community organization

Hands On Northeast Ohio (NEO) was founded in Greater Cleveland in 2007, and since it’s inception Vi Huynh has been invloved.  As Cleveland is one of the nation’s most impoverished cities, Hands On Northeast Ohio, and Vi’s service, are critical. Vi's has volunteered and supported children at an innovative charter school, as well as dogs at a local animal shelter. Additionally, when he saw a void in Volunteer Leadership in Cleveland, Vi stepped up to lead numerous programs within the community.  Trained as one of Hands On NEO's first Volunteer Leaders, Vi now manages others in service. 

When people are in an impossible situation, they look for someone to lead them out of their circumstance. However, not even Jeannie Gallina suspected what she could do to help the people of Clay County, FL. By founding The Way Free Medical Clinic, Jeannie found a way to provide healthcare for those with no other resources. Many people in Clay County, Florida were living without access to affordable healthcare or health insurance. Despite being employed, it was not an affordable option for them.

With a smile on her face, Kittie Caston happily accepts whatever challenges are before her, and she embraces others for their abilities, not disabilities. Why? Being deaf taught Kittie to be non-judgmental and give people with disabilities the opportunity to shine. Wanting others to have that chance at a normal life, Kittie’s 30 years of volunteer service with the Special Olympics in Georgia helps individuals with disabilities learn discipline, team camaraderie and self-confidence.

Although he’s still in school to become a doctor, Grant Reed didn’t wait for a diploma to begin helping his community to heal. As a student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus, Grant created the Illini Medical Screening Society (IMSS). IMSS is a student-run mobile health clinic that provides free medical screening service to the underserved and uninsured residents of Champaign County.

Betsey Beckmann will literally give you the clothes off of her back.  In fact, she has.  With a smile, she has given a child a coat of hers to keep warm during the brutal winters in the St. Louis, Missouri area.   It is with this same wit and passion that Betsey started and organized Coat-A-Kid, an organization that provides coats to low-income families during the winter.