Jean Lewellyn of Vineyard Haven is the recipient of this year’s Spirit of the Vineyard award, which honors volunteerism.

A lifelong sailor, Jean and her husband Bruce had sailed into the Vineyard for many summers before deciding to retire on the Island.

After moving to the Vineyard, Jean immediately began to volunteer.

Habitat for Humanity, Sail MV and Read MV, a reading program for children in the Oak Bluffs and Tisbury elementary schools, are among the many programs that have benefitted from her work.

She served on the Eastville Beach committee, which cleaned up the beach and improved the parking access; she has been a citizen scientist for Felix Neck and the Audubon Society; she participated in the horseshoe crab count; she is active in the annual beach clean-up organized by the Vineyard Conservation Society. She has volunteered for Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, in the Vineyard Haven Library, at the Thrift Shop and for Vineyard Village at Home.

“Jean is an outstanding example of the people nonprofit organizations need to accomplish their mission,” a press release announcing the award said.

The award will be presented on Wednesday, Jan. 17, at 9 a.m. at the Federated Church in Edgartown, where Jean sings in the choir.