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Paul Benish impacts north Rock County with his caring touch

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Photo by Bill Olmsted

Paul Benish sprays disinfectant on a cot that will be used that night in the GIFTS Homeless shelter at the Bethel Baptist Church on Janesville's east side.

Photo

Photo by Bill Olmsted

Paul Benish stops to chat with a new user of the GIFTS homeless shelter at the Bethel Baptist Church on Janesville's east side. Part casual and part orientation, the talk allows both to get to know each other and build a relationship between the user and the shelter staff.

JANESVILLE — Just when you think Paul Benish has received nearly every available recognition for volunteerism, he is acknowledged again for his community efforts.

United Way of North Rock County has selected the 52-year-old Janesville man as its most recent Geraldine Hedberg Tocqueville Society Award winner. He will be recognized Wednesday, Feb. 17, during United Way’s annual meeting.

When Benish, vice president M&I Bank/senior financial advisor, learned of the recognition he said he was surprised, humbled and embarrassed.

“When we volunteer, we don’t do it for recognition or accolades, we just do it to help,’’ he said.

Benish also was the Volunteer Network’s Volunteer of the Year in 2008 and featured as one of the Gazette’s People Who Matter in 2009.

Local business owners and fellow Janesville Noon Rotarians Paul Romanelli and John Wickhem nominated Benish for the award named after the late Geraldine Hedberg, one of Janesville’s most generous benefactors.

“Paul has always been committed to helping others,” their nomination reads. “He has served on the board of the YMCA, volunteered with Kids Against Hunger and was one of the founders of the YWCA’s Walk-a-Mile In Her Shoes, a fundraiser and awareness program against domestic violence.”

Benish summed up his volunteerism by simply saying, “Somebody has to do it.”

Faith also drives Benish to help others.

“It really comes from the Bible and being able to love your neighbor as yourself. We need to live that everyday and not just talk about that on Sunday,’’ he said.

In 2007, Benish brought together a nondenominational coalition of Janesville area churches to provide shelter options for homeless men. The God Is Faith Temporary Shelter provides a nightly place to stay and meals to men who otherwise would be living on the streets.

“Paul counsels the shelter’s clients on job interviews and assists them in looking for work. Through these clients, some of the men have found employment and no longer need the services of GIFTS,’’ the nomination reads.

To be part of that success is awesome, Benish said.

“To see these guys with just a little bit of stability back in their lives and to see them be able to pull themselves up by the boot straps, those are the success stories that make it worthwhile in doing what we do,’’ he said.

Benish’s nomination noted he works tirelessly through multiple organizations toward the same goal—to help vulnerable members of the community.

“I really feel those who have been blessed, like I have been, have an obligation to give back because we can,” he said.

Benish’s volunteerism requires time and patience, his nominators wrote.

“It also takes a very loving and understanding wife and thousands of people working together in the community to make things happen,’’ he said.

The last paragraph of the nomination might have sealed his selection: “Paul Benish has affected our small north Rock County community with his caring touch, creating a better opportunity to live our lives in a community that lives united.”