DEBBIE WOLINSKY

Debbie Wolinsky donates hundreds of hours of service to her community each year as advisor of her school’s international award winning Key Club. Under her mentorship, students have learned the value of giving of their time treasures and talents to make our community a better place in which to live. She donates countless hours of her time to the numerous projects that her students are involved in as she teaches them the meaning of service.

Debbie has led students as they created a program for families touched by the tragedy of fire. The “Extinguish the Need” program that this group started is now a permanent fixture in the Indianapolis community with the opening next month of the Extinguish the need House by the People’s Burn Foundation. Her students continue to educate kindergarten students about the need for bur safety. Over the past five years, they have presented their program to over two thousand children.

Over the past year and a half, she has worked with the students in Key Club to raise more than $70,000 for breast cancer research through the sale of bracelets made by club members. Many hours are spent with students making bracelets out of swarovski crystal and sterling silver beads. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the sale of these bracelets is donated.

On any given day, you can find her with students, performing some kind of community service. Even though she receives a small stipend for 150 hours of her time, it does not begin to cover the cost of five hundred hours of her time every year to ensure that students have the opportunity to experience community service in a fun and meaningful way. Over the past seven years, she has involved hundreds of high school students in this activity. Many return from college to share their continued joy of serving and are making lasting impacts on their communities.

MARIANITO ASPERILLA, M.D.

Dr. Asperilla is an inspiration to all in his community. He has shown an ongoing relationship and community mobilization. His direction to the indigent, the disabled and disadvantages has always been evident. He tirelessly commits and devotes his time, energy, and finances to the betterment of all.

Most recently, following the devastation of Hurricane Charley, Dr. Asperilla, as the Medical Director for the St. Vincent DePaul Pharmacy, instituted an emergency prescription service, and personally saw patients affected by the storm. Dr. Asperilla has been a driving force in the volunteer coordination of the ten-county disaster recovery group. His efforts include implementing a mobile pharmacy and freestanding volunteer health clinic at the FEMA Park located on Airport Road in Punta Gorda.

Although the local HIV/AIDS clinic was destroyed by Hurricane Charley, Dr. Asperilla worked to provide services. He applied for and obtained a United Way grant, enabling him to secure a trailer so patients could receive much needed treatment. He also enlisted the Charlotte County Ministerial Association to provide counseling and support.

Those in need know Dr. Asperilla will be there and find a way to help. He works one-on-one to provide medical care to the disadvantaged, including those disabled and homeless. He is sure to be the core person in coordinating the delivery of medical supplies to the homeless, equipment, such as wheelchairs for the Southwest Florida Disability members, and multiple services to any patient in need.

Dr. Asperilla’s charity work exceeds the boundaries of comprehension. He exemplifies advocacy, innovative ideals, compassion, respect for life, integrity and high ethical morals and standards.

ST. MARY’S HOSPITAL AUXILIARY

Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital Auxiliary reached a significant milestone on November 30th, 2004! Back on November 30th, 1954, Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital Auxiliary was officially recognized as an “Institution Member” of the American Hospital Association.

In the fifty years since then, thousands of people have volunteered their time, talent and energy at Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital and helped to carry on the health care mission of the Sister’s of St. Joseph of Carondelet.

The services these volunteers performed are many and varied. They have included: helping patients and visitors at the Information Desk; serving as hostess in the Surgery and Critical Care waiting room; escorting patients and visitors throughout the Hospital; pushing patients in wheelchairs; helping Nurses perform non-clinical tasks such as giving water and passing food trays to patients; delivering mail and flowers to patients; providing books and magazines to patients; pushing a gift cart around the hospital selling snacks and candy; performing clerical duties in administration, Medical Records, Business Office, and Human Resources; driving the shuttle cart in the parking lot, taking visitors, patients and staff to the front entrance and back to their car.

The volunteers have operated a Gift Shop within the Hospital and a Thrift Store across the street from the Hospital. These stores have provided valuable and needed services to patients, visitors and staff of St. Mary’s as well as the local community. In addition to the Gift Shop and Thrift Store, volunteers have earned money by making and selling Craft items, selling home made baked goods, and having “raffles” for many different items.

Over the years, Carondelet St. Mary’s Auxiliary has donated money to help pay for such things as: a book cart, a gift cart, a heart-lung machine, remodeling the Recovery Room, new Heart monitors, remodeling the 1st floor, ocular pulse monitors, a portable x-ray machine, remodeling the Gift Shop, provide laundry equipment and ice machines, remodeling the Pediatric waiting room, the 4 South Nurses Station and the Recovery Room, provide an Aortic Balloon pump, closed circuit TV’s, a CT Scanner, a new Chapel, Defibrillator Monitors, a “Code Cart”, remodeling the Surgery waiting room, provide new parking lot Shuttle carts; remodeling the Emergency Department, new Maternity Department; provide a Day Care center for Hospital staff, and build a new Emergency Department.

In addition to all of the Hospital enhancements listed above, Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital Auxiliary has awarded nearly $200,000 in Educational Scholarships to students pursuing careers in health care.

This group of individual volunteers have faithfully aided and assisted Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital in carrying out its mission for over 50 years. Since 1954, Carondelet St. Mary’s Volunteers have given over 2,500,000 hours of service and $3,200,000. Thank you for recognizing us on our 50th anniversary.

NORMAN SMITH

Norman began mentoring over three years ago. He was matched to two brothers, who are sons of a single mother. The boys skipped school often, and were doing poorly. Their hygiene was lacking, and they had few social skills. They fought with each other and were out of control. A retired school teacher, Norman jumped right in, helping the boys with their school work by supervising their reading, working with flash cards on reading and math, and helping them practice their skills. He talked with their teachers and kept himself updated by their mom. The boys quickly developed a relationship with Norman, and he has gone the extra mile in mentoring them. Every fun activity has also included some educational components. He also has them do yard work and other chores for him, for which they are paid, and he is teaching them to manage money.

Norman has not only responded to the boy’s needs (getting them haircuts, motivating them to help keep their home clean) but he works with them on sports skills, takes them out to eat and for treats, helps them modify their social behavior, and gives them little rewards when they meet their behavioral and school goals. He meets with them an average of twice a week, for two hours each time, and often makes quick visits to keep the influence going.

As the brothers are very different from one another, Norman often separates them to individualize their activities. He recognizes their strengths and their needs and interests, and plans mentoring activities to focus on these. He uses his teaching skills to create games which help the boys memorize times tables, and math concepts. He is in contact with their schoolteachers, so he is aware of the areas where they need special help. He reviews past learning situations, to help the boys remember what they are learning, and even when they are driving to swim, or other activity, there is always a discussion going on. He is aware of activities in the community which are fun, educational, cultural, and often free or for a small cost, and takes his mentees to a real variety of events.

He is a dedicated mentor, and also works at recruiting new mentors for waiting kids. He frequently has suggestions for activity opportunities for all mentors and their mentees. He believes in mentoring and promotes it at every opportunity.

In addition to his mentoring, Norman Smith is a volunteer with RSVP – the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. He is involved in many church and community events and encourages others to become involved

FRIENDS OF JEFFERSON THE BEAUTIFUL

Jefferson Parish (Louisiana) is approximately 100 miles long north to south, stretching from Lake Pontchartrain to the Gulf of Mexico, and is divided diagonally by the Mississippi River. Friends of Jefferson the Beautiful is the unique organization within the parish that painstakingly applies its assets and energies to the entirety of the parish. With the stipulation stated in its bylaws, exactly half of the board of directors is elected from each side of the Mississippi River. Chartered by Jefferson Parish, Friends of Jefferson the Beautiful annually renews a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the parish government by which the organization pledges “…to raise funds, increase community awareness, and engage in other activities to preserve and promote landscaping on public property…” On August 26, 2004, FJB dedicated a $ 25,000 massive planting of trees along a public street.

In 2001, FJB developed an Annual Tree School which provided heretofore-difficult-to-obtain information to home builders and home owners alike on how best to protect the urban forestry canopy during housing development. Packaged into a single day, free to the general public, and with lunch provided, the four tree schools have averaged an attendance of approximately 300 persons each. In 2002, the National Arbor Day Foundation awarded its national Education Award to the FJB Tree School Program. In 2003, the Louisiana Urban Forestry Council awarded its President’s Award to the FJB Tree School Program. FJB is currently planning the Fifth Annual Tree School for Spring 2005.

In 2003, FJB developed a curriculum for a Citizen Forester Program which accepted volunteers from the community into an eight-week training program designed to teach them the various elements of urban forestry preservation and restoration, the rules and regulations of the governing bodies, and the methods by which threats to the arboreal environment could be addressed. In a fall class (2003) and a spring class (2004), FJB has now graduated 92 “Tree Troopers” —each fully motivated and armed with the knowledge and abilities to make an impact on his or her community. The FJB Citizen Forester Program was awarded to 2004 Louisiana Urban Forestry Council’s Education Award.

Beginning in 2002, FJB initiated an annual (now progressed to quarterly) educational forum (“Planter’s Lunch” — from the FJB logo “Plant the Parish”) which is open to the public and again provides a free lunch to the attendees. The purpose of this meeting is to bring relevant updates to the various publics with which the organization interacts and to provide educational presentations on issues of interest to those publics, typically dealing with conversation and restoration of the urban forest. Average attendance at these gathering is about 50 people.

On October 6, 2004, the Educational Chairman of FJB (Ms. Carey Hammett) and Mr. Tom Campbell (Louisiana Department of Forestry) who has partnered with FJB in all of its urban forestry programs were invited by the National Arbor Day Foundation to present “Urban Forestry Preservation, New Orleans Style” to a national conference. This presentation personifies FJB impact at the local, state, and now national levels.

MILDRED FOLKVARD

Mildred Folkvard is a tireless and dedicated senior citizen, who despite her advanced age of 84, is a constant volunteer in our elementary school. She comes in early in the morning and works throughout the day to help with whatever tasks she is asked to do, never taking a break or watching the clock. Despite reassurances that “there is always tomorrow and it does not have to be done today” she plugs away at each task and is not happy with leaving anything incomplete. Her energy is amazing for anyone, regardless of age.

Mildred copies our school’s monthly 12-14 page newsletter all on her own each and every month of the school year. This takes, on average, three of more hours straight to complete. She deals with the frustration of paper jams, constant interruption, and anything else that comes her way during the process, never giving up on the job.

Mildred helps in our school office with anything that is given to her, such as running copies, folding papers, cutting out, stamping, and any office task that come about. She does this for our staff as well.

While she is in the office, Mildred seem to often end up conversing with students that may be in the office for a little “time out” from minor situations. She seems to gravitate toward them, and they toward her. Her influence is immense. Mildred is a true role model who, even though she likes to think of herself as a little gruff, is a grandmotherly type who clearly loves children very much. An “atta boy” from Mildred is worth a million bucks!

Mildred stands by the front door and greets the hundreds of children who walk through our school’s doors each morning. She always has a smile and a good word for everyone. She and the hallway assistant make it a point to greet every child and to have a conversation with many. Our children have a wonderful way to start the day.

Mildred is an inspiration to all of us. While the services of senior citizens like Mildred may sometimes be overlooked in the hustle and bustle of today’s society, they are not overlooked in our school. She is a much-loved addition to our school and a wonderful influence in the lives of our children and staff. We are truly blessed that she has chosen our school and our children to help.

Besides all she does in our school, she is also depended on heavily by her family. She provides child care on a daily basis and is always open and ready for the family to use her expertise.

One last note: in 2002, a White House presenter, Mr. Bill Osborne, came to our school to present the President’s Student Service/Volunteer Awards and immediately took notice of Mildred. It was he who brought to our attention that Mildred Folkvard is, in his words, “an exact example of a Point of Light.”

UNIQEMA’S MENTORING TEAM

Since 1997, Uniqema has partnered in a School Mentoring program with the Harry O. Eisenberg Elementary School – a local neighborhood school. Working through the Governor’s office, we decided to select a school in the immediate community with ‘high risk’ students who could benefit from a mentoring relationship.

The mission of the Uniqema program is to increase the academic achievement and school success of students. The regular meetings of the students and their mentors aid in promoting this.

Uniqema’s objectives are to improve student attendance, communication skills, problem solving abilities, and academic achievement through an adult friendship/role model. Meeting these objectives will assist the youth in becoming well-rounded and positive individuals that can effectively contribute to society.

A Uniqema mentor is a caring adult who is willing to devote an hour a week to a child in need of academic tutoring, emotional support, or merely friendship. A mentor serves as a role model and a friend.

Students in theUniqema program attend Eisenberg Elementary and are in grades kindergarten through fifth grade. They are in need of the additional support and guidance of an adult to be successful in school. Many of the students lack the necessary home support to accomplish school success.

All mentoring occurs at the school. Mentors meet with the same assigned student for 1-hour a week. There is an opportunity to use recreational, art, music, computer and lunch facilities on a one-on-one basis with the student. Activities range from reading aloud, doing school work together, playing games, working on a PC, shooting hoops in the gym, to just hanging out and talking. Whatever the activity, the focus is on forming a supportive relationship with the child that can aid him or her to succeed. The mentor serves as the student’s role model and friend.

In addition, at the end of each school year, the students are invited to join their mentors at the Atlas Point Plant site for an Annual Mentoring Field Day consisting of “hands-on” science fun and learning adventures, safety activities, and a Plant tour in which students are able to witness the operations of a manufacturing plant first-hand. The students with their mentors tour and participate in activities in the Warehouse, Production areas, Maintenance Shops, Laboratories and Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD) area. Visitors may include the Governor and other elected officials. This is a very special day dedicated solely to the students.

ALPHA PHI OMEGA ETA KAPPA CHAPTER

The Eta Kappa Chapter of the Alpha Phi Omega National Co-ed Service Fraternity, located at the University of Wisconsin – Stout has long served the surrounding communities of Menomonie. As one of three cardinal principles of Alpha Phi Omega (APO), service is a key component in the activities of its members. Service opportunities include weekly game night at the Potter House, a local retirement home, interaction with animals at the local humane society, and volunteering at Special Olympic meet and fundraisers. Just recently, Eta Kappa began sponsoring the Week of Warmth, which raises money for individuals and families in Wisconsin who are unable to pay heating costs throughout the winter.

Besides community volunteerism, Eta Kappa also focuses on three other areas of service: service to the college, service to the nation, and service to the fraternity. Activities such as campus cleanup, aiding in laptop distribution to freshmen, assisting in moving freshmen into residence halls, and helping other campus organizations with events help fulfill our area of serving the college. Eta Kappa serves the nation through activities such as Adopt-A –Highway and participation in service projects hosted by other APO chapters throughout the United States. Service to the fraternity is achieved through various fundraisers and activities that allow APO to flourish at the University of Wisconsin – Stout and on other campuses across the United States. With the existence of these chapters, college age men and women are given the opportunity to help serve others.

HILLTOP KIDS CARE CLUB

In 1994, Beachwood’s school system redefined their mission statement to “develop intellectual entrepreneurs with a social conscience” and selected core values that would lead their students to contribute to society and their community. Created by the school’s guidance counselor, Sue Yuratovac, the focus of Hilltop Kids Care Club was on fostering education and preparing these graduating elementary schools students for a lifetime of volunteerism and commitment to their community.

On a rotating basis throughout the school year, the sixth grade students give up recess and lunch time with their school friends to become teachers’ aides at Fairmount School. They interact with preschool and kindergarten students through reading, assisting with art projects practicing cursive writing, eating lunch and socializing in small groups. These students travel to the Greens of Lyndhurst, a senior facility, where they are paired with the residents to eat lunch, work on arts and crafts projects, learn about the older generations’ lives and become surrogate grandchildren to individuals who feel good about the future being in the hands of these community-minded young men and women. Students deliver vital meals to frail, elderly individuals for Jewish Family Service Association and feel proud that they are helping these recipients remain independent in their homes. The students travel to the Heights Emergency Food Center, where they take canned goods and bulk items and separate them into smaller amounts for immediate disbursement for waiting customers. The students also volunteer their time at school creating fleece hats for children at Euclid Park Elementary School and Metro Hospital., items that are gratefully received and happily worn throughout the cold Cleveland months.

Students who are apprehensive about giving up their recess and lunch time with their friends believe that volunteering is hard work until they actually begin each project. Withdrawn students become confident, gregarious students learn proper protocol, and special needs students that are deaf and/or developmentally disabled are the most giving and loving as volunteers. After each project is completed, the students always declare that their leadership helps keep their communities thriving and growing. Volunteering allows them to accomplish wonderful things for very deserving people. At their sixth grade promotion, the students are recognized for their volunteer activities by the Beachwood School Board, families, teachers and friends.

The students have made an immediate, positive impact in their communities. The continued growth and popularity of the Club is a testament to the planning, dedication and support of the Beachwood School Board and Staff at Hilltop School. These students’ community service, begun at this young age, will carry on as they continually reap the benefits and rewards of volunteering. They are a unique Club comprised of students that exemplify the true spirit of volunteerism in every facet. They are role models for all students everywhere, demonstrating caring, kindness and mutual respect, and fostering healthy family values. This club truly represents a continuum of community interaction.

ROBERT CARPENTER

Robert D. Carpenter, of Huntington, West Virginia, has a professional job as a Funeral Director for Klingel-Carpenter Mortuary, but he spends most of his time doing community service, not only locally, but nationally and internationally.

He has worked many years to secure funding for fire stations and training for the Area Fire Service both Volunteer and Professional. His efforts were responsible for securing five new Fire Stations and five new trucks over the past 50 years helped to deliver high quality emergency services to the Citizens of the Tri State Area.

As President for the past 40 years of the Tri State Fire Academy, three years ago the property was lost to a new development for Marshall University. There was $1,200 in the bank and no Fire School. It is a non-profit 501c3 school owned by those who use it. During the past 3 years a new Academy has been developed with funds and goods and property donated from the Industry, Citizens and County and State Commissions. Now there is Safety Training Academy which is first class and recognized around the country for its Computers Labs. Also, the Community College of Marshall has over 23 different classes there on Marine Fire Fighting, Pilot & Radar Training, Deck Hand Programs for new well paying jobs for a cost of $400 for a 10 day course the student has a job of $30,000 waiting following certification. Its new name is the Robert D. Carpenter Training Center, Tri State Fire Academy. There is no paid staff operating the Academy just a Board of 5 people.

Also during his year as President of the Tri State Boy Scouts a new office building and major rebuilding of the Scout Camp took place.

In the 1980’s he served as the Disaster Chairman for the National Funeral Directors Association which developed into the D-Mort National Program. Robert received its highest award from that association for his volunteer service. In Rotary International after service as District Governor he served as National Polio Chairman and received the two highest Awards from Rotary International (there are only 50 awards presented annually in the entire Rotary World).