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YOUTH RALLY STAFF OF THE UNITED OSTOMY ASSOCIATION

The United Ostomy Association is a volunteer-based health organization dedicated to providing education, information, support and advocacy for people who have had or will have intestinal or urinary diversions. Headquartered in Irvine, California, UOA serves more than 25,000 members in the United States of all ages.

People with ostomies come in all sizes, ages, and physical descriptions. More than 250,000 people have been helped by UOA in the past 40 years. Often the association meets them as young children, watches them grow through their teens to young adults and ultimately sees them as fully independent and productive adults.

For 25 years, UOA has been sponsoring a summer Youth Rally – a camp for children aged 11-17 who have an ostomy or related procedure, usually caused by birth defects such as Spina Bifida, Hirschprung’s Disease, Cloacal Exstrophy, Crohn’s and Colitis, or even bladder or colon cancer. Ever since the first UOA Youth Rally in 1978, they have been dedicated to healing young lives affected by ostomies, continent diversions and bowel and bladder medical conditions. In fact, UOA is the only agency in the United States that conducts this event for children with these conditions.

In these 25 years, UOA has reached thousands of special-needs children. The Rally is held on a university campus and includes informative health education classes on topics ranging from dating and hygiene, multiple surgeries, what clothing will camouflage the ostomy appliance, and dancing, sightseeing, shopping, and all kinds of sports. Days are filled with active times of laughter and learning and quiet times of conversation with peers and staff who have similar situations – all provided in a sage, healthy, fun-filled camp environment. Many of these children have never met another person their age with the same medical challenges, and for many it is the first time they are away from home, The Rally teaches the independent living skills they will use for the rest of their lives to be fully functional adults. And the children make lifelong friends with home they communicate regularly to discuss their progress to wellness.

The Youth Rally requires dedicated staff and medical professionals that are passionate about helping special-needs children. It takes more than 50 such counselors and specialized nurses to support the Rally each summer. Most of them are ostomates themselves and all of whom have used their personal vacation time and own finances to attend and provide the special attention our campers receive. The expense to promote and run the Rally is entirely born of donations made my UOA chapters and members, the special volunteer counselors and nurses, other medical professionals, and corporations. UOA’s Central Office provides administrative support, while the Rally Program Chair, Medical Chair and Psychological Support Chair are all volunteers.

Most campers attend the Rally for 4-6 years consecutively. Once a camper turns 18, they “graduate” from the Rally. Many of them subsequently return as volunteer counselors because they learned the skills they need to be able to now help other children. This truly demonstrates the benefit of the Rally and the ongoing involvement of the campers. At last year’s camp, close to 50% of the volunteer counselors were previous campers.

JADE RUBICK

Domestic abuse has been in the forefront of our society during the past decade; however, what is not publicized is that it does happen to men. According to the latest published survey of US couples, two million men a year are severely assaulted by their spouse or mates.

Men have been told that they cannot leave the family, even if there is abuse, because they are abandoning their responsibility. Many men stay in abusive relationships because they feel they can act as a protector for the children from possible abuse. They also stay because they assume the legal system will not grant them custody because they are a man. They also fear that visitation in the hands of a controlling spouse will never be easy, and they may not see their children again.

There are 24-hour crisis lines and shelters available for women experiencing domestic violence, but there are hardly any such services available for men in the United States. Jade Rubick created and founded a nonprofit organization, Stop Abuse For Everyone (SAFE). This organization provides resources and services for those who are dealing with domestic violence. SAFE is an international organization with headquarters in Portland, Oregon.

Mr. Rubick started SAFE in 1996 as a grassroots organization and it received its 501(c)(3) federal status in the beginning of 2001. He developed SAFE after experiencing first hand the lack of services to underserved victims of domestic violence crime in the arenas of law enforcement, health care providers, social service and other domestic violence intervention programs.

He looked to make it as easy as possible for service providers to expand their services to other victims. Through Mr. Rubick’s efforts and support, SAFE now provides a myriad of services. They provide Professional Trainings and Presentation through the SAFE Speakers Bureau, Brochures for the underserved DV groups, on-line resource lists and direct services such as court advocacy, support groups, hotlines and community resources.

SAFE has served tens of thousands of people since its inceptions. Mr. Rubick has let men throughout the world no they are not alone and not to keep silent. He has also created The Stop Abuse For Everyone website at www.safe4all.org. This site has a list of resources that indicates what kinds of help are available in various areas in addition to an on-line support and discussion group.

RUTH CORNELL ATHEY

Ruth Athey took in her friend to live with her and her family after a domestic violence case and divorce, when her friend had no money, car or a home. Mrs. Athey helped her friend to find a house in the neighborhood where she lives so she could be near her children. Mrs. Athey also helped her friend to furnish a large, four-bedroom house with furniture from her antique shop, at cost. This is just one example of Ruth Athey’s kindness and generosity.

Mrs. Athey is a Red Cross volunteer who has served at Ground Zero and numerous other assignments, since her husband’s death. Mrs. Athey also volunteers at the Herrick Public Library gift shop. She has been a guardian counselor and power of attorney for many people whose families live far away. She also intends to donate her body to Mayo Clinic for research.

Mrs. Athey can best be described as a special person, a loving neighbor and friend.

GOLUB CORPORATION

In 1964, Golub Corporation approached 4-H Youth Development programs in Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady and Schoharie Counties to work jointly in providing about 4,000 youth with a great opportunity. Youth in grades 3-12 from the participating counties would learn how to propagate vegetables, experiment in vegetable production, practice record keeping, accept responsibility and experience the business side of agriculture.

The Golub Corporation proposal stated that they would supply youth with seeds and plants, marketing supplies, a warehouse training session and recognition on completion of the program. Jointly, Golub and the Cornell Cooperative Extension Associations developed a plan for the program. Youth would be required to fill out an application, which would include a plan of the garden, and a choice of which Price Chopper store would market the produce. Applications for the program were to be filed out and handed in by February. The applications would be available through Cornell Cooperative Extension in the participating counties. Golub Corporation would purchase up to $500.00 per growing season. (The average amount earned in 2002 was $90.00 per grower.)

Volunteer area leaders provided by Cornell Cooperative Extensions, support gardeners on a day-to-day basis with encouragement, marketing questions and growing tips. Cornell Cooperative Extension staff provides overall program organization, training to area leaders and participating youth, and assistance in marketing produce. Volunteer Master Gardeners make personal visits to gardens, providing technical support and encouragement.

The commitment that Golub made and continues to make over 39 years, to youth development in the Capital District, is far beyond financial. Youths have demonstrated leadership and decision-making skills by planning and planting a vegetable garden with the positive support form trained caring adult volunteers. They have been provided with opportunities to practice life skills such as, planning/organizing, goal setting, critical thinking, problem solving, learning to learn, teamwork and responsibility.

LEE-MARTIN SLOAN

Lee-Martin Sloan helped to organize the Helping Hands Club, originally called the Humanitarian Club, in 2000. She has remained an integral part of the club, serving in the capacity of Chairman of the Board of Student Advisors, as she has for three years.

Lee-Martin spends many hours helping plan and carry out projects for the club. She is very generous especially with her personal resources, for example putting together and donating Holiday Hope Chests for two children.

Lee-Martin is always one of the first to sign up to help. She is project-driven and goal-driven; therefore what the club commits to do, Lee-Martin will see the project through to completion in a timely fashion.

The Helping Hands Club under Lee-Martin’s leadership completed the following projects this year:

  • Tim Jones Fund Raiser: Tim is a HHS student that was injured in a car crash in the fall. The club sponsored a penny drive and a bake sale to help the family with expenses. Tim was in Huntsville Hospital then moved to the Shriner’s Hospital in Chicago; therefore expenses were extraordinary high.
  • Riverfest Project for the Volunteer Center. Lee-Martin volunteered several hours to this project.
  • Halloween Card Project: Lee-Martin purchased cards for the club to sign and forward to the Hospice nurses for distribution to Hospice patients in Morgan and Lawrence counties.
  • Towel Drive for the Caring Place: The club donated more than 80 pieces including bath towels, hand towels and bath cloths. Lee-Martin and other club members delivered the towels to the Caring Place.
  • Coat Drive for the Caring Place: The club supplied more than 25 coats to the Caring Place. Lee-Martin made flyers and distributed them in her neighborhood. She ask for donation of coats, collected the donations and delivered the coats to school.
  • Angel Tree Participants: The club worked for the Volunteer Center providing workers at the tree. Helping Hands also sponsors one Angel. Lee-Martin did the shopping for our Angel
  • Baby Food Collection: Lee-Martin encouraged club members to donate baby food at the club meeting.
  • Volunteers for the Children’s Miracle Network: Lee-Martin encouraged club members to volunteer to work the phone center. She also set up a sign up sheet to insure the times promised by the club was covered.

In addition to volunteer work, Lee-Martin helps her Mom care for two younger siblings. Also she tutors a junior high school student to earn spending money. Lee-Martin is a superior student. She has a 3.35 GPA and will complete the requirements for an Advanced Diploma in May 2002. Her college plans are not complete at this time but she has visited several campuses and hopes to make a decision soon.

FRED DOWNS AND JIM MAYER

Fred Downs and Jim Mayer are career employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Both men were profoundly injured in Vietnam. Mr. Downs lost his left arm and nearly all of his other extremities as well. He was scarred all over by shrapnel and the harvesting of the uninjured skin to graft onto his wounds. Mr. Mayer lost both of his legs below his knees. Now, more than 30 years after their experiences, Downs and Mayer are positive men who are helping other Veterans heal. They both volunteer and work with soldiers, sailors and airmen who have recently suffered traumatic injury. Neither harbors bitterness or resentment because of their disabilities, though it is hard for them to do what many of us take for granted like getting up at night and getting out of the bed to go to the bathroom.

Both men share their stories with soldiers who have similar injuries. They serve as an inspiration, and the soldiers realize there is life after amputation. Since April of 2003, the pair has visited in excess of 60 wounded soldiers at Walter Reed and National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland as volunteer amputee peer visitors. Their motive is to help other amputees in any way they can. Their service began during the 1991 Gulf War. They heard news reports that Saddam Hussein had dispersed a million land mines to maim and kill coalition forces if they invaded Iraq. They strategize to figure how they could best help the wounded. They remembered their recoveries and when they most needed someone.

Mr. Downs and Mr. Mayer organized field trips, picnics and hosted backyard barbecues for the injured from the Gulf War. After the war was over, the team continued visiting service members injured in training accidents or deployments. They keep in touch with many of the patients they have met, and 22 of the 58 wounded soldiers Mr. Mayer met during the Gulf War showed up at his house for a July 4th barbecue in 1996 for a five-year reunion. They see other troops at the National Veterans Wheelchair Games and the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic. Mr. Mayer also sponsors “Alive Day” celebrations. He has held them every year since 1970 when he almost died on April 25th.

Mr. Downs encourages the soldiers to do things on their own to aid in recovery. He believes in encouragement because it worked for him. After his injury he went to school, get married, started a family, wrote three books and he leads the Veteran Affairs multimillion-dollar prosthetic and sensory aid service. He has also established land mine survivor programs in several countries.

As American troops began the build-up for Operation Iraqi Freedom, Mr. Downs and Mr. Mayer expanded their volunteer roles by meeting with military surgeons at Walter Reed. They shared their insights in to the traumatic injuries and talked to them about how they felt when they were injured. The pair also discussed how they thought the medical staff could help the wounded soldiers. These two men are positive and upbeat and always look for a way to encourage someone. Mr. Downs wrote a book, Aftermath, that discusses his year of hospitalization and the 52 plastic surgery operations he underwent to survive. Their example has been important to the young men and women recently injured and frightened about what that change will mean in their lives.

BERMIRA GATES

For 15 years, Bemira Gates, an alumna of Clark Atlanta University, has contributed to campus and community organizations by bridging the gap in areas of unmet needs. Gates founded CUWIN (see you win), a nonprofit organization with the single mission of relating education to real life situations. CUWIN assists grassroots, faith-based and nonprofit agencies with serving disadvantaged neighborhoods. This is accomplished by building collaborative partnerships with national organizations. CUWIN promotes academic excellence through neighborhood volunteerism.

Some of the organizations that have partnered with CUWIN are First Book, Georgia Mentoring Partnership, Communities in Schools, Boys and Girls Club of Metro Atlanta and Sisters Motivating Achievement by Recognizing Talents (SMART).

Gates has helped build a powerful coalition of members of colleges and universities and nonprofit businesses to address unmet needs in areas of study. By educating communities with students of higher education, neighborhoods are able to create programs with committed volunteers. Gates has a tremendous commitment to recruiting volunteers to share their talents with the community at large.

Ms. Gates, an AmeriCorps alumni, has more than 10 years of community service experience in surrounding neighborhoods in Atlanta, Ga. Her accomplishments can be seen in a number of neighborhoods, Reynoldstown and Historic West End, to name a few.

While attending Frederick Douglass High School, Ms. Gates volunteered in the Reynoldstown community as their neighborhood journalist for several years. She introduced Reynoldstown to technology by constructing web pages and providing information to help low-income residents obtain home ownership. In 1998, she was able to provide funds to Reynoldstown through a community service grant given by AT&T. In 2002-03, Ms. Gates, 29, spearheaded the Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU) Technology Project. She coordinated volunteers at the Atlanta University Center, one of six sites throughout the United States participating in the program. Building a bridge through local community nonprofits, she created sustainable activities and collaborative economic efforts with other AmeriCorps projects.

Ms. Gates is continuing to help nonprofit organizations obtain funding and devise innovative projects. The digital divide is just one of the most sought after areas in which she serves. She has also dedicated her strength and talents in giving back to the community in the areas of education and social responsibility. She currently works with Hands on Atlanta’s Social Entrepreneurship Program and First Book’s Literacy Program, giving to impoverished minorities who have minimal access to educational materials.

ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL

For the past five years, St. Joseph Catholic School has been involved in Make A Difference Day. Participation has become a tradition at St. Joseph School. Past projects have included completely renovating a transitional housing facility of The Salvation Army, raising money for Canine Companions for Independence (trained dogs for the handicapped) and Candlelighter’s of Brevard (non-profit organization that helps children with cancer in Brevard County). Last year’s project was a shoreline habitat restoration of the Indian River Lagoon in honor of a September 11th victim. The school is continuing their working relationship with Marine Resources Council that began last year with plans to build a greenhouse on campus.

The goal of this year’s project was to raise awareness and money to help open the doors of The Sue Pridmore Center for Homeless Women and Women with Children. The students also built a playground, landscaped the facility and created inspirational banners to be hung inside. Prior to the event the students collected personal hygiene items for the shelter residents. This newly constructed, yet unopened facility needs the financial support of the community to open the doors. Through the work of St. Joseph Catholic School students and the coverage of the local newspaper, others have been inspired and in turn have come forward. A $5,000 donation was recently made as a result of the Make A Difference Day project.

The children throughout the school year collect canned goods for the hungry. When the community is notified of shortages, the schoolchildren step in to do their part. Beneficiaries of canned food drives have been the Saint Vincent DePaul Society, Daily Bread, and Project Response. When the local animal shelter’s shelves were empty, the students collected canned and dried food for the animals.

Each year, the students spend two hours on Friday afternoons visiting with the residents at the home. Students collect personal items and create gifts for the residents during the holidays. They are also invited to the school to watch Christmas Plays and Spring Musicals. The 1st graders sing for them annually at the holidays.

The school also participates annually in National projects such as Pennies for Pasta that benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Jump Rope for Heart that benefits the American Heart Association and for the past nine years has participated in OxFam. Last year, through the forfeiture of their lunches, the students collected $767.50 for OxFam to help stamp out hunger around the world.

The students at Saint Joseph School have learned that making a difference in their community is what life is all about. They are always involved in a food drive, collecting items for the needy, or planning the next volunteer project. There is never a time that they are not being taught to think of the less fortunate. Teaching the next generation at an early age to care about others and show their compassion by taking action is what education at Saint Joseph School is all about.

KAREN ABRAMCZYK

Karen Abramczyk began her volunteer experience with Wayne County Adult Day Center (WCADC) in the spring of 2002. She continues to give of her time during each school break. This past summer she volunteered 200-300 hours at WCADC, working directly with the participants and their caregivers.

Karen is entering her sophomore year at Lake Superior State University. Because of the time she has spent with seniors, she changed her major from education to the field of human services. Each day Karen welcomes the participants into the program offering comfort and a cup of coffee. Karen listens to her senior friends, always seems to hear everything that is asked of her, and more importantly hears what her seniors are incapable of asking. She instinctively knows when someone needs to use the restroom and will guide the participant through the necessary task, all the while allowing the participant to maintain their dignity. Karen is tuned in to every participants need and makes every effort to meet their request. It is her pleasure, to serve her “friends”. To Karen it is a privilege just being with the seniors of Wayne County.

Karen’s volunteer service is not limited to WCADC; she also participates in fundraising for the Alzheimer’s Association and the Wayne County annual senior picnic. Karen often says, “Because of them [participants of WCADC] I am a better person”. When Karen’s friends and relatives ask how she is spending her summer, Karen lights up and begins to tell about her time spent with the seniors. More often than not Karen is met with the reply of “Ewe! How can you stand that?” or “It must be so sad and depressing” or “I could never do what you are doing.” On the contrary, Karen states she has “never had so much fun in my life.”

Caregivers are even surprised to learn Karen is not paid for the work she does and yet she continues to show up with a smile. Karen believes she is lucky to know the senior participants for who they are. Karen takes delight in getting to know the person.

DR. ROBERT SPRINGER

When the biggest copper mine in the Tri-Communities area of Mammoth, San Manuel and Oracle, Ariz. closed a the end of 1999, every store in San Manuel that sold alcohol sold out; domestic violence escalated that night to an all time high, and hundreds of miners found themselves unemployed, at a geographical and economical dead end. The only way out of this desperate situation would require business skills that included mathematics – providing tools for new jobs and opportunities. The children of the miners were most at risk.

Dr. Springer offered his services as a math tutor in the local high school. He quickly found that the students did not lack intelligence, but did lack initiative. Nearly half of the high school students were flunking math, and did not have the basic math skills that should have been learned in junior high school, or even elementary school levels. They had not mastered enough of the mathematic concepts needed to pass the state mandated test in Arizona called the AIMS test.

The need for providing basic mathematic skills was apparent, motivating the students was necessary, and Dr. Springer focused on a solution. He dubbed the plan “Project Catapult,” intending to catapult these students to higher levels of mathematics. Working with Accelerated Math, developed by Renaissance Learning Corporation, he devised a computer generated math program, focusing on the concepts the students needed to learn algebra. Working with the school, and with SBCO, he brought computers and printers into the school, began working the students through basic concepts, enlisted other retirees as tutors, and his “Project Catapult” was underway.

Dr. Springer recruited tutors – retirees who came forth to work with these students, traveling a 60-mile round trip each time they went to the high school. Working with students in this isolated mining community, these adults patiently provided positive adult role models, praised the students on their progress, encouraged those who struggled with the math problems.

Project Catapult has now been established in the San Manuel Junior High School, in Oracle Elementary school system, and even in Mammoth Elementary School, which feeds students into the San Manuel system. On any given school day, Dr. Springer can be found in one of these participating schools, watching the progress, helping a student, talking with a teacher.

In 2001 8% of SMHS students passed the practice AIMS test; the following year 21% passed. Superintendent Dr. Marilyn Semones has been so impressed with this tutoring program that she intends to take it to the association of school superintendents to fund a commercial version of the AIMS Drill Set for use by all schools in the state.

This form of tutoring, the dedication of the founder and the volunteers, truly “leaves no child behind”. These youngsters of rural mining and/or migrant families are mastering the concepts of basic math and algebra. They can move on to meaningful jobs, graduate from high school, and move out of a cycle of poverty into productive lives. And all because Dr. Springer volunteered to tutor a few students in the math program.