(Vice Mayor Bonnie Gore presents the Sylvia Besana Community Volunteer Award to Margo Ezell)
The Roseville community has benefited from the tireless and unselfish volunteerism of this year’s winner of the Sylvia Besana Community Volunteer Award - Margo Ezell. Ms. Ezell was presented with the award at the May 23, 2018 Roseville City Council meeting.
Margo started giving back to the community upon her retirement in 1996, when she began looking for opportunities to give back to her community. As such, she became a judge on the Placer County Election Board and has since served on every election in Placer County.
In 1999, she joined the Board of Directors at St Rose Church and became the social outreach director. From 1999 to 2014, she served breakfast at Saugstad Park for the hungry and homeless and drove those who needed County-provided services such as medical, dental, mental care, and legal services to Auburn.
She also helped the homeless who weren’t able to read and write by filling out paperwork for Social Security benefits and later became their payee. As their advocate, she found them housing, paid their rent/bills and setup weekly allowance for numerous active clients and collectively for 42 clients throughout the years.
In 2015 she also started helping those in need at St Vincent de Paul, driving her clients individually to receive services.
The Roseville City Council also recognized and thanked all of the nominees of the Sylvia Besana Community Volunteer Award for their time and effort that they have dedicated to their community, including: Al Moody, Dawn Godfry, Harvey Munoz, Jacklyn Kirkwood, Marilyn Bishop and Rylee Turner, Nico Nielsen, and Steve Lindmer.
Sylvia Besana was a Roseville native who epitomized the word
"volunteer". An educator, counselor and avid community leader, Sylvia
spent the greater part of her life giving back to the community and
making a difference through her continued commitment to serve.
The Sylvia Besana Community Volunteer Award is a tribute to her and to
her lifetime of community service. This annual award recognizes
individuals in the Roseville community who display dedication through
consistent commitment to community service, serve as role models by
inspiring others to volunteer, and demonstrate leadership, excellence
and integrity through volunteer service.