CAMP FIRE USA SUNSHINE COUNCIL

CF66 is a yearly summer program developed by Camp Fire USA Sunshine Council, Lakeland, Florida, that gives teenagers the chance of a lifetime – to grow and mature while giving service, learning new skills, and traveling to new destinations. Mixing MTV’s “Road Rules” with service learning and personal skills training, CF66 Road Trips are the adventure of a lifetime. Each day of the trip, teens solve clues and navigate to a different destination where they learn about the needs of that community and complete an intensive service project. The balance of the day is filled with team challenges, travel time, evening reflection time and occasional excursions. The youth come from different backgrounds, bond as teams, and perform thousands of hours volunteer work throughout the state of Florida and beyond.

The impact of the trip is tremendous – teens come away with a sense of accomplishment and pride that they made a difference. Routinely during reflection, the teens share how they have never had to physically work so hard or put so much emphasis on teamwork and striving for a common goal. They gain a new level of empathy for those who face difficult challenges in their daily life and are inspired by other volunteers they meet during their journey. There is no one who comes home the same person they were six days earlier.

The communities they visit directly benefit from the 64 man-hours of volunteer time the group contributes to the completion of a project that day. Projects are picked based on their intensity level – the more difficult, dirty, challenging the better. Shuffling papers in an air conditioned office is not a project for a CF66 Service-Learning Road Trip, while digging irrigation lines, painting houses, removing exotic trees, or sorting salvage at a food bank are right on target. Often the work would simply not get done if not for this dedicated group of teen volunteers. An even greater level of impact is achieved by the opportunity for the group of teens on any trip to demonstrate to the adults they encounter what an amazing force teenagers can be in the community. Too often the focus on teens is negative – CF66 shifts the attention to positive and inspirational. What our teens hear along the way is “I have never seen a group work so hard or accomplish so much in so little time” or “You work harder than any group of adult volunteers we’ve ever had help” – words that build self-esteem in our youth and are necessary steps to build a stronger country.

FAMILY, CAREER AND COMMUNITY LEADERS OF AMERICA

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America is a national student organization with over a quarter-million members, who strive to develop leadership skills and address important personal, family, work, and societal issues through family and consumer sciences education. FCCLA’s mission is to promote personal growth and leadership development through family and consumer sciences education. Focusing on the multiple roles of family member, wage earner, and community leader, members develop skills for life through character development, creative and critical thinking, interpersonal communication, practical knowledge, and vocational preparation.

The FCCLA Community Service program is executed at the local, state, and national levels. This program guides students to develop, plan, carry out, and evaluate projects to improve the quality of life in their communities. Members, advisers, and national staff are continually looking for partners with common goals, and Points of Light has been beneficial in creating these ties with a diverse body of partners.

The Community Service Action Guide is a resource for advisers to guide students to develop, plan, carry out, and evaluate community service projects. Advisers are given project planning instructions and templates, in-depth project ideas from simple to very in-depth, information on how to follow-up after a project, and partner contact information. On the state level, State Advisers are encouraged to participate in the National Outreach Project at the State Advisers Management Meeting, held each February. Roundtables are held on a variety of topics, and updates are given as to new developments in the program, and with partners. Chapter projects are publicized in Teen Times to give participating youth a sense of accomplishment and recognition, and to promote the program, through example to all other members. The National Executive Council comprised of ten elected youth officers, also challenges members to get involved through updates posted on the national FCCLA website.

FCCLA is an organization for and about the members. The national staff, state advisers, and chapter advisers work to guide projects, however without the dedication and heart of the members, successful completion of any task would be impossible. FCCLA’s reputation and success with partners begins on the local level where members work to create ties with organizations and/or businesses with similar goals. FCCLA’s involvement with various partners has helped the organization continue to achieve its mission and promote growth within the programs and the membership body.

MARSHA YOUNG

Marsha Young, who is both Vice Chairman and state chairman of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) National Outreach Program. For the last several months she has spent hundreds of hours traveling throughout Missouri attending deployment ceremonies of active duty, reserve and National Guard units and specifically talking with the family members. With state VFW support she has been promoting the recognition of these families through the distribution of the Blue Star Program and has been connecting needy military families with local resources. Her volunteer effort is what the recent White House initiative, “On the Home front,” is requesting from all Americans.

Marsha Young, a Gulf War Veteran who was assigned to a medical unit, is an excellent example of a citizen soldier – served her country in wartime and now is serving her country by helping her fellow citizens.

The VFW and Ladies Auxiliary provides support through citizenship education, community service and youth programs that benefit communities where over 9100 posts are located. This past year the VFW lead in supporting our military and their families through their VFW Military Assistance Program (MAP), assisting thousands of troops through the Adopt A Unit Program, distributing over 1 million free telephone cards to military personnel and their families in the past few months through “Operation Uplink” and providing emergency relief in many forms. Many groups and businesses around the country have supported their MAP program and include the NFL, Wal-Mart, First Book, etc. Recently they were highlighted by the USA Freedom Corps as an important partner in the White House “On the Homefront” initiative.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. (VFW) is the oldest and largest American organization of military veterans who have served in combat or imminent danger areas. The 2.6 million members of the VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary annually contribute over 16 million volunteer hours and $60 million to local community service projects.

TRACY VLNICKA

Tracy Vlnicka is a Denver University student who has been working with the FrontRange Earth Force Youth Advisory Board (YAB) on a project to address environmental justice in the Denver area. Tracy meets with the group of teens once a week for 2-3 hours and has helped them with their research and community contacts. She is also working with a group of middle school students at Cole Middle School every Friday for 2-3 hours this year to lead them through a community project to beautify the school and get the neglected school sign repainted.

In the words of the FrontRange staff who work with her, “She is awesome and inspiring. She is big hearted and generous with energy while being an Resident Assistant in her dorm and a full time student to boot!”Earth Force Volunteer.

This past school year Earth Force gave more than 35,000 young people an outlet for their passion for the environment by giving them the skills and knowledge to create lasting change in their community. Earth Force provides educators with training, materials and support to help youth lead environmental problem solving projects in their communities. Such projects help build lifelong habits of community service, active citizenship and environmental stewardship.

Earth Force students make substantial gains in civic action and problem-solving skills according to research conducted by Brandeis University. The same research shows that 100 percent of educators would recommend Earth Force to other educators.

“Earth Force helps my students see the connection between the world and the classroom. It has gotten me really networked into the community and helped me to become a better interdisciplinary instructor. I feel more empowered to use the community in my classroom,” said Earth Force Educator Daniel Jamsa of the Grant Community School in Salem, Oregon.

This past year Earth Force students have improved their community in a variety of ways. Students in Denver have made the roads near their schools safer for pedestrians by successfully petitioning for a new stop sign in front of the school. One group in Philadelphia convinced their school board to look into buses that emit less pollutants. From tackling urban blight to reducing pollutants in the water, Earth Force students come up with creative and innovative ways to make change in their communities.

LAYLA CARTER

A chance encounter in an inner city school in Birmingham, Alabama, changed the life of one young lady and thousands of Alabama’s youth. University of Alabama at Birmingham student Layla Carter met a young woman while tutoring at an after school program. The girl came from a neighborhood where violence, drugs, and sexual promiscuity were the norm. She was an unruly and apathetic student, and bordered on the edge of ruining her future. Layla saw a special light in the young lady, and also recognized the need for a more structured and lengthy relationship. Hence a friendship, and ultimately, a very fruitful mentoring relationship was formed.

Realizing the alarming number of young people in the Birmingham area in need of positive role models, Layla begin to recruit her peers to serve the youth of the area. This group of students, under Layla’ s guidance, began to mentor at Grace House, a home for abused and neglected girls. Many positive relationships were formed, and word quickly spread throughout Layla’ s college campus about these bonds. Excited about the opportunity to increase these relationships, Layla founded a student group named “Generation eXcel” which matched college students with at-risk youth. Since its inception, this group has continued to blossom. With Layla at the helm, the group provides the “Five Points of eXcellence” to all of Alabama’s youth. These points include: mentoring relationships with caring adults, safe places, healthy start, marketable skills, and opportunities to serve. In addition, “Generation eXcel” has a Web site for interested volunteers, and a how-to manual to guide the mentors step by step. Since 1998, Layla has served over 50,000 hours of community srvice through “Generation eXcel.”

A short while after founding the program, Layla embarked on a quest to encourage the youth of the state to follow their dreams and to meet their full potential, and also to challenge adults to invest their valuable time in service as mentors. She has spoken to students in elementary, middle, high schools and juvenile detention centers, as well as civic and community groups. At the heart of Layla’s passion is her personal creed, “the future of Alabama’s and America’s youth lies in the hearts, hands, and determination of each and every one of us.” Thus far, Layla has spoken to thousands throughout the state and is also a spokesperson for Alabama Attorney General Bill Pryor’s “Mentor Alabama,” as well as an advocate for several other organizations that encourage positive impacts on the lives of children. She has partnered with America’s Promise, Central Alabama’s Promise, and the National Mentoring Partnership.

Layla was recently recognized as an America’s Promise Young Leader, and in 2002, the YWCA of Mobile, Alabama, honored her when she was awarded the “Young Woman of Achievement Award,” and also nominated for the Volunteer Mobile “Heart of Gold” award for her commitment to community service. Not one to rest on her laurels, Layla has embarked on “Project eXpansion,” an endeavor in which she is presently mobilizing community leaders, business owners, parents, and caring volunteers in order to develop the small town on Leeds, Alabama into a “Community of Promise.”

ROY CHIULLI

The mission of the Westwood Service Bank (WSB) is to provide a variety of personal services to the elderly of Westwood, free of charge. Roy Chiulli is the highly energetic Manager of the WSB. Under his leadership, the WSB averages well over 50 service projects and in excess of 65 service hours each month. The tasks are many and varied. Volunteers do grocery shopping, lawn work, shoveling, home repairs, putting out trash and recycle containers, providing rides, meal delivery and general errand running.

The most valuable service that Roy and the WSB provide is spending time with elderly residents. They build relationships with these men and women whom they also serve. The new friendships provided needed emotional support and encouragement. Chiulli has arranged with the Westwood Senior Center that the WSB can be called for urgent requests as well as one-time service needs; however, his goal is to build continual relationships with the elderly.

In addition to serving the elderly, Chiulli has been able to mobilize widespread community support. In April 2002 one volunteer project focused on helping several widows that the WSB serves regularly. One of the widows the WSB serves sees her neighbors dumping trash in her yard; and it piles up. Chiulli and his volunteers went to the neighbors explaining their project that day. Because of their education, many of the widow’s neighbors came out to help clean her yard that day. Not only was the project accomplished, but also a neighborhood partnership was formed. The hope is that working to clean the lot will help reinforce not dumping in the first place.

Through his mobilization efforts, Chiulli has successfully arranged for the WSB, Saint Denis’s Church, a Pop Warner Cheerleader squad, a 7th grade girls basketball team, a Westwood Cub Scout group, teens from the local high schools, Youth Ministries at Saint Denis and Saint Mary’s Churches and volunteers from Temple Beth David to work as a team and serve at the Westwood Food Pantry. In addition, the group will also clean the yards of the elderly residents and handle other small chores.

Chiulli receives no compensation for his work. All his service is purely volunteer; however it is still performed with such dedication and commitment. He has worked to build a relationship of service with the underserved elderly population in Westwood, and now because of his efforts, the Westwood Council on Aging gets a steady stream of calls requesting the help of the WSB.

STEWART BIRBROWER

When Stewart Birbrower heard the appalling statistics of child sexual abuse, he was struck with horror and soon developed a strong desire to help prevent this crime. For the past three years, Birbrower has worked diligently to help prevent child sexual abuse.

As one of the past members of the Board of Directors, and currently Creative Director of From Darkness to Light, which prevents child sexual abuse through a nationwide public awareness campaign, he has significantly affected the lives of children and adults across the country. His tireless volunteer efforts initiated a launch to prevent child sexual abuse through a full-scale media crusade.

Birbrower came aboard From Darkness to Light as a volunteer during the organization’s genesis. As a former film director and advertising executive, he saw an immediate need for a media campaign. Birbrower created a comprehensive media campaign, including print, television and radio and outdoor billboards, which sparked a positive, community-wide response, as evidenced by formal evaluations. He worked day and night without pay to create From Darkness to Light’s first media campaign, which won Gold and Silver Telly Awards and an Addy Award. The impact of the media was greater than he had ever anticipated.

Birbrower worked as an advertising executive for nearly 20 years. He then worked as a film director for another 20 years. His expertise in the field enables him to do as an individual what normally five or six people have to do to produce a commercial. Birbrower creates, writes, directs, edits, finishes, and directs the artwork when the commercials are generated. He has produced a total of 11 commercials for From Darkness to Light. Seven of these commercials were public service announcements (PSAs) that were displayed for a period of time with a local news channel. The PSA’s promoted and informed the public of From Darkness to Light’s 2002 hallmark, 7 Steps to Protecting our Children from Sexual Abuse – a guide for responsible adults to protect children.

Birbrower continues to direct and produce all of the commercials and other media for From Darkness to Light. Each commercial takes weeks to complete. He does the commercials for this organization as a volunteer. The constant and continuous support that he gives to preventing child sexual abuse has had a direct effect on the well being of society.

Child sexual abuse is a silent stigma on today’s society that few people want to acknowledge. Birbrower reaches beyond that perception to show society that it is okay to talk about child sexual abuse and that it is a serious crime destroying the lives of countless children. The long-term effects of his volunteer efforts have brought about a change in how people view child sexual abuse. This change has enabled adult survivors to come forward and seek help. Most importantly, Birbrower’s efforts have enhanced the quality of life for numerous children by leading parents to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse.

DAVE PELZER

Dave Pelzer is the epitome of a great American who overcame insurmountable odds and has dedicated his life helping others to help themselves. As a child he was subjected to cruelty and torture beyond comprehension. In the state of California, in the 1970’s Pelzer’s case was considered one of the most abusive in state’s history. While many professionals predicted an outcome of prison or even death for Pelzer, through the guidance of others he refused to become a product of his environment.

As a child he was beaten, starved, and confined in a dark basement, but years later he was rescued and became an elite aircrew member with the United States Air Force. Twenty years after being removed from his abusive setting, Pelzer was selected as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Americans. As an author he continues to break records on the national and International Best Sellers Lists, without a single dollar from his office used for promotion. Yet before the accolades and the commercial successes, for over 18 years Pelzer has given his all to instill and challenge people from all genres, particularly “youth at risk,” to better themselves, to appreciate those in the community who truly make a difference, and in Pelzer’s words, uphold “the greatness of America.”

An author and activist, Pelzer travels more than 200 days a year, yet he continues to donate time from his overwhelming schedule to individuals across the nation: Visiting schools, Juvenile Halls, foster care groups, keynoting fundraisers, etc., Pelzer’s generosity knows no bounds. When he hears of and confirms a need, Pelzer at times donates more than the actual need. Over the years, in addition to monetary donations, he has sponsored an entire group of eighth-graders and their chaperones to Disneyland: purchased dozens of computers and much needed equipment for schools: and hand-delivered hundreds of roses to teachers, foster parents, and social workers.

On a more personal side, when Pelzer discovered a foster family who adopts children with severe needs, he personally made it possible for the family to attend a special showing of their favorite movie ET, while the composer John Williams played the score. When asked if Pelzer would attend, the immediate reply was, as always, “No, that would take up a space that someone else could use.” These are just a few examples of what this kind and giving man has done to give the blessings back to his community.

RESPOND PROJECT TEAM

Since 1997, the team has worked to mobilize the talents of artists and music professionals to assist families affected by domestic violence. The project takes action by releasing benefit music CDs in order to raise public awareness about domestic violence and fundraise for local emergency and ongoing services. More than $125,000 in project proceeds have been donated to RESPOND, Inc., (RI) one of the oldest domestic violence service organizations in the country. The Respond CD Project also supports the Family Violence Prevention Fund, the nation’s premier organization working to end abuse.

The Respond CDs provide a natural focus for media attention that is helpful for future fundraising efforts. Also, the Respond Project has boosted staff morale at RI, brought 45 volunteers, and greatly increased the number of contacts from battered women via their website and hotline. RI’s Board of Directors credited the CD project with fueling its growth over the last three years from an annual budget of about $300,000 to $1 million. RI ultimately expanded its services into 11 new communities.

In 1998, a group of artists released a 2-CD benefit set called Respond, a collection of 27 songs by women songwriters from the Boston area raising funds and awareness about domestic violence. The Respond CD was named “one of the most important and courageous records of the decade” by Billboard Magazine’s editor-in-chief. Respond was also featured in stories on MTV, VH-l, NPR, and CNN. The team went on to organize more than 50 concerts related to the effort. Respond artists sold the CD at their own concerts and talked about the widespread problem of domestic violence on their tours and in radio and television interviews. Respond II released in January 2003 and includes 16 Grammy-nominated artists including Dolly Parton, Sarah McLachlan, the Indigo Girls, and Odetta.

The team remained committed to extending the impact of their proven model. They forged relationships with Amazon, Yahoo!, Barnes and Noble, Columbia House, and other corporations to strengthen the project. In addition to creating effective partnerships, the team members also work to support each other and manage to have a great deal of fun together, which keeps them energized and committed. They meet regularly evaluating their progress, coordinating, and strategizing.

One of the most compelling aspects of the project is how artists have come together from many different music genres to participate. Also, artists from the CD became involved in events to further organize the community. For example, several Respond artists performed as part of a domestic violence rally at the Massachusetts Statehouse to encourage legislative action. In addition, artists from the Respond CD organized private concerts for the staff and clients of RI to increase morale.

SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF LAKEWOOD

The nonprofit organization Soroptimist International of Lakewood is no stranger to service. One of the club’s achievements is a survivors night dinner for Providence House, the local battered women’s shelter. One evening in October, the survivors put on a dinner and a program to help expand the minds of others. They work to show what it is like living with being battered. Soroptimist International of Lakewood pays for the dinner; but this is only one of the innovative needs the club has met for the community.

Domestic violence is a problem prevalent in many communities across the country. In those communities, most victims try to cover up the abuse and protect the batterer. The program at the dinner serves many purposes. First, it advocates awareness of the problem of domestic violence. It also shows the over 250 attendees it is real and it could be occurring right next door. In addition, the dinner gives suggestions and explains what can be done to prevent abuse.

Soroptimitst International promotes prevention of the problem of domestic abuse by teaching others what to look for. They go over the signs as well as normal reactions of an abuser and the person being abused. They also talk about the best ways to offer help. Attendees in the audience learn the best way to approach the situation of domestic violence. The dinner also provides a time for healing. The evening is a time in which persons who have been victims of this crime can rejoice that they are no longer in that situation.

Soroptimist International works numerous hours to raise money to pay for this and other service projects. In addition to the dinner, club members visit the shelter to stock and organize the food pantries and clothes closets. They also stock the freezers with food. In addition, service is provided to the shelter as well as other community needs they have on an ongoing monthly basis.

The club has an annual fashion show luncheon as a major fundraiser. They also act as bell ringers for the Salvation Army and they provide landscaping for Providence House. The volunteer efforts of the club affects many more people than can be calculated. In excess of 2,000 women and children come through the shelter each year.