To Toys for Tots, Salvation Army bellringers, church gift basket preparers and many other West Virginia volunteer efforts that brought holiday cheer to less-lucky folks.

To the St. Albans Festival of Lights, Coonskin Park’s dazzling display and thousands of West Virginia families and businesses adding sparkle to brighten the darkest time of year.

To 27 volunteer performing groups who entertained Kanawha Valley folks in the annual New Year’s Eve “GoodNight” fest — and to eight Charleston churches that donated their sanctuaries for the safe family event.

To all the newspaper readers who helped people in trouble through the Gazette and Daily Mail Christmas funds — and more readers who provided wholesome summer fun for low-income kids through the Gazette Send-a-Child-to-Camp drive.

To 83-year-old Ida Mae Morris, called the “Santa Claus of Washington Manor” because she provides gifts and food for neighbors in the Charleston housing complex at the holidays and other times through the year.

To departing President David Hardesty, who gave strong leadership at West Virginia University, and has joined the 55-year-long list of outstanding figures named West Virginians of the Year. To football hero Randy Moss, who chartered a bus and treated 43 underprivileged Kanawha Valley youngsters to a National Football League game at Cincinnati.

To Kanawha Valley corporations, individuals and foundations pledging generously to create the proposed $40 million Kanawha County main library, which promises to be another major Charleston attraction.

To Putnam County vocational students, Diamond Electric, contractor Joe Tolley, Mayor Fred Halstead and many other volunteers constructing a handsome new branch library at Eleanor.

To Warner Brothers and multitudes of personnel — including local volunteer actors — who created “We Are Marshall,” an inspiring tribute to the enduring spirit of the Huntington university as it slowly recovered from its aircraft tragedy.

To Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., who has entered history books as the longest-serving member of Congress.

To the Good News Mountaineer Garage, which accepts donated cars and repairs them for low-income families needing wheels to get to work.

To railroad retiree Dewey Houck and other volunteers who created the Rural Appalachian Improvement League (RAIL) to help revitalize hard-hit Mullens, Wyoming County — and won a Purpose Prize for their efforts.

To the Mountaineer Food Bank and many West Virginia church pantries that provide nutrition for jobless families.

To hundreds of West Virginians who give blood through the regional Red Cross — such as Diane Knapp, James Ryan, Norris Slater and David Steckel, all listed as 16-gallon donors.

To movie actress Jennifer Garner, who modeled for a Gap store photo book being sold to raise funds to fight AIDS in Africa — and brought her new baby home to Charleston to be baptized.

To the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, which enhances the Charleston region with hundreds of grants that improve the quality of life.

To nuns Barbara Ferraro and Pat Hussey, retired after decades of humanitarian service for left-out people through Charleston’s Covenant House.

To the Rev. Paul Bresnahan, retiring from St. Mark’s Episcopal Church after 11 years of feeding the poor and housing the homeless in St. Albans.

To Manna Meal, still feeding down-and-out street people at St. John’s Episcopal Church in midtown Charleston after decades of this humane work.

To Habitat for Humanity volunteers, still building numerous homes for low-income West Virginians.

To once-overweight Michael Warren, who diligently shed 125 pounds so he could become a deputy sheriff in Ohio County.

To Mayor Danny Jones and other Charleston leaders who helped rescue the venerable Quarrier Street YWCA and its fitness program.