Vienna presents its first volunteer awards

Vienna presented its first volunteer awards on Saturday evening, recognising projects and individuals across five categories, including the ORF Vienna audience award, ORF reported.

An estimated five million hours of voluntary work are carried out in Vienna each week, based on figures from Statistics Austria. About 42 percent of people in the city volunteer without pay. The award was initiated by Social City Wien to recognise that work. ORF Vienna was a public-service media partner.

Among those honoured was Elke Tinhofer, who supports families through Kinderhospiz Netz, a children’s hospice. Lisa Hartl, who volunteers as head of the regional group of Engineers Without Borders, was also recognised. The group builds schools and solar facilities and helps provide water supplies.

Brigitte Neichl was honoured for sharing knowledge at the Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus district museum. Lilith Busch runs free volleyball courses for children through Vienna Hobby Lobby. Veronika Kerschbaum leads a theatre group for the association supporting blind and visually impaired people, while Maria Esslbauer accompanies people with mental illnesses through pro mente Wien.

Richard Vrzal, managing director of Social City Wien, said the work volunteers do could not be measured in money. ORF Vienna director Edgar Weinzettl said the city depended on their commitment.