Darien Woman Honored for Outstanding Volunteer Service

Exelon Corporation has recognized employee Toni Bazon of Darien, with an achievement award for her volunteer service with Lutheran Church Charities. The volunteer recognition is part of Exelon’s annual Energy for the Community Volunteer Awards and comes with a $10,000 cash grant to the organization in Bazon’s honor.

Bazon, an environmental coordinator at Exelon subsidiary ComEd, brings mercy and compassion to individuals and communities suffering from natural disasters or crisis through Lutheran Church Charities and their K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry. Bazon and her comfort dog, Shami, have responded to disasters and crisis situations across the country delivering much needed relief and aiding in the long healing process.

Bazon and Shami spent three weeks last year in Newtown, Conn., following the Sandy Hook School shootings, bringing comfort to traumatized children, teachers, first responders and a shocked community.

“Toni is one of our key volunteers with Lutheran Church Charities and deploys out to as many events as her schedule allows,” said Tim Hetzner, president of Lutheran Church Charities. “She wonderfully portrays the values and mission of Lutheran Church Charities to touch people who are in need of compassion.”

Bazon also provided assistance last year in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings, Arapahoe High School shooting, and the tornadoes that struck southern and central Illinois.

Additionally, Bazon has volunteered over 24 years with the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts organizations in her community.

“Shami and I are a team and we take great pride in delivering relief during times of crisis," Bazon said. “Lutheran Church Charities has many programs that are far reaching and all of us who volunteer work hard to make a significant difference in the lives of others who require comfort and healing.”

Terence Donnelly, ComEd chief operating officer, presented Bazon her award in Chicago on Friday, May 9.

“Employee volunteers like Toni bring Exelon’s corporate citizenship values to life in the communities where we work and serve,” Donnelly said. “On behalf of all Exelon employees, I am honored to celebrate Toni’s accomplishments. Her commitment to Lutheran Church Charities personalizes the impact all of our employees have in the community through their volunteer service.”

Exelon introduced the Energy for the Community Volunteer Awards in 2007 to honor employees who demonstrate exceptional commitment to community service and to encourage increased volunteerism. Bazon is one of 18 employees to receive volunteer awards and grants to the nonprofit organizations they serve. Exelon donated a total of $145,000 in cash grants to those nonprofits this year.

Exelon’s Energy for the Community Volunteer Awards were open to all eligible employees from the Exelon family of companies who volunteered at least 50 hours of community service in 2013. Last year, more than 3,800 Exelon employee volunteers gave nearly 88,000 hours of their time to community nonprofit organizations. The donated hours are equivalent to 2,200 workweeks or over 42 years of full-time service.

The awards highlight Exelon’s Energy for the Community corporate citizenship program, which encourages volunteerism to support environmental stewardship; education, arts and culture; neighborhood enhancement; and diversity in the community.