MILAN SKRTIC

Milan Skrtic has served New Smyrna Beach Middle School for more than two years an average of 40 hours per month. He brings a unique combination of resources to the students, helps the students and teachers improve their skill levels, and he uses innovative approaches to keep the children excited and interested.

Skrtic is no stranger to volunteerism. The father of three sons, he was active with them in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. Then in 1973 he, and his wife, joined the Peace Corps and took the family to Ghana, West Africa. Skrtic was a business advisor to the Ghana Business Bureau in Accra, Ghana.

Skrtic first connected with New Smyrna Beach Middle School when he became a mentor to one student. Soon he picked up another student. After that, he began to notice they had concerns with math. He worked out an innovative plan and taught them math using the stock market. Because of the success, 15 seventh graders met weekly with him for a class period, doing “Stock Market Math.” Throughout the school year, he met with 10 of the 15 and trained them to be “Stock Assistants” who in turn worked with 20 other seventh graders. This program ran for the entire semester.

Skrtic also spends one class period every Wednesday tutoring a small group of eighth graders in science. As the students’ performance improves, they can rotate out of the study group and a new student comes in to get assistance. This special time for the children not only makes them feel “important” in an adult’s eyes, but it has resulted in their science grades changing from “F’s” to “B’s.”

Because of his background as an aerospace engineer, Skrtic also began a Learning Lab that is aimed at students having continual difficulty in math and science. He uses real world concepts that involve math and science to help the children understand. He also designed a student survey to offer insight to teachers concerning patterns of students who are not passing. In addition to this, he holds an enrichment science class for high achieving seventh grade students. He developed a simulation curriculum that involves teamwork to solve current and future global problems.

As the youth see their scores improve in the classroom, they feel better about themselves. Their self-esteem as well as their report card grades are boosted, and that will help them as they continue to mature into adults. Skrtic initiated the relationship and enjoys opening the eyes of children to the wonders of math and science. He not only helps by tutoring and mentoring, he also serves on the School Improvement Technology Correlate, and he has helped to write the school’s five-year technology plan.

Milan Skrtic is an ingenious man who the children look forward to seeing during their school week. His positive attitude and consistency touch the children and let them know he cares for them. His diverse knowledge also adds to the number of approaches he takes with the studies of math and science. He is a retired senior who is giving his all to helping children succeed.

IMPACT URBAN AMERICA

Impact Urban America (IUA) is a faith-based, social-entrepreneurial organization that provides community services to the inner city of San Diego through relationships with churches, communities and corporations. The services provided are housing, jobs, and life skills training to people that do not have this access through traditional means.

Impact Urban America initially started in 1992, when Estean Lenyoun, a pastor at Marantha Chapel in San Diego, realized that his desire to serve people extended beyond the steps of the local church. With a background in commercial real estate and a desire to help inner city residents, he and Rosie Grier formed “Rosie Grier’s American Neighborhood Enterprises.” The organization purchased a complex of homes and apartments in inner San Diego, an area well known for crime and drugs. This complex, called Vista Grande, was cleaned up and cleaned out by working with community leaders and people with a heart for change. Vista Grande became a model for the rehabilitation of substandard housing and inner city rejuvenation.

Having seen success in housing and neighborhood rehabilitation, the vision for a broader community service began developing. In 1998, Impact Urban America was formed to go beyond housing and neighborhood issues. Realizing that housing meets a basic need and that independence and self-supporting individuals within a community are a long-term answer to many social problems, IUA began to address additional needs through jobs, life skills training and home ownership opportunities.

Believing that home ownership is part of the American dream, housing opportunities were researched. At the same time, home ownership is a prelude to disappointment and failure without the ability to make a monthly payment, maintain a property, or build equity through improvements. As a result, the first major focus for IUA was to provide jobs. The thought is that when a person has a job, he has the beginning for security and success. While there are many other important elements to a successful life, jobs in the inner city are lacking, as evidenced by high unemployment rates in poorer areas. By bringing jobs to the inner city, pride in accomplishment and security/success patterns occur.

IUA works with local businesses to fill positions using residents of the inner cities. There are unique challenges to this work. As people were employed, the need for more assistance became clear. Some people were not accustomed to simple tasks that must be performed in order to be productive in a work environment. As a result, IUA began skills training – both in practical work skills (i.e. computer skills) and also in life skills (i.e. alarm clocks and bus passes).

In the year 2000, IUA had more than $1 million in revenues, and has put more than 1,000 people to work in San Diego County since inception. IUA has associated itself with well known individuals who bring tremendous leadership skills in diverse disciplines. It is the combination of church, community and entrepreneurs that make this organization successful. IUA is a nonprofit corporation that is run in a for-profit manner to demonstrate self-sufficiency and income generation so as to support expansion.

DOCIA FISH

Docia Fish has been a volunteer with the Foster Grandparent Program for the past 12 years. She gives love and attention to the children. In addition to this, she reads to the children and helps them with their studies. Mrs. Fish does all of this at the young age of 91 years old!

Born on December 23, 1909, Mrs. Fish was the third of six daughters born to Nathan and Bertha Moose. The family resided on a farm near Danville in upstate New York. She grew up there and attended Danville Schools. At 18, she married Paul Fish and they raised a family of four. The family moved to Southern California, to Kansas, and then back to California. Mrs. Fish worked for the Willits Senior Center for several years, and while she was there, Mable Gordon talked to her about becoming a foster grandparent.

The Foster Grandparent program is a federally funded senior program that serves children with special or exceptional needs. Some of the children are learning disabled, physically disabled, or mentally handicapped. The Foster Grandparents develop one-on-one relationships with one to six children in the classroom. The Grandparents provide their service of individualized tender loving care, friendship, and tutorial assistance.

Mrs. Fish has been dedicated to being a Foster Grandparent. When she first took on the volunteer responsibility, she was not sure if it was something that would “fit.” However, she became attached to all her children and even also became the cookie lady because she makes cookies monthly for her classes. Mrs. Fish has had many challenges in 1998. She lost her husband in January and later that year she had a stroke and was hospitalized for a month. Once she recovered and was released, she was right back on the job.

Grandma Docia is the Foster Grandparent of Mr. Gabe Ward’s first grade class at Brookside Elementary School. The children as well as the teacher have gotten attached to her. She is greeted each day with a hug and smile from different children in the class. They look forward to her loving smile and compassion. The children help her to settle into her special chair and get started on her time with them. She knows when the children need to be heard and when they may need some help with class work. Mrs. Fish has a keen sense of those children who also need some quality time. Because of her loving approach, these students have made noticeable academic achievements. Teachers have also seen many children improve their social skills and self-esteem.

REV. DR. WILLIAM MASON

Rev. Dr. William Mason began his ministry with the United Methodist Church in June of 1964, and has been dedicated ever since. His first assignment was the Asbury United Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma; and under his leadership, the church grew from 118 members to 5,250 members by 1993. Along with the population growth, the budget also grew from $10,000 to an excess of $2.5 million.

Rev. Mason has been quite active during his years of service. In the 1980’s, he led a drive to petition the Quik-Trip fast food stores in Tulsa to remove all pornographic materials from their shelves. They agreed to his request and to this day, none of their 61 stores carry these items. In addition to his petition to that chain, Rev. Mason has spoken from the pulpit against sexually explicit movies and television programs. He encourages his congregation to write letters of protest to this type of entertainment. He feels very strongly about the moral decline in our country and never hesitates to speak out about its effects on our young people and the adults.

Rev. Mason also served as a member of the Alcoholism Advisory Council l of the State Department Board of Mental Health, and was a member of the Mayor’s Council on Alcoholism of Tulsa. He opened the church doors in 1965 to AA, Al-Anon, and Alateen meetings. The church also provided office space from 1984 to 1989 for Destination Discovery, an organization that provides programs for latchkey children in three large apartment complexes. Through his encouragement, a tutoring program has been ongoing every week for these youth at his church. In addition, the Meals on Wheels operates out of the church kitchen three days per week to serve south Tulsa.

In 1977, Rev. Mason was instrumental in getting Tulsa to host a citywide Leighton Ford Crusade and in bringing the Bill Gothard Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts to Tulsa. He also served on the Governor’s Committee on Ethics in Government, the Board of Tulsans for Community Values, and the Board of the American Red Cross of Tulsa. This seems to be quite a resume of service, but it does not end here. Rev. Mason was also very active in the Southeast Rotary Club of Tulsa, and upon his retirement from the full-time ministry was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship by his fellow Rotarians. Rev. Mason is also highly involved in hospital visitation; it is one of his highest priorities. Each day, he goes to several Tulsa area hospitals visiting with anyone who asks for a Protestant minister.

Oral Roberts University honored Rev. Mason on May 1, 1977 with an Honorary Doctor of Divinity, and on May 15, 1982 he was honored with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from Oklahoma City University in recognition of his many contributions to his church, the city of Tulsa, and the state of Oklahoma. Rev. Mason retired in June of 1993, but he continues to be an integral part of the Tulsa community. He was named Pastor Emeritus of Asbury United Methodist Church in 1995 because of his outstanding service.

WADE DEMERS

Wade Demers has averaged more than 80 hours per month of service to Emory L. Bennett Veterans Nursing Home. Demers is a Disabled Veteran who served in the Vietnam War. Because of his service in the armed forces, he decided to serve in other capacities for other veterans who were in need.

Demers gives much of his time serving at the nursing home. He drives the van, which takes the residents food shopping, on fishing trips, to lunch, dinner, and other outings. He also assists residents with activities at different outings and will come to help at a moments notice. His service helps to free the staff at the nursing home so they can accomplish their duties more efficiently daily. This also allows the paid staff to spend more time with the residents who look forward to the same.

He is also a great motivator. Demers is responsible for suggesting various activities. He suggests restaurants, fishing holes, and other places that the residents may enjoy participating in. He also mobilizes the community and makes them aware of the needs of the elderly veterans. He also recruits others to volunteer and give back to the community.

Because he has health issues, Demers is not always able to do what he wishes. He gives as much as he can and is known for bringing clothing, books, food, and other items that are necessities for the veterans. He also tries to help monetarily and if some of the men are homeless, he refers them to shelters or other resources where they can obtain help.

Though Wade Demers’ work is centered in the Oak Hill, Florida, area his service touches veterans across the country. Many of the men who come through his area are transient and moving from place to place. He works with them and gives them help and words of encouragement to help them keep hope and continue to live.

DEPRESSIVE & MANIC DEPRESSIVE ASSOCIATION OF TOLEDO

The Depressive and Manic Depressive Association (DMDA) of Toledo is a chapter of the National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association. Their mission is to educate clients, families, professionals and the public concerning the nature of depressive and manic depressive illnesses as treatable medical diseases. They also wish to eliminate discrimination and stigma, improve access to care, and advocate for research toward the elimination of these illnesses. They do not endorse or recommend the use of any specific treatment or medication. For advice about specific treatment or medication, clients are advised to consult their physician or mental health professional.

The DMDA of Toledo began in May of 1999 with one support group and four members. Today, they have grown to five support groups, and they also sponsor community education and outreach programs. The support groups average 15 to 20 people per meeting. DMDA of Toledo has developed specialized support groups for family members, women’s issues, survivors of suicide, hospital outreach and community support. They receive no public funding and rely solely on private donations. All of the staff is volunteers.

One of their programs is Generation Y. This is an anti-stigma, youth sensitivity and mental health awareness program. Generation Y teaches children to be sensitive towards others who have mental illness, behavioral problems, or are different from them in a number of ways. It is also designed to bring awareness to children, their families, and the community. This program, just as all the other programs of DMDA of Toledo, have a speaker’s bureau, a series of plays and skits, workshops and classes for both adults and children, and education material. The participants present these four components. The children present speeches on how they feel about mental illness, ADHD, racism, and other issues of tolerance. Children also present short, 5-10 minute skits or plays in which they act out their issues or concerns. The workshops are always age appropriate as well as the material.

The Toledo chapter works hard to meet the needs of those who suffer with manic depression or clinical depression. Though they do not have multi-level funding sources, they have not given up. This chapter knows there is a need for these services in the community and will continue to fight to survive. They recently obtained donated office space and are able to continue to reach more people needing their services. Weekly, they receive more than 40 calls for information or linkage to other support services in the community.

LISANN PETERS

Lisann Peters’ life-long focus is advocacy, consisting of knowledge, public education and leadership focused on issues affecting youth. As an advocate for children and for education, when she heard of the critical need for school supplies for children from low-income families, she decided something must be done. She started “Supply Train” which is a collaborative effort of the Girl Scouts-Circle T Council and the Arlington Independent School District Council of PTAs. School supplies are collected by the Girl Scouts and PTAs. Peters helped create the initial program including the advertising collection, pick-up, sorting and distribution of school supplies to needy students. This program was created in 1987 and still continues today.

Peters also co-founded the Arlington Will Award and Recognize educational Excellence (AWARE) Foundation in May of 1989. It was created as a way to encourage innovation and excellence among Arlington ISD teachers. Outstanding teachers, nominated by their students, parents or fellow teachers are onserved by AWARE board and community members. Crystal and monetary awards are given to the winners in five different categories.

Peters was instrumental in creating an endowment fund to help ensure the long-term benefit that AWARE brings to the community. This permanent funding source will make a significant impact to the program, which literally reaches 60,000 students through the encouragement of 4,100 teachers who strive for and achieve excellence in the classroom. Former Texas Governor George W. Bush recognized AWARE as an outstanding example of how a community can support its teachers.

Peters was also instrumental in founding Youth Leadership Arlington (YLA). This program was established to provide a program which identifies and develops leadership abilities and potential among high school juniors from diverse social, economic, reacial and geographic backgrounds while encouraging closer ties between Arlington’s schools and fostering a desire to commit individual talents to the community now and in the future. YLA seeks to build students’ self worth and to provide interaction between students, business and community leaders and decision makers. Working with the tenth class, Peters continues to coordinate the program.

Lisann Peters has given immeasurable time and energy working for youth. When she heard about the obstacles that the Girl Scouts-Circle T Council had in trying to provide Girl Scouting at School in at-risk areas in Arlington, her intervention and support of the Girl Scouts at School program were vital. Today, several Arlington schools are actively involved with the program. Peters now serves as President of the Circle T Council and advocates for making girl scouting available to every girl in the Circle T jurisdiction.

Peters continues to be an advocate for youth as she serves on the baords of Tarrant County Child Protective Services, Region 3 CPS Council, Tarrant County Community Partners and Texas Community Partners. She also serves as a HOST Volunteer at Webb Elementary where she works with three students weekly and serves as the coordinator for this program for her Rotary.

PUT YOUR HEART INTO IT CLOTHE-A-CHILD MARATHON GROUP

In 1993, Donna Piscopo founded and energetically organized an aerobic marathon called Put Your Heart Into It . . . Clothe-a-Child to benefit the Clothe-a-Child charity. During the marathon, participants complete a two-hour aerobic workout and collect donations from sponsors. Money collected goes to Clothe-a-Child, a nonprofit program providing new clothing to needy children ages 5-12. The program is 100% privately funded. Volunteer shoppers are paired with children for a shopping trip to area retailers. The clothes are not returnable and parents’ income is verified. Now in its 21st year, the News Herald’s Clothe-a-Child program has provided clothing for 10,000 children in Lake County.

The first Put Your Heart Into It marathon was held in 1994 and raised $1,500. Piscopo and her class were inspired, to say the least. 1995 was equally successful and added $2,307 to the Clothe-a-Child coffer. That was only the beginning . . .

Piscopo decided the 1996 event would be held on national Make A Difference Day after reading about the Points of Light Foundation sponsored program in USA Weekend magazine. The marathon netted $2,300 and regional honors for the group’s Make A Difference Day debut.

In 1997 a new twist – Make A Difference Day – We Gotcha Covered – was added to the Put Your Heart Into It event. Along with the marathon for Clothe-a-Child, they collected and assembled 121 personal care packages for Project Hope, a homeless shelter. Forbes House, a battered women’s home, was asked for a “wish list” of items needed and received a generous supply of women’s lingerie, towels and a brand new baby stroller the marathoners procured courtesy of Dillards, Wal-Mart & USA Baby.

In 1998 Make A Difference Day for the Young, and Young-At-Heart included the marathon and a trip to Heartland, a Nursing/Assisted Living/Rehab center, for a fitness get-together. While at Heartland they visited the elderly residents (many confined to wheelchairs) and conducted a spirited session of movements to music. At this point, the group had raised almost $19,500 for Clothe-a-Child.

1999 they again set their sights on Clothe-a-Child but this time, in addition to fundraising through the marathon, many participants also signed on as volunteer shoppers in the program. Since Clothe-a-Child is handled with strict anonymity, this unique experience afforded them a chance to meet some of the children whose lives have been enriched by their generosity.

The 7th annual Put Your Heart Into It marathon was held December 2, 2000 and brought the grand total to $30,000. Thanks to the efforts of these volunteers, more than 150 underprivileged children have warm clothing and shoes to wear to school.

TEAMVOLS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE

TeamVOLS (Volunteer Outreach for Leadership and Service), at The University of Tennessee, is an organization devoted to uniting the University community with the societal issues and needs of the greater Knoxville community. In 1992, TeamVOLS was created by a handful of students desiring to make a difference. Today, this organization coordinates and oversees more than 11,000 hours of documented volunteer work each year. The work of TeamVOLS can be seen throughout the University and community at large, but it can also be seen in every student who volunteers his/her time and energy each day. The University of Tennessee prides itself on being home to the “Volunteers” and nowhere is that pride more evident that in TeamVOLS – a team commited to Volunteer Outreach for Leadership and Service.

The driving forces behind TeamVOLS are its Leadership Board and its thousands of student volunteers. The Leadership Board is comprised of 27 undergraduate student coordinators that focus on 18 target areas of service. These student coordinators are charged daily with connecting student volunteers with a myriad of agencies and programs throughout the community. The Leadership Board challenges students to take ownership in their community, encouraging them to seek out specific areas of need. Year after year, students eagerly respond to this challenge. As a result, TeamVOLS serves more than 75 local agencies on a routine basis.

Beyond the statistics and numbers, there are the students whose lives have been changed by their involvement in TeamVOLS. TeamVOLS works to foster a commitment to lifelong service in its student volunteers, and the students have responded. Throughout the years, many students have benefited from and built on their leadership experience in TeamVOLS. One example is the development of a 1998 Alternative Spring Break (ASB) coordinator who led a very successful service project in Baltimore, Maryland that accumulated more than 1,500 service hours in only six days. This student’s experience in Baltimore also benefited the Knoxville community.

After ASB, she realized that she wanted to expand her community service, joining the Peace Corp in Central America. This is only one example of the many students who have carried their commitment to community service beyond the walls of the TeamVOLS office into the local community and the world.

TeamVOLS is based upon volunteer outreach for leadership and service. Since 1995, TeamVOLS has increased its number of documented volunteer hours by almost 500%, accumulating 44,906 hours of volunteer work as of May 2000. All universities are charged with the responsibility of creating leaders for the future; TeamVOLS charges its student volunteers to become leaders dedicated to improving the future through a lifelong commitment to community service.

KNOXVILLE UTILITIES BOARD EMPLOYEES

The Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB) is an independent agency of the city of Knoxville. Its primary mission is to provide the most reliable and least costly utility services possible to its customers.

Beyond that mission, the approximately 1,000 employees at KUB are a caring and community-minded group of individuals who consistently seek various volunteer opportunitites within their community.

As a corporation, KUB spares no effort to support and encourage employee participation in these volunteer efforts. In response, KUB’s employees are committed to giving generously of their time, money, resources, and enthusiasm.

Examples of KUB employee volunteerism include participation in Project Help (a home-heating program to help the poor and elderly in paying their utility bills); educational support initiatives that include partnering with Austin-East and West High schools for TeenWork and Adopt-a-School programs; Habitat for Humanity (building homes for low-income families); support of the Salvation Army (employees purchase approximately 800 gifts annually for the Angel Tree program, which fulfills the holiday wishes of needy children) as well as serving as Bell Ringers at local malls; annual canned food drives which benefit The Love Kitchen; participation in the annual Christmas and Dogwood Arts Festival parades; Medic Blood drives; and walk-a-thons to raise money for the March of Dimes, Juvenile Diabetes, HeartWalk, etc.

In addition, KUB employees are environmentally conscious. KUB employees routinely remove tons of debris from parks, roadsides, and riverfronts as part of events like the Great American Cleanup, River Rescue, or Adopt-a-Highway. KUB itself promotes such environmental concern by offering customers innovative Green Power options that use renewable energy, like solar and wind power, to produce electricity.

Those are just a few of the community activities in which KUB employees participate each year – on their own initiative and for the betterment of the community they serve.