Volunteer of the Year
2025 Volunteer of the Year:
Deb Lee
Introducing our 2025 Volunteer of the Year – Deb Lee!
Deb and her therapy dog, Ozzy, are an incredible part of the Paws & Think community, and we are so proud to recognize her with this honor.
There is very little this therapy team doesn’t do! Deb and Ozzy currently serve as an Ascension St. Vincent therapy team visiting Seaton Specialty Hospital and are regular visitors at Wellbrooke of Carmel and Joy’s House in Broad Ripple. They also support visits to the Damien Center, Brooke’s Place, and many of our special events throughout the year.
Deb is also quick to step in when there is a last-minute cancellation, and that flexibility means so much to our staff and the communities we serve. In addition, she serves as one of our Assistant Trainers, helping support therapy skills classes for our new therapy teams.
In just over three years with Paws & Think, Deb has volunteered more than 370 hours and helped impact over 5,500 lives. Thank you, Deb, for your dedication, compassion, and willingness to serve in so many ways!
2025 Lead Volunteer of the Year:
Rhaya Shilts
In addition to honoring a Volunteer of the Year, Paws & Think also recognizes a Lead Volunteer of the Year, someone whose behind-the-scenes service and leadership help make our work possible. We are thrilled to recognize Rhaya Shilts as our 2025 Lead Volunteer of the Year!
Rhaya serves as our Marketing Chair and leads our Marketing Committee, helping oversee many of Paws & Think’s communications and outreach efforts. From our Day of Giving campaign to our Tails of Celebration fundraiser, she helps ensure our materials are polished, thoughtful, and aligned with our mission.
She also helps manage all of our website needs, from domain management to ongoing website support, helping keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes. In addition, Rhaya supports our Youth Canine program by photographing dogs in the program and writing adoption spotlights to help them find loving homes.
Rhaya has volunteered with Paws & Think for more than a decade and has contributed over 500 hours of service in a variety of important roles. We are so grateful for her leadership, creativity, and dedicated support of Paws & Think!
Previous Volunteers of the Year
2024 Volunteers of the Year:
Pam Gasway, Volunteer
Nina Esbin, Lead Volunteer
2023 Volunteers of the Year:
Deb and Sid Zachary, Volunteers
Cindy Cale, Lead Volunteer
2022 Volunteers of the Year:
Carolyn Ausbrooks, Volunteer
Lauren Colbert, Lead Volunteer
2021 Volunteer of the Year: Marsha Thomas
2020 Volunteer of the Year: Kathy Janes
2019 Volunteer of the Year: All Volunteers
Watch the video of how our volunteers supported the community during the pandemic.
2018 Volunteer of the Year: Debbie Ryan
2017 Volunteer of the Year: Lynsey Smith
2016 Volunteer of the Year: Wendy Hendricks
2015 Volunteer of the Year: Diane Aurand
2014 Volunteer of the Year: Susan Pratt
2013 Volunteer of the Year: Margaret Drew
2012 Volunteer of the Year: Tom Janes
2011 Volunteer of the Year: Lisa Snyder
2010 Volunteer of the Year: Carol Davenport
2009 Volunteer of the Year: Rhaya Shilts
2008 Volunteer of the Year: Debbie Feltz
2007 Youth Volunteer of the Year: Sara Gibson
2007 Adult Volunteer of the Year: Jodi Van Slyke
2006 Youth Volunteer of the Year: Amanda Clevenger
2006 Adult Volunteer of the Year (inaugural): Jill Boyer
2005 Youth Volunteer of the Year: Leslie Hannah
2004 Youth Volunteer of the Year (inaugural): Keith Diemer