The NNA congratulates Elissa Davey of Vista, California, who was named as the 2016 Notary of the Year at the NNA 2016 Conference in Anaheim, California, on June 7.
An experienced Notary Signing Agent, Davey was recognized for her passion for helping others and her tireless dedication to the nonprofit organization she founded, Garden of Innocence, which provides a dignified resting place for abandoned and unidentified children.
Davey started the organization after reading a news article about a deceased San Diego infant abandoned in a trash can. Since founding Garden of Innocence in 1999, the group has provided burial places for more than 300 infants with the help of a diverse range of volunteers, operating 10 gardens in California and one in Missouri.
“It’s truly, truly an honor to recognize her as our 2016 Notary of the Year,” said NNA President and CEO Tom Heymann during the presentation to Davey at NNA 2016’s Gala Banquet on Tuesday night.
While she has been recognized by several national organizations for her volunteer work, Davey said she was surprised to be named as Notary of the Year.
“I am gob smacked. This is such an honor. Thank you so much. I thought to get this honor you had to be the Notary with the most notarizations, and there was no way in heck I’m going to get that,” she said.
Each year, the National Notary Association recognizes Notaries from among a group of exceptional individuals nominated for outstanding professionalism, ethics and philanthropic efforts in their communities. Read more information about Elissa Davey in the upcoming August 2016 issue of The National Notary magazine.
David Thun is an Associate Editor at the National Notary Association.
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