DIAGONAL – Deb Westphal of Diagonal was awarded the Stub and Vi Johnson Volunteer of the Year Award at the Easterseals Iowa Annual Celebration Nov. 8 in Des Moines.
Each year at the celebration, the award is presented to an individual in recognition of exceptional practices and achievements through volunteering to support Easterseals Iowa. Westphal has been a longtime supporter of both Pony Express Riders of Iowa and Easterseals Iowa. She has commissioned a custom bench and artwork for the new cabins at Camp Sunnyside in memory of her late son Lucas. Each year, she gathers family and friends to join Team Lucas for the Walk for Independence to raise money for Camp Sunnyside. Westphal truly believes in independence and opportunities for all people and invests her time, energy and resources to make these possibilities a reality.
Easterseals Iowa provides exceptional services to ensure all people with disabilities or special needs, and their families, have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their communities.
Stub Johnson was a founding father of Pony Express of Iowa, a nonprofit organization that has raised more than $10 million for Easterseals Iowa in its more than 50-year history. Johnson was also committed to Easterseals Iowa and served on the original campground building committee at Camp Sunnyside in Des Moines.