Kendal volunteer Don Illig honored

Donald Illig, a resident of Kendal at Oberlin retirement community, recently was honored by Medical Mutual of Ohio as an Outstanding Senior Volunteer.

Medical Mutual recognizes senior citizens who volunteer their time to help others. A lifelong volunteer, Illig is a soft-spoken 84-year-old man with a warm smile and a commitment to make the world a better place. The richness of his volunteer efforts makes it impossible to single out an area that stands above the rest.

Illig is personally responsible for identifying the need, recruiting volunteers, and establishing Management Assistance for Nonprofit Agencies (MANA) in 2003. The MANA team of consultants is composed of Kendal residents who have held responsible positions in business, the professions, academia, and nonprofit enterprises.

MANA's sole purpose is to provide management assistance and business advisory services to organizations in the nonprofit sector. It does this through customized consulting by volunteer retired executives, managers and professionals. Primarily serving Lorain County, MANA is a partner of the Public Services Institute of Lorain County Community College with its base at Kendal at Oberlin.

In 2004 Illig joined the board of directors of the Community Foundation of Lorain County and plans to serve until 2011 when his second term ends. He currently serves as secretary of the board. His contributions go well beyond committees and officers. He is a vocal board member supporting good ideas and work, and challenging issues that require discussion. He is a champion of improvement and self-assessment, and a strong advocate for diversity, and inclusion, justice and fairness.

Illig has been a member of the Kendal at Oberlin board's Human Resources Committee since 2005. He brought his expertise to the committee, serving as a great help in sharing hard-to-find position wage surveys and advising with the rest of the committee concerning policy change proposals and the staff handbook revisions. This year he also volunteered to serve on a special strategic advisory subcommittee for Kendal's child day care, as this long-appreciated staff benefit has encountered serious challenges with subsidy funding cuts.

Volunteer service has always been an important part of Illig's life. He will be the first to say he receives great personal satisfaction from his volunteer service, and a job well done. He welcomes a challenge, always steps up to the plate, but shies from recognition. Illig is unselfishly dedicated to giving back for the greater good. His volunteer service has been a life-long journey, a path he's chosen, and plans to continue as long as he is able.