Korean War Veteran and Turlock VFW member Joe Madden is being recognized for his community service as he was named the 2018 Senior Award winner for Stanislaus Supervisorial District 2.
Madden was nominated for the recognition for his volunteer work with county veterans.
“He is the perfect example of ‘veterans helping veterans’ in his dedication in doing everything he can to help veterans who have served this country stay as healthy as possible by making sure they get to their medical appointments. His compassion for them is a tribute to his service to our country and to his fellow veterans,” stated the award nomination for Madden.
Madden started driving homebound veterans to Modesto, Palo Alto, Livermore, San Francisco, or wherever needed, in 2008 when he found out there were approximately 80 veterans in Stanislaus County who had no way of getting to their medical appointments.
He was appointed by the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors as an At Large Member of the newly created Stanislaus County Veterans Advisory Commission in 2012, and he became the chair of the commission’s Transportation Committee. He was persistent in getting an established program in place to assist veterans in getting to their medical appointments. His persistence paid off and two handicapped-accessible vans were donated by Paratransit Inc. and the Welcome Home Heroes Program in 2014. The Veterans Administration agreed to cover the fuel and repair costs for both vehicles.
Madden is a four-year member of the Korean War Veterans Association, Chapter 203 of Turlock, and is currently serving as president of the chapter. He is a 12-year member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5059 in Turlock.
Other Senior Award winners include:
· - Ernest Ray Richardson, District 1 — A United States Air Force veteran, Richardson has volunteered for the past 19 years as a board member for the Central Valley Opportunity Center and 14 years as a board member for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program.
· - Sterling Fountain, District 3 — Fountain has been a member of the Progressive Missionary Baptist Church for 43 years, volunteering in a variety of capacities. She has been a member of the Soroptimist International of Modesto for over 28 years and has been an active volunteer with the King Kennedy Center.
· - Bill and Marsha Silveira, District 4 — The Silveiras have been active volunteers for over 28 years with the Society for disABILITIES in various capacities.
· - Delores Raymundo, District 5 — Raymundo has been actively involved in Patterson’s Sacred Heart Catholic Church’s Eucharist Ministry for over 10 years. She has been volunteering for the Senior Meals Program for over 10 years and has made and donated baby hats to the Turlock Pregnancy Center for many years.
Madden and all the Senior Award winners will be recognized by the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors during their regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. May 15 at the Board Chambers, 1010 10th St., Modesto.
