Dennis M. Nigro

In 1998, Dr. Dennis M. Nigro began performing free cosmetic surgery for those with special needs on Saturdays. From this evolved Fresh Start, a private clinic that has now been running for seven years.

Dr. Nigro and his staff do reconstructive surgery on children and young adults with deformities from middle income families whose insurance will not cover cosmetic surgery. These recipients are from all over the world, including Mexico, Romania and Russia. There is no discrimination and no one is turned away. Every child with a physical deformity is given the opportunity to have a positive self-image.

More than 1,000 people have volunteered since Fresh Start’s inauguration, including doctors, nurses, clerical staff, families, drivers, translators, dentists, housewives and lawyers. There is one surgical weekend every six months.

John Carney, a San Diego Charger’s football player, makes a contribution to Fresh Start, the “Kick Start” donation. For each touchdown he scores, Fresh Start receives money. Other funders are primarily medical groups and services, resulting in a total of $119,300 for the 1998 fiscal year. More than 700 surgeries have been performed with tangible results.

Father Ralph Beiting

Father Ralph Beiting is a priest of the diocese of Lexington. He has been working as the pastor of a four-county parish since 1950. Father Beiting founded the Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) shortly after he became a pastor. The project provides many services, including community development, education, and crisis intervention programs to the people of the Appalachian Region.

Under Father Beiting’s direction, and with the help of an estimated 30,000 volunteers, CAP has established programs offering long-term solutions such as child development centers, counseling, tutoring toward high school equivalency certification, adult literacy instruction, youth centers, a health advocacy program, and opportunities for people with disabilities.

CAP also addresses short-term needs. Some of these programs include visitation of elderly people, emergency financial assistance, abuse shelters, home repair, Christmas baskets, and assistance for families with disabled members. Every year CAP has an Appalachian Work Fest. This is a spring break alternative, which attracts over 400 college students from throughout the country for home repair projects.

CAP’s volunteers are a mixed group. The volunteer corps includes nearly 100 men and women from all over the United States, whose ages range from young adults to past retirement age. Working mainly in outreach and education programs, they commit themselves to working for CAP for a year or more. In addition to long-term volunteers, hundreds more come to work for a shorter period of time.

CAP has been successful in helping with immediate and long-term needs. The proof of their success can be seen in the numbers. Last year alone, CAP awarded their 1,000th GED diploma, 4,800 parents and children participated in the child development programs, more than 11,500 people were assisted by CAP’s crisis intervention programs, and 600,000 people benefited from CAP’s community development programs. CAP currently has 70 programs meeting people’s needs throughout the 13 Appalachian states and provides direct services to 18 Appalachian counties in Kentucky and West Virginia.

Exceptional Parents Unlimited

Exceptional Parents Unlimited (EPU), a nonprofit organization, has been serving children with special needs and their families in Fresno County, CA for the past 22 years. Over this time, they have learned that many kinds of challenges can affect the growth and development of children. In order to address these challenges, EPU, open 8:30am – 5pm, Monday through Friday, with a staff of 50 employees, has developed comprehensive programs that help families become knowledgeable and empowered to meet the needs of all family members. In addition, they are supported by a core of about 300 regularly active volunteers who help enable the success of the many services provided by EPU, helping out wherever needed.

EPU’s services fall under three main focus areas: early intervention for children with special needs; parent support, education and training; and child abuse prevention. EPU’s services are provided free to families and are available in English, Spanish and Hmong. In addition to their urban center in Fresno City, EPU has two rural satellite offices that reach out to under-served populations. EPU has strived to develop programs that meet a great diversity of family needs and which address the geographic, cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity of the Fresno community. They serve over 250 families per week.

Their Family Resource Center staff meets parents at the hospital, or at home, after the crisis of learning that their child has a disability of serious medical problem. The staff provides information, resource referral and coordination, support and training to parents. EPU’s Infant Family Program provides therapeutic early intervention services to high-risk (drug-exposed) infants, and infants with disabilities, from 0-3 years of age. Services are provided by a team of highly trained professionals. The Learning About Parenting (LAP) program was established in 1992 to rebuild families when parents and children suffer the effects of drugs and alcohol. It was established in response to the increasing numbers of infants, being served in the program, who were exposed to drugs and alcohol prior to birth.

All of EPU’s programs are run in collaboration with and support from the community. They work closely with all of their local hospitals, Departments of Social Services, Public Health Department and local school districts.

Alicia Roy

Alicia Roy sets an example for other adults to help children in the community. Not only is she a role model as an educator, but she has inspired her Little Sister, Jannell Drennen, to help others. For example, they teach others to be humane to animals and help people act responsibly toward their environment and surroundings.

Ms. Roy is the 1998 Big Sister of the Year for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County, MA, and is the head of the English Department at Palmer High School.

Seven years ago, Ms. Roy saw that many of her students needed more attention than they were getting. As a teacher, she understood how important one-on-one attention is to a child. So she took her talents, time and energy and applied to be a Big Sister.

In October of 1991, Ms. Roy was matched with Jannell Drennen, who was 10 years old and living with her grandmother. Jannell’s needs were in the areas of developing self-confidence and improving her work ethic in school. More importantly, she needed someone who could provide extra attention, time and love.

In the seven years that Ms. Roy and Jannell have been together, Jannell’s horizons have expanded. During their bi-weekly time together, the two have visited libraries and museums, attended plays, visited colleges and participated in Big Brothers Big Sisters’ group events.

One of their most meaningful activities together is their joint volunteer work at the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals shelter in Springfield, MA. They work together at the shelter every few weeks, performing whatever tasks need to be done.

Ms. Roy is committed to the importance of personal development and personal responsibility. She models these values by example and the impact that she has had on Jannell’s life has been nothing but positive.

In addition to her efforts with Jannell, Ms. Roy is involved in fundraising events and volunteer recruitment for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hamden County.

Louise Watson

Louise Watson lives a life filled with community service. Watson started teaching in Grandfield’s elementary school in 1979, and since then has volunteered her services as a mentor, tutor, writer and storyteller. From Grandfield’s Head Start program to the senior citizens at the local nursing home, Watson has unselfishly devoted her time.

On her own time and at her own expense, Watson researched, gathered photos and made color slides, then narrated an accompanying cassette about the story of the Grandfield community, also known as “Big Pasture”. She has taken this presentation into schools, libraries, churches, nursing homes and historical gatherings. The slides have inspired young people to read and sparked the memories of nursing home residents.

As a member of the Ok-la-homa Tale Spinners, Watson tells stories in the schools, libraries, churches, organizations, etc. Several of her stories have been published in the National Story Art Magazine. She developed an elementary drug education program, in which she uses two bird puppets, named Okla and Homa, to teach kids about the pitfalls of drug use.

Watson’s love of writing led her to teach writing in the classroom and to volunteer her summers to teach writing to interested young people. She has also served as a summer volunteer teacher of English for migrant adults.

The Delaware Mentor Program

The Delaware Mentor Program, started in 1992, is a rehabilitation program for women offenders that operates out of the Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institute and the Sussex Work Release Center in Wilmington, DE. The program’s mission is to help women offenders become constructive members of society by providing positive role models and classes that help the women understand how to function effectively in society.

The Delaware Mentor Program has recruited approximately 100 volunteers, including professionals such as psychologists, addiction counselors, therapists, lawyers, college professors and bankers. These volunteers teach workshops, serve on the board and provide direct services for the women in prison. The program consists of 13 weeks of workshops, four nights per week. There are three classes of 25 women each and all classes culminate in a graduation ceremony for those who successfully complete the program.

The Mentor Program complements other rehabilitation programs dealing with drug and alcohol addictions and life skills. With the belief that addictions are merely a symptom of a bigger problem, one purpose of the program is to work on issues other than the addiction itself that cause the women to use drugs. More than half of the women in this program are incest survivors and most have been exposed to some form of physical or emotional abuse. By participating in this program, which is done on a completely voluntary basis, the women learn to stop being victims and to take control of their own lives.

The Delaware Mentor Program also works with work-release prisoners. At the Sussex Work Release Center, volunteers help women transition back into society by assisting with job placement, housing, transportation and the conduction of additional workshops on issues that the women will face upon their release.

Farideh Kioumehr

Dr. Farideh Kioumehr, an epidemiologist, is the founder and executive director of The International Health and Epidemiology Research Center, an organization whose mission is to prevent violence, especially gun violence in children and youth. One of the major initiatives of the organization is its Anti-Violence Campaign, which consists of various Anti-Violence Days.

Working under the motto, “violence will kill society tomorrow, if we don’t do something today,” Dr. Kioumehr encourages kids to bring in their toy guns in exchange for another toy, such as a teddy bear. Dr. Kioumehr’s first Anti-Violence Day was held in Orange County, CA in 1995. Children made artwork out of toy guns at the local children’s museum and received t-shirts with a crossed out gun on the front. Last year, there were five of these days held in San Jose and San Diego.

Dr. Kioumehr also conducts presentations and workshops in schools, universities and churches to raise awareness about the danger of guns, toy guns and violence.

Dr. Kioumehr’s efforts are endorsed by various senators and Vice President, Al Gore. Among other awards, she has recently received the “Outstanding Anti-Violence Advocate Award” given by the Network of Iranian Professionals of Orange County.

Henry Stern

Last September, the director of volunteer services at Habitat for Humanity contacted the community relations director at Malibu High School to organize a group of students to come out to one of the Northern California sites. The community relations director from Malibu High referred Henry Stern, a student who ended up organizing three diverse groups to participate in the Habitat project.

Henry recruited members from the Jewish Student Union, The Young Black Scholars and the Latin American Mecha Club. Although the groups did not regularly socialize, he believed that if they came together for a common goal, they might build a bond that would lead to a stronger school community.

In addition to coordinating the students, Henry also recruited construction professionals to participate in the project. He brought each construction professional to an orientation meeting to formulate work plans for the groups to follow.

This group has also committed to continue interaction with the Habitat recipients in a monthly workday at the site.

In addition to his work with Habitat, Henry also organized a school-wide Holocaust awareness program. This three-day event brought Holocaust survivors out to speak with the students of Malibu High School to raise awareness about the issues of racism, intolerance and human suffrage.

An active participant in the Midnight Run Program, Henry regularly goes out into the Santa Monica/Venice area to distribute sack lunches to the homeless. In addition, Henry is currently a coach for a seventh/eighth grade basketball team and is actively involved in the Environmental Club, The California Scholarship Federation Club and the Random Acts of Kindness Club.

Cherri Johnson

As a dedicated volunteer for Lutheran Social Services in Sioux Falls, SD, Cherri Johnson has been involved in the ministry of clothing refugees for the past decade. Many refugees arrive in Sioux Falls with no money, friends or common language. Mrs. Johnson made it her mission to ensure that every refugee child has proper clothing for school.

Over the years, her efforts have grown into an even bigger project. Mrs. Johnson has taken it upon herself to be a “welcome wagon” to the newly arriving refugees. As she learns of new arrivals, be it a new family or recent birth, she visits their homes to see what is needed, goes back to her house to gather up the necessary clothing items and then heads back to the refugees’ homes with the goods. Mrs. Johnson takes great care to personalize her service.

Mrs. Johnson solicits clothing from many sources, including her friends, family, church congregation and local Volunteer Center. She even places ads in the local newspaper, requesting good, used articles of clothing. She receives donations on her doorstep daily. She spends hours sorting, cleaning and delivering the clothing. Sometimes, those that donate clothing to the cause, donate their time as well, by assisting wherever they are needed.

During the holiday season, Mrs. Johnson distributes truckloads of toys that she has collected throughout the year to refugee children. If toys are in need of repair or cleaning, Mrs. Johnson refurbishes them to ensure that each child receives a toy to be proud of.

Ten years of refugees know and love Mrs. Johnson. Many affectionately call her “Grandma”. They have been known to abruptly stop on the side of the road and run over to “Grandma” asking how she has been since they were first welcomed by her years ago.

In addition to volunteering at Lutheran Social Services, Mrs. Johnson also serves at her church by recycling greeting cards and reselling them to raise money for its youth group.

Sister Barbara Ginter Health Care Ministry, Inc.

In 1993, in response to the large population of people without health care insurance but did not qualify for Medicaid benefits, a group of physicians, nurses and other volunteers started a health care ministry in Utica’s inner city. It has a walk-in setting and many of the patients are referred by the local soup kitchen, food pantry and thrift shop, as well as other nonprofit agencies, local drug/alcohol rehabilitation programs, school nurses, and country departments of social services. Many patients are refugees, parolees, discharged psychiatric patients, and laborers affected by a hurt economy.

The services provided range from physicals and eye exams to the treatment of emergencies and short-term and chronic illness. Dentures, glasses and hygiene kits are distributed. In addition, down the street is the “Hope House,” where these people are fed as part of the Ministry. The Ministry has served about 1,450 people from 30 different communities, their patients ranging from a few weeks to over 80 years old. They see about 50 new patients each month.

Open Mondays and Thursdays from 1-5 p.m. and Saturdays from 12-3 p.m., the Health Care Ministry lives its motto that “in caring for your health, we are caring for you.” The volunteers are doctors, dentists, nurses, members of local churches, high school students and others. Donations supply the Ministry’s minimal operating budget.