Milton is filled with people who dedicate their time, energy, and love to giving back to their community. And last week, we welcomed them to City Hall to thank them for their service … and bestow a few with special honors.

The occasion was the City’s Volunteer Dinner, an annual opportunity to express gratitude to those who generously and selflessly serve in Milton. Scores attended the 2025 edition last Thursday night in City Hall, enjoying a good meal and the company of fellow do-gooders.

The volunteers included members of multiple City boards and committees, the Milton First Responders Foundation, local chapters of the National Charity League and Young Men’s Service League, and the Milton Volunteer Fire Corps. Also in the audience were individuals who beautify Milton through their work in the environment, whether it’s tending gardens, nurturing bees, or adopting a road.

Mayor Peyton Jamison and City Councilmembers Phil Cranmer and Jan Jacobus – as well as State Rep. Jan Jones – were on hand to personally offer their appreciation to those who have made a positive impact. They also joined in celebrating this year’s “Volunteer of the Year” winners, specifically:

• CHS “Mama Bears” as Volunteer Group of the Year: This group of Cambridge High mothers conceived and carried out special homecoming festivities for their school and the greater community. The inaugural JamBEARee – featuring a parade, festival attractions, food trucks and a whole lot more – drew upwards of 1,000 people, with the 2025 version proving even more popular.

   

• The Milton Historical Society with the Legacy Award: This organization has worked extensively and intensively for years to preserve and share our community’s history. Led by President Emeritus Jeff Dufresne, its volunteers conduct research, offer free educational talks, restore historic sites, host social events, install historic markers at special locales all around Milton, and more.

   

• Three individuals took home Silver Horseshoe of Service awards.

Jack Miller earned his for hands-on, reliable, genuine, and impactful involvement in several organization such as through his church, local Rotary Club, the Milton First Responders Foundation, and Milton Historical Society.

Jaclyn Moore’s award came about thanks to over 400 volunteer hours since 2022. This includes time spent as a Teen Advisory Board member at the Milton Library, with the Girl Scouts, and playing piano and flute at the Phoenix senior living center.

The other Silver Horseshoe winner is Kim O’Brien. She’s been active at the Milton Senior Center as an art teacher in its “Art Chi” program, a founder of its Writing Club and contributor to its Book Club, Mah Jongg game leader, and more.

• Robyn Pinto, recipient of the Golden Horseshoe of Service Award: Robyn has been instrumental for years in the Milton First Responders Foundation, a non-profit that is dedicated to supporting City firefighters, police officers, and their families. She has been on the frontlines of most all its initiatives like raising over $1 million, a growing percentage of which is through dollar-for-dollar tax credit donations made possible by State legislation. These funds help first responders in several ways, such as the distribution of Kroger gift cards around the holidays – a program that Robyn created.

She’s devoted her time and effort to other causes as well. One is by helping run the Alive at 25 Driver Safety program, through which more than 2,000 young adults with traffic violations have learned about how to better protect themselves and others on the road. And in 2023, Robyn established the Loving Others Thru Service Home foundation to provide essentials to homeless in downtown Atlanta.

Congratulations – and THANK YOU – to all these award recipients, and in fact all of Milton’s volunteers. We’re a better community because of you.