LISA J. GOEHLE

Lisa J. Goehle founded L.A. Social Service Center, Inc. on February 6, 1996. Lisa Goehle saw a vision of a full-service social service agency, and that vision became a reality. Goehle’s mission was to provide a place where anyone – regardless of age, religion, race, or income- within the community in need of information about various services could have a place to contact. The agency was designed to act as an advocate for those who could not speak for themselves. The agency believes in not only providing information to its clients but also in assisting clients by assessing their needs and finding programs to assist them. L.A. Social Services currently represents clients in their dealings with the Department of Children and Families, the Social Security Administration, the Lee County Courts for Guardianship Hearings and other agencies.

Goehle worked for years in social services, notably with Presbyterian Homes and Housing in Lehigh (Sunshine Villas) from 1988 to 1995, where she served as the facility’s Director of Social Services. At Sunshine, Goehle realized that many seniors carried not only their own problems but also those of other family members. One particular life-changing encounter was with a seventy-two year old female who lived in Sunshine Villas. Goehle frequently provided special counseling for the woman. For example, when Goehle asked the woman why she had left New Jersey, where all her family lived, the woman replied that she just could not take her family’s problems any longer. She stated that she did not understand ‘the way young people lived’ and why they thought it was OK for her to have to take care of her daughter, the daughter’s boyfriend and their two teenage girls. She further stated that she did not appreciate their language or their lifestyles. The woman ended up sending most of her money to New Jersey and she was having difficulty paying her own bills. Goehle suggested the woman see a counselor at the Ruth Cooper Center. The woman agreed, and after counseling, the woman learned it was acceptable to say ‘no’ to her overly dependent family and that she needed a life of her own. The following year, Goehle went to see the woman to assist her in re-certification for Food Stamps. Reflecting on the visit, Goehle says proudly, “She seemed so very happy. She said the best thing she ever did was say ‘no’ to her family and stay in Florida.” Not only did the woman’s choice to stay in Florida help her but it also helped her family learn to stand on their own.

When Goehle started L.A. Social Services, her intentions were to develop a safe place for people to come to ask questions, get some direction, find resources and get needed answers. Goehle knew how frustrating it was to need assistance and have to deal with a phone service or voice mail system. Older adults find it even more frustrating and do not know where to turn when people take messages and do not follow through to aid them. When she interviews clients, Goehle checks into all possible programs that might aid the client so they can be as self-sufficient as possible. Goehle, through the L.A. Social Services Center, gives assistance to those in need by acting as a middleman.

TUCSON ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY “COMMUNITY ACTION TEAM”

TEP is very concerned about the critical health and safety needs of the community. Volunteer activities, are encouraged for employees, their families and friends, and are completed on personal time, without pay. Several projects focus on assistance for homeless and near homeless teens, a much underserved population. Since 2004, Community Action Team (CAT) volunteers have volunteered extensively with five nonprofits serving at-risk teens and contributing nearly 1,000 volunteer hours.

The Tucson Planning Council for the Homeless estimates 4,336 people are homeless per night, with 40 percent being families with children. And the younger homeless are less likely to receive government aid. All agencies have waiting lists for services or are unable to meet program needs due to budget shortages.

In October 2004, TEP’s Community Relations staff invited executive directors from five organizations serving 624 at-risk teens – Intermountain Centers for Human Development, La Paloma Family Services, Open Inn, Our Town Family Center and Youth On Their Own – to describe their situations with the CAT Steering Committee. The facts were compelling. One story told was about a 17 year old homeless girl who had given birth at a Tucson hospital. Late in the day, a nurse leaving the hospital noticed the young mother and newborn sitting outside the hospital. She had been there all day and had no way back to the car she had been living in. Fortunately the new family was referred to Our Town and the story had a happy ending.

For the past four years, a TEP employee who serves on the board of Our Town, has led clothing and toy drives and shelter improvement projects for a unique transitional housing program for homeless teen moms and their children. The 2004 Holiday Season had company wide support with approximately 500 gifts donated to all five organizations and valued at $4,622. The Corporate Accounting Department has adopted an Intermountain group home for volunteers to do quarterly cleanup, repairs and donating of furniture. The Information Services Department donated two computers, a desk and printer to maintain the home’s study center. Information Services also coordinated a “Back-to-School Backpack Drive” and filled all 74 backpacks with school supplies and hygiene products, again for all five organizations.

Grants totaling $20,000 have funded everything from CPR training for the youth to monthly stipends for homeless teens determined to graduate from high school.

From volunteer opportunities to providing team-building opportunities, TEP work groups and individual volunteers have been serving as mentors along the way. TEP’s grants have provided matching funds for other grants and linked nonprofits for common training, i.e. CPR and emergency response.

ALEXANDRA ANN BUGA

Alexandra (Alex) Buga has volunteered over the past two years organizing and managing a tremendous book drive project. As a result more than 5,000 books have been donated to the Paterson Family Center. With these books the center established a pre-school lending library that has served several hundred families. In addition, the center is able to encourage reading as a family activity by giving books to children who do not have books at home.

The Paterson Family Center is part of the New Jersey Community Development Corporation (NJCDC), a nonprofit social service agency based in Paterson (NJ). NJCDC also operates housing for the developmentally disabled and youth aging out of foster care, a high school, a Youthbuild program and an extensive Americorps program.

After learning that the new center was in need of books, Alex came up with the idea of giving away her old preschool books. She visited the center and met the preschoolers. After seeing the children’s reactions to the gifts, and learning that one national study stated that 60% of low income families had no books at home for their pre-schoolers, she decided to do more. She approached her neighbors and friends, and then submitted letters to local schools, churches and nonprofit organizations in the area asking for books. The project has collected and distributed over 5,000 books thus far.

Alex credits a supportive family, friends in Chatham, and the close-knit environment at her high school, Villa Walsh Academy in Morristown, with instilling her with a strong desire to make a difference. Alex intends to continue her work in service to others as she heads off to college next year.

LEARNING ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES PROGRAM

In the fall of 2004, the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Red Wing (MCF-RW) was awarded a grant to implement an after-school program that would enhance and enrich the lives of the residents incarcerated at the correctional facility. The program was titled Learning Enrichment Activities Program (LEAP). In addition to academic classes, residents were given an opportunity to participate in community service components.

Since early 2005, residents involved in the LEAP community service activity have been meeting weekly with residents from the Vasa Children’s Home, a residential facility for children who are mentally and physically challenged. The juvenile offenders who participate in the community service activities are classified as serious and chronic offenders, individuals who one would not normally expect to be doing volunteer work. They participate voluntarily, during their unscheduled time, and they receive no monetary reward for their participation. The non-tangible rewards they receive and the contributions they make are immeasurable. Residents experience the good feelings that result from helping others; they understand the importance of giving back to the community; they feel a sense of value and importance while helping other feel the same. In addition, they challenge their own thoughts and beliefs about respecting themselves and others.

Although the two groups of individuals may seem very different; they are really very much alike. Both groups of individuals are living away from home, do not have many visits from family or friends, are often lonely, and most of all, they want someone to care about them and make them feel accepted and special. During the weekly visits, the residents play board games, do art and craft activities, participate in athletic competitions, and most importantly, become friends. They provide each other with a sense of belonging and the feeling the someone cares about them. They give each other a sense of purpose and worth. Each group of individuals knows that the other accepts them unconditionally, which is something they do not always receive from others.

Chronic and serious juvenile offenders making the lives of children with mental and physical challenges happier may not be solving the problems of the world, but they are making the lives of two groups of individuals so much better. If volunteering with the children helps just one juvenile offender see the impact of his behavior on others, a big step has been made towards rehabilitation. If volunteering with the children helps just one challenged child feel accepted, a big step has been made towards creating a better community. If both groups of individuals feel better about themselves because someone cared, then the world is a better place.

RONALD STRICKLAND

Ronald Strickland is the spouse of the Volunteer Coordinator in the Army Community Service Center (ACS) and volunteers for almost all events in the Directorate of Community & Family Activities. These include but are not limited to the Installation Family Day 5-K Run, the Army Emergency Relief Golf Funding Raising, and Thanksgiving and Christmas Feed the Soldiers Efforts, where he helps to prepare, serve the soldiers and clean-up after the event.

Strickland has also joined the ACS team members to serve as the volunteer driver for short and long-distance trips to Military Deployment Units within the community so that the ACS staff can conduct briefings for military troops -National Guards and Reserves- and their families. One night the staff got back from a long-distance trip with him at about 11:30 p.m. and staff members did not get home until about 12mid-night, having to return to work the following day at 6 a.m. Strickland has also been observed providing volunteer time in the Army Community Service office to move, install and organize file cabinets. There is no job too hard or too small that he has not been willing to provide assistance with in order to make a contribution to helping soldiers and their families.

In addition, Strickland does not limit his volunteer services to the military. He also consistently provides volunteer help to the general community through Anniston Army Depot Day of Caring program to help community providers such as the American Red Cross. Strickland has also provided volunteer assistance to the Anniston Army Depot/Morale Welfare & Recreation Program Annual Table Tennis Tournaments. Since he has been serving as a volunteer, Strickland has donated approximately 500 hours of volunteer time.

DIANE “DEE” BERKELEY

A retired teacher, Dee Berkeley has always helped community youth. As a ten-year Piedmont CASA volunteer, she sets the standard for other volunteers. Piedmont CASA trains volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children before local courts. CASA volunteers work with these children and assist the courts in determining how to ensure each child’s safety and well-being.

Ten years ago, Piedmont CASA received Berkeley’s application. Recently retired, she stated that she was looking for a challenging volunteer job where she could utilize her strong interest in problems of child abuse and neglect and her organizational skills and experience gathering information and writing reports. She became a volunteer with CASA and has served more than 25 children.

Berkeley routinely volunteers 25-50 hours each month. She works equally well with babies as with adolescents, with boys as well as girls. She also attends to children with special needs with as much dedication as she does those without learning challenges. Berkeley’s dedication is easily revealed by a case she was assigned in February 2003. Three siblings, all under age eight, were removed from their mother due to her inability to address her mental health issues while properly caring for her children. The children, described as being “out of control” and “dirty,” were noted as presenting with both behavioral and psychological problems. Their father was living at a local shelter. Berkeley dove into this case with her mind and heart trained on the children. She monitored their foster placement, education and health; she supervised parent-child visits; she promoted meetings and information sharing between service provider; and she spent hours getting to know the children. She was an important voice for these children in court, presenting meaningful facts and recommendations to the judge. Ultimately, Berkeley helped them find a safe, stable home with their father, while maintaining a strong and constant connection to their mother.

Berkeley’s service meets a critical community need. Hundreds of local children are subject to abuse and neglect each year, and their voices would go largely unheard with volunteers like her. In addition, Berkeley aids communication between service providers who are often overworked. The impact of her volunteer work is significant and measurable; in this particular case three siblings were able to remain together, residing now in the safe, stable, and nurturing home of their father.

Berkeley’s success as a volunteer is admirable and unique because of her tirelessness, her ability to think creatively and her long-term commitment. Volunteers remain with Piedmont CASA for an average of 22 months. Berkeley’s ten-year – and ongoing – commitment to the program is truly exemplary. She is a part of Piedmont CASA and the community at large and works each day to make life better for the community, one case at a time.

THE DREAM FACTORY, INC.

The Dream Factory, Inc. is a volunteer-based, nonprofit organization that grants the dreams of critically and chronically ill children, ages three through eighteen. When South Central Bell employee Charles Henault founded The Dream Factory in Hopkinsville, Kentucky in 1980, his goal was to create a volunteer organization dedicated to granting the dreams of children with serious illnesses.

Today, The Dream Factory (www.dreamfactoryinc.com) operates more than 30 chapters across the United States and is the second largest wish-granting organization in existence. The Dream Factory grants an average of 350 dreams each year, including trips to Walt Disney World, shopping sprees and meeting with celebrities and athletes. Currently, The Dream Factory enjoys the assistance of 5,000 dedicated volunteers who have helped fulfill over 23,000 dreams since 1980.

Seriously ill children spend far too much time in doctor’s offices, hospitals and treatment centers. They are often denied simple childhood pleasures such as attending school, participating in sports and enjoying time with friends and family members. In granting a child’s dream, the organization is able to temporarily alleviate the child’s pain, allowing him or her to feel like a “normally healthy” child and enhancing his or her quality of life (no matter what the duration of that life may be). Doctors agree that experiencing a dream can extend the life of a seriously ill child as well as bring lasting joy and precious memories to the child’s family.

Granting dreams is the ongoing mission of The Dream Factory, Inc. However, the organization’s relationship with a child and his or her family does not come to a close aftera dream is fulfilled. The various chapters keep in touch with their past dream recipients and his or her families through newsletters, holiday parties, summer picnics and other special events and program services. The national website, which is maintained by volunteers, also aids in The Dream Factory’s ability to share information and keep in touch.

The Dream Factory is distinguishable from other wish-granting organizations in three main ways. First, The Dream Factory grants the dreams of both critically and chronically ill children; they do not limit their program services to terminally ill children. In this manner, they maximize the number of children who can experience their dreams. Second, The Dream Factory is an all-volunteer organization at the chapter level. Their only employees exist at National Headquarters (2 part-time and 2 full-time staff members), and they are able to maintain low overhead costs. The Dream Factory’s goal is to use 90 cents of every dollar raised on direct program services. Finally, their volunteers raise funds in their own communities and then use those funds to grant the dreams of local children. This grassroots approach to fundraising translates in 92% of all funds raised remaining in their community of origin.

ROBERTA KATZ

Roberta Katz has been supportive of the Jewish Home and Care Center for more than 20 years, acting as volunteer and facilitating projects that enhance the lives of the residents. She has served as Treasurer of Hand In Hand, President, and as a board member of the Jewish Home and Care Center and Jewish Home and Care Center Foundation. Katz volunteered in the Home’s Gift Shop and Soda Shop, and she and Hand In Hand Board members take special pride in delivering gifts to campus residents on Chanukah. She also visits the campus on Christmas Day with her husband Elliott and others to provide special treats for staff working on that holiday.

As is often case, those willing to lead an organization are in short supply. When it appeared that there would be no leadership for Hand In Hans, Katz, together with a small group of past Chairwomen of the Board, made the exceptional commitment to serve another term as a Co-Chair and to extend her service on the Board of Directors. This would be remarkable by itself, but when one knows that Katz has also continued her long-term volunteer position as Treasurer, you begin to see her commitment in its true light.

Katz has made tremendous contributions to the lives of the older adults served at the Jewish Home and Care Center, both as a direct service volunteer and as a lay leader. She and the other members of the Hand In Hand board conceived and implemented the visionary grant program, which allows Hand In Hand to financially support special programs created by Jewish Home and Care Center department heads. At this time, Hand In Hand is supporting a program that welcomes each new resident with a card and flowers, the weekly ceramics program, the monthly birthday parties, Purim and Chanukah celebration, and the Home’s Gift Shop. Under her leadership, Hand In Hand also purchased an Aviary for the lobby, which is enjoyed by residents, staff and guests every day. Hand In Hand not only paid for this wonderful addition to the facility, but also is paying for its regular upkeep.

While her work for Hand In Hand isn’t Katz’s full-time job, it certainly could be! Not only does she pay the bills, but she also processes hundreds of membership checks each year. In addition, Katz attends meetings, and can regularly be found visiting at the Jewish Home and Care Center and Chai Point Retirement Center. She is a tireless advocate for the residents and never hesitates to go the extra mile. In addition to her work with the Jewish Home and Care Center, Katz is an active member of the Wisconsin Institute for Torah Study, the Blood Center of Southeastern Wisconsin, State of Israel Bonds and the Society of Jewish Learning.

ROBERT YARBROUGH

Robert Yarbrough balances being patient and kind while also being stern and lovable. He dedicates his life to tutoring high school and college level students in mathematics. About eleven years ago or so, he began his retirement by taking all the math classes that Brevard Community College had to offer. He did this so that he would be prepared to tutor students. He comes to the college twice a week for 4 hours each and then goes to the high school for 3 hours 3 to 4 times a week. He has done this for the past ten years and has even been offered pay for his services but refuses and adamantly claims his payment is seeing the students pass their classes and getting their degrees.

Yarbrough has known since he was 22 years old that he was going to help as many people as he could succeed in their life. You see, when Mr. Yarbrough was 22 and had been recently released from the Marine Corps, he decided to go to College to be an Electronic Engineer. While he went through high school he was more interested in playing football than reading or writing and he was not deterred from feeling that way. Unfortunately, he may not have received a quality education up to that point. To say that he had a disadvantage would be an understatement, but another college bound student who was 17 at the time, took him under his wing and tutored him right through school. Yarbrough graduated with his bachelors of Science degree in Electronic Engineering.

Yarbrough sees his volunteer time as repayment to the young man who took a minute out of his own life to help him. Now, he is taking the time to help others accomplish their goal of receiving a college degree. He is a very humble man and feels he gets a reward each day when he sees the students he works with succeeding in school and becoming successful contributors to society. He is one of the few people in his generation that have dedicated their retirement to helping others, and because of his work, Brevard County is seeing successful youth.

YOUNGSTOWN AREA ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY COALITION

The Internal Revenue Service Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) offers free tax help to people who cannot afford professional assistance. VITA volunteers help prepare basic tax returns for taxpayers with special needs, including persons with disabilities, those with a low to moderate income, non-English speaking persons and elderly taxpayers. A special emphasis of the VITA program is to assist taxpayers who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to claim and quickly receive it. This is a refundable credit for low-income working individuals and families. When the EITC exceeds the amount of taxes owed, it results in a tax refund to those who claim and qualify for the credit. The EITC is money for people who work but do not earn enough income for their family size, and could use the EITC to put food on the table, move into better housing, invest in education, transportation, or save for the future. In addition to the savings on tax preparation fees, when VITA returns can be filed electronically it saves low-income taxpayers from the exorbitant costs of return anticipation loans (RALs), often advertised as rapid refunds.

The Youngstown Area Economic Opportunity Coalition is a community-based partnership in Ohio, which has been working with the IRS for the past two years to provide tax awareness and education, free income tax preparation through the VITA program, and financial literacy to promote asset building. Core members of the Coalition include Mahoning Youngstown Community Action Partnership (MYCAP), Youngstown State University (YSU), Home Savings and Loan, North Side Citizens Coalition for Community Development (NSCC) and the Youngstown/Mahoning Libraries. Over fifty volunteers work at any seven VITA sites sponsored by the Coalition from February through April to prepare income taxes for free to low-income taxpayers. The sites are conveniently located at MYCAP, YSU, a Goodwill site and public libraries. In addition to regular posted hours, the Coalition offers a well attended Super Saturday event to kick off the filing season. In the 2005 filing season, the Coalition prepared 553 federal tax returns, in addition to nearly as many state tax returns, with a 91% e-file rate. Total EITC dollars returned were $280,396, for a total refund count of $663,274. When the savings on tax preparation and RALS is added, the total impact to the community was at least $773,874. In addition to the free income tax preparation, the Coalition provided tax awareness and financial literacy through outreach.

The Youngstown Coalition intends to provide an even greater level of service for the 2006 filing season with the goal of making a $1,000,000 impact to the community. Since the total number of tax returns prepared increased 40% from filing season 2004 to 2005, this goal is certainly within reach. The great impact of the Youngstown Area Economic Opportunity Coalition has been possible thanks to the many volunteer hours generously given by the individuals involved with MYCAP, YSU, and the other coalition partners. Together they have met a real need in the community and demonstrated positive results.