Three years ago, The Voorhees Breakfast Rotary Club began honoring upstanding citizens of the community. And this year is no different.
Last week at its annual awards dinner, the club honored Gwen DeVera, vice-chairwoman of the Camden County Human Relations Commission and board member on the Voorhees Cultural and Diversity Committee, along with Township Committeeman Harry Platt, as person of the year and businessperson of the year, respectively.
DeVera moved from the Philippines to Virginia Beach, Va., and then to Voorhees in 1988. When she first arrived in Voorhees, she said politicians began coming up to her door while making their rounds campaigning.
At the time, she didn’t know how to vote and said she felt others from the Asian-American community might have also been unsure as to how to exercise their rights. This, she said, prompted her to get involved at the community level.
“When I first moved here, there was very slow progress. Since then, I’ve seen it progressing rapidly,” DeVera said. “I try to convince people to register to vote. Their vote is their voice.”
Since moving, DeVera has given her time back to the community by participating on the Voorhees Cultural and Diversity Committee, which formed in the township in 2007 to promote diversity and inclusion in the community.
The group conceived International Day, which is held yearly at St. Andrew’s Church in Voorhees. The council also grants three scholarships to deserving high school seniors and created a middle school essay contest that rewards students for writing about diversity in their community.
“It’s about bringing everyone together and getting everyone involved,” DeVera said.
The council focuses on various cultures, food, dress and religions to unite the community.
DeVera said the honor is meaningful to her, as she feels it will give other members of the community the motivation to do good works.
“I am honored to be chosen. I never imagined this award would be given to me,” DeVera said. “I think will give motivation to other people to do remarkable things.”
Platt was also honored at the dinner as businessperson of the year, for his three decades-plus career at his family business, Platt Memorial Chapels in Cherry Hill. Currently the manager and director, he received his funeral director’s license 27 years ago.
And even though he maintains the family’s business, he said he didn’t just choose this career path simply because it was already in the family.
“Many people think of the building and the business, and that I had a family business to walk into,” Platt said. “The true reason is because of the incredible things people said about my father. He’s sensitive and caring and I hoped to duplicate that.”
Platt also takes after his father, Bernie in another way. The former mayor of Cherry Hill, who completed his service to the township in December, inspired Platt to serve publicly, as well.
Platt said he’s gleaned a lot of wisdom from his father, including how to be there for the community, whether it’s with grieving family members in their time of need or as serving the residents of the community.
“Everything kind of flows together. It leads to a lot of connections,” Platt said. “It’s the way that we deal with people on a personal level and how people should be treated on all levels. The community is important in both fields.”
For Platt, the honor from the Breakfast Rotary Club is more than just an award, he said.
“For me, personally, it’s a tremendous honor. I hope to be able to serve the community for many more years,” Platt said.
Ticket money raised from the event benefits local and international efforts, said Mark Schott, the Voorhees Breakfast Rotary Club’s past president and organizer. Some of the money will go to Eastern Regional High School, as well as a water well project overseas, he said.
During the event, organizers also took up a collection, which benefits military personnel currently serving overseas.
The club has previously awarded Alan Cohen of the Tutoring Club of Cherry Hill and Richard Miller, CEO of Virtua Hospital with the businessperson of the year award.
Previous person of the year honorees include Geri Borbe of the Voorhees Board of Education and Gisele DiNatale of the Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation.
