OUR TRIBUTE TO JF

Jill-Frances Norwood joined Acceso International in 1997 as a Co-Founding Director. She assumed enthusiastically the positions of Vice-President, Secretary and Volunteer Coordinator – all simultaneously! For her dedication, she was the recipient of our first Volunteer of the Year Award in 2001.

In December 2001, JF is recognized as the Volunteer of the Year by Christine Gervais, Acceso International’s Founder and President.

As a friend and fellow human being, JF was amazingly optimistic, generous, genuine, thoughtful, cheerful, caring, practical, selfless and adventurous.

As our Volunteer Coordinator, she was always very encouraging and motivating. She always kept us moving forward in a very positive and optimistic way.

As our Secretary, she was always responsible, efficient, responsive and thoughtful.

While we are grateful for her contributions as our Secretary and Volunteer Coordinator, it was her positions as Co-Founder and Vice-President of Acceso International that are most worthy of note. It was JF’s vision that we cherished and trusted the most. With her concern for social justice, JF always guided our volunteer collective through appropriate decisions and meaningful activities.

She was an extremely principled individual. Her words and actions reflected social justice and equality. Her decisions reflected depth and careful consideration; her concern for the marginalized and the disadvantaged reflected dignity, respect and solidarity; and her optimism and enthusiasm instilled hope and progress.

She was an amazing individual whose varied talents, interests and commitments enhanced the lives of so many in need.

The volunteers of Acceso International are grateful to JF’s parents (Noreen and Frank) and to her family for the gift of such an incredibly helpful, compassionate and socially responsible person.