Countywide : Shelter’s ‘Unsung Heroine’ Is a Winner

Adele Faulkner Quinn has been described as an 83-year-old “dynamo” who lives up to the true meaning of “volunteer.”

For the past decade, Quinn has devoted most of her time to Interval House crisis shelters for battered women and children.

“Adele is an inspiration to all of us,” said Janine Limas, a former shelter resident who is now the shelter’s liaison services director. “She’s kind of like a mom to all of us.”

During the past three years, Quinn’s home away from home has been the Quinn Residence, a transitional shelter named in her honor.

Interval House operates three homes and an outreach center in Orange County. The locations are kept confidential to protect the women and their children.

Quinn, who enjoyed a career in interior design that spanned more than 50 years, now spends more than 40 hours a week performing shelter work, said Carol Anne Williams, Interval House executive director.

This energetic and enthusiastic woman has used her interior design expertise give the Quinn Residence a home-like atmosphere. And she also performs many tasks that include overseeing the shelters to make sure the homes are kept spotless, organizing drives for blankets and raising funds, Williams said.

Quinn has received numerous awards and accolades for her community service and once again has captured attention for her volunteerism. She is a finalist of Children’s Hospital of Orange County Heroes of the Heart Award, to be presented Feb. 27 at the Hyatt Regency Irvine.

The award--presented by the CHOC Padrinos, a hospital support group--will pay tribute to five “unsung heroes” of Orange County.

Quinn believes her awards are publicity tools to create awareness about domestic violence and Interval House’s work to help women in crisis.

Quinn said she’ll never give up volunteering: “If you are going to be part of life, you have to go with the flow, participate and give.”