Retired teachers award Volunteer of the Year

FALLBROOK — The average teacher who retired in 2005 dedicated 26 years of his or her life to California’s students. For many, that dedication did not end after leaving the classroom. In volunteer services, Avocado Division #81 Fallbrook California Retired Teachers (CRTA) reported 139,195.5 hours of volunteerism in 2006. These hours compute to a total of $2,412, 258.

Eugenia (Genie) Summers, who has contributed 3,050 of these hours to several community projects, has been recognized as Fallbrook CRTA Div. #81 distinguished Volunteer of the Year.

Summers has many favorite charities for which she diligently works to improve the lives of others. In addition to her time at the Fallbrook Angel Shop, she devotes energies to the Arts and Cultural Center and accrues many hours as a director on the board of the Fallbrook Music Society, working to bring music to Fallbrook students. Summers also serves as volunteer choir director and is vice president of the Nicholas Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding research for autism awareness by providing supplies for special education teachers in the Temecula School District, where her 5-year-old autistic grandson, Nicholas, attends school.

Summers enthusiastically pursues her love of children and music with dedication, hard work and an unremitting devotion to making things happen.