By JOHN P. EVANS III

Celebrating its 30th year of honoring outstanding citizen volunteers, the local Caroline County version of the statewide Most Beautiful Volunteer Award was given to Preston’s Tammy Coulbourne on February 25.
With her selection, Coulbourne joined a long and distinguished list of winners.

“I am very honored, but at the same time I am also very much humbled. This being the thirtieth year and looking through the list of previous winners, I am in very good company,” said Coulbourne, who said although she had never nominated anyone for the honor before she would definitely be nominating people in the future.

Citing the “Most Beautiful” award as a great way to recognize volunteerism, she said she could think of many county residents who were as deserving as herself – including this year’s other four nominees – Donna DiGiacomo, Ann Fink, Lucy Fuchs and Aimee Larson.

“It was such a surprise” to win, said Coulbourne.“I have never won anything like this. It is a big honor just to be mentioned in the same group as this year’s nominees, the past winners and past nominees,” she added.

Coulbourne’s volunteerism represents her work with more than one organization, but she is best known for what she has contributed to the Preston Historical Society and the town museum, and with the Community Club of Preston, where she currently is in her second year as President. She was nominated by Kari Clow, the principal at Preston Elementary School, and picked to receive the honor by the selection committee of Sue Dunn, Libby Fluharty, Janie Eskow and Wendy Garner.

“It has to be such a daunting task for them to pick a winner out of all the great people who were nominated. Knowing most of the nominees myself, it’s very special to be selected,” said Coulbourne.

A member of the Community Club of Preston since 2012, she said she’s done a “little bit of everything”, including several fundraisers that enabled the club to make donations to persons and clubs in Preston. She said that she has handled publicity for the Historical Society and the Preston Museum, where she serves on the Board of Directors.

“I try to get the word out,” she said, adding that she is in charge of handling the Facebook pages of both groups.
It was through the Community Club that Coulbourne got to know Clow because of the many projects the club has done that have benefitted the school and other projects the club has worked on with the school that benefitted other county groups like the Humane Society. The club has also raised money for Federalsburg Elementary, Colonel Richardson Middle and Colonel Richardson Senior.

In her nomination letter for Coulbourne, Clow said: “I was extremely impressed with Mrs. Coulbourne’s dedication and commitment to her community in all aspects.

“Through the short six months I have gotten to know Mrs. Coulbourne, Preston Elementary students and various other organizations have greatly benefitted by her unwavering support, dedication and leadership she exemplifies … the impact of Mrs. Coulbourne’s contributions to not only the Preston community, but the Caroline County community in general, has not gone unnoticed by many. Her efforts truly benefit others in all aspects of the community.”