JOSEPH MULLOY

For more than four years Joseph Mulloy has generously volunteered his time and has become involved in many activities at UMC where he works to provide comfort to UMC patients, family and visitors. Joseph has a philosophy to which he dedicates himself. “My job is to put a smile on someone’s face every day.”

Joseph always dedicates his talents to the patients and staff of UMC with the same positive attitude and professionalism regardless of the circumstances. His willingness to perform his role cheerfully makes him a unique and praiseworthy individual who is admired and respected by UMC employees and patients alike.

Volunteers are an integral part of the labor force at UMC. Senior citizens are the most rapidly growing segment of our population and a major resource to be tapped into. UMC could not function with the active involvement of seniors like Joseph with his expertise, networks and knowledge. Through volunteering and social contacts, seniors also may stay more active and healthy physically, mentally, socially and spiritually, which can only benefit society as a whole. One of the highlights of Joseph Mulloy is that he always notices the little things. He sees a need that others may overlook and he is willing to do something about it.

Joseph is a valuable volunteer to UMC. He serves as an ambassador of courtesy at UMC by greeting patients and visitors and by helping them find their way around our very large hospital. He personally delivers reading material to patients in their rooms, making a special not to remember the favorite topics of each patient. When the book and magazine supply becomes low, he will conduct a book/magazine drive in his own neighborhood to donate to UMC.

Joseph’s contributions are very noticeable and he is respected by the staff and other volunteers and by the patients and visitors he encounters on a daily basis. He performs his duties with passion and commitment. He demonstrates a high level of responsibility by reporting to his volunteer job on time. The professional way in which he handles himself exemplifies the vision of the volunteer program and his service brings UMC’s vision alive and makes it personal.

Joseph is a valuable team player in terms of alleviating the time and energy burden on staff. The participation of volunteers like Joseph is critical to University Medical Center for accomplishing its community based mission, getting results and ensuring organizational reinforcement, services and vitality.

PATRICIA O’MELIA

In January 2000, Pat began volunteering as the Program Director to establish Helping Hands of Vegas Valley. In 2004, Pat successfully wrote three grants totaling $644,000 and volunteered 655 hours last year to ensure that the grants were properly executed and reported. She also volunteered her time to help many seniors who had no other way to get a doctor’s appointment or grocery shopping. She also goes shopping every other week to keep the food pantry stocked for seniors that need a little extra food to make it until their next Social Security Check.

The grants that Pat successfully obtained resulted in Helping Hands of Vegas Valley being able to operate and expand the Volunteer Care, Pantry, and the Respite Care Voucher Programs and begin operation of the Wheelchair Accessible Van Program. These programs are now serving over 1,200 low-income seniors in the community.

Many Helping Hands clients can no longer drive themselves and their health prevents them from using public transportation. Pat and other volunteers escort them to medical appointments, grocery shopping, and other errands. This has the additional benefit of providing companionship. Pat also makes trips to the Local Food Bank and/or Costco to stock the Pantry and in 2004 Helping Hands distributed over 20,000 pounds of food. Once a month seniors with an income less than $973 can obtain nearly four days worth of food (canned meats, vegetables, soup, fruit, etc.).

The Respite Voucher Program grant that Pat also obtained is administered for the State of Nevada Division for Aging Services. This program provides 345 caregivers who are caring for frail seniors around the clock to obtain a grant of up to $1000 enabling them to have someone provide needed relief. When a senior passes away or their needs are greater than the caregiver can undertake and they are placed in a nursing home, the remaining funds from the awarded grant are then passed on to another usually desperate caregiver, resulting in an average of 500 caregivers receiving benefits from this program.

In early 2004, a local doctor donated a handicap accessible van to Helping Hands. Because of Pat’s grantwriting abilities the van is now used to transport wheelchair bound seniors who can not utilize other resources such as the city bus and do not qualify for the CAT ParaTransit. Since the program began providing service in December 2004, 12 seniors have received transportation in the van and with the food deliveries for qualifying seniors in the VCP the van has made nearly 100 trips to assist those most needy.

As the nation’s senior population continues to grow, many move to Nevada to retire. Transplant or life long resident alike, as they age, their health begins to deteriorate and they are no longer able to take care of themselves. Many times their family is not here with them and they find themselves in a situation where they have no support. It is particularly difficult when a partner dies leaving the remaining spouse totally alone. With Pat’s skill for writing grants and her drive and determination to help, hundreds of seniors are being assisted with dignity and compassion while taxpayers are saving thousands of dollars by keeping local seniors independent rather than institutionalized.

GC & SU BEST BUDDIES

Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-on-one friendships and integrated employment. Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant, international organization that has grown from one original chapter to more than 1,000 middle school, high school, and college campuses across the country and internationally. The Baldwin Service Center is a center for adults with mild to moderate disabilities. This group has about 30-40 GC&SU students who are a part of this group. Each college student is paired up with an individual who has developmental disability at the Baldwin Service Center. The buddy pair meets at least once or twice a month and then they have group monthly activities that they all participate in.

Some volunteers take the consumers (which is what the adults with developmental disabilities are called at the Baldwin County Service Center) and buddies bowling. They have decorated glass bowls for the disabilities banquet in October. They have played bingo with the consumers and they have helped with their annual Valentine’s Dance. They also made Easter baskets for foster children and filled Christmas boxes for children in third world countries. In addition, they have had a team for Relay for Life and held a raffle at basketball games and attended the games with the consumers. They assisted in decorating the front campus for Hanging of the Greens and were recognized in the Macon Telegraph for their volunteer work. They have helped with a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner hosted by the Baldwin Service Center.

Best Buddies is also part of the college’s newly formed No Boundaries Club, which is an umbrella organization for student organizations that work with disabilities issues. This group will also be involved with the new Kids On The Block puppet shows that will go into local elementary schools to educate third graders on disabilities issues and awareness programs. Best Buddies truly are making a difference on and off campus.

INAM SHALATI

When little Katy, a 7-year old blind student, met her new volunteer she was not talking much to her teacher, or her aids in school. Her volunteer Vision Assistant, Miss Inam, was told to expect a difficult time with Katy, who teachers felt might be also somewhat autistic. But what the teachers couldn’t have known was the impact that this special volunteer would have on Katy.

To begin with, Miss Inam Shalati is no ordinary volunteer. She has won several volunteer recognitions, including a prestigious Bell Award given by WLKY in 1999. In fact, Inam is the lead Volunteer Vision Assistant within the Jefferson County Public School system. In this role she teaches braille and tutors children who are visually impaired. And she knows a thing or two about overcoming obstacles herself, since Miss Inam was born blind and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 6 months of age.

Growing up as a child with disabilities who also moved with her family, Inam learned the value of doing things on her own. “I am a believer in doing anything you can to promote independence,” she explained. “My parents were great about letting me do things, even though it was scary letting their blind child go out into the world.” She also learned early on the value of physical and occupational therapy. “I have been to many centers and was always impressed with the caring of the staff.” In fact it was the therapists and aids that helped her growing up that motivated Inam to become a volunteer. “I know what it’s like to need some help as a kid. And it gives me great joy to help others.”

Inam’s work with little Katy has opened new doors for this youngster. Once quiet, Katy is now talking to teachers, learning brail, and more. Miss Inam also goes beyond schoolwork to teach Katy manners, days of the year, months and how to talk on the telephone in a proper telephone voice. She’s even reported to be more confident and social with other children during playtime. “I love to hear her talk,” said Inam. “Two of her favorite sayings are ‘that’s a good idea’ and ‘you’re doing great.” In May 2005, Inam was awarded a certificate for outstanding service to the Jefferson County Public School system. After a recent tour of the K.I.D.S. Center, she signed up to help and could be seen selling bracelets in May at the Walk, Rock ‘n’ Roll. She’s already agreed to be back next year.

Today at age 29, the obstacles presented by Inam’s disabilities are not over. Her eating, speech, and mobility are all affected and the severity is worsening, as she gets older. But one thing that is not lacking is her positive attitude and her belief in helping others.

SUSANNE CONLON

Susanne Conlon is President of the Georgia Youth Soccer Association (70,000 members) as well as US Youth Soccer, National TOPSoccer Chairperson. Susanne has a special place in her heart for all children but particularly for those with disabilities. She introduced TOPSoccer, the US Youth Soccer program for children and young adults that have a physical and/or mental disability to GA in 1985. Today there are 10 such programs around the state of GA that are run by GA Youth Soccer affiliates. Six years ago Susanne initiated TOPSoccer-Rama, a one day soccer skills/games event designed to introduce the game of soccer to an optimum number of children with disabilities. The first event hosted by a local high-school had just over 100 participants. Today GA hosts two such events each year reaching more than 1250 children and engaging more that 350 high-school aged and adult volunteers. She has promoted this event on a national level and now more than 10 states use it as their model for disabled soccer outreach. Susanne continues to be very active in the TOPSoccer program in GA by registering children at her local league, promoting the program around GA and assisting parents in locating programs in their area. As the national chairperson Susanne assists programs and parents across the country in all arenas of TOPSoccer.

Susanne has been a top contributor to youth soccer for more than 17 years at the local, state, regional and national level. Fifteen years ago Susanne researched, imported and modified a Colorado Youth Soccer Sportsmanship program for use in her home league. The program is currently used by leagues in GA and by our State Recreational tournament as well as other states around the country. The program allows game officials to grade parents, coaches and players on their sportsmanlike conduct during each game by awarding “sportsmanship points.” This process alerts league administrators to problems but also rewards “good sportsmanship” as accrued sportsmanship points also allows leagues to recognize those teams that engage in good conduct on the field of play. These and other efforts have seen Susanne recognized at many levels; she has been Cobb Co. Parks and Recreation Volunteer of the Year, GA Soccer Volunteer of the Year and the United Way “Heart in Hand” recipient, she has also been named a GA Soccer Life Member. Susanne recently played a leading role in removing travel barriers between GA and her neighbors, by negotiating travel agreements within the region; our region was the first in the nation to remove travel restrictions from teams moving from state to state for tournament play. She has put GA Soccer in the forefront of soccer in the US with her hard work and innovative programs.

Susanne Conlon works a full time job yet finds the time, with pleasure and a smiling face to volunteer her services and knowledge of the game of soccer to the youth in GA. Susanne is an example of selflessness shown by her devotion to all children in her community. Her boundless energy is an inspiration to all who know her. Whether she is throwing showers for friends from work, collecting and distributing school supplies for children in public housing, preparing dinners for inner-city boy scouts or on the field of play … Susanne is never too busy to lend a helping hand. Susanne Conlon is a hero to Georgia Soccer.

ALPHA DELTA PI

Alpha Delta Pi is one of the strongest groups on campus and is also very involved in the community. One of their favorite community service endeavors is “Nana” their adopted grandmother at Dogwood Retirement Home that they go and visit weekly. They have been with Nana for at least five years now. Nana always enjoys the visits as well as the ladies of ADP do. I. They help her out in many different ways but the biggest way is being a companion to her. She now has over 70 adopted granddaughters. Nana is an honorary part of Alpha Delta Pi sorority. She has attended Relay for Life with them as well as many other activities. Another on-going service effort that they do is baby-sit for a group that is called In Our Best Interest, which is a support group for domestic violence victims. They do this at least once a month on an on-going basis.

ADPi is also involved in a school-based program that promotes starting a good habit and not a bad habit like smoking, drinking or doing drugs. This new and positive habit is called “Pull for Ronald McDonald”. OPRC, the Baldwin County School System and Alpha Delta Pi worked together to brainstorm the idea and develop this program. Every elementary school class in Baldwin County is now collecting pop-tops for the Ronald McDonald house. These tabs are recycled along with the rest of the tabs the campus collects and all the money goes to the Ronald McDonald House in Macon to help pay the electricity bill.

One thing that has helped ADPi make this so successful is that during every nine weeks of school the class that collects the most pop-tops will get happy meals for lunch and the school that collects the most pop-tops will get their happy meals delivered by the ladies of ADPi. ADPi has taken advantage of their resources in the community and has made a great partnership with the school systems as well as with OPRC. This project would not be as successful if this partnership did not exist.

This year, the GIVE Center is also nominating Alpha Delta Pi for Outstanding Service to the community for their volunteer efforts and their contributions to the campus and community. Alpha Delta Pi has also been recognized as Volunteers for the day during volunteer Appreciation Month in April. They also have students that are going to be asked to be part of the Platinum Touch, which is an Honorary Service Organization that is going to be started on our campus this spring. This spring, Alpha Delta Pi along with one of its members earned the National Presidential Volunteer Service Award. Alpha Delta Pi is a major trendsetter on our campus with their community service endeavors.

DON EDWARDS

Don Edwards has been a volunteer with the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) since April 2002. RSVP is a part of SeniorCorps under the Corporation of National & Community Service. The mission of RSVP is to identify community needs and address these by recruiting and placing senior volunteers in over 200 nonprofit and service agencies throughout southern Nevada.

As an RSVP volunteer, Don donates his time to the Telephone Reassurance Program (TR), a free service offered to seniors, 60 years and older, who either may live alone or do not have someone to look after them on a daily basis. For elderly people living alone,an accident or medical emergency can be life threatening. As a TR caller, Don provides a daily check-up call to seniors enrolled in the program. These calls provide the much-needed assurance that there is someone there who cares for the client’s well being.

For many of these seniors, this call is the only social contact they receive for the day. These daily check-up calls assist the seniors with maintaining the goal of independence. When a client is not reached, Don is able to contact the program coordinator who in turn will initiate emergency procedures. In a recent client satisfaction survey, one of Don’s clients stated, “I can always depend on Don to call me on time everyday, he listens to everything I have to say and even lets me talk about my dog and my life.”

For the past three years, Don has served as a volunteer caller providing nearly 120 calls a month, for an average of 30 hours per month, to his seven clients. Don is the only caller out of 55 callers that has more than four clients. What makes Don even more special to the Telephone Reassurance Program is that he is able to relate to the personal agonies and triumphs that many homebound seniors face each day. As a young man, Don was always very active. When speaking to him on the phone, he likes to reminisce about his earlier days, stating that as a boy he was always helping the handicapped children that were in his neighborhood. As Don grew older he never dreamt that he would find himself one day in a situation where he would come to rely on someone.

At 41 years young, Don was stricken with MS and has since been bed ridden. He was forced to retire as an Iron Worker in Chicago and move to Las Vegas in 1998. After years of feeling helpless for himself, Don finally realized that he did not like the way his life was going and decided to do something about it. Don learned about the Telephone Reassurance Program in 2002 and was thrilled to hear that he still could be useful while staying in bed. Don has said that it is a wonderful feeling knowing he is not only helping others, but also himself, in this wonderful program.

TEEN LEADERS OF THE FUTURE

Teen Leaders of the Future is a youth lead group. The teens decide on the details of every project with limited advice and guidance from an adult. Everything including the name of the group and the rules are decided by the teens. The steps the youth take include brainstorming project ideas, voting on ideas, electing officers, applying for grants, making board presentations, telephone calls, seeking donations, finalizing all details, delivering the final project, reflecting on the project, and starting over.

Teen Leaders of the Future successfully completed the delivery of 25 gift boxes for other youth at Sunrise’s Pediatric Oncology through collaboration with Candlelighters and a $1000 grant from the city of Las Vegas Youth Neighborhood Association Partnership Program (YNAPP). The teens decided to add a personal touch to brighten the youth’s day by uniquely decorating each box. To fill the boxes the teens purchased 25 board games, journals, markers, books, baseball hats, pens, and candy for $250 under budget. They delivered the boxes to Sunrise on June 9, 2004, seeing for the first time the hard days the children face during their battles against cancer. Despite the sadness and discomfort that was visible on the faces of the teens, they delivered the boxes to every child on the floor and donated the remaining boxes to Candlelighters for newly diagnosed patients.

The project was originally planned to end there, however the teens decided that they wanted to follow-up with gifts for those youth during the holiday season. TLOF ordered fun pads, pens, candy, reindeer masks, noisemakers, and snowflake stockings that were delivered personally. The teens realized that they could make a difference, even if it was small and even if it was with one person at a time.

Recently the teens were awarded a second grant from YNAPP. One of the girls lost a friend to Lupus and so the teens decided to complete a bowl-a-thon in order to raise funding and awareness for Lupus. TLOF have recognized the severity of Lupus and discovered that there is no Lupus Foundation in Nevada. TLOF will be working with the Arthritis Foundation to complete this project.

TLOF set an example for their community through their dedication. By completing the projects they learn their strengths and discover new abilities. In addition, new friendships have formed creating a positive atmosphere that the younger children yearn to join.

These young volunteers’ service affects so many people. Their projects touch many, from the child in the hospital, to a visiting adult that they explain their project to.

HUGH GRAHAM JONES

Hugh started a service project in 2004 to help ease the transition of ESL students into high school life by collecting dictionaries and books and giving them to ESL students. He organized an English dictionary, English/Foreign language dictionary, and middle reader book drive.

He contacted several local churches to put announcements in their bulletins and recruited friends to help email the announcement to the churches, solicit donations of boxes from a moving store, make posters for the book deposit boxes and place the boxes in all the church lobbies. Once a week one of Hugh or his friends checked the boxes, and the donated books/dictionaries were brought to the ESL room. After several weeks it became clear that he wasn’t going to get enough dictionaries through donations alone. However, there were plenty of middle readers being donated. This was the most difficult step of the project because he needed to rethink how to get the amount of needed dictionaries.

After a family brainstorm, he came up with the idea to “Sponsor a Dictionary.” Hugh contacted a local office supply store that graciously gave him a discounted price to purchase dictionaries. He also contacted a book wholesaler who found the English/Spanish and English/Urdu dictionaries and offered to sell them for $1 each. He then sent out “Sponsor a Dictionary” letters to friends and family asking them to donate cash for as many dictionaries as they could sponsor.

The response was overwhelming, and Hugh was able to purchase over 170 dictionaries. With over 700 middle readers donated and nowhere to store them he constructed bookshelves and set up the middle reader library in the ESL classroom. Now the students were able to borrow the books that they wanted to read without the inconvenience of having to wade through boxes of books.

Hugh’s project accomplished more than just collecting dictionaries and books. He realized that he accomplished was a change in himself. Apparently, he thought he would be the “knight in shining armor” riding in with reinforcements just before the castle fell to the bad guys. But through this book drive, he began to understand just a fraction of the difficulties that these ESL students endure. However, they don’t think that they are doing anything great by learning a new language, customs, and life. While working on this project, Hugh was continually reminded he takes many things for granted. Even something as simple as a dictionary, he expected his parents to get without even considering the cost.

Thinking about these kids in my school, many of whom came to the United States without any material goods and no command of the language, helped him realize how good he had it and to use that “good” to help others.

CINDY BOWMAN TAYLOR

Every year hundreds of participants sacrifice their time, efforts and/or money to support local agencies in Calhoun County, Alabama to help local agencies and residents accomplish projects that would otherwise not be done because of lack of funds or resources. The United Way’s “Day of Caring” is one of the ways that these needs are met. Volunteers from around the community join together to accomplish the much needed projects. The volunteer workday had over 400 participants from 25 companies who worked at 26 agencies. Anniston Army Depot in Anniston, Alabama has joined in this effort the last three years.

Mrs. Cindy Taylor has led the coordinating efforts for Anniston Army Depot. As a United Way Ambassador, Mrs. Taylor assists in the planning of the volunteer workday by contacting agencies needing assistance and matching them with companies who have volunteers. Mrs. Taylor also works with promotion and media coverage for the event. Mrs. Taylor has been the “Day of Caring” chairperson for Anniston Army Depot for three years.

The United Way of East Central Alabama instituted their inaugural award, the “Kitchins’ Caring Hand Award,” to recognize an extraordinary individual who went above and beyond the call of duty, exceeded expectations and/or exemplified an exceptional contribution to the day’s success. The award is named after the late the longtime philanthropy efforts of the late Claude Kitchins.

Nominations were solicited from the participating volunteers to select who this award should be presented to. It is difficult, at best, to single out any one person for their unselfish efforts and hard work. Nominations were considered upon the following demonstrated characteristics: attitude, enthusiasm, teamwork, personal sacrifice, leadership and other supportive efforts.

The Kitchin’s Caring Hand award was presented to Anniston Army Depot employee Cindy Taylor for going above and beyond the call of duty. The award was presented during the United Way Annual campaign kick-off luncheon.

In addition to being awarded the Kitchin’s Day of Caring award, Mrs. Taylor was named co-chair for the upcoming Day of Caring volunteer day. She has also served as the United Way’s Combined Federal Campaign coordinator for Anniston Army Depot and was a member of the Executive Committee and the Local Federal Coordinating Committee for the United Way. Through diligent work with key leaders and managers throughout the depot and private organizations, Mrs. Taylor was able to lead one of the most successful campaigns in the depot’s history. For these efforts, Mrs. Taylor received the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service.