Joe Banner, Phil Behr & City Year Greater Philadelphia

Joe Banner, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Philadelphia Eagles since 2001, serves on several boards and was a dynamic force behind the Eagles Tackling Breast Cancer Campaign that raised nearly $750,000 over the last three years.

Phil Behr, Managing Partner at Navigator Equity Partners, serves on the advisory board of Cradles to Crayons which supplies clothing, shoes, books, school supplies, or toys to low-income families.

In 1997, Banner and Behr joined together to lead the successful effort to establish City Year Greater Philadelphia (CYGP), the local branch of the premier national service organization that recruits young adults between ages 17 and 24 to commit one year to full-time community service. As President Clinton has publicly stated on numerous occasions, City Year was the stimulus for the creation and development of AmeriCorps, which has already created more than 250,000 national service volunteers. City Year Greater Philadelphia not only provides much-needed help to the Philadelphia School District by tutoring and mentoring students, but it also promotes leadership development and civic engagement in its volunteers—the young adults who will come to shape the worlds of business, medicine, politics, and academia. Banner and Behr joined forces to ask members of City Council and then-Mayor Ed Rendell to support the effort. They organized a benefit dinner that raised more than $20,000 in seed money, and secured a $100,000 planning grant from Safeguard Scientifics that essentially sealed the deal, making Philadelphia the ninth National City Year site.

Under Banner and Behr’s direction, City Year Greater Philadelphia has grown substantially. There are now 17 corporate sponsors in Philadelphia, including Comcast Corporation, which is also a National Corporate Leadership Sponsor. CYGP is the largest National City Year site with 200 corps members engaged in service each year. In just the last two years, more than 42,500 children in the School District of Philadelphia have been impacted by programs organized by corps members. Since 1997, CYGP members have performed more than 2 million hours of community service, with approximately 275,000 hours during the 2006-07 program year.

City Year Greater Philadelphia is celebrating its 10th anniversary at the same time as the Presidents’ Summit is celebrating its 10th anniversary and while the National Conference on Volunteering and Service is in Philadelphia.

Ruth El

Ruth El has been a fun, enthusiastic and dedicated volunteer since joining Greater Philadelphia Cares in 1999. Since then, she has volunteered over 500 hours of her time, starting with projects such as Hands on Camp, in which she served as a volunteer every day for a whole month!

Since then, Ruth has been a project leader at Maplewood Manor Nursing Home. In January 2004, Ruth decided to take on the challenge of leading this new project and decided to make it her own by providing direction and consistency. Since that time, she has been a dedicated leader who brightens the seniors’ days and makes them smile; they look forward to seeing Ruth and the volunteers that accompany her. Energy and enthusiasm exude from Ruth and the seniors love “Casino Night” at Maplewood Manor. No matter rain or shine, they can always count on her being there.

Ruth also serves as project leader for the Kearsley Retirement Community Center where she brings joy to the seniors while leading them in exciting games of Bingo, and she lovingly leads Play Night at Northern Home for Children. In addition, she has served as a Site Captain for Philadelphia Cares Day since 2003.

Ruth is such a wonderful leader that volunteers sign up, specifically, to be part of her projects. In addition, Ruth El is a graduate of the Greater Philadelphia Cares Social Change Leaders class of 2006; she was a member of a team which created a mentoring program for women. Ruth’s enthusiasm, commitment, and hard work make her the archetype of a perfect volunteer. She is a tireless giver and, truly, one of a kind!

Lissa Hilsee

There is no one in the Greater Philadelphia region who has been a more effective champion of volunteer action than Lissa Hilsee. Driven by a passion for creating positive change and a belief that volunteers can create that change, Lissa tirelessly drives an organization that makes a measurable difference. As Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Greater Philadelphia Cares, whose mission is to support the creation of vibrant communities by motivating people to volunteer their time, talents and resources, Lissa has created a corps of thousands of individuals, families, businesses, civic associations and communities of faith which has contributed more than 1.2 million hours of volunteer service since 1994.

In addition to Greater Philadelphia Cares, Lissa is herself a committed volunteer. Since 2003, she has been a big sister to 13-year old Dora. In addition to regular outings, Lissa helps Dora with her math on placemats at restaurants and coaches her in reading with Greater Philadelphia Cares’ Reading STARS. Lissa volunteers at projects throughout the city, including Discovery at Ferguson Elementary in North Philadelphia and outdoor excursions with at-risk youth.

She serves as Treasurer of Woodrock, a local non-profit committed to generating harmony among diverse youth. Lissa was honored to serve on the board of the 21st Century League. She received the Citizenship Award from the International Visitors Center, the Joanne Bowman Community Service Award from Goodwill Industries, the Humanitarian Award from the Church of Scientology, and the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

Lissa embarks on a new professional challenge in July 2007, addressing illiteracy, crime, drug abuse, volunteer action, and personal responsibility with the Church of Scientology throughout the Eastern United States.

At a farewell reception held in her honor, Lissa was credited by Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell with reinvigorating positive spirit in Philadelphia. Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street also recognized the invaluable contribution she has made to volunteerism in the Greater Philadelphia region.

Karen Hankins

Karen Hankins is extremely passionate about giving back to the community, and her enthusiasm is contagious.

Through Target Corporation, Karen Hankins has been the captain of the store’s volunteer committee for three years. All of her volunteerism is done through volunteering her time and energy to organize teams who execute volunteer projects for education and the arts. Over the course of Karen’s three years as store captain she and her team have consistently logged the most volunteer hours for the district.

Karen has created a culture where team members look forward to the volunteer opportunities she organizes. The volunteer committee meets monthly and makes blankets for Project Permanency, among other projects. The committee also stuffed 200 Easter eggs for Mosaic, an organization that helps challenged adults with their needs. Other major events Hankins has been involved in are Walk America, which raises money for the March of Dimes, Habitat for Humanity, Read Across America, and National Adoption Day. Along with these major events, Hankins reviews and approves donation requests for small nonprofit organizations.

Karen’s contributions are not limited to her activities through Target. She is an active member of the State of Nebraska’s Foster Review Board and has volunteered for them for nearly two years. The Board reviews cases every month so foster children do not stay in foster care longer than necessary, and the children are reunited with their birth parents or placed in a permanent home. She reviews up to eleven children per month – and there is no stipend for this service. The recommendation are made to the courts and considered by the judge.

Additionally, Karen visits foster care houses through Project Permanency. She brings every foster child a backpack filled with supplies, books, a handmade blanket and a life book.

Care Assurance System for the Aging and Homebound of Madison

Founded in 1979, CASA of Madison County’s mission is to provide volunteer services to assist with the unmet needs of aging and homebound individuals. There is never a charge to clients for CASA’s services, which are provided primarily by volunteers.

With an average age of 74.6 years, 85% of CASA clients are single (or widowed) with only one income. Over 86% of clients fall below the U. S. Census Bureau’s poverty level. The mean income of clients is $500 per month.

To meet the needs of this population, CASA’s services include: transportation to medical treatments, grocery shopping assistance, minor home repairs, installation of ramps, grab bars/hand rails, weatherization of homes, a community garden that provides fresh vegetables, and services that improve their safety, warmth, and independence.

In the past 10 years, CASA has assisted over 7,100 clients. Most of them required multiple or ongoing services. CASA’s current clientele base is approximately 3,500 – 3,720.

During FY 2005-06, volunteers escorted clients to medical appointments, and other pertinent locations with 1,372 trips and 8,232 hours. With the help of 28 volunteer groups, CASA planted and harvested 9,896 pounds of vegetables. All produce was delivered by volunteers to CASA’s elderly and homebound clients. CASA’s Safety Net program provided durable medical equipment and supplies to 366 clients. Over 950 seniors participated in CASA – coordinated area health fairs.

For Emergency, Weather Assistance, air conditioning units, fans, and heaters were provided. More than 18,500 volunteer hours were given to complete minor home repairs and yard work. Volunteers spent over 700 hours making friendly visits and telephone reassurance calls to lonely clients. Skilled volunteers built 82 wheelchair ramps and repaired 24 ramps, which provided to clients access to the outside world, including medical appointments.

Sheryl L. Girard

The total cost of child abuse and neglect in the United States is over $94 billion. Arizona ranks 37th out of the 50 states in overall child well-being. Gabriel’s Angels Pets Helping Kids is an organization that works to make a difference in Arizona. Their mission is to permanently interrupt the cycle of violence that is haunting abused and neglected children by giving them hope for a bright future, creating a smile where none existed, encouraging self-esteem instead of self-doubt and trust replacing betrayal. This mission is supported by Pet Therapy teams.

Sheryl Girard and her dog Shiloh, determined to make a difference, became a Pet Therapy Team and were certified in 2005 receiving a “Complex 3” qualification by the Delta Society Pet Partners Program which trains, screens and certifies volunteers and their pets for visiting animal programs. Girard and Shiloh began their volunteer career in 2005 with Gabriel’s Angels which provides a service to the underserved population of abused, neglected and at-risk children. Girard and Shiloh are trained to reconfirm and nurture a child’s ability to love and trust again, thereby freeing them from the cycle of violence.

During 2006, Girard and Shiloh extended their volunteer service to the Foundation for Burns and Trauma Inc. an organization that assists burn victims in becoming survivors through interactions with Shiloh. Pet Therapy Teams offer unconditional love, teach respect, empathy and trust to children who have been victims of abuse or are at risk of abuse. Their visits provide comfort and security to these children. Children from both organizations begin to believe in their ability to accomplish difficult tasks, learn that trust does not lead to disappointment or hurt and enhance their self-esteem.

Girard and Shiloh served more than 480 children for Gabriel’s Angels while visiting with groups of 5th and 6th graders and teenage boys and girls living in group homes/rehabilitation centers. The number of children served at Foundation of Burns and Trauma 2006 Camp Courage was about 100. Girard and Shiloh are returning to Camp Courage’s annual retreat in June 2007 where they will once again be part of the treatment for the children attending.

In addition to the Pet Therapy activity, Girard volunteers hundreds of hours per year, to the Phoenix Zoo, Arizona State Parks, and many activities proposed through her employer, Salt River Project (SRP). She has been volunteering since 1993 and continues to be a very active and valuable community resource. Girard believes that children deserve to be nurtured and loved and she fosters this philosophy each time she helps an abused or scared child.

AmeriCorps Homeland Security Corps

The Green River region in western Kentucky has had eight Presidentially declared disasters since 1997 according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) including floods, tornadoes, hail, straight line winds and snow. The region is also vulnerable to earthquakes from the New Madrid and Wabash Valley fault zones. In the seven county region approximately 70% of the population and 90% of the surface area is served by volunteer fire departments. Emergency managers have identified a need for at least 500 trained volunteers in the region to assist first responders who may be overwhelmed in a disaster.

AmeriCorps members sponsored by county Emergency Management and other disaster preparedness agencies recruit volunteers from throughout the seven county area for training as Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT). The initial class with 20 volunteers was held in 2003 in Daviess County. Hancock County, with the help of an AmeriCorps member, began offering CERT training in 2006. The program becomes truly regional in 2007 as Henderson County joins the training rotation. To date 316 community volunteers from all seven counties in the region have been trained as CERT members.

CERT volunteers are trained to help family and neighbors before first responders arrive on the scene in the event of a disaster. Our CERT volunteers are equipped with basic tools and supplies necessary for them to assist in the event of a disaster. They are supplied with a hard hat, safety vest, identification, basic medical supplies, a wrench (to shut off natural gas valves) and more. CERT training is a series of eight classes given one night a week. Training is conducted by certified professionals, who volunteer their time, and includes Disaster Preparedness, Terrorism, Fire Suppression, First Aid, Medical Triage, Search & Rescue, Disaster Psychology, and the final class is a live exercise utilizing all of their training.

AmeriCorps members, working with their agencies, provide follow up training, including Weather Spotter classes and Pandemic Flu Summit, to CERT members to keep them active and involved. CERT members also participate in other Citizen Corps programs including Volunteers in Police Service, Firecorps, Neighborhood Watch, and Medical Reserve Corps. Many volunteers are active in more than one Citizen Corps program.

The CERT program in the Green River region is the most active such program in Kentucky. The growth and development of the program here is a direct result of the involvement of AmeriCorps members adding capacity to their host agencies and their ability to effectively recruit volunteers. For many CERT members this is their first volunteer experience. At every meeting or training session members share stories about how they were prepared through their CERT training to assist someone injured in a traffic accident or helped direct traffic at a fire incident.

The Homeland Security Corps was recognized with a Distinguished Achievement Award from the National Association of Regional Councils in 2004.

Karoline Evin McMullen

Karoline Evin McMullen found out about an ancient, dwindling native brook trout population, a species that once thrived in most Ohio streams. Brookies are the community’s local treasure; they have lived there for thousands of years. She enlisted friends to help and discovered that brookie habitat was being lost because of actions of residents and development.

McMullen and her classmates undertook scientific research, and the underlying problem became clear: lack of community involvement and understanding. Almost everyone she spoke with did not even realize brookies were a part of the community. During the past five years, SOS has organized tree planting days, spoken at conferences and schools, helped run a trout hatchery, monitored streams, campaigned door-to-door; and has garnered over $35,000 in grants and awards.

McMullen has taken on a leadership role in all SOS activities during the past five years. She wrote a book and is distributing it to elementary school students around the country, spoke in favor new legislation and designed educational signs for parks. The population is rebounding in certain streams. Preserving habitat will benefit all community members by reducing flooding and safeguarding wells.

SOS uses student and community education and partnerships as tools to bring back the brook trout population, and restore the original cold water habitat. SOS is working with the Geauga Park District, Geauga Soil and Water District, Chagrin River Watershed Partners, Chagrin River Land Conservancy, numerous high schools, Ohio EPA, area townships and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and other organizations to educate the 125,000 residents of the Chagrin River watershed. SOS also has students from local schools listening to presentations, handing out fliers, gluing storm grate stickers, etc. as part of their community service hours. McMullen speaks at various meetings; the Ohio EPA, township meetings, science teacher training seminars and the Museum of Natural History’s Trout Club.

One effective tool for education is working with townships on their NPDES Phase II compliance. SOS glued decals that said “No Dumping, Drains to Stream” on storm grates in many communities, as well as distributed information. Finding ways to help townships fulfill regulatory obligations, while also helping the brookies, has made for easy partnerships. McMullen along with one other student, applied for and received a grant from Ohio EPA to produce signs in a park and educate naturalists so they can give tours to school children in the watershed where brook trout live, using materials purchased with grant money.

McMullen’s latest project is to give tanks of trout eggs to classrooms. These classrooms study and hatch the eggs over the winter, and release them in the spring. These close-to-home lessons are effective service-learning opportunities, which appear to have made lasting impressions on all of the students who participate.

Angie Bruscato

Angie Bruscato joined the St. Francis Medical Center volunteer program in May of 1975. As of December 31, 2006, she has volunteered 15,849 hours of services to St. Francis Medical Center. She has continually demonstrated the mission of St. Francis Medical Center by her commitment to reaching out to others in their time of need. She has brought comfort and hope to patients and their families with her sincere concern for their welfare. Bruscato has helped to raise $450,000 to benefit St. Francis Medical Center.

During her 32 years of service, she has held many positions as a volunteer and on the Auxiliary Executive Board. Bruscato’s many volunteer duties have included: volunteering at the information desk, making grief bags for bereaved survivors, knitting Christmas stockings for babies born in December to be carried home in. She has also served as Chairperson of the American Society Daffodil Days in March, which arranges and delivers bouquets to cancer patients at St. Francis.

Since July of 2003, her main duty has been as Chairperson of the Gift Shop. In this position, she purchases merchandise, restocks candy and magazines, and helps to assign duties/work schedules for volunteers. Since 2003, the Gift Shop has donated over $200,000 of its profits to St. Francis Medical Center.

During her 32 years, she has held many positions on the St. Francis Auxiliary Executive Board. She has been the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentarian and Chairperson of the Scholarship Committee. She currently holds a position on the Board as Chairperson of Fundraising.

Since 1988, Bruscato has been the Chairperson of Fundraising for the St. Francis Auxiliary where she has coordinated 5 vendor sales per year. The duties involved include coordinating the date that vendors come to the hospital, personally overseeing each event while it is in progress, and handling all financial responsibilities of each fundraiser. The proceeds are given back to St. Francis Medical Center. The profits have helped St. Francis with the expenses of purchasing equipment and other departmental patient needs, including renovating the Intensive Care Waiting room, Surgery Waiting room, and the Emergency Room Waiting area. Since 1988, Mrs. Bruscato has helped raise over $250,000 from fundraising with $22,996 profits from 2006.

Bruscato has dedicated her time, talent, and energy to helping others. Her commitment to service is a true example of citizenship. She is truly an unsung hero to St. Francis Medical Center and the St. Francis Volunteer program.

Judith Weiner

In November 1988, the Atlantic Riding Center for the Handicapped (ARCH) was founded. By the time the first rider was in the saddle in May of 1989, Judy Weiner had already adopted the children, horses and the cause. Within eight weeks she became the instructor for the growing population of riders. Within one year, she became an active board member helping to raise thousands of dollars through fundraising, community awareness, and through word of mouth. Weiner assisted in the process needed for ARCH to become a Premier Accredited Center through the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association.

In the following years, when the national association began an instructor certification program, Weiner joined the other volunteer instructors and financed her own testing to become nationally certified. ARCH became one of the first centers to have all certified instructors. And for 15 years she volunteered her services as an instructor.

Each year, she still organizes the public awareness group for ARCH. She attends health fairs and community events with picture board, brochures, and additional information. Through her efforts hundreds of children and adults with disabilities have come been assisted.

For 10 years, Judy organized the two-day Beach Volleyball Tournament which became our top fundraiser increasing funding from $4,000 to $20,000. Her committee has grown from 10 volunteers to over 50 working in various capacities.

She never stops thinking of ways to raise dollars for the Atlantic Riding Center for the Handicapped. Donation cans, selling phone cards, signing people up to residential gas, collecting cell phones and ink cartridges are just a few of her efforts in between her full time job.