ASHLAND — Cyndi Downing, the director of the Hillcrest-Bruce United Methodist Mission in Ashland since 2000, has been named the top director among the 80 agencies in five counties that receive funds through the United Way for Northeastern Kentucky.

Downing was honored during Thursday night’s United Way volunteer recognition dinner. She joins Julie Maggard, formerly of the Community Kitchen, Lucy Davis of the Dressing Room, Jeri Holsinger, formerly of Helping Hands and Carol Polley of CASA of Boyd County, in being named director of the year for the United Way agencies in Boyd, Greenup, Carter, Lawrence and Elliott counties.

Steve Towler, United Way executive director, said Downing “has taken her agency to new heights with her ability to speak at church and various events.”

“When she speaks of clients at the mission, it’s as if she was speaking of family,” Towler said of the Hillcrest-Bruce director. “You see love in her eyes and hear joy in her voice. She works untold hours on budgeting, writing grants, speaking at churches and other groups and attending meetings to make this a better world and to make her organization a place where people feel welcome and loved ...”

Under Downing’s leadership, Hillcrest-Bruce Mission launched a choir festival in 2006 that has become a successful fundraiser, Towler said, and the pre-school program was enlarged.

“When you walk through the doors of Hillcrest-Bruce Mission, it is like stepping into the Bible,” Towler said. “Not every chapter is good, but you always know how needed and loved you are.”

Also during the banquet, 22 volunteers were recognized for the work they have done for individual United Way agencies. Those honored and brief description about them by the agency they serve are:

‰Lon Venters, Ashland Senior Center, who “recruits with excitement for new people to visit the center and helps organize different games.”

‰Vickie Caniff, Boyd County Youth Council, who as coordinator of the Youth Service Center at the Boyd middle and high schools, “has a strong ability to link different agencies together for the betterment of all concerned.”

‰Kimberly S. McCann, Boyd County School Foundation, whose “support and expertise is essential to the foundation’s operation.”

‰Jean Stein, CAReS, who “always has a smile and a kind word for everyone she encounters” as she volunteers as a receptionist at CAReS one day a week.

‰Ronda Tamme, CASA Childwatch of Boyd County, who is a “self starter who can be counted on to work her student cases — often more than one — to the best of her ability.”

‰Edyie Slone, Community Kitchen, who “noticed the gathering of people lined up in front of the Episcopal Church on Winchester Avenue, and after learning what was going on, felt a calling to volunteer” at the Community Kitchen.

‰Carol Monge, Friends of the Children, who has “helped hundreds of children pick out new clothing over the years.”

‰Mary Crowley Martin, Friends of the Children and Neighbors Helping Neighbors, who has helped both organizations over the years. “Wherever Mary participates, she is very active.”

‰Jim Reneau, Greenup 4-H, who “gives tirelessly to the Greenup County robotics club, the LEGO Barbarians” and coaches and teaches “young people how to program robots to do specific tasks.”

‰Mason Branham, Greenup Meals on Wheels, who in addition to delivering meals each Wednesday “goes to the vendor location every day to make sure those who have volunteered show up.”

‰Margaret Smith, Greenup Senior Center, who “takes care of phone calls, works in the kitchen and is a great general cleaner” at the center on a daily basis.

‰Wetzel “Junior” Mayse, Helping Hands, who “takes care of everything from food baskets to the thrift store” at the agency in Greenup.

‰Nita Martin, Hillcrest-Bruce Mission, who “assists with all our special events ... and spends every Monday answering the phone, handling dental clinic calls and doing anything else that needs to be done.”

‰Dr. Drema Hunt, Hope’s Place, who “gives her days off to come to Hope’s Place and provide medical examinations to the children and assist in all aspect of the investigation.”

‰Mike Green, Community Hospice, who offers spiritual comfort to families and has “made himself available whenever a family requests — even if it is the middle of the night.”

‰Eulas Hayes, Red Cross, Boyd County, who is “always ready to promote blood drives” and has personally donated nearly 34 gallons of blood.

‰Hilma Harned, Red Cross in Greenup County, who “is ready to help whenever needed and can always be counted on when called upon.”

‰Charles and Ruth Rice, River Cities Harvest, who coordinate the distribution of food for the letter carriers drive each May and from the “Feed the Children” shipment each July and pick up food each Tuesday.

‰Dianne Clement, Safe Harbor, who “is passionate about the mission of Safe Harbor and has assisted in the obtaining of several thousand dollars in resources.”

‰Bertha Eskew, Salvation Army, who is a “daily volunteer at the family thrift store” and “is a joy to all she helps.”

‰Charlie Hanshaw, Westwood Boys Club, who is board president and head boxing coach whose “personal commitment to the youth of our area is outstanding.”

‰Mary Kay McGinnis-Ruark, the Young Professionals, who founded the organization’s Back Pack program in 2004 and it has grown from serving 400 children the first year to 1,200 last fall.