community organization

The debate about healthcare is on everyone’s tongue these days. However, Jack McConnell, decided to give me than lip service, and took a hands on approach to help his fellow Americans without health insurance, and gave a new sense of purpose to his fellow retired medical professionals. After retiring, Dr. McConnell moved to Hilton Head, SC to relax and enjoy a couple rounds of golf. He would often offer rides to “locals” walking to and from work as landscapers, construction workers, and restaurant servers.

Since starting the Tres Islas Orphanage Fund 23 years ago, Donelle has been gainfully employed full-time, working every after-hour waking minute serving the children of orphanages in Mazatlan, Mexico. She spends her evenings, weekends and vacation time tirelessly emailing, writing newspaper articles, budgeting, fund raising and visiting the orphaned children in Mazatlan, Mexico. She is an ardent advocate for all the children in the orphanages, always seeking ways to improve their quality of life. 

Liz Cochran is truly concerned with the “matters of the heart.”  This 21 year-old beauty has not only found success in the arts and beauty pageants, but she has also used her Miss Alabama platform to increase cardiovascular awareness and disease prevention through her organization With Every Beat. Liz began her mission of informing the young and old about the importance of cardiovascular help when her young dance instructor died due to a heart condition.  This tragedy became very personal for Liz provoking her to do something.

As the President and Founder of LostNMissing, Inc., Cynthia Caron volunteers 12 hours each day to guide families of missing people as soon as their loved one goes missing. She seamlessly handles all the media, marketing and posting of information. Cynthia works directly with law enforcement, acting as a representative for the families. She also notifies the public of the missing person through the community by social networking. By stepping in and handling the media relations, this allows the families to focus on recovering their loved ones.

Jeanette coordinates and operates weekly off-site adoption events at a local Arkansas Petsmart store. About 50 Sundays a year, she drives to the shelter, loads animals and equipment, drives to the Petsmart store and set up an adoption display with the animals. She provides advice, counseling and information for every potential adopter. Rarely does a week go by that at least one pet is not adopted t the off-site location. When she is not helping the shelter, Jeanette is active in animal rescue with her own group, Animals R Us, which provides foster care and adoption for homeless pets.