Brenda Maust
Ashley Imbrogno
Dr. Jack McConnell
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. Being a former medical professional, he naturally asked them about their healthcare coverage. Much to his surprise, he discovered most didn’t have any healthcare or access to health insurance from their employer. They also could not afford to purchase health insurance on their own. Further inquiry revealed that one third of the island’s population, twice the national average, had no access to healthcare.
At the same time he began making friends with a number of former medical professionals who had retired on Hilton Head, but longed for the opportunity to practice medicine again. Putting two and two together, McConnell started the first Volunteers In Medicine (VIM) clinic. Retired medical professionals could provide healthcare for those without access for free, while gaining a sense of fulfillment from helping others.
The clinic McConnell started in Hilton Head, SC, has grown into a national organization that aids people in over 72 communities in 24 states, receiving care from retired and active medical professionals, and community volunteers. They provide primary care for thousands of uninsured people without the use of federal funds. Volunteers in Medicine clinics dramatically reduce overloaded emergency rooms and unnecessary hospital admissions, ease primary care physician shortage by mobilizing retired physicians, and allow physicians to practice “pure medicine”.
Growing up, every night at the dinner table, Dr. McConnell’s father would ask, “What have you done for someone today?”. Today, through the thousands of doctors, patients, and volunteers affected by VIM, he can say he’s done more than his share.
Peggy Burns
Tax season has never been a celebration for many. Imagine after crunching numbers for the whole day then volunteering to provide tax services to the underprivileged. Well, this is what Peggy Burns do as a site coordinator for the VITA, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, in Bay City, MI.
As site coordinator, Peggy trains volunteers in the IRS taxwise program; but during the day, Peggy works at Sciloli & Associates. Managing her time between the two jobs shows the amount of concern for others Peggy has.
Through the VITA program and with Peggy’s help, low income clients are able to receive tax services for free from skilled associates. Clients are ensured to receive the maximum refund. Overall, the VITA program has brought no less than 1.4 million dollars in tax credits/refunds each year. Such success has caused the sites to expand to a total of five locations along with longer hours.
With such success, families are now able to get their refunds free of charge, which most often goes to food, medical and energy expenses. Peggy is providing services both to the American public and government.
Mallory Myers
Mallory serves as executive director for The Big Event at Texas A & M University. The mission of The Big Event is to build a sense of community between local residents and the student population of the huge university and also to meet needs in College Station, Texas. The Big Event works toward creating a sense of family between the University and the community through volunteer efforts such as painting a children’s recreation center and simply spending time with a widow.
In her role, Mallory motivates, provides direction and ensures that every decision, action and completed project supports the mission for The Big Event. Her passion for the program inspires all of the 160 staff members she oversees, and her enthusiasm extends to the 6,000 Aggie students she motivates to join the effort each year. Residents look forward to participating in the event with students as well, and it is Mallory’s efforts that have given The Big Event such a wonderful reputation among both students and community members.
Additionally, Mallory advises fundraising efforts, and the event has reached its $70,000.00 goal each year under her leadership. Mallory also serves on the student government association at Texas A&M. Mallory’s inspiration for service began when she traveled on a mission trip with her church in the 8th grade. She served as a Spanish interpreter on the trip and saw the importance of closing gaps in communication. After that experience, she committed herself to connecting and bridging gaps between groups, organizations or people to bring about change and unification. Mallory is a true leader who never loses sight of the need to build communities, cultures and organizations.
Malia Mailes
Robbie Motter
Hilary Sheinbaum
When Hilary Sheinbaum graduated from Coral Glades High School in 2006, she had completed 1,167 community service hours. She participated in fundraisers, disaster relief efforts and was the historian of Key Club. Her favorite act of charity? Getting a haircut. In 2006, Hilary cut and donated 10 inches of hair to Locks of Love. Again in both the summer of 2008 and the winter of 2011, the University of Florida student donated another 11 inches.
The majority of children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair to a medical condition called alopecia areata, an auto-immune disorder that causes hair follicles to stop working. The cause of alopecia areata is unknown and there is no cure. Alopecia affects 4.7 million people in the United States.
To date, Locks of Love has provided more than 2,000 wigs to children in all 50 states and Canada since the start of the organization in 1998. Wigs provided by Locks of Love are custom-made from six to ten donated ponytails. Hairpieces generally retail between $3,500 and $6,000 but are provided free of charge to those in need.
In addition to donating her hair three times and graduating high school with 1,167 community service hours, Hilary has continued to volunteer her time at the high school of which she graduated. She has also created a Battle of the Bands for Breast Cancer where she raised more than $2,300 for the American Cancer Society. She also was the Relay For Life Entertainment Chair at Florida State University for two years. That is why Hilary is a Daily Point of Light.
Hilary has also written articles about this organization and other non-profits to promote volunteering and helping others. These articles can be found by following the links below.
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20081201/NEWS/812011009 http://www.alligator.org/news/local/article_627158a2-e08e-11de-849e-001cc4c002e0.html http://www.alligator.org/news/local/article_3c4749ce-cfff-11de-889d-001cc4c03286.html http://www.alligator.org/news/campus/article_1ecc24d1-e582-52b4-83e2-f10affc1e87b.htm