RUTH CLEARFIELD

Ruth Clearfield embodies the spirit of service. Her name is recognized in the College Station area as a result of the lifestyle of service she lives day in and day out. Because Clearfield knows everyone in town, she is many times called upon as a” point person” when there is a community need and for neighborhood events. She volunteers as a Board member and supporter of various organizations and is also very active in her faith community.

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. Clearfield is an active United Way volunteer and gives of her time, talents and finances to the Brazos Valley group. She supports their mission of impacting the regions critical health and human care needs by mobilizing community resources and promoting charitable giving. Clearfield is helping the United Way in leading the way for the people in the Brazos Valley to care for one another. She is asked to plan many of their events because of her extensive knowledge of the town. Clearfield knows what community members would like to see occur, who can be the most help and even people’s eating preferences. She excels in every aspect of planning events for the group and utilizes her organization skills and meticulous attention to detail to ensure every United Way function is a successful event.

Clearfield is also active with the arts in the community and an ardent supporter of them. She not only purchases season tickets to the symphony and other events, but she is active in the trenches to ensure that the community will be able to continue to enjoy the arts. Clearfield mobilizes her resources and networks to raise funds for many of the Arts Council of Brazos Valley’s projects. Her efforts helped to raise money for the new home recently constructed for the local Council. In addition, Clearfield and her husband, Abe, support the performing arts through Board membership and financial generosity.

In addition, Clearfield is serving as the Vice President for Congregation Beth Shalom and a member of the Search Committee for a new Executive Director of the Arts Council. She is the Chair of the Bluebonnet Girl Scout Council Women of Distinction Banquet and Award Ceremony, host on KAMU FM’s “Voters Choice” weekly show for the League of Women Voters of Brazos Valley and the Publicity Chair for the League of Women Voters, Congregation Beth Shalom and Congregation Beth Shalom’s Sisterhood. Clearfield is also serving as a Planning Committee Member for the Prenatal Clinic’s “You’re The Tops” Luncheon” and a Board Member, Marketing Committee Member and a Safety and Planning Committee Member of the United Way of the Brazos Valley.

Clearfield is a trailblazer in her College Station community, and her efforts will continue to impact generations to come. Service and giving are not merely words to Clearfield but a lifestyle and part of her daily routine.

GRACE MINISTRIES

Dave and Kim Smith are the parents of a daughter with a chromosome deletion condition and also the founders of Grace Ministries. They know what it is to have a special needs child. They have a very supportive family, but many parents, with special needs children, do not have any support at all.

Grace Ministries has helped more than 20 families and an excess of 50 children have participated in this respite night since its inception. This ministry is supported by the Smith’s local church, Jubilee Family Church (formerly Sonrise Church of God.) Many of the church’s congregation help in this respite night. The Smith’s have also enlisted the help of professionals in the community that have specialized training in working with special needs children.

The Smith’s have created a respite night for families with children with special needs. The child and all siblings are able to attend this special night of fun, food, games, and crafts, while the parents can spend time with each other dong whatever they want to do. This night is open to children in the community. The Smith’s pass out fliers through the schools and contact the radio and television to let them know when a respite night is coming.

One parent said that this is the first time they have been out since the child was born. It is very difficult to get proper care for their children so many families decide to just stay home, many of them, for years. The respite night provides one-on-one care for the child with special needs and their siblings are cared for with a 4-1 ratio of adult/child care. There are usually 25 workers at our respite night. These respite nights are offered the first Friday of the month bi-monthly. These nights are open to the children in the community on a first come first served basis. The members of the church usually provide snacks but many times the Smith’s have paid out of their pocket for these items.

Dave Smith has spoken with many churches in the area encouraging them to start a respite night of their own and so far there has been one that took the challenge, they held their first respite night last month. The ministry that the Smith’s have started is a great opportunity to help special families. The respite night is only the first step in their plans. The Smith family plans on continuing to love and nurture each other as well as working to help others in need.

THE DEMLAND FAMILY

Raising Special Kids is a Parent Training and Information center (PTI) that provides families bilingual workshops for both parents and professionals free of charge. Their mission is to support families as they navigate systems (medical, social, school) so they feel empowered to advocate for their child with a disability or special healthcare need. All three members of the Demland family have been volunteers in the family faculty program at Raising Special Kids for more than three years.

The family faculty program of Phoenix, Arizona consists of families raising children with disabilities and or special healthcare needs going through training and hosting physician residents in their home. The family faculty families go through initial volunteer training and then complete training related specifically to hosting a physician resident in their home.

Debbie, David and Clark Demland have been dedicated volunteers in the family faculty program. They host on average two residents a month in their home for two to three hours each visit. Clark has Duchene Muscular Dystrophy and is in 7th grade. The Demland family welcomes residents in their home and they share the parent perspective, the family history, daily routine, the impact of the diagnosis on their family and the adaptations they have made to cope and to be the special family they are.

Debbie also volunteers as a parent-to-parent connection with Raising Special Kids. When a family has discovered their child has Duchene Muscular Dystrophy they connect them Debbie to talk over the phone about their new reality and adjusting to it. She assists the family in resources and services that are available to them and how to access them. This connection assists the newly diagnosis family to feel less alone, to accept what is happening to their family and to make progress. Clark has also been a great volunteer when interacting with the residents. He speaks openly with them and enjoys spending time with them on his game systems. He is a VIP volunteer at Raising Special Kids.

The Demland’s volunteer efforts with family faculty allow physician residents to see first hand the effect of diagnosis on a family, to interact with the child with special needs and to get the parent perspective outside of the clinic setting. This program builds parent/professional collaboration and gives a new frame of reference for the resident.

The Demland family’s volunteer efforts have also assisted in preparing future doctors to treat and collaborate with families raising children with special needs. Debbie’s parent-to-parent efforts have enabled parents to access services, to make progress and eventually take action and becoming active and involved in the community.

DARON SHARPS

Daron Sharps is the consummate volunteer, participating in a wide variety of activities. Her most significant contribution has been as the initiator, program director, and energy behind the Governor’s Mentoring Program – Teen Trendsetters, at the Yulee Elementary School. She spoke at a local educational conference promoting the Governor’s Teen Trendsetter program.

Even as a teenager, she is the energy behind the annual Crop Walk fund drive at her church. She has done this for several years and the drive is always highly successful. She also participates in a variety of other church related activities. She participates in the local Teen Court program and is active in the Nassau County Young Republicans organization. Designated as community “Florida Bright Futures Scholarship” ambassador, Daron was elected as her school’s student council president.

Her teen trendsetters program started with eight students struggling in reading and has grown to twenty-nine. 78% of the students in the program score at least promotion levels on the FCAT State Assessment. The success of the program was clearly due to her leadership and dedication to the program. She has been noted by name in articles written by the Florida Times-Union and the Fernandina Beach News Leader newspapers. She received the Rayonier Good Citizen award in April 2002 at the Nassau County Volunteer Center’s Annual awards Luncheon, which included a $250 cash award, which she donated to Micah’s place, a domestic abuse shelter. She was designated “Top Fund Raiser” for the Church World Service Crop Walk for fighting world hunger. Received Nassau County’s Teen Court “Outstanding Youth Volunteer” Award. Honored as “Nassau County School System Student Volunteer of the Year.”

Daron has been an outstanding contributor to the spirit of volunteerism on Amelia Island Florida and the community at large. She has been a role model for her fellow teens showing how to humbly commit to a good cause and encourage personal growth in others. The Principal at Yulee Elementary School said that Daron’s character and citizenship far exceeds today’s standard teenage behavior. Her caring for others, kindness to everyone and qualities of leadership and service makes her invaluable to their community.

Daron has volunteered in many capacities since childhood in her community. She was the recipient of the 2002 Rayonier Concerned Good Citizen Award, which is co-sponsored by the Points of Light Foundation Volunteer Center National Network Nassau County Volunteer Center. She is an exemplary representative of youths’ commitment to volunteerism.

THE PAINTER FAMILY

The Painter Family of Yucaipa, California is a team in more ways than one. During the past eighteen years, they have been especially involved in making their community a better place. They believe everyone should give back to make the place they live better day-by-day, and they serve because of that, not for recognition.

The family is innovative and self-directed. Mrs. Painter started “Food For Love” eighteen years ago when they found themselves in need. Mrs. Painter did not have an income and was raising two babies. She struggled to get by and discovered coupons as a way of life. They know how it feels to need some help and Food For Love provides that for those who find themselves in need.

No matter what the circumstances were, the Painters taught their children to volunteer. Their three children grew up following their parents’ example of serving. As a family they go on short term missionary trips to Mexico to build shelter for needy families. The Painters do not just give of their time either. Jessica, who is 18 years old, gave her entire savings to build a loft house for a needy family just last summer. Ali and Elizabeth have been selling candy bars for six months and almost have enough for a loft house, too. The Painter Family’s efforts have inspired several families to donate houses in Mexico. So more people are committing themselves to helping the underserved there.

In addition, the Painter Family has organized community food drives and work closely with the Volunteers In Action on funding projects and other volunteering activities. The members are well known and Jessica has received several community service awards. During one particular year, the Painter Family has donated an excess of $20,000 worth of groceries to various organizations. This is a great feat as Food For Love donates about $10,000 worth of groceries on an average per year. It was made possible because Jessica was given $500.00 as a community service award, and she challenged herself to stretch it to $10,000. She did just that within five months of very hard work.

GEMMY BROWN

Gemmy Brown has been very active, serving the community as a dedicated volunteer on many fronts. She is a sustaining member of the Junior League of Clearwater/Dunedin and serves on the Community Advisory Board of the League. She is also a member of the Rotary Club of Dunedin, the Dunedin Fine Arts Center, and the board of the Dunedin Historical Society Foundation. While she is busy with these organizations, Brown’s primary focus is on serving the needs of libraries in Florida. She is Vice Chair of the Dunedin Public Library Foundation Board and past State Chair of the Friends and Trustees of the Florida Library Association Board. She also served on the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative Board for 3 years. Brown now serves as a member of the Florida Library Association Legislative Committee.

Brown received the History Maker Award from the Dunedin Historical Society in 1994/1996. She also received the Sustainer of the year Award from the Junior League of Clearwater/Dunedin in 1996 and Delightful Dunedin Chamber of Commerce Award in 1999. Brown served as Chair of the Dunedin Library Fundraising Task Force from 1994 to 1997 and was instrumental in the successful completion of the new Dunedin Library project. She is especially devoted to needy, rural libraries and founded the Community Libraries in Caring Project which channels support to those libraries through an informal outreach network of libraries, friends, churches, and service clubs and which share their resources, time and talents with communities in Florida that have low per-capita appropriations for their libraries. CLIC receives financial support through the Dunedin Friends of the Library.

In 2003, Brown was the impetus for the introduction of legislation by Rep. Tom Anderson creating the CLIC program in law. The bill created a grant program that will help to improve literacy and the economic viability of Rural Economic Development Initiative communities in Florida by expanding library collections and services. Governor Bush was interested enough in this project to recommend in his budget that $2,5000,000 is used to improve libraries and promote adult and family literacy in fiscally constrained counties. The Legislature appropriated $100,000 for the CLIC program in the 2004-2005 budget, and $200,000 in the 2005-2006 budget.

Brown believes the CLIC Project has proven that small steps and gestures of support can produce tremendous results in the effort to bring rural county libraries to the forefront of Florida’s conscience. The CLIC program has provided children’s dictionaries to third graders at Blountstown Elementary School with the help of the Dunedin Friends of the Library and the City of Dunedin and to Pasco County Elementary Schools with the help of Dunedin Rotary Clubs. In some families, this was the first dictionary ever brought into the home. In the Three Rivers Regional Library system, CLIC has also provided a portable library of Spanish-language children’s and adult books for the Hispanic community and has assisted some rural libraries with additional finding for their summer children’s programs.

Brown headed the Rotary International project on literacy with her “Words for Thirds” project of supplying dictionaries to third graders in District 6950, where over 600 books were distributed to five elementary schools in Pasco County. This was the same “Words for Thirds” program that was successfully completed in Calhoun County, Florida. The dictionaries will stimulate an enthusiasm and excitement for reading, improve literacy and contribute to a lifetime love of books. Brown’s efforts in her community and throughout rural Florida with the CLIC program have been an inspiration to many people. CLIC will expand much needed library services and technology in those communities where the improvement of adult and children’s literacy will enhance their economic viability and propel them into the 21st century.

HOWARD ELLIS

Staff at the Morgan-Lawrence County Chapter of the American Red Cross would not know what to do without Howard Ellis. Every Wednesday for the past six years, Ellis has volunteered a full 8-hour day, managing the Red Cross CHERS (Chapter Environmental Resource System) database. An Emergency Services volunteer, Ellis enters into the system all fire cases and military cases opened in Morgan and Lawrence Counties. In addition, he audits the casework of all volunteers, ensuring consistency of casework and accuracy of disbursing orders prior to payment.

To better interpret the forms with which he works, Ellis willingly attended disaster classes. Trained in disaster family service casework, even though it is not his primary role, Ellis has stepped in as a volunteer caseworker whenever needed, interviewing families affected by fire and helping them determine their immediate, emergency needs.

In addition, he troubleshoots computer and software problems, installs new programs, compiles statistical reports, set up an Excel spread sheet for payroll, and completes a weekly back-up of computer files. Annually Ellis compiles statistics and files the Red Cross FOCIS report.

Ellis is the Chapter’s CHERS computer software “expert”, and was the first to volunteer in the chapter to learn the program. When a 3-day training on the CHERS software was offered in Montgomery, Ellis was eager to participate and become knowledgeable in the software. Since then, he has trained volunteers and staff members on the software. He is always there to answer questions. He also helps as needed as a disaster caseworker working with fire victims, and assists with special blood drives and fund-raising projects. In addition, Ellis is a regular blood donor!

The impact of Ellis’s service on the smooth operation of the Chapter is considerable. In an organization where service is a priority, it is easy to get behind with computer work and record keeping. Ellis keeps the database up-to-date, with information and statistics at his fingertips. Many Red Cross chapters have had a difficult time using the CHERS software because is not a very user-friendly program; however, Ellis has made it all possible for the Morgan-Lawrence Chapter.

Maintaining a database is extremely time-consuming. Because Ellis enters disaster and military cases weekly, the Emergency Services Director can concentrate on managing the program and providing direct service to clients. Last year, he entered 90 new disaster cases and 84 military cases. A disaster plan is very important to any nonprofit or business and particularly to the American Red Cross. Part of that plan is regular back-ups of the computer files. Ellis backs up the files at the Red Cross weekly and takes the disks home with him. In addition, when the emergency services director and on-call case workers are unavailable, he picks up the slack and handles cases.

Ellis is their unsung Wednesday hero- here every week behind the scene, making it all possible. He is a very reliable and conscientious volunteer, willing to help in all service areas. What he does weekly for the community is not visible or evident to most people, but Ellis is right here in the background, quietly doing his part, using his computer expertise to help emergency services run smoothly at the American Red Cross.

CHERYL CROWLEY

Cheryl Crowley has been most successful in achieving a consistent media campaign that continues to raise awareness of the adult and children’s literacy needs in one of Florida’s largest counties, Palm Beach County. As a result of Crowley’s volunteer service to the Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition and her outstanding public relations to promote literacy, she has raised the public’s awareness that illiteracy is everyone’s problem. People now understand that it causes so many of society’s social problems, and that everyone’s involvement is needed to help solve the problem.

Crowley was responsible for all media and public relations for the 2002 and 2004 Read Together countywide reading campaign which resulted in 20,000 – 30,000 people in Palm Beach County reading the same book at the same time. She has served as a member of the Board of Directors since 1993 and served as Board President from 2000-2002. Crowley has chaired and continues to serve on the Communications Committee, Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee Committee, Nominating Committee and Executive Committee. She is currently acting as co-chairperson for the 15th annual Love of Literacy Luncheon that typically has close to 800 guests each year. Crowley also chaired the 1997 Love of Literacy Luncheon that featured Former First Lady Barbara Bush.

Crowley’s partnership with the Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition to promote literacy awareness and services has opened up whole new worlds of opportunity for those who have called the Literacy Hotline and received help. She continues to volunteer her time to serve as the Literacy Coalition’s media specialist. Crowley also plays a strong role in the planning and promoting of all major literacy events. She is responsible for frequent contacts with the major television, print and radio media and helps coordinate their efforts so that a cohesive, coordinated program of public relations and communications will be delivered to spread the message of literacy to the widest possible audience.

As a result of Crowley’s media outreach for the Literacy Coalition over the past decade, an excess of 13,000 adult learners and more than 6,000 volunteer tutors have called the literacy hotline and received information on literacy programs. In addition, 20,000 – 30,000 people participated in Read Together Palm Beach County – One Book, One Community, which was noted as the most successful countywide reading campaign in the state of Florida.

Crowley’s work in bringing together other media professionals through the Communications Committee to promote literacy in Palm Beach County has brought awareness to thousands of adults, children and families about the many programs available in the community.

FAITH BEYOND WALLS

Faith Beyond Walls is the only interfaith service organization in the St. Louis region. Since 2001 they have mobilized nearly 1,600 volunteers to participate in community improvement projects in low-wealth neighborhoods in St. Louis City and County, as well as Southern Illinois. In 2005 alone, a total of 963 volunteers completed 47 community projects

The volunteers come primarily from faith-based institutions throughout the St. Louis region and cover a broad age range from six-months to senior citizens. Because most of their projects occur on the weekend and involve landscaping, cleaning, painting and general beautification efforts, they are often appropriate for all ages.

Of their1, 382 active (participated on at least one project since 2001 and requested to remain in our database), 562 are individuals and the remaining 819 make up approximately 220 family units (spouses, domestic partners, parent/child and/or siblings). Thirty-six percent of the family units (79) are repeat volunteers (volunteering on more than one episodic project). Forty percent (31) of families have participated on a project together more than three times.

In order to recruit and retain families, they provide the following to make projects as family-friendly as possible: 1) Age level recommendations in all their materials, 2) A safe atmosphere where families can feel comfortable bringing younger children, 3) Detailed project information sheets including driving instructions, recommended attire, and contact information for each Site Coordinator, 4) All necessary project materials, including smaller work gloves for children and 5) Refreshments and restroom and shelter access in case children need a break or snack.

Their organization seeks projects with immediate, measurable and observable community impact. All of their projects focus either directly or indirectly on revitalization of low-wealth neighborhoods in St. Louis City and County. Together with their community partners, they are forging the path to revitalization by erasing evidence of neglect and leaving neighborhoods with clean and useable parks, litter-free and landscaped streetscapes and enjoyable public areas.

Many residents and community organizations in low-wealth neighborhoods are working diligently toward revitalization but lack financial resources or people-power to improve their neighborhoods. Faith Beyond Walls volunteers provide much needed people power to those neighborhoods, and equally important the civic engagement connects volunteers and collaborating agencies to the community and provides coalition building and advocacy, which are key elements of neighborhood revitalization.

One successful project that utilized volunteers of all ages includes an ongoing partnership with the City of Kinloch, one of the poorest communities in their region. Beginning in September 2005, over 500 volunteers worked to rehab apartment units for 6 Hurricane Evacuee families. Another successful partnership has been with the St. Louis Area Agency on Aging. Since 2000 a total of 550 interfaith volunteers have delivered 2,750 meals to the homebound elderly and disabled on Christmas morning. In addition, they have also partnered with St. Louis Children’s Hospital on their Healthy Kids at Play initiative to build 4 playgrounds in low-income neighborhoods.

ANNIE WATTS

John F. Kennedy said, “Our nation is judged, not only by the people we choose to lead, but also by the people we choose to honor.” In reviewing the life that Mrs. Annie B. Watts has lived, it is easy to see why this nation has remained the shining example of strength and hope in the world where so many people and so many nations seem lost. The strength that comes from helping those in need is a very powerful force. The secret is that it cannot be legislated or forced; it has to come from the heart. That is why community is so important to Watts. The gift she gives to the people of Northeast Mississippi cannot be bought; it is, in the words of MasterCard, priceless.

Most people sit back and complain about how things should be, expecting the government to fix them. Her community in Northeast Mississippi has, instead, has a great history of working with the government instead of waiting for the government to start programs that make a difference. Watts has been a trailblazer in her community for helping those in need. Over the past 40 years, she has dedicated her time to the North Mississippi Medical Center.

In 1965 when Watts began her service at North Mississippi Medical Center, it was just a simple two-story building. She was assigned to deliver mail and run patient errands. Learning how to navigate around the Medical Center was a challenge in the beginning, but it was something Watts was determined to master. She always loved meeting new faces and was excited about forming new friendships; and that is exactly what happened. She began to be such a resource to the Medical Center that they asked her to staff the information front desk. Every Tuesday, Watts began to assist and direct individuals and families to the location where their loved ones were being cared for. This one-on-one contact with patient families was “just what the doctor ordered” for Watts.

Forty years later, the North Mississippi Medical Center has become one of the largest nonprofit medical centers in the United States, boasting six stories, and countless programs, medical units, and hundreds of staff members. Its change in appearance has progressed tremendously over the years. Even though the Medical Center underwent a major facelift, there was one constant fixture – Watts. She has continued to volunteer every Tuesday at the information desk. As volunteers began to grow in numbers, the Medical Center and Lift Inc.’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program called upon her to become the Volunteer Coordinator for the RSVP Volunteers.

With her new position, Watts began to chart all volunteer hours for individuals 55 and older who were enrolled in the program. She also began training other interested volunteers in operating the computer station at the information desk. She has also orchestrated book and magazine drives in the community so that patients may have reading materials during their hospital stay. As the holidays approach, you can always look forward to Watt’s colorful decorations that enhance the atmosphere when entering the Medical Center. She has always taken her volunteer duties at the hospital seriously and has rarely missed a Tuesday.

In early 2005, Watts suffered a broken ankle and was determined to not just sit home; instead, she insisted that her son escort her into the hospital in a wheel chair and she never missed one Tuesday during her eight-week recovery. At 87 years old, she also manages to stay fit and active by walking the hospital halls and visiting staff and patients.

Taking only one “baby” aspirin a day, Watts also fills many other roles in her community. As a member of her neighborhood watch group, she never misses a meeting and always stays alert to potential crime in her community. She is also an active member of the Eastern Star Glad Club, where she serves her community through friendly visits to the sick and shut-ins, often baking casseroles, and making friendly phone calls. As an RSVP Volunteer Coordinator, she oversees 21 senior citizen volunteers who log at least 300 volunteer hours each month and who have recently earned a Gold Presidential Award as a volunteer group for their hard work at the Medical Center. Watts has also won a Silver Presidential Award for performing 312 volunteer hours in the past year.

Kristin Hunter said, “First it is necessary to stand on your own two feet. But the minute a man finds himself in that position, the next thing he should do is reach out his arms.” Mrs. Annie B. Watts has reached out her arms and touched so many lives; she has healed so many with her warm smiles and gentle touches. Watts believes in “fighting the good fight’ and choosing not to sit home and watch the world go by, but by getting off the couch and making a difference.