MSV member wins 2010 Governor’s Volunteerism and Community Service Award

22 April 2010

James O’Neill Shaw Jr., M.D. of Williamsburg was recently recognized by Gov. Bob McDonnell as a recipient of the 2010 Senior Volunteer Award as part of the Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Awards.

These awards highlight the efforts of outstanding citizens of the commonwealth who seek to enhance the lives of others in their communities. The awards are presented to groups, individuals and families whose efforts exemplify extraordinary volunteer service.

In 1995, Dr. Shaw realized there were nearly 160,000 low-income, uninsured residents of the Virginia Peninsula. His effort to serve these patients began as a once-weekly operation in a borrowed church space and evolved in to Lackey Free Clinic, a full-time comprehensive practice in a state-of-the-art facility with 115 medical practitioners and 200 other volunteers. In 2009, they committed more than 17,000 hours of service, resulting in 9,000 visits for uninsured, underserved patients.

Speaking about the award recipients, Gov. McDonnell remarked, “On my first day in office, I called upon Virginians to volunteer in their communities. These outstanding volunteers are to be commended for their efforts. They represent the many Virginians from all corners of the commonwealth who make a difference in the lives of others every day through selfless service.”