01 April 2015

Sally Award Recognizes Outstanding Volunteer Support

Tom Leyda, a long-time volunteer and Salvation Army board member in the Valley, has been presented The 2014 Sally Award by The Salvation Army. The Sally Award honors an advisory board member for outstanding voluntary service to the Army. The award has been bestowed locally since 1963 and is the highest honor given locally by The Salvation Army’s Phoenix Advisory Board to one of its members. 

Leyda has been an active member of the Phoenix Advisory Board since 2010 and has made a major impact on the Army’s Red Kettle program held during the most important annual fundraising period for The Salvation Army. Leyda is a key player in handling logistics for the scheduling of more than 1,200 volunteers for Real Estate Wednesdays. Every Wednesday in December, members of the real estate industry including realtors, title companies, brokers, lenders and affiliates, volunteer to ring bells at more than 180 locations. Leyda spends countless volunteer hours assigning locations, and is the primary liaison between these real estate professionals and The Salvation Army.

The presentation was made at the annual volunteer appreciation event, by the Salvation Army’s Southwest Divisional Commander Lt. Colonel Joe Posillico and Advisory Board member Mike Karlson, 2013 recipient of The Sally Award. 

“Tom’s contributions have advanced the mission and ministry of The Salvation Army, in immeasurable ways. Real Estate Wednesdays alone accounts for more than $200,000 in donations that support our programs all year long. We are blessed to have Tom as a remarkable supporter of the Army.” Posillico said.