
For immediate release May 25, 2016
Lt. Governor Honors Cache Valley Volunteer with Power of Service Award
SALT LAKE CITY—Mark Thomas of the Lieutenant Governor’s office and UServeUtah presented the Power of Service award to Bruce Draper on May 19, 2016, at the Utah State Capitol.
For the past 10 years, Bruce Draper served as a dedicated volunteer to numerous organizations across Cache County, including Community Nursing Services, Bridgerland Literacy, Cache County Jail, the English Language Center, and American West Center. During his years of service, he helped inmates learn math and job application skills, refugees learn to read and write English, and hospice patients to feel comfort and companionship.
Organizations where he volunteered were always impressed with Draper's ability to stay focused on helping others. Those who witnessed his service said he was not showy and simply tried to help each organization achieve their mission in the community.
As a hospice volunteer, he was extremely reliable and dependable, willing to visit anyone regardless of the circumstance. A staff member at Community Nursing Services said he would visit hospice patients who didn’t have visitors to talk with them or even simply sit in silence, if they preferred it.
Draper passed away on February 7, 2016, leaving behind a legacy of citizens and refugees, who can now do basic math, read and write English at an 8th Grade level, and acclimate to American society. He is survived by his wife Kayelene, who continues to volunteer at organizations he supported and accepted this award on his behalf.
One volunteer is chosen three times a year to receive the Power of Service Award. This award is given to a volunteer that shows significant commitment to their community and demonstrates the power of volunteer service through their activities. Power of Service Awardees are selected from the pool of Lt. Governor’s Volunteer Recognition Certificate recipients. If you know someone who has shown outstanding commitment to serving their community, please visit UServe.Utah.gov to learn how to nominate them for a Lt. Governor’s Volunteer Recognition Certificate. Josh Loftin, 801.245.7205 Communications Director, Dept. of Heritage and Arts Katie Barlow, 801-245-7281 Outreach Coordinator, UServeUtah