SAGINAW, MI — Darlean Carpenter, a lifelong advocate for education and community well-being, will receive the prestigious Governor’s Service Award as “Older Adult Volunteer of the Year” at the 2024 Governor’s Service Awards.
The awards ceremony, hosted by Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Community Service Commission, will honor 38 individuals, businesses, and organizations for their extraordinary contributions to volunteerism and service on November 14 at the Detroit Opera House.
Governor Whitmer praised this year’s honorees, saying, “Community service makes Michigan a better place to live, and every year, we get to honor exemplary Michiganders who have gone above and beyond to make a real difference in people’s lives.”
Carpenter’s journey in volunteerism began over five decades ago with the Saginaw High School Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA), where she has served as president, vice president, and is now the treasurer. Known for her dedication, Carpenter has devoted countless hours to advocacy in education, working to ensure students’ voices are heard and supported. Her involvement extends beyond PTSA; in the late 1970s and early 1980s, she volunteered as a cheerleading and pom-pom coach at several schools and chaperoned students on trips abroad as part of the Growth and Afrocentric Program.
In 1980, Carpenter expanded her advocacy at Arthur Eddy Jr. High’s PTA and Parent Advisory Council, where she organized programs benefiting students and families. Her commitment to education policy continued as she served on the Superintendent Parent Advisory Council and as the State of Michigan PTSA Region G Vice President, influencing policies at the state level.
Beyond education, Carpenter has contributed her time to numerous community organizations, including volunteering at the Saginaw County Child Receiving Home and Saginaw Community Hospital. Today, she remains active on the City of Saginaw’s Human Planning Commission, the Unity in the Community Neighborhood Association, and the Community Advisory Council for the Great Lakes Bay Schools-Based Health Center.
Ginna Holmes, Executive Director of the Michigan Community Service Commission, described the event as “an incredible evening to celebrate the power of volunteerism,” emphasizing that the dedication shown by honorees like Carpenter is “an inspiration to us all.”
The Governor’s Service Awards, established in 1994, continue to recognize Michiganders who embody the spirit of selfless service. Carpenter’s lifelong commitment exemplifies this spirit, leaving a lasting impact on the Saginaw community and beyond.
