Connections honors longtime volunteers at anniversary bash By ROBBY LUCKE Staff Alleghany Connections earlier this month celebrated its 15-year anniversary. The organization, similar to Big Brothers/Big Sisters, receives state funding as part of the Governor's One-on-One Volunteer Program. Alleghany Connections' anniversary event, held Nov. 1 at Sparta United Methodist Church, included a reception and recognitions of those who have helped the program. Certificates of appreciation were presented to about 30 individuals and organizations. Executive Director Millie Swenk awarded plaques of special recognition to two longtime volunteers with Alleghany Connections, Kay Luffman and Gill Thadani.

Longtime Connections — Volunteers Gill Thadani (left) and Kay Luffman (right) were honored recently by Executive Director Millie Swenk (center).Each received a plaque commemorating their efforts on the 15th anniversary of the group here in Alleghany.

Kay Luffman

Luffman — with Clarence Crouse, Ed Adams and Frank Busic — was one of the four founders of Alleghany Connections in 1986. She wrote the original grant proposal.

Luffman has served as secretary for Connections' board of directors as well as two separate times as its chairman. "She is a tireless advocate both for the youth and this program," Swenk said.

Luffman has also been a volunteer with Connections for 14 years. A volunteer works with a youth for a year, Luffman said, sometimes two years, depending on the child's needs.

She said of Connections, "It's the type of program that can really make a difference in a child's life — one committed adult that can work with a child that needs attention....

"It's a program that gives a child and an adult the structure to form a mentoring relationship and to encourage that child to achieve. It expands their horizons."

Luffman explained, "You give them that special, non-judgmental type of relationship....You start with where they are and help them to like themselves as people."

Her volunteer efforts have yielded satisfying results, such as when a child begins to better relate to others or improve in school. "When one graduates from high school who, in the beginning, had no plans to graduate high school, that's a big event," she said.

Luffman came to Alleghany from Wilkes County in 1965. She retired in 1998 after 31 years with Alleghany County Schools.

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