SEAN CHARLES ERSKINE

Sean was a dependable, conscientious volunteer. While I have had many students assigned to my department, I was comfortable in knowing that this young man would report on time, the days of his obligation. Mr. Erskine was a quick study, who demonstrated the ability to focus on assigned tasks, in a highly organized manner, hence completed assignments efficiently.

Mr. Erskine accepted all tasks assigned to him, completing them with efficiency. When he was uncertain as to how to proceed, he quickly sought counsel with appropriate staff. As the summer progressed, I assigned him duties necessitating greater independent thinking and reasoning. Specific duties included the input of data into a national database. He was given a telephone-spread sheet of key phone numbers, to be kept current. Mr. Erskine was assigned the task of loading software on PC’s and making back up software copies. He was given assignments to replace keyboards in various work sites and to trouble shoot, when hospital personnel experienced minor technical problems. I was able to trust Mr. Erskine with a key, allowing him to access telecommunications systems. On one particular day, Mr. Erskine independently shuttled to a neighboring VA site, where he needed to locate various closets and replace spreadsheets. The above truly demonstrates his acceptance of responsibility and fulfillment of assignments, as he took his assignments seriously, and functioned capably.

Mr. Erskine is a pleasant, introspective young man. As he became comfortable with staff, he functioned as a colleague to those that he came in direct contact with. Often, mature veteran volunteers would stop him in the halls and ask if he were an employee, based on the way he carried himself. When they found out otherwise, the gentlemen did not hesitate to compliment Sean on his decision to spend his summer, as a new high school graduate, giving of his time to the veterans. Sean, when observed in conversation with veterans, was respectful and engaging.

Mr. Erskine demonstrated strong leadership ability. He was a role model for the staff of the Information Resource Management division. As an eighteen year old, he accepted his assignments, and dutifully carried them out. It was he who requested to volunteer in this department, so as to have hands on experience in his intended field of study. He eagerly wanted to learn what he could. In my conversations with him, I discovered that this young man demonstrated leadership ability within his community as well, organizing a group of youth from his church to sponsor a meal at a homeless shelter, and organizing a group of young men from his community to play in a paintball tournament, where proceeds benefited a newly established cancer research foundation. Sean was awarded a trophy by the foundation, for his selfless efforts.

Mr. Erskine was an inspiration to all he came in contact with. Both in-patients and out-patients were seen making small talk in hallways with this young man. What was obvious to all was his enjoyment of his work. He demonstrated mature, capable behavior that was an inspiration to patients, particularly those who were involved in Incentive Therapy, and Corrective Work Therapy.

NEWTON THOMAS

Newton Thomas has brought together divergent segments of communities in seven states to achieve a common goal of rehabilitating troubled youth. Thomas has made a significant contribution, connecting thousands of people to help over 20,000 adjudicated children meet responsibilities, obtain employable skills, increase self-confidence, and further their education. Newton has served as a board member for Associated Marine Institutes (AMI) for 16 years and is currently Chairman.

AMI is a nonprofit organization founded in 1969 dedicated to helping delinquent youth through community-based rehabilitation programs. The goal of the 57 schools in seven states is provide structure and discipline for at-risk kids, giving them the tools that will help them to succeed in life. Today, there are over 55 community boards with 750 board members, and 1500 staff members. Together, they tap into their combined strengths and resources to help each AMI School in their community.

These boards have representation from various segments of the community: Law enforcement, judges, community leaders, and legislators. Thomas works to bring these various segments of the population together. The programs at AMI draw together people who would never meet one another if it were not for their love of community. There is nothing in it for them except the knowledge that they are helping misguided kids to be successful and enriching their community.

Because these passionate people are spread from Illinois to Florida, Thomas developed the Connect Initiative. The Connect Initiative began with a yearlong strategic planning process, Thomas spearheaded a process that began with a survey to find out what the obstacles and the opportunities were that people at every level faced. He determined that communication was a major hurdle and the communication process needed to be streamlined in order for the group to be more effective. Thus the Connect Initiative was born.

One year later, there is a monthly newsletter for all board members and staff that highlights best practices, resources, issues and stories that will connect people from the school level, through the community level, state level to a national one. Each helping to circle back to the children they help. As a result, there are now monthly steering team meetings that get critical information flowing from the corporate headquarters to the schools and back again.

As a result, although the national average for re-arrest among juveniles is at 59% only an average of 28% of AMI’s kids are re-arrested, making AMI a national leader for rehabilitating adjudicated kids.

Thomas’s efforts started 16 years ago and his last 2 years as Chairman have really allowed him to make his mark and put policies and procedure into place that will be followed for years in the future. He has been traveling the country to work with all 795 School Boards and politicians to ensure the safety in communities throughout the country.

FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

Established in September 2003, Financial Resources for Economic Empowerment (F.R.E.E.) consists of one full-time staff member who serves as a Program Coordinator and approximately 100 volunteers who regularly participate in the daily operation of the initiative. The volunteers are a mixture of ethnicities, races, and genders ranging from 20 to 80 years of age.

Volunteers are recruited through a coalition of agencies whose missions are complementary. The F.R.E.E. Coalition lead by Community Action Program, Inc. of Taylor County is comprised of the following entities: Abilene A Call for Help Center, Abilene Board of Realtors, Abilene Christian University, Abilene Housing Authority, Boys and Girls Clubs, Cisco Junior College, Dodge Jones Foundation, Dyess Air Force Base, FaithWorks, First Financial Bank, Hardin-Simmons University, Internal Revenue Service, McMurry University, Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Texas Society of CPAs, Texas State Technical College (West Texas), Texas Tech University Small Business Development Center, The Center for Non-Profit Management, and United Way of Abilene.

Individuals choosing to volunteer with F.R.E.E. carry out various duties such as completing tax returns, filing, organizing public relations efforts, teaching money management classes, writing business plans, and facilitating asset specific workshops on weekly bases throughout the year. Volunteer efforts address economic issues in the community that serve as barriers to families living at or below the 200% federal poverty line. Through F.R.E.E., volunteers have helped approximately 2,000 families receive $1.7 million in tax returns since 2003.

F.R.E.E. has also paved the way for approximately 100 low-income families to receive financial literacy and asset specific education, which has led to the establishment of 40 Individual Development Accounts.

MARJIE GARCIA

Web Wise Kids is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to equip young people to make wise choices online. They work hard to teach children to recognize and avoid criminals on the Internet so that they can prevent being victimized. Since the Internet provides predators with nearly unhindered access to children, it is essential that children be prepared to respond appropriately when they encounter a safety risk online. The organization is dependent on government and private funding to continue to deliver their fun, video game style educational software to schools and students at no cost to them.

Despite a debilitating medical condition, Marjie Garcia faithfully volunteers three days each week to assist Web Wise Kinds. After suffering a spinal cord injury which left her with impaired mobility and chronic pain, Garcia looked beyond her circumstances and began donating 24 hours a week to Web Wise Kids. Since 2002, she has been a very valuable part of the team and accepts no compensation for her services.

On behalf of Web Wise Kids, Garcia diligently pursues new funding opportunities, which allow Web Wise Kids the resources to continue educating children. In addition to applying for grants from foundations, Garcia also creates top-notch proposals, and builds quality relationships with funders. In addition, Garcia develops relationships. She enjoys interacting with people and always makes time to go beyond superficial conversation to find out how people really are. Garcia projects the same warmth and friendliness whether she is talking to a child, a staff member, or a potential funder.

The staff, volunteers and clients at Web Wise appreciate Garcia’s warm heart, optimistic outlook, and professional business skills. Garcia has a passion for protecting kids and is an advocate for children’s online safety.

FRIENDS OF ALASKA PYLI

Friends of Alaska PYLI is composed of 100 caring adults who have joined forces over the last eight years in a coalition giving youth and families, especially less fortunate, opportunities to give back to their communities through personal service. Their connecting partners include: Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice, Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals, Alaska Association for Student Governments, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Anchorage, Mountain View Boys & Girls Club, Boy Scouts Western Alaska Council, Anchorage Senior Center, Chugachmiut Native Corporation, AmeriCorps Volunteers, Communities In Schools Alaska, Anchorage Youth Advisory Commission, University of Alaska Upward Bound, Prudential Jack White Vista Real Estate, Key Bank of Alaska, and Anchorage Daily News.

The organization developed an innovative Alaskan Seasons of Service strategy to involve diverse youth, adults, families, seniors, and agencies to promote meaningful volunteer service. They emphasize skill building, tool sharing, participant diversity, hands-on intergenerational service and community connection. They focus on human and social needs of disadvantaged such as the isolation senior citizens feel, lack of basic supplies homeless experience, absence of positive role models some children face, and disconnection/disempowerment young people feel in their communities. Friends of Alaska PYLI organize multi-age projects on major national days of service with special days such as National Kids Day and Thank Your Mentor Day.

The ongoing service activities began in 1998 continuing in every day volunteer service activities such as mentoring, training, facilitating, project organizing, fund-raising, grant-writing, and community service leadership. The cornerstone of the community impact is their eight-year commitment to the Prudential Spirit of Community Initiative encouraging volunteer service by young people.

Thousands of youth, families and agencies have benefited because of many projects Friends have started and sustained. They include but are not limited to: President’s Volunteer Service Awards in Alaska since 2003 and yearly in the Spring to youth, & families; small $ 500-$ 2,500 grants for MLK Jr. Day, NYSD, and Join Hands Day community activities; mentoring hundreds of youth who have received local and national recognition for their service; creation of BSA Venturing Unit # 508 for youth 15-22 emphasizing Venturing Through Service since 2003; Prudential Spirit of Community Youth Service Recognition Ceremony since 1999 honoring Prudential Spirit of Community Award & PVSA winners, and PYLI Youth Leadership graduates uplifting 1000 youth and families; National Youth Service Day projects since 1998, Join Hands Day projects since 2000, National Make A Difference Day projects since 1999, September 11 National Day of Service projects since 2003, Martin Luther King Jr. Day projects since 2000; and 20 Points of Light Youth Leadership Institutes (Alaska PYLI) training 600 students and adults from 15 different Alaskan communities since 1998. Through Friends of PYLI Alaska youth and families serving together have addressed real needs of seniors, disadvantaged children, local parks, homeless, public library and the sick.

ASSOCIATED MARINE INSTITUTES (AMI)

Associated Marine Institutes has dedicated itself to achieve a common goal – rehabilitate troubled youth into responsible and productive citizens. AMI is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help delinquent youth through the development of community-based rehabilitation programs. The goal of the schools is to “turn the lives around” of misdirected kids, giving them the tools that will help them to succeed in life. Through its programming, AMI has grown from just 6 programs, serving 200 youth, to 53 programs in 6 states serving over 3,000 youth and families yearly.

In 1969, Judge Frank Orlando had a young man in front of him that had committed a crime, but he realized that sending the boy to a juvenile detention center was not going to benefit him. Judge Orlando understood that the boy was not out of reach yet. So, he called a friend who was managing a marine research program and asked if he would take the boy on one of his oceanographic research projects and put him to work. The friend obliged and after a few months passed he called the Judge back and told him to send more boys his way. They realized that the boys felt like part of the group, and that they were happy to earn their way. Positive rewards for their good work and effort reinforced their worth and made them understand that the more they put in the more they will receive. These experiences gave the adults the idea to establish AMI, a permanent program to serve these kids.

Rehabilitation is an integral component in each of AMI’s programs. It is shared with the clients through many avenues; academic instruction, experiential education, mentoring, goal setting, vocational training, and working to increase self-esteem through responsibility and accountability. Overall, the programs strive to provide an opportunity for kids who are academically behind in school, and have behavioral issues, to catch up or surpass their peers.

Community service is also key in AMI’s education. They believe that because kids belong to their community, they should take ownership in their community and develop respect for it along with respecting themselves. The kids are involved in community service on an ongoing basis and constantly learning their value and what value they can add to the community.

AMI has managed to bring together all facets of the community to make a difference in the kids and their lives. Law enforcement, judges, business professionals, legislators, retirees, family members, they all come together. Through their efforts and those of AMI, an average of 28% of AMI’s kids are re-arrested compared to the national average of 59%, making AMI a national leader for rehabilitating adjudicated kids.

What AMI has done for years, results in successfully reintegrating youth back into their communities, schools, and family settings. AMI strives to impact as many youngsters as possible without compromising their standards of effectiveness. The data proves that AMI is succeeding, but they believe it is because the founders have a genuine desire to help children succeed.

STEPHEN LINDER

Many in the community have realized great personal success. Through their efforts, they have gained wealth, access, and influence. These people are commended for their ambition and achievements. Steve Linder is a man who can be admired for his personal accomplishments.

As a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, former Marine Corps fighter pilot, and current Community Relations Manager for HSBC Bank of Nevada, N.A., Linder is certainly in a position to rest on his laurels. However, what distinguishes Linder from the pack of self-serving success stories in his commitment to philanthropic and community-building endeavors.

Linder has been a member of Clark High School’s Academy of Finance Advisory Board since its inception. He is currently Past Chairman Advisory Board. Throughout the years, he has taken an active role in promoting the Academy and its unique educational program for youth in Southern Nevada who are interested in pursuing careers in a finance-related field. His association with the Academy has been a significant investment of time, expertise, and financial support.

As a key member of the Advisory Board, Linder’s counsel is sought for input on establishing the program’s curriculum, maintaining fiscal viability for the nonprofit organization, recruiting other experts in the financial and business sector for their support, and selecting scholarship recipients. Additionally, Linder has a personal involvement with AOF students as a business mentor. This year, Linder is mentoring one senior and one junior. He meets with them regularly to discuss their academic challenges and to introduce them to business protocol that is learned beyond a classroom setting. Through HSBC’s financial contributions, the Academy of Finance has enjoyed educational enchantments that would not otherwise be available to the students. They have sponsored field trips to financial and community institutions, student attendance at community events, and guest speakers and programs for the enrichment of the AOF student body.

Linder’s contributions to the Academy of Finance are extraordinary. Remarkably, the Academy is only one of many recipients of Linder’s munificence. He is also an active champion of a multitude of community-enrichment organizations: Habitat for Humanity, HELP of Southern Nevada, Junior Achievement, Opportunity Village, and United way of Southern Nevada, to name just a few.

CAMP KOKUA HO`ALA SCHOOL

Each spring, Camp Kokua youth identify social issues of concern to them and establish a service theme for the summer camp. Then, in August, youth volunteers and their adult counselors dedicate a portion of each day to projects addressing those concerns. The rest of the day includes learning from local nonprofit experts through field trips, tours, lectures, videos and games.

“Kokua” means “come and help” in the Hawaiian language. Camp Kokua youth complete as many as 50 hours of service during camp and then are challenged to complete 50 more throughout the year to earn the President’s Youth Service Award.

Camp Kokua was founded in 2002 in partnership with the University of Hawaii’s Service Learning Program. Now in its fourth year, Camp Kokua has involved youth in a plethora of service projects, including literacy, the environment, driving and natural disasters and emergency response.

The town of Wahiawa, with a large population of Micronesian immigrants, has one of the lowest literacy rates in the state. Camp Kokua worked with Read to Me International, the UH 4H Read to Me Project, Rainbow Preschool, the YMCA, and Aged to Perfection to read aloud to preschool students and senior citizens. As a follow up project, Ho’ala School’s 5th –6th grade students worked with Hawaii Fi-Do Service Dogs to conduct further community reading projects.

Hawaii is one of the world’s most unique ecological systems. It is also one of the most endangered. Camp Kokua worked with Volcanoes National Park and the Nature Conservancy of Hawaii to remove invasive species and plant native seedlings. As a follow-up, Ho’ala’s middle school participated in a 6-month stewardship project with the Nature Conservancy.

On the island of Oahu, unsafe driving due to drunk driving, road racing and road rage is a serious concern to youth. Working in partnership with MADD, DTRIC Insurance and the Honolulu Police Department, Camp Kokua youth hosted a “Honk for Safe Driving Campaign.” They also performed and filmed safe driving skills called Skidmarks aired on community television. As a follow-up, youth volunteers sponsored a safe-driving free car wash on Make A Difference Day.

This summer, Camp Kokua worked with local nonprofit and state organizations to become youth emergency responders, helping to establish a pilot program for other Hawaii students.

FREDRIC C. WESTENDORF

Fred Westendorf is a volunteer extraordinaire with AARP’s Tax-Aide program, the nation’s largest free, volunteer-run tax counseling and preparation service for middle to low income tax payers, giving special attention to those ages 60 and older. This program operates under a cooperative agreement with the Internal Revenue Service as a part of the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program. Fred has been a part of this program for over ten years.

Westendorf serves as the District Coordinator for the Tax-Aide program in Westchester County, New York, and supervised 108 counselors and local coordinators in 18 sites during the last tax season. He trained these counselors in income tax law, return preparation, and the use of software for electronic filing. In addition, he served as a counselor over the same period providing one-on-one assistance to low income, elderly taxpayers.

Last season, the Tax-Aide volunteers in Westchester prepared 3,500 returns for taxpayers who could not afford to pay for this service. Of those, 1,600 were electronically filed, enabling the taxpayers to receive their refunds within ten days and saving them the unnecessary and exorbitant fees charged for refund anticipation loans. Westendorf’s program prepared New York State and Federal returns, affording customers a one-stop service. He ensures quality return preparation by instructing his volunteers on issues pertinent to senior citizens during four-day training sessions which he conducts in the auditoriums at Westchester Community College and The Will Library in Yonkers, New York.

Westendorf demonstrates a total commitment to the concept of volunteering. His personal and professional level of involvement is unsurpassed. He earns the respect of his peer by hands-on approach to volunteer activities, his integrity, and his computer expertise. Westendorf is personally responsible for converting Westchester TCE sites from “paper to Pentium” by implementing e-file. Before Westendorf came on board all returns were done on paper. He will do whatever is necessary to help elderly taxpayers, even making house calls to the disabled and homebound.

GAMMA BETA PHI

Gamma Beta Phi is a great example of what a student organization can contribute to our community. Service is part of their mission but they are not actually a service organization.

Gamma Beta Phi has really come out of their shell during the last few years. This year they have helped to co-sponsor two of our project Impacts, which is a movie, a speaker, and a community service project. One of the newest areas that they are working on with the GIVE Center is that they are the sponsoring organization for the annual 30 Hour Famine. They have taken a leadership role and expanded this awareness event into a very educational and eye-opening experience for our students. In the past, the 30 Hour Famine has had about 10-20 students involved and this year Gamma Beta Phi’s goal is to have at least 50 students involved with this event. They would like to raise over $1500 to send to World Vision to help feed starving children. This year during the 30 Hour Famine they have included going to work at a food shelter or food pantry as part of this event to help the students understand hunger in Central Georgia and not just to think about it in third world country.

This year the GIVE Center is also nominating Gamma Beta Phi for Outstanding Service to the Community for their volunteer efforts and their contributions to the campus and larger community. This year Gamma Beta Phi has also been recognized as Volunteers for the day during Volunteer Appreciation Month, which is April. They also have students that are going to get an invitation to be part of the Platinum Touch, which is an Honorary Service Organization that is going to be started on our campus this spring.

Last year, Gamma Beta Phi, along with a few of its members, earned the National Presidential Volunteer Service Award. A person earns this award by performing over 100 volunteer hours within a 12-month period and a group earns this award by performing over 200 hours within a 12-month period with each contributing member having done at least 25 of those volunteer hours.