Ravi Sankar

Ravi Sankar is a high school student, but he has been teaching SAT Math for over two years now. This year, as a freshman, he received a perfect 800 on the math section. He teaches youth of many ages and skill levels, although most are high school students. Ravi is truly dedicated to giving his community as much knowledge as he possibly can. Every Sunday morning at 7:20 he teaches for about two hours at the Chinmaya Mission of Central Florida, which is something like a Hindu Sunday School. Most of the students are Indian although the class is open to anyone. In addition, two Saturdays a month he teaches a local public school for two hours at 10:00 AM. The Crooms Academy is a magnet program focusing on IT. Here Ravi teaches a diverse group of children SAT Math, helping those who cannot afford the extremely pricey Kaplan and Princeton Review classes. Ravi’s dedication to the community is truly commendable.

As a result of Ravi’s efforts, there has been a marked improvement in SAT Math scores and grades in Math classes as well. Some children’s scores have risen as much as 200 points in the math section alone in as few as six months. The review of fundamental material that students get has also helped some improve the grades they were getting in school. The most common benefit to children is that they improve their speed and accuracy. These two skills are crucial to succeeding on the SAT, but they must be combined. Accuracy and speed both improve quickly as Ravi helps the students practice SAT Math, benefiting them greatly in the long run. By improving their SAT scores, they can dramatically increase their chances of getting scholarship money and getting into the college of their choice. Thus, Ravi’s contributions have made an enormous impact on the lives of many students.

Many students volunteer merely because they need to for school. They go to the hospital and sort files or greet young children at the Orlando Science Center. While this is great, Ravi’s contribution is specifically targeted to better the children’s lives through education. He has given crucial knowledge to other children that can ultimately help them become more successful in live. It truly requires the highest form of dedication to others for a ninth grader like Ravi to have spent so much of his time over the last two years to bestow this knowledge upon so many children. As a teenager, he could make sports or clubs a priority; however, Ravi utilizes his free time to serve.

Hastings Knox

Hastings Knox is a ten year-old fifth grader at Gordon-Bibb Elementary School. He is a very out-going and involved student. Hastings loves being a part of the Science and Chess Clubs. He enjoys being in the “Friends of Firefighters” association started by his fifth grade teacher. He is a member of the safety patrol team and especially enjoys being the Student Council President at Gordon-Bibb Elementary.

Hastings is involved in a plethora of activities. He is active in his Church youth group, sports, and other community activities. He loves being around people and taking an active part in their lives. Hastings is a greeter at his Church where he welcomes visitors and passes out pamphlets that tell about his Church. He is a part of a program called “Lads-to-Leaders” that helps mold young men into role models for their peers. It also encourages the importance of the family.

“Lads-to-Leaders” Convention is held annually in Nashville, Tennessee, where approximately 10,000 participants compete in various events at the Opryland Hotel. He has competed in this program since he was old enough and has won many awards and trophies for his speaking, singing, and leadership abilities. Hastings also does puppet shows at Church for the younger children during their Children’s Church. He speaks and leads singing during the regular church service at night periodically. Hastings enjoys being a part of the drama team at Church and especially loves the acting he gets to do during Vacation Bible School.

Hastings has a special soft spot for the elderly. He participates every Thanksgiving with a group of young people that get up very early the Saturday morning before Thanksgiving to assemble and deliver fruit baskets to shut-ins. He volunteers to help them mow, rake and pick-up in their yards throughout the year. Hastings also volunteers to go visit and sing at nursing homes in our community.

Hastings is extremely involved in cultural art events. He enjoys acting and performing. He is a current member of ENCORE! Jr. that performs with the adult performing arts group ENCORE! He has been a member of ENCORE! Jr. since he was seven years old. Hastings has been in several community productions for both Decatur Civic Chorus and Dream Weavers Children’s Theatre. His last Dream Weavers show was “HONK”, the musical version of Hans Christian Anderson’s the Ugly Duckling. Hastings was honored in this show by being assigned, by the director, to be mentor to a Down’s syndrome child that was also in the performance. This was a job that Hastings took seriously and still talks about the experience that he had with Sean.

Hastings recently had the idea of helping the hurricane victims. He persuaded his classmates to undertake a “book drive” to collect and provide books for those students in South Alabama that lost their entire school libraries. People ask Hastings why he chose books and he has his answer ready. He will readily tell you that books are things that ALL students have and can donate without having to ask their parents for extra money. Hastings gets e-mails every day through his fifth grade teacher. His teacher laughs as she tells everyone that Hastings receives at least 3 phone calls a day from the office. Of course, this keeps her busy since she must monitor each call first. She has allowed him to set up his own “office” where he answers e-mail, sends out correspondents and write thank-yous to people who have donated books.

Hastings has received calls and donations from upper New York State, Connecticut, the University of Alabama, firefighters, a historical society of ladies in a surrounding community. He set he goal at a lofty 50,000 books. He has to date collected around 8,000 books. He wants to continue the drive until he has reached his goal. He always is careful to thank his teacher and his classmates for their part in the collections. He knows without their help things would not have gone so well with collecting. Hastings, with the aid of his teacher, has gotten Fed Ex to ship the books free to their final destination in Mobile, Alabama. This is another example of how Hastings loves to help people.

Hastings is a true example of a child with love and service in his heart. Many people have experienced young children who, from a very early age, exhibit kindness and caring for others. Hastings is one of those children. He is concerned that others are kind, as well, and will do his best to lead his classmates in making decisions that show good will toward each other. While some are apt to drop the ball when it comes to carrying out a project, Hastings will make sure that he follows through and gets the job done. The incredible response he has had promoting “Hurricane Helpers” has been phenomenal. Books are still coming in, as are responses from across the country. School children in the hurricane-ravaged panhandle will enjoy the efforts of Hasting Knox for many years to come.

Si Yellow Ribbon

Amy Oxford and her mother, Kathy Williams, saw no outward signs of support for deployed troops in their hometown of Harrisburg, Illinois. With her husband, Jamal, an Army reservist, scheduled to deploy with his unit based in Fairfield, Oxford realized an opportunity. Oxford and Williams have been wanting to do something in their hometown since the attacks on the United States on September 11th. They did not believe the Harrisburg area had done a great deal to pay tribute to those who were lost during the attacks, and they worked together to come up with an idea to support the current troops who were soon to deploy. In honoring them, Oxford and her mother believed they would also be honoring the men and women who were lost on our soil in 2001.

William’s husband did not deploy as scheduled, but the dynamic duo began their special project: SI Yellow Ribbon Campaign. The ladies used most of their available time making yellow bows and lapel pins. The profits from the sales of the bows and pins were to be used to send care packages to service members who were not receiving anything at mail call. On the very day President Bush announced that combat had begun in Iraq, March 19, 2003, Oxford and her mother launched an offensive of their own: the SI Yellow Ribbon Campaign. The local TV station covered the story, and the next day Harrisburg residents were waiting in line to support their troops with the purchase of ribbons and pins. The campaign’s efforts to serve Southern Illinois’ troops attracted the attention of a print news service, and suddenly the operation went national.

Requests for the women to send packages to service members multiplied, and they graciously responded to each one. But packing the multitude of boxes – they have not taken the time to count how many – is not always an easy task for them. Each woman has chronic health problems. Oxford suffers from lupus, and her mother has fibromyalgia. Both diseases occasionally force the woman to take breaks from what they call their obsession. Yet, they work each day in their headquarters, a building owned by Williams’ father, with the help of Oxford’s 3-year-old daughter, Callie. And when quitting time rolls around, the remaining work goes home with them.

A good portion of their time is spent on paperwork required because of SI’s nonprofit status. They are required by the post office and can only be done by hand. Williams said she has developed a repetitive stress injury from filing out so many forms. While an initial package might be generic, those that follow are as unique as their recipients. Included in those first packages are necessities, snacks and a questionnaire so that future packages can be customized to the recipient’s likes and needs. Also included is a note saying who requested that the package be sent. While some items regularly appear on the lists of wants and needs, one shows up most often.

Oxford and Williams are nothing if not accommodating, however. Even if the requested item is sure to be a chocolaty, melted mess by the time it reaches its destination, Oxford makes sure it gets there – double bagged and with a spoon included. Nothing about this endeavor is a given. Postage can total $700 in one trip to the post office, Oxford said, and postage donations have slowed. Obstacles continue to pop up, like the minivan that died in the dead of winter, forcing the women to drive packages to the post office with the top down even in snow. To help raise the money needed to continue their efforts, the women conduct fund-raisers through their Web site. They are offering heart-shaped magnets that read “Half my heart is in Iraq” and another for those who have someone serving in Afghanistan.

Public response has been tremendous, including a visit and donation from Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn. But it’s the response of the service members that means the most, the women said. Members of a unit from Fort Hood, Texas, have vowed to visit the women when they return home. Oxford said she looks forward to the day when SI Yellow Ribbon can hang up an “Out of Business” sign, because a lack of need might be even more rewarding. “I would love to see us put out of business,” she said. “That would be wonderful.”

Catholic Charities-Diocese of St. Petersburg

Catholic Charities USA is the membership association of one of the nation’s largest social service networks. Catholic Charities agencies and institutions nationwide provide vital social services to people in need, regardless of their religious, social, or economic backgrounds. Catholic Charities USA supports and enhances the work of its membership by providing networking opportunities, national advocacy and media efforts, program development, training and technical assistance, and financial support.

Catholic Charities, Diocese of St. Petersburg serves with charity and compassion to promote the sanctity and dignity of all people with God. They offer hope by helping those in need and uniting with others in service. They were created as a nonprofit corporation in June 1968, when the Diocese of St. Petersburg was established.

From 1945 to 1968, services were provided in the area under the direction of the Diocese of St. Augustine as the Tampa Office for Charity. The agency serves all residents of Citrus, Hernando Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties regardless of race, creed, gender, national origin, handicapping condition or socio-economic status. Over the past 60 years, Catholic Charities as provided a broad array of social services designed to support and preserve families, and promote self-sufficiency and social justice. Today this array of services includes: refugee resettlement and immigration services; clinical counseling; adoption services, foster care; pregnancy and parenting support, HIV/AIDS housing and support, farm worker housing, housing counseling and elderly services.

The agency supports these services through a variety of revenue sources including local, state and federal governmental funds, United Way, Diocese of St. Petersburg contributions and program fees. The annual budget is approximately $8,000,000 with 116 employees. During fiscal year ending 2005, Catholic Charities provided services to 10,564 clients.

They have also established a humanitarian project that provides medications and assistance to children with cancer in Cuba at Sacred Heart Parish in Verdado. It has also initiated a program that brings children and youths in need of prosthetic replacement to Tampa. The service is a volunteer effort that involves Mr. Waldo Esparza, a prosthecian; St. Joseph’s Hospital Rehabilitation Department; Fr. Ramon Hernandez, a Pastor; a volunteer, Mr. Ed Foster; Catholic Charities’ director, Arnold Andrews; Mr. Bill Horan, President, Operation Blessing.

The organization was able to provide a 19-year-old young woman with a prosthetic leg who had been on crutches since the age of 15. There is another young woman, 18 years old, who is in transit for a prosthetic for her amputated shoulder. They have also provided much needed medications for children undergoing chemotherapy in need of anti-vomiting, anti-diarrhea, and anti-inflammatory medications.

JESSICA R. PHILLIPS

Jessica Phillips accomplished the outstanding achievement of conceptualizing, proposing, securing funding for, planning and teaching a Spanish language program called “Viva Espanol” to be taught at the Covington Washington Street Community Center. The community center serves underprivileged children in her community, and Jessica wanted to make a difference.

She was already a volunteer at the community center and saw a need for foreign language instruction for the elementary age students that she tutored. Jessica is a bilingual high school student at Eastside High School. Spanish obviously interests her, as she has studied in school and outside of school to take her Spanish skills to the level of proficiency she possesses. She felt that the children at the community center would benefit from and be interested in such a salient topic as Spanish, given current trends in population growth.

Jessica proposed the idea to the director of the Community Center and was able to secure funding. Jessica researched a curriculum appropriate to different age levels, planned the curriculum, purchased materials and taught her program for four months at the community center. She will again be teaching this excellent Spanish program this spring. The response she received was excellent. Her classes were full and both parents and students commented on what an enjoyable and beneficial program it is.

In achieving the success of this Viva Espanol Spanish language program, Jessica showed incredible goal-setting and goal-achieving behaviors. She saw a need for foreign language education. She approached the appropriate people, sought approval, planned her program and carried out the goals she had set for her program. This is an ongoing project that she hopes will continue indefinitely.

Jessica overcame many challenges in achieving this goal of instituting a Spanish language program at her local community center. She had to “pitch” the program to the director and board of directors who make decisions about how to spend funding. She additionally sought funding within the community. Jessica had to decide what ages would be instructed and how to best instruct different age groups to achieve her goal. Jessica learned about grant proposals, networking, curriculum and instruction, selecting instructional materials, teaching styles and philosophies, how to plan a lesson, how to adapt lessons and how to assess achievement. Day by day Jessica continued to solve problems and keep on teaching. She researched teaching methodologies, planned instructional time, purchased instructional materials, taught her lessons, graded her activities, and assessed her student’s knowledge. She assessed her own teaching skills and learned what and when to change things in order to achieve better results.

She also overcame the daily obstacles that any teacher encounters. In addition to getting her program off the ground and continuing its day-to-day operation, she was still successful as a full-time high school student and student athlete.

PENNY ZENT

Penny Zent has been an employee of Educational Broadcast Services at Texas A&M University (TAMU) for the past twenty-six years and currently serves as a station manager for KAMU-FM, an NPR/PRI/APM affiliate. Serving as the daily host of Mid-Day Classics, the Classics & Their Times and Brazos Arts on FM 90.9 keeps her busy; however, Zent believes giving back to her community is a priority and she does just that.

Zent is active in the arts community as well as with the United Way of the Brazos Valley. The United Way of the Brazos Valley is a volunteer-driven, nonprofit organization that brings people and resources together to build healthier communities throughout the Brazos Valley. Zent is an active United Way volunteer and served as the group’s past Board Chair. Under her leadership, the United Way set about its journey to be impact-driven. This was a change that many were not used to and less than comfortable with. However change is one of the only things that is a constant in this world, and Zent made a change.

During Zent’s term as Board Chair the organization purchased a new facility. This was something that was needed but to some it was only a dream. She dealt with months of difficult negotiations and very intricate business dealings, but Zent did not give up. She kept a positive attitude and the dream became a reality. The direction, guidance and visionary thinking Zent provided was exactly what the project needed to have a positive end result. Board members in the future will benefit many years from now because of the new path Zent chartered for the United Way.

In addition, Zent is a member of the Brazos Valley Chorale and the Brazos Valley Symphony. She has been principal flutist of the Symphony since 1984 and serves on the Board of Directors of the Brazos Valley Symphony Society. Zent has toured internationally with a flute choir and has been recognized many times for her abilities. She also supports both groups in other capacities whenever there is a need.

Zent serves on the Board of Directors of the Children’s Miracle Network Brazos Valley. She is Immediate-Past Chair of the United Way of Brazos Valley, and is the Vice-Chair and Treasurer of the National Friends of Public Broadcasting. Zent also volunteers by recruiting others. She works to garner community donations for various causes and is an integral part of the annual “Day of Caring.” Zent will cook hamburgers for the Youth Leadership Cabinet, fix eggnogs for holiday Board meetings and whatever else it tales to help her community.

Zent is a graduate of the Leadership Institute at TAMU and a member of the 2002 Class of Leadership Texas. Because of her dedication to the community, she has been honored as Brazos Valley Chorale Volunteer of the Year, a Woman of Distinction by the Bluebonnet Girl Scout Council, Trustee of the Year for the National Friends of Public Broadcasting and a Prenatal Clinic Honoree. Zent was also chosen as a Board Member of the Year for the United Way of the Brazos Valley and received both the Litter Watchdog Award and Media Signal Award from Keep Brazos Beautiful.

PATRICIA DUNKUM

Patricia Dunkum is an amazing individual. Patricia is a volunteer at the Missoula Art Museum and an inspiring volunteer, mother, wife, and friend. While she has volunteered in nearly every capacity at MAM since it opened in 1975. Patricia’s undeniable support for the organization is truly outstanding. It is no exaggeration to say that she attends every single MAM function—whether a social reception or educational program. Enthusiasm, dedication, sincerity, and grace all make Patricia Dunkum one of MAM’s most valuable assets.

Patricia lived and traveled abroad for 30 years before returning to Missoula. She served on the boards of the American Women’s Club of Madrid and the American Women’s Group of Paris. In the 1950’s in Uruguay, Patricia served on a women’s group within the American Embassy called Friends to Uruguay.

Since her return to Missoula 30 years ago, Patricia has volunteered at the Missoula Art Museum, the Mansfield Library, RSVP Meals on Wheels, the University of Montana Lodge, the UM Fine Art Department as assistant to the Chair and the Art Associates as a founding board member. In 1995, Patricia began her service on the Historical District Committee in the University area. She worked ardently with the group until their goal was achieved years later: the University neighborhood obtained status as a historic neighborhood.

At the Missoula Art Museum, Patricia volunteered in the 70s as secretary on the Board of Directors. Over the next two decades, she has worked in the gift shop, as a special event assistant, and as a docent. In 2003, she began monthly service on the MAM Collection Committee where she assists the Museum in important decision-making regarding the permanent collection and has volunteered additional hours to consult with artists personally to strengthen some of MAM’s most valued donor relations. Additionally, she continues to work a bi-weekly shift as a Gallery Attendant.

She does it all and with a contagious smile and a keenness that encourages the rest of us to work harder. The Missoula Art Museum and the Missoula community simply wouldn’t be the same with Patricia Dunkum on our side.

JEANNIE KIPP

Jeannie Kipp wears many hats, and some say she should have an “S” on her chest because she is Super Woman, Super Mom and Super Volunteer. Kipp is active in her community and spends much of her time serving with the United Way of the Brazos Valley.

Kipp served in the capacity as member of the Board of Directors for quite a while, and now works as Marketing Chair with the United Way. Her background in advertising has helped to get exposure and coverage that well exceeded anyone’s expectations. Kipp’s work has also enabled the organization to establish long lasting relationships that will aid in continuing to publicize the services that the United Way provides. Her ability to jump in and take control of a situation is unmatched in any way. She can be seen planning a marketing strategy or being in charge of clean up after a large event. Kipp is an example of grace under pressure and is very dependable and consistent.

In addition to donating a large amount of her time to volunteering with the United Way movement, Kipp also serves with other groups. She is active in her church primarily through its music ministries. Kipp sings in various choir groups with the church, performs in a hand bell choir and is often featured in a key role during the church’s annual Christmas musical.

Kipp also serves groups that her children are affiliated with. She helps out with her son’s Little League team and her daughter’s dance group. Kipp also believes it is important to be a strong example to her children and teaches them to respect others in the way they speak, carry themselves and in all their actions. She hopes that her community service is an example to her children so they can follow in her footsteps and continue to leave a lasting legacy for the College Station community and beyond.

MICHELLE WEIMER

Michelle Weimer is a woman of conviction. Her passion for children’s safety has benefited the Nebraska Panhandle incredibly. Trained in 2000 as a car seat safety technician she saw a need for greater community involvement in inspecting car seats and educating caregivers to keep children safer. Michelle coordinated a group of volunteers to form a SAFE KIDS Chapter in the Scottsbluff/Gering area and has worked diligently, against the odds, to make it successful. State Trooper, Mark Van Horn says, “There are literally hundreds of Panhandle children traveling safer today because of her efforts.”

Michelle, a Gering Kiwanian, has organized and conducted three annual SAFE KIDS Days in Gering, one of two yearly child passenger safety seat check-up events she coordinates in the panhandle of Nebraska. By attending child care and development classes and giving weekend car seat safety training classes to Key Club and FCCLA members she has gained the assistance of local high school students for the Gering event.

In addition to the car seat checks Michelle solicited involvement from over a dozen community groups to provide safety events, secured funding to replace defective car-seats and worked closely with all local media. SAFE KIDS DAY continues to grow each year. This year she added the SAFETY QUIZ BOWL, in which children and parents could answer questions related to safety awareness and win donated prizes.

Michelle, the mother of three young children, also works as a physical therapist. One of her children has special needs and was often hospitalized before her recent death. Her commitment to the SAFE KIDS organization did not waver. Described by another volunteer as an “incredibly generous, kind, community minded person who never hesitates to volunteer her services for a worthy cause despite huge challenges in her personal life”, Michelle truly is a Point of Light.

ZACH BONNER

Zachary Bonner started volunteering when he was 6 years old. He started by collecting food and water for hurricane victims and has continued over the past 2 years to involve himself in many different activities. Zachary started his own charity this year, calling it the Little Red Wagon Foundation . He was tagged the little red wagon boy after using his wagon to collect goods for hurricane victims in 2004.

In 2005 he collected $3870 for the kids of three families affected by the Radio Shack shooting in Tampa. As a result of this, two fathers were killed and one was left blind. A fund was set up for the kids and the $3870 was matched by Gold Bank. The money was placed in a special account for all the kids and will be used for their needs in the years ahead.

After hearing about the number of homeless kids, living on the streets with nothing to call there own, Zach started a backpack collection. He and his brother Matt and sister Kelley have raised money, used their own money and collected items in order to provide 155 backpacks to date. Each backpack contains a food pack, personal hygiene pack, sewing kit, 1st aid kid, and some sort of toy. He donates the packs all across the country to Stand Up For Kids offices that have trained counselors, who, in turn, distribute them to the kids. Zach is in the process now of putting together another hundred or so with a goal of 1000.

Zachary has also helped several local families by making gift bags for the kids or donating new toys. Using money out of his own pocket to pay for toys and contacting several local business asking for their help as well.

When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans Zach wanted to do something to help so he went and collected money over several days to donate to the Red Cross. He collected just over $600. When he heard of all the kids without anything in the Red Cross shelters after Katrina he felt like he needed to do something more. He knew lots of people were giving food and money. He also knew that all the money was needed to fulfill basic needs. He felt bad the kids had lost all of their toys and thought they would be really bored with nothing to do. Zach went into action again. He rounded up his friends, Cub Scout troop, brother and sister, and they handed out flyers to several subdivisions. He also placed a collection box in Lexington Home’s main office. For about a month he collected new toys, games, arts and crafts, school supplies and other items just for the kids. Zach’s family rented a U-haul trailer and delivered it to the Katrina kids in Baton Rouge.

Zach loves helping at Southeastern Guide Dog school by volunteering his time. He also took up a collection of money and gave it to the school. Zach is now starting a new project for 2006 collecting games and such for Children’s hospitals. He has encouraged others to join in.

He spent more than 400 hours in 2005 volunteering his time, doing community service projects. He sees no big deal about what he does, he enjoys a pat on the back but never goes looking for one. He does what he does because he likes helping kids just like himself.