SBCO Recognizes Volunteers of the Year, Terry and Tony Lulek
Tony and Terry Lulek were named the SBCO Volunteers of Year for 2022-23.
Nancy McCluskey-Moore
Each year SaddleBrooke Community Outreach (SBCO) recognizes those volunteers who have made a significant contribution of their time and talents to the organization. This year SBCO has named Terry and Tony Lulek as Volunteers of the Year.
Prior to moving to SaddleBrooke in 2017, the Luleks lived in Geneva, Ill. Tony spent 35 years working for Proctor and Gamble. During that time, his work took the couple and their son to Poland, where the couple adopted their second son. After their return to the United States, their daughter was born, making them a family of five. Before being kept busy as a mother of three, Terry used her training in accounting as a business analyst for Western Electric and then as a consultant.
Shortly after arriving in SaddleBrooke in July, the Luleks met Denise Anthony, the current SBCO president, at a unit event. She encouraged them to become involved with SBCO, and by September, Terry was working as a Kids’ Closet volunteer helping students select their wardrobes. Within two or three weeks, she became the warehouse manager for Thursday sessions. In November of that same year, Tony brought his organizational skills to the scholarship committee, helping to project future costs for scholarships. This year he has begun reviewing scholarship applications.
Each year Terry shops and wraps gifts for the Adopt-a-Family program and Tony helps deliver them. Terry worked with Dennis Nemura processing incoming shoes and clothing for Kids’ Closet and then took over that task, along with Ann Van Sickel, when Nemura decided to “retire.” Tony willingly provides manual labor when large shipments of shoes and clothing require plenty of heavy lifting.
Tony says his greatest pleasure in being an SBCO volunteer has come from the growth of the scholarship program’s budget and the greater number of students receiving scholarships. He was
Long-time Volunteer Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
In April 2023, SBCO awarded Ann Coziahr the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Nancy McCluskey-Moore
Ann Coziahr was not ready to retire from her work as a government contract auditor when her husband, Jim, who was an airline pilot, decided they should visit SaddleBrooke. He thought it might be a good place to live during their “post-work” lives. In October 1998, they flew from their home in Silver Springs, Md., and purchased a lot. Sadly, Ann’s husband died shortly after they purchased the lot, but she went ahead and built a house in 1999.
After Ann was able to retire, she moved to SaddleBrooke in December 2001. “I moved here as a widow and was unsure what I would do with the rest of my life,” she recalls. “But it has never been a problem. Moving here was a great decision and I’ve never looked back!” Her husband was right—SaddleBrooke has proven to be a good place for her retirement years—due largely to Ann’s willingness to serve as a committed volunteer. First, she volunteered for the SaddleBrooke Libraries, where she continues to work. Then, in April 2003, she attended the opening of the Golden Goose Thrift Shop and became a volunteer. Two months later she agreed to join the SaddleBrooke Community Outreach (SBCO) board of directors as assistant treasurer. She had learned about SBCO from her neighbor, Jim Brademas. As assistant treasurer, Ann worked with John Young as treasurer. One year, they were chosen to serve as the grand marshals for the SBCO Walkathon.
In 2007, Ann was appointed to the Golden Goose board of directors where she was treasurer until 2010. After that, she served for 10 years as the Golden Goose representative for SBCO. For the past two years, she has served as SBCO executive vice president. Through the years, Ann has participated in the SBCO Walkathon, Food Drive, Kids’ Closet, and Home Tours. As she notes, “I have now volunteered for the SaddleBrooke Libraries, SBCO, and the Goose for 20 years!”
Ann’s sons both live on the east coast, but she has become part of another family through her volunteer work. “When volunteering, especially for SBCO, you become a member of a family working together to help others. You look forward to going to “work” every day and your