Dedication to Public Service Earns Her the Highest Honor Awarded to U.S. Notaries
The National Notary Association (NNA) is proud to recognize Elissa Davey from Vista, Calif. as the 2016 Notary of the Year. As a Notary for 19 years, Davey earned the Award for her dedication and vigilance in preventing fraud and coercion in all signing situations -- especially with elderly signers who are more likely to be targeted for fraud and abuse. Davey will receive the Award during the NNA’s 38th annual Conference in Anaheim, Calif., June 5-8.
Davey became a Notary Public -- and took additional training to become a Notary Signing Agent -- to better serve her clients while she was a real estate agent. Her life changed dramatically in 1999 after she read an article about a baby’s body abandoned in a trash can in San Diego, Calif. She was haunted by the story and founded Garden of Innocence, a nonprofit that provides a dignified resting place for abandoned and unidentified children. The charity has conducted burials for more than 300 babies throughout its 10 gardens in California and one in Missouri.
Davey’s charitable efforts have resulted in numerous awards including the Presidential Lifetime Service Award for volunteerism. She was also a top 10 finalist for the 2015 L’Oreal Paris Women of Worth Award.
While her nonprofit work takes up most of her time, she’s kept her Notary commission to help protect people in their times of need. Despite her many honors, Davey remains humble with an open heart to keep helping those around her. She is a do-it-yourself woman who does not shy away from any task or project. Whether it’s building furniture for her home or walking her clients through a document signing, Davey strives to be the best she can be.
A video of the 2016 Notary of the Year Award ceremony is available here.
Established in 1990, the Notary of the Year Award is the highest honor an American Notary Public can earn. The annual Award is presented to an outstanding individual who sets an example all Notaries can aspire to by demonstrating excellence in notarial performance and community service.
About the National Notary Association
Established in 1957, the National Notary Association (NNA) is the leading professional authority on the American Notary office and is dedicated to educating, serving and advocating for the nation’s 4.4 million Notaries. It published the Model Notary Act to help lawmakers enact effective legislation and created The Notary Public Code of Professional Responsibility — a standard for best practices and professional conduct. To learn more, visit NationalNotary.org.
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