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For the past 16 years, the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley has hosted its Spirit of Volunteerism Awards to spotlight local businesses, groups or individuals and their service efforts in the community and workplace.

The reception took place at DeSales University in Center Valley, where a number of large companies, including Air Products, Crayola and PPL Electric Utilities, were honored.

But the work of a smaller operation located here in Carbon County, named Dekka Studios, also caught the attention of this year’s awards.

Based in the borough of Palmerton, Dekka Studios, which is a web design firm, is owned by Palmerton resident Mike Jesky. The Carbon County Community Foundation nominated his local business after Dekka Studios agreed to build the nonprofit organization’s website at a reduced rate that fit into it’s fixed budget.

Even now, Jesky donates web hosting and mastering services to the organization. He also serves on the board of directors for Family Promise, another local nonprofit aimed at assisting homeless families.

“Mike Jesky has been a trusted colleague and a true asset to our organization and it’s remarkable to me that he is a volunteer,” Amber Breiner, Carbon County Community Foundation executive director, said. “Despite the demands of his thriving business or the challenges everyday life, he always make me feel like a valued customer - and expects nothing in return. He is a very generous individual and I was happy to nominate him for recognition for his volunteer service to Carbon County Community Foundation and as a board member of Family Promise of Carbon County.”