to continue to learn throughout our lifetime, and volunteer our services to help others, and continue to grow as individuals no matter what age we are,” said Shepherd’s Center founder Ann McClung.

The Governor’s Service Awards were established in 1995 and are administered by the West Virginia Commission for National and Community Service to honor outstanding individuals and groups involved in solving social issues through volunteer service.

To nominate an extraordinary individual, organization or business for a 2010 Governor’s Service Award, visit www.volunteerwv. org.

— E-mail:

jayres@register-herald.com