The Voorhees Breakfast Rotary Club hosted its annual community service awards dinner on Jan. 23 at Lucien’s Manor, where four people were recognized for their selfless contributions to the community.
Vanleda Tiv, Natalie Illiano, Deputy Fire Chief Michael Wharton and Anahita Tyagi were celebrated at the event, hosted by township Committeewoman Jacklyn Fetbroyt, who served as MC.
Each honoree was cited for “exceptional dedication to the betterment of Voorhees Township and beyond, embodying the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self.”
Vanleda Tiv, recipient of the 2024 Service Above Self Award, is an elementary-school teacher in Philadelphia who recently earned her bachelor’s degree in leadership and is currently pursuing a master’s in education. For the past six years, she and her husband have been active members of the township’s Preah Buddha Rangsey Temple, where they contribute time and resources to support the temple’s mission. Through her work, Tiv seeks to ensure that children feel safe and thrive, both in the classroom and within the community.
Anahita Tyagi, the 2024 Voorhees Selfless Student Award winner, is a senior at Eastern High School who excels academically while participating in extracurricular activities such as Model United Nations, the Spanish Honor Society and the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey. Outside of school, Tyagi volunteers as a junior firefighter for Berlin Fire Company No. 1 and as a junior EMT with the Berlin Inter-Community Ambulance Association. She is learning to serve her community as a first responder, with a goal of becoming a physician.
Deputy Fire Chief Michael Wharton, honored as the 2024 Voorhees First Responder of the Year, has served the community for nearly 30 years. Following in his father’s footsteps, Wharton joined the Somerdale fire department as a volunteer in 1996, and became a full-time member of the Voorhees Fire Department in 2007. Currently serving as Deputy Chief, he plays a key role in planning many of the township’s community events, such as Santa’s fire truck rides and the township tree lighting.
Natalie Illiano, the Business Person of the Year, was recognized for her tireless contributions to both the arts and the community. Illiano serves as chair of the Voorhees Art Commission, which she helped establish in 2022, and is vice president of the board of directors for Maryville Integrated Care, a center for addiction recovery. In her acceptance speech, Illiano shared her motivation for giving back to the community, saying, “It’s not about me. Every day, I wake up asking myself, ‘How can I help someone else today?’ That question fuels me, keeps me grounded, and reminds me why I do what I do. My goal is to lift others up, because when we serve with open hearts, we create a kaleidoscope of change that extends far beyond ourselves.”
