BERNIE FREED

Sometimes it is difficult to remember that Bernie Freed even has a last name. This is because whenever the name “Bernie” is mentioned, residents of North Miami, Florida, instinctively know of whom you speak. It appears to be true that legends are often known by one name; Bernie Freed is certainly a legend in the Alzheimer’s Association/South Florida Chapter’s service area. His reputation has even reached beyond their geographic region.

Freed’s foray into the devastating world of Alzheimer’s unfortunately began when the love of his life, his dear wife May, was diagnosed with the dreaded disease. Crushed, but with a resolve to press forward, Freed became a model caregiver, meeting May’s every need. Fortunately, the Alzheimer’s Association/South Florida Chapter was there to provide assistance and he went to the organization for support.

Freed, out of his own need, saw the importance of the work with Alzheimer’s patients and decided to become a volunteer for the Chapter. He began by helping jumpstart the Telephone Reassurance Program, calling caregivers from home. As often happens, the effect of Alzheimer’s disease on a loved one becomes so overwhelming that caregivers are forced to place them in a facility. Freed reluctantly placed May in a facility and was devastated by the harsh reality of this action. Instead of becoming mired in self-pity and depression, he immersed himself in the work of the Chapter. That was 10 years ago; May has since passed away but Freed rarely ever missed a day visiting her making sure she was well cared for and happy.

Freed is always at the Chapter office every day no later that 9:30am. In order to accomplish that, he has to arise hours earlier to prepare himself to be able to function. It is quite an ordeal for him to be able to leave the house in the morning because Freed is now 91 years young and handicapped. He is bent and stooped and walks with the help of a stroller, always in constant pain from crippling arthritis coupled with other health issues. However Freed, somehow, is able to see these things as challenges to be overcome. His can-do attitude and smiling face belie any problems. He is truly the “poster boy” for the power of positive thinking – positive thinking being the catalyst for positive action.

He is still the driving force in the Telephone Reassurance Program through which he has spread his own very special kind of light by inspiring, touching and helping thousands of caregivers through the maze that is Alzheimer’s. His special brand of compassionate assistance and his perceptive ability to know when to just listen is invaluable to caregivers who have reached the end of their rope. He literally changes lives.

Freed also has “special cases” he likes to call during the evening and on weekends. For years he has been the facilitator for the Chapter’s largest and most popular support group. Now, at age 9l, he is helping one of the sister chapters implement a Telephone Reassurance Program. Freed receives mail at the Chapter addressed to Dr. Freed, Private Practice because those he serves believes he should have a title after his name – something equally as earned and important as any M.D., Ph.D. or Esq. — perhaps, Freed H.B.E. (Human Being Extraordinaire) or Freed G.A. (Guardian Angel).

MILFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT EXPLORER LAW ENFORCEMENT POST 29

The Milford Explorers has as a part of its mission dedicated itself to serving the community. The young people in the Post have volunteered hundreds of hours on projects doing just that. The Post has undertaken several projects that help to raise public awareness on crucial issues facing the community.

Post 29 received national recognition for its KidCare Project. The Kodak Corporation and the National Center developed this project for Missing and Exploited Children. The Project involved fingerprinting and photographing young children and giving that information to the child’s parent. This information can then be given to the authorities in the event the child is missing. The Milford Explorers have fingerprinted and photographed more than 2,000 children during the last few years involved in the program. In 1998 and 2002, the International Society of Crime Prevention Practitioners awarded the Milford Post the Community Crime Prevention Award.

KinderVision was created in April 1991 as a result of work the program founder performed on behalf of Leticia Hernandez, a seven-year-old kidnapping and murder victim of the San Diego area. The founder assisted in developing a citizen’s committee to raise reward fund monies for her return and the arrest of the perpetrator. Her killer is still at large. Each participating family receives a free copy of the KinderVision child safety video which is designed to be used as a resource in the home for parents to teach their children how to be safe and when they are not with them. At the KinderVision events, children are video recorded for parent’s safekeeping.

The Gun Lock Safety Project was funded by a mini-grant through the Community Partners for Health (CHNA-6). This project distributes Gun Trigger Locks to gun owners with children in the home. This project was awarded the “Most Innovative” project in the Massachusetts Department of Public Health statewide Conference in 1999.

The Teen Health Pamphlet is the most recent project of the Milford Police Department Explorers Law Enforcement Post 29. This is a pamphlet that was compiled by the Explorers for young people in the region. The Explorers received technical assistance on this project from the Milford Franklin Pediatrics and Adolescent Care. The project was funded by a mini-grant received by the Milford Explorers from the CHNA-6. The pamphlet contains resources for teens on a wide variety of health related topics such as suicide, eating disorders, dating violence and drug/alcohol abuse.

Milford Exploring Law Enforcement Program is an educational program designed to give young people between the ages of 14 and 21 years of age an insight into a career in law enforcement. The program has received state and national awards for its outstanding community service. In addition, some of its members have gone on to achieve successful careers in law enforcement.

LUCY RANGEL

The Baptist Children’s Home provides assistance to children ages 7 to 17 that are waiting to be put into foster care or returned to their parents or legal guardians. Lucy Rangel began to volunteer at Baptist Children’s Home a few years ago after she saw the girls and the lack of love that they so desperately needed. She looks forward to her volunteer service and it is fulfilling for her each time she visits.

Many of the youth at Baptist Children’s Home wanted to know why Rangel came and why she wanted to help them. As time went by, the girls began to get to know Rangel as a volunteer as well as a friend that cared about them. Rangel has become an integral part of the children’s lives and guides them with her advice, love and support.

Rangel spends every other Saturday in the Baptist Home spending time with the youth. Sometimes she just talks to them, and other times she is there merely to listen. She takes the time to learn about them and even teaches them to sew, bake, cook and how to be ladies. The most important thing Rangel does is to let them know they are important and they can all reach their goals in life. She leads them by example and shows them where hard work can take them.

When Rangel visits, she is an active volunteer. She has days where she is scheduled; however, some days she comes by to check in on the girls. Those extra visits do not go unnoticed; in fact they mean a great deal to the children.

During her tenure at the Baptist Home, Rangel has encountered some difficult children who are hurt and looking for love. They need acceptance but do not know how to ask for help. Rangel has especially taken to many of them and does not give up. She sees they have had difficult pasts and need to learn positive ways to deal with their past hurts and anger. Rangel looks to find new ways of dealing with their pain.

Most of the children Rangel works with at the Baptist Home come with no hopes or dreams. They have been told that they cannot do anything right and they will not amount to anything. Rangel refuses to accept that and works with each and every one of the children, whether it is in a group setting or individually. She works to open a door to the things they have been missing all of their young lives. She teaches them about self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-love. The children now realize they are wonderful human beings and they can set goals for themselves.

KATHERINE & MARGO SULTENFUSS

Twelve-year-old Margo and fifteen-year-old Katherine Sultenfuss are excellent students who are always seeking additional learning opportunities and genuinely desire to help people in their community. In the fall of 2001 they heard information about the RCS Food Pantry at church, during their Sunday service. After the service, the girls and their family approached and offered to help.

During the sermon Margo and Katherine had already started to plan a way to supplement the RCS Food Pantry’s donations, which had dropped dramatically after September 11th. They wanted to approach their father’s business contacts and encourage them to donate to the Food Pantry rather than send a gift basket to clients during the holidays. Together they developed a flyer and, with the help of their mother, mailed an appeal to more than 1,000 doctors and other business people in Pinellas County.

The response was overwhelming. The letters brought in more than $3,000 during the first few weeks, but the sisters wanted to do more. They then wrote a press release and contacted area news media. After reports in the St. Petersburg Times and the Tampa Tribune more people signed up and the response from the original appeal continued to grow. By the beginning of December they raised more than $14,000 for the purchase of food. During that same time donations continued while the Food Pantry was experiencing a 400% increase in need as more people lost their jobs in the lagging economy. Money brought in by Katherine and Margo insured that no one was turned away during the holiday season.

Through the summer months they worked on the program for the next year, recruiting three more teens to help. Their goal is to add new recruits, of all ages, each year so this program will continue even after they graduate and leave for college. The group applied for and received a grant to cover printing and mailing expenses so that all money raised would go directly for the purchase of food. They increased the number of letters sent and appeared on local television and in local and national print publications. This year the group raised more $22,500, once again filling the gap created by the still growing need for emergency food in their community.

Margo and Katherine are amazing young ladies and true credits to their family and their community. The sisters saw a need and worked to fill it and they continue to look for more resources and outlets to raise money and help more people in their community.

LANGLEY RESIDENTIAL SUPPORT SERVICES

This year, Langley Residential Support Services (LRSS) marks its 20th anniversary of serving adults with mental retardation in Fairfax County, their families and the community by providing quality, comprehensive residential and community support services that will enable these adults to live valued, productive lives. LRSS, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, serves adults (ages 18 years and older), with mental retardation residing in Fairfax County, Fairfax City, or Falls Church, Virginia and who are eligible to receive services through the Fairfax/Falls Church Community Services Board.

In the early 1980s, members of Trinity United Methodist Church, Redeemer Lutheran Church, and Immanuel Presbyterian Church, working with the Fairfax County Community Services’ Board (CSB), mobilized community volunteers under the “Private/Public” scheme to establish a group home to address the urgent, unmet community need for both residential facilities and professional counseling and services to serve these young adults with mental retardation. The Langley Nonprofit Housing Development Corporation was chartered by the Commonwealth. Langley’s first group home (known as the Melrose Group Home) began housing five women in November 1985. A second home (Junior League Group Home) welcomed three men and two women in April of1989.

The needs of the residents of the homes changed as they acquired more independent living skills. With the assistance of the CSB, Langley opened its first Supported Residential Program (SRP) in December of 1991. It served four women, two of whom were graduates of a Langley group home. Langley’s second SRP home (three men), opened in December 1992. In December 1993, Langley further expanded its services and established the Community Support Program: a drop-in program serving the needs of consumers who live: on their own, in their family’s home, assisted living centers, even homeless shelters.

In June 1997, Langley’s Board of Directors voted to change the name of the nonprofit organization to Langley Residential Support Services (LRSS). In 2000, Langley’s administrative offices have expanded; satellite office in Springfield opened, allowing LRSS to serve consumers on the Route 1 corridor. Consumers use the facility to practice their cooking and laundry skills.

LRSS impacts consumer’s lives by helping each live more independently; develop an integrated presence in the community, improve self-esteem, support physical and emotional needs and develop an individual lifestyle.

PATRICK MCKAY

Patrick McKay is only 10 years old, but he is already an example to many adults and youth in his community of Pasadena, Maryland. He has already contributed far more to his community than most adults.

Patrick makes regular contributions of food, clothing and toys to a local battered women’s shelter sponsored by his karate school. He also makes regular donations to The American Red Cross, Purple Heart and Goodwill. He has donated coats to the “Coats for Kids” program and books to underprivileged children programs. Annually, Patrick also participates in the collection and delivery of food in the Pasadena Holiday Parade. In this parade, Patrick dresses as an elf and throws candy to the children watching. After the parade, Patrick helps to deliver the collected food items to charitable organizations and the Maryland Food Pantry.

Patrick has even delivered warm meals to the area firehouse while they were fighting raging mulch yard fires during last summer. The fires resulted in the firefighters working mandatory double shifts. Patrick’s competition team also organized and held a group car wash in which they donated the proceeds to the September 11th fund to help the victims and their families.

Patrick’s latest project has been developing a seminar and video for children. This video teaches them how to keep safe from bullies, and a second video will teach children how to be safe from abduction. He thought of this project on his own and has spent countless hours researching, preparing and filming. He hopes to have the project completed so he can introduce it to his community later this year. Patrick draws upon his martial arts experience and expertise to educate other children in hopes of keeping them safe from physical harm.

Patrick is very eager to help others. Because of his service, he was awarded the Special Team of Role Models (STORM) TEAM status at his karate school. They estimate that Patrick works at least eight hours each week to help his underclassmen and others.

In addition, Patrick and his family adopt a needy family during the holidays. They provide for them the things needed to help make their holiday brighter. Patrick enjoys shopping for the children and dropping off the items with his brother. He also regularly contributes to his elementary school fundraising efforts to earn new classroom computers and funds for trips which some of the students could not otherwise afford.

BEN ATKINSON

Ben Atkinson saw a community need and led a group of volunteers to do something about it. His daughter, Amy, was born with spina bifada and was severely disabled. She was enrolled at Gateway Education Center, a public school that teaches kids like Amy. Most of the students operate in wheelchairs and learn to function with adapted equipment and toys. Amy made a mark for herself at the school and the teachers loved her quick smiles and warm hugs.

In 1997 Gateway participated in a community fundraiser, the Human Race, and raised about $2,000; pretty good for a first time group. Atkinson participated but commented to a small group, "We could make this a little bigger," and the group said, "OK, you're in charge." Atkinson formed a committee and revitalized the fractured PTA with his enthusiasm and vision. He started a letter writing campaign that told stories about the kids and described the new equipment they could purchase with people's donations. The Human Race became a unifying force for the PTA to work together and Atkinson led the charge.

The efforts of a unified PTA paid off in 1998 and continue to payoff. In 2001, Gateway Education raised $65,000 through the Human Race. Atkinson was the president of the PTA from 1999-2000 and became very aware that there was no program for students like Amy once they reached age 22. So Atkinson and others decided to institute a program to keep the students engaged, social, and busy after they graduated. He thought they might be able to raise money for the effort through the Human Race for what has come to be known as After Gateway. Before it even was off the ground, After Gateway raised $20,000; Amy was the top fund-raiser for the whole event, personally raising more than $14,000. Added to other grants and fundraising efforts, the Human Race allowed the new program to open in 2002, serving seven severely disabled adults.

Sadly, Atkinson's daughter died unexpectedly of pneumonia two days after Christmas 2002. The church was full at her funeral; Amy had made a difference in the community. Atkinson and his family are even more determined now to keep her legacy, After Gateway, going strong. The Volunteer Center instituted the Amy Atkinson Achievement Award for the highest fundraiser in the Human Race. Atkinson and his committee have set a goal of $25,000 this year – they want to purchase a van to transport the folks at After Gateway to the field trips they so enjoy. They are getting wonderful support so far and have every expectation to meet the goal and exceed it.

Through Atkinson's leadership, his wife's support and help, the community has been made a better place. Everyday citizens who have able-bodied children have made friends with these disabled kids and have anew appreciation for the efforts it takes to manage life. And, graduates of Gateway Education Center now have a place of their own, After Gateway.

MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL SEARCH AND RESCUE

Southern New Jersey is home base for a unique group of men and women. The citizen volunteers of Mid-Atlantic Regional Search and Rescue (MARSAR) have been assisting federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in searching for missing and injured children, hikers, and Alzheimer patients since 1994.

This team receives no funding or equipment from government sources, instead relying upon members to fund their own training, equipment, and travel expenses. All of the members are trained in wilderness and rural medical care, search techniques, low angle rescue, emergency and disaster communications, managing the search operation, and crime scene operations.

Although the team's primary area includes the 1.1 million acres known as the Pinelands National Reserve in New Jersey, Mid-Atlantic Regional Search and Rescue volunteers are routinely called into Pennsylvania to assist in missing person searches. In 2000, the team identified a need for a more immediate response to calls for assistance in Pennsylvania and expanded its corps of volunteers to include a Western Division based out of Birdsboro, Pennsylvania. From these two bases of operations, teams can now be dispatched more quickly to calls from law enforcement and fire departments in the Delaware Valley.

In the aftermath of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City, Mid-Atlantic Regional Search and Rescue volunteers were requested to respond to Ground Zero to relieve the overtaxed local response until FEMA teams were in place. On September 14, 2001, the team assisted with recovery operations there and subsequently was assigned to the recovery operation at the Fresh Kill Landfill on Staten Island. Here, MARSAR team members worked shoulder to shoulder with FBI, FAA, and NYPD personnel over a five-day period to search for evidence and DNA material in the debris.

These search and rescue volunteers contribute countless hours each year to the northeast regional community in an ongoing effort to rescue those who become stranded or injured in barely accessible locations and to reunite missing persons with their families. Most of this is done behind the scenes and with little recognition or fanfare because the team members believe in service to others.

SHANNON MITCHELL

Shannon Mitchell has volunteered with Hancock County 4-H for the past eight years. Being a 4-H member taught her the value of community service and developed a desire to become an active volunteer. She chose to incorporate her volunteer efforts into her selection of 4-H projects. The largest of her volunteer projects is raising and training pilot puppies to be future Guide Dogs for the Blind. She receives each pilot puppy at 7-8 weeks old. She trains proper guide dog behavior and basic obedience. Shannon trains them not to chase balls, cars, children, other animals, and not to jump or bark. When she completes all of the training requirements she returns the pilot puppy to Pilot Dogs Inc. This is a nonprofit organization that supplies Guide Dogs to the Blind at no cost.

Learning that individuals are in need of Guide Dogs, but unable to afford them due to the high cost is why she decided to become involved. The cost of a Guide Dog is approximately $5,600.00. Shannon started raising her first pilot puppy October 15,2001. She spent 12 months training her pilot puppy before returning it September 27, 2002. At that time she received her second pilot puppy. Shannon will train her current puppy until approximately September 2003. She supplies food, grooming, obedience training, and the equipment needed for raising each puppy. She spends $350.00 to $450.00 on each pilot puppy. To cover this cost she does odd jobs and collects coupons for the dog food.

In the past year she has volunteered within 4-H in many ways. She attended the Ohio Conversation on Youth Development in the 21st Century where she voted on actions to enhance 4-H at the State Level, represented Hancock County at the Ohio 4-H Volunteer Conference, and State 4-H Pet Pals Expo. She completed 40 hours of volunteering with elderly at local nursing homes as part of the 2002 Power of the Youth Champaign.

Shannon also volunteered more than 20 hours mentoring first year 4-H members, supervised several 4-H contests, roller-skating parties, and registered members at 4-H Fun Matches and Skillathons. She has led members at the Old Fashion Round-Up, taught a craft workshop, pioneer study workshop, and gave instructions on canoe safety. Shannon severed on the Hancock County 4-H committee voting on local issues and volunteered as a Camp Counselor at Camp Ohio. Shannon represents 4-H as secretary for the Junior Leaders Club and the Hancock County Junior Fair Board. In addition, she volunteered more than 300 hours last year to enhance Hancock County 4-H programs working with young children and conducting educational sessions at 4-H Camp.

Shannon volunteers with 4-H programs so young children can have fun learning experiences and activities. Shannon's involvement in 4-H provides leadership, friendship, and a positive role model for young members. Shannon demonstrates to 4-H members the impact they can have in their community and encourages them to become involved.

ACCOUNTING FOR KIDS

The initial vision for Accounting for Kids began as a result of Crystal Faulkner. She is a founding partner of the accounting firm, Cooney, Faulkner & Stevens, LLC and would frequently visit her clients that were located in the Over the Rhine neighborhood. It is one of the impoverished areas in the greater Cincinnati region that suffered from a riot two years ago. Faulkner witnessed children standing on the streets, many of which had not been exposed to any other environment that the six-city block radius in which they lived and went to school. She contacted officials in the Cincinnati Public schools and made arrangements for members of her company to “adopt” a class in an inner city elementary school. Each week firm associates went to the adopted school to tutor children in math.

When officials at the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative heard of the success of this effort, they asked Faulkner what could be done to replicate her efforts with other Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) and financial business professionals. Her vision was further developed and its purpose became two fold: to introduce financial concepts to children in a fun and interactive way and to inspire accounting and other business professionals to consider being a mentor or tutor for a child. As a result, Accounting for Kids, Inc. and Accounting for Kids Day was founded in May 2000 by a small group of Cincinnati CPAs.

This program is a risk-free way for CPAs and other professionals to understand what a huge impact a little time with children can make in the life of a child. A focal point of the initiative for Accounting for Kids is the firm belief that if children are empowered at an early age to learn fundamental financial skills, these skills can last a lifetime; thereby providing an opportunity to low-income children to have a life that is more financially upward mobile.

Students play games simulating the stock market, which introduces the concepts of investment and risk. Afterwards they are treated to a pizza party. About 200 financial professionals and more than 600 4th through 7th graders at 11 schools in the Cincinnati Public School District participated in Accounting for Kids Day on October 29, 2002. This Day is supported by contributions from many area businesses including Huntington Bank, who is a platinum-level sponsor. Mayor Charlie Luken has even proclaimed October 29th as Accounting for Kids Day in Cincinnati.

Currently in its fourth year, the three previous Accounting for Kids Day programs in Cincinnati have cumulatively involved approximately 500 professionals visiting more than sixty inner city classrooms and playing an interactive finance game with approximately 1,500 children. As a result of the Accounting for Kids, many businesses have adopted schools and more than 100 new volunteers have signed up to be mentors and/or tutors for children, through the CYC.

Due to the success in Cincinnati, the Ohio Society of CPAs replicated Accounting for Kids Day across the state of Ohio. The most recent Accounting for Kids Day was conducted in 11 Ohio chapters from Cleveland to Cincinnati. Another goal of Accounting for Kids, Inc. is that the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants will adopt Accounting for Kids Day on a national basis.