LLELA volunteers are the best — our annual appreciation dinner

The annual appreciation dinner in November for LLELA volunteers was a blast. Joining the volunteers were various staff dignitaries, some bearing big news.

But first the stats.

From Erin Piper, City of Lewisville Outdoor Recreation Supervisor: 

• 84 programs
• 960 participants
• 8242 hours of programming
• interacted, taught, and entertained 1906 children from the age of 18 months to 18 years
• 5475 adult and 861 senior participant hours
• 444 volunteers and 7496 hours of volunteer effort From Texas Master Naturalists chapters alone

Chris Chastain, City of Lewisville Preserve & Greenbelt Manager, praised the volunteers and shared some exciting news from the Texas Recreation and Parks Society – North Region, representing 7 million residents: 

• Rita Loki, LLELA educator, was named 2024 Part-time Employee of the Year.
• Angela Lewallen of Natural Pathways was named Advocate of the Year for the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Friends of LLELA is deeply proud! 

Then on to the food! Many thanks to Sullivan’s in Old Town Lewisville for great barbecue. It was scooped up eagerly. The leftovers were shared with the Lewisville fire department station closest to LLELA. 

Sullivan’s food line

We were graced with the presence of our Lewisville Mayor TJ Gilmore, as well as Stacie Anaya, Director of Lewisville Parks and Recreation.

A raffle for our fun centerpieces connoting boots on the ground at Lewisville. One table won four!

All the volunteers received a fun bandana.

Many thanks to the Friends of LLELA board members for making the dinner happen and to the City of Lewisville for their support.