Karen Frucella-Olson has been named the recipient of this year’s George Ritzer Memorial Labor Award. Submitted photo

Karen Frucella-Olson has been selected to receive this year’s George Ritzer Memorial Labor Award.

“I’m overjoyed with it,” Frucella-Olson said. “I’m in a good group of people who have gotten it before. I’ve been helping people, and it makes it easier for other people. I hope I just make people feel good.”

The George Ritzer Memorial Labor Award is named after George Ritzer, who was a local labor leader and the president of the Jamestown Area Labor Council for more than 20 years.

The annual award first started in 1984 and is presented to an individual who gives back to the community by volunteering with various organizations and who contributes to the labor movement.

Frucella-Olson hopes to inspire others to serve their community through her own volunteer efforts.

“I hope it inspires other people to help others that are less fortunate,” she said. “Hopefully, people see me volunteering and they want to do it too.”

Asked what the George Ritzer Memorial Labor Award means to her, Frucella-Olsen said, “It just means that I’ve been recognized for doing a good job with my time.”

As a member of AARP, Frucella-Olsen volunteers at UPMC Chautauqua, St. James Thrift Store and the Scandinavian Folk Festival. She also volunteers each year at the Brandon “B2” Zebrowski golf tournament and is on the reunion committee of Jamestown High School’s class of 1969.

She said it is a pleasure to help people through her efforts as a volunteer. She said she would want to receive the same help from other people as she offers to others as a volunteer in the community.

“People have to look beyond themselves to help people,” she said. “You have to treat people like you would like to be treated. You can’t always help with money, so you help with your time. You don’t make money, but you get a happy heart.”

Frucella-Olsen lives in west Ellicott. Her family includes her daugher, Lisa, and son-in-law, Jeff Byerly; three grandsons, Michael, Tim and Cody; and a great-grandson, Vinny.

Frucella-Olsen has held different offices as a member of the Lakewood Rod and Gun Club, the Jamestown Elks and the Lakewood Moose. She also volunteers at Real Life Church.

In 2011, Frucella-Olsen received the Joe Mason Community Service Award in recognition of her work in the local community.

As the secretary of the Celoron Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary, Frucella-Olsen has helped with bingo, Rib Fest and various fundraisers. She also serves as the treasurer of the United Auto Worker Local 338 and is retired from TRW, MRC and SKF.

Frucella-Olsen is a member of the United Way Allocations Board, the Community Foundation Scholarship Board, and has served as the secretary of Jamestown’s Area Labor Council since 2002. She is also responsible for selecting the Labor Council’s Ben Spitale Scholarship winner.

Frucella-Olsen’s volunteering has also included managing elections for union officers as well as political elections, organizing rallies for retiring union members, serving as the secretary of the employee’s fund, participating in Battle of the Business and helping the women’s committee through fundraising.

Frucella-Olsen is thankful for the support of her family, the labor council, and the George Ritzer family. “I want to thank them especially,” she said.