Louise Adams was named the volunteer of the year tonight at the annual Newton Fund award ceremony. Adams was given the 2013 Pat Patrick Big Heart Award, a prestigious local award given to a community volunteer who goes above and beyond.

Twenty years ago, Adams, a retired educator, founded the Washington Street Community Center, an after-school homework tutorial program for students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

Adams began the program because of the need she saw to serve the hard-to-reach, hard-to-serve population in the community that was struggling academically.

Today, Adams coordinates, plans and tutors students who need help with reading, science, math, language arts and social science homework. She also provides help to remediate or enrich homework activities sent from school.

When not serving youth, Adams serves as a volunteer member of the Washington Street Community Center board of directors and helps to assure the sustainability of the center through her generous personal contributions as well as securing additional funding from her many philanthropic connections and civic involvement in the community. Washington Street Community Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that today provides after-school enrichment activities for youth in kindergarten through high school.

“Mrs. Adams has made a tremendous impact on the lives of many young people through her work in teaching at-risk children and youth with special needs,” said Margaret Washington, chair of the Newton Fund Advisory Committee. “She firmly believes in the empowerment of parents and families to better support their children. She has helped to forge many collaborations and partnerships within the community, which have provided programs and funding that help to ensure the success of the Washington Street Community Center for future generations. She works hard on the ‘frontlines,’ doing it all with a smile.”

Adams is married to T.K. Adams, who is also an active volunteer and serves as the director of the Newton County Community Band.