Stephanie Garcia

Stephanie Garcia is a 15-year-old sophomore at LaGrange High School located in rural Southwest Georgia. Stephanie’s commitment to serve started in fall 1997 after receiving second place for an essay about her uncle, and role model, who died of complications from AIDS. After the essay contest, she then realized that she wanted to do more than just write an essay about her uncle and AIDS, she wanted to increase her community’s awareness of the disease.

Although she was warned by some that her small, rural, southern town of LaGrange, GA might not accept what she wanted to do, Stephanie decided to launch a school-wide AIDS Awareness campaign. This campaign gradually grew to include the entire community. Stephanie especially wanted to target her peers; the fastest growing population among HIV infected individuals. She recruited a committee of students to help her carry out her plan.

Stephanie received the permission of her school principal to set up an information booth in the cafeteria, hold a school assembly complete with guest speakers, pass out red ribbons representing AIDS awareness and post posters for an AIDS Awareness Week, held May 11-15, 1998. She also recruited adults from the local health department, teen clinic, school board, teachers and Communities in Schools and the Names Project Foundation to help her carry out her mission. She was able to get the Names Project Foundation to allow a portion of the AIDS Quilt to be on display at the school during AIDS Awareness Week. Stephanie was also able to secure radio announcements, interviews and newspaper coverage. She offered guest speakers from the local health department and teen clinic to visit each classroom in the school to answer questions and provide information and resources that students may not have been aware of. This also gave teachers the opportunity to have access to helpful information.

Troup County, where Stephanie resides, has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy in the state of Georgia. The number of HIV infected persons is increasing fastest among youth under age 24. By educating her peers about the dangers of having sex too soon and explaining how AIDS affects not only those who are infected, but those who love and care for that individual, Stephanie is making a difference in those statistics.

Daniel Weiss

Daniel Weiss has dedicated his life to humanitarian causes. After completing his master’s degree, Mr. Weiss worked at Mercy Home For Boys where he served as a child care advocate for troubled adolescents in inner-city Chicago. He then left that program to work as a teacher and administrator for Fundacao Esperanca, a national nonprofit organization that provides healthcare in the Amazon.

While working towards his doctoral degree, Mr. Weiss began working in the Minneapolis Public Schools. During this time, Mr. Weiss founded Amizade, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for people to be able to take part in the educational service projects around the world. Volunteers do not need to have any special skills—just a willingness to help. Amizade collaborates with existing community-based organizations to develop projects that will be both beneficial to the community and enjoyable to the volunteers.

Since the inception of Amizade in 1994, more than 70 volunteers have participated in programs in Brazil, Bolivia and the Greater Yellowstone region. Because of Amizade, children living on the streets in the Amazon have access to pre-natal and early childhood healthcare, a city of more than 25,000 people can now get affordable orthopedic shoes and a community of 4,000 in the Bolivian Andes has a hospital.

Mr. Weiss is working full time for Amizade, free of charge, writing grant proposals and raising money to cover project costs.

For more information about Amizade, Ltd.
Email: [email protected]
http://amizade.org

Kristine Schmitz

At the Academy of the Holy Cross in Kensington, MD, Kris Schmitz is busy volunteering with several different programs. Kris, who is now 16, has been volunteering since she was 10 years old. Her main interest is in helping children with behavioral problems who come from low-income families. She started a buddy program last summer at the Rosemary Hills Community Center Day Camp in Silver Spring, MD, wrote a handbook, volunteered in a local nursing home, and has mentored and tutored students through the SPARK! Program.

At 10 years of age, Kris started visiting some residents at a local nursing home in her area. She developed special relationships with many of them. Besides forming these relationships, whenever Kris saw a special need, she would instigate an activity or make sure that the need was met. Still 6 years later, Kris has contact with one of the residents at the home.

During her freshman year at the Academy of the Holy Cross, Kris had the desire to mentor and tutor a child from a local elementary school. She began calling around but was repeatedly denied because of her age. She remembered how hard it was for her during her earlier school years, so she persisted in finding someone to mentor. Through SPARK!, an agency in Kensington, Kris found a student who needed additional help with her studies.

Last summer, Kris was in the inaugural class of the Lazarus Leadership Fellows Program at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School and had the assignment of creating a community service project. The Lazarus Leadership Foundation gives leadership training and a grant to develop a community service program to those applicants who are selected for extraordinary volunteer work. Kris was selected and developed a “buddy program” in a summer camp serving children from a low-income and ethnically diverse community. Kris trained six other high-school-aged volunteers to serve as “buddies” to the younger children who were attending the camp. In order to ensure proper training, Kris talked with guidance counselors and researched publications to find out the best methods and skills in working with children who have behavioral problems.

In order to aid those in the “buddy program” and for future reference, Kris designed a handbook, including information on program direction, volunteers, and specific techniques for working with children. This project was funded through the Lazarus Foundation.

Her most recent effort is Girls Rule!, a program that focuses on issues that 4th and 5th grade girls face in their daily lives. It encourages and nurtures these rising women by providing positive female role models, counseling and a supportive environment. The ultimate goal is to assist each young woman in realizing her worth and potential as well as to start her on the path to success.

Daniel Bryant

Daniel Bryant, a full-time college student at the University of Houston, serves as a teacher and clinic coordinator at St. Pius Catholic School in Pasadena full-time. Despite his busy schedule, he continues to find the time to donate over 2,500 hours of volunteer work for the American Red Cross. Daniel has a personal goal to help educate children about water safety.

Daniel’s desire to educate children about water safety motivated him to implement a first aid program into the curriculum at St. Pius. The program, First Aid for Children Today (F.A.C.T.), teaches the children about water safety and includes a section on CPR. F.A.C.T. is a comprehensive health and safety program for kids in kindergarten through third grade.

In addition to his work with F.A.C.T, he is also a committed instructor in the Learn to Swim program for the American Red Cross. He is a certified Lifeguard Instructor Trainer (LGIT) and is currently working towards receiving certification as a Water Safety Instructor Trainer and CPR & First Aid Instructor Trainer. Daniel is actively involved in recruiting and training new volunteers.

Through Daniel’s work, others are being educated on safety issues. Daniel has a real love for people and a sincere desire to educate children. Because of Daniel, accidents have been prevented and lives have been saved.

Thomas Fisher

At the age of 90, Tom Fisher is still actively involved in promoting literacy. His interest began in 1994 when he read an article in a Smithsonian Magazine about the Read Aloud Handbook. This article motivated Mr. Fisher to create a group called Read Aloud Waxahachie. The community was brought closer together as adults began working with children to develop their love for books and reading. This program allowed many people to benefit from the services as well as provide those in the community with the opportunity to serve.

“Have You Read To A Child Today?” is the theme of the Read Aloud Waxahachie program. Mr. Fisher continued to be involved in a variety of programs. The WISD Kindergarten campus has worked together with the Lions Club and Rotary Club in a reading program called Lap-Reading. High School students are able to receive school credit and community service hours through reading to the younger elementary school-aged children. Mr. Fisher’s efforts have also led to several book drives through the local high school, as well as to the distribution of books to newborns at the hospital in Waxahachie.

As a volunteer reader and throughout the implementation process, Mr. Fisher continues to be involved every day. He personally researches issues and concerns relating to education and children, and is the catalyst that helps everyone else to keep the program going. This year was the first Waxahachie “Drop Everything and Read” (DEAR) Day, where over 6,700 members of the community took part by reading.

Tom Fisher believes that everyone can make a difference. Through his work, the community of Waxahachie developed a great awareness and love for reading. The Read Aloud committee, a group of business leaders, government officials, school employees, and church leaders, began working with public and private schools, daycare centers and churches throughout the community. Waxahachie is a small community with a high poverty level and the public was not aware of the value of reading aloud. Through Read Aloud Waxahachie, reading scores improved as well as vocabulary, listening and awareness skills. The Read Aloud Waxahachie program is funded through the school district and local businesses.

Christina Ivazes

Christina Ivazes is passionate about helping at-risk kids. She devotes all of her free time, between 40-60 hours weekly, to helping these youth. Her home is open to those in the community whom need a listening ear. Ms. Ivazes is a part-time teacher at an alternative high school in Grass Valley and she devotes every opportunity to serving the kids in the school. She has a unique gift for relating to at-risk youth; she herself was once homeless.

Ms. Ivazes is involved in a community project called “Adventure Playground”(APG), a youth center built primarily by disadvantaged adolescents. The purpose of APG is to motivate youth to get off of the streets and become involved in other activities. APG’s goal is to nurture youth by supporting the development of each individual via building qualities of value, self-esteem and leadership skills. The community where Ms. Ivazes resides is extremely small and there is a lot of friction between the young people and elderly.

Ms. Ivazes became involved with the youth because of her belief that if the youth are part of the problem, they must become part of the solution. As she spends time with youth, Ms. Ivazes helps them understand the needs of the community. Finally after four years, APG has built a skateboard park with the disadvantaged youth. This was necessary in Brazos Valley, where adults felt overwhelmed by the hundreds of kids skateboarding on the streets. Now the youth feel they have a place where they can be themselves. This has truly eased the tension between the youth and seniors and has unified the community in a productive, lasting way.

Through Ms. Ivaze’s work, the community has truly been changed. Her success comes from earning the respect of the elderly, while earning the trust of the youth. Now, thanks to Ms. Ivazes’ efforts, foundations are paying closer attention to social problems and more people are becoming involved in solving them.

Interfaith Mission of Sussex County

Interfaith Mission of Sussex County (IMSC), Inc. is a non-profit organization located in Delaware. The Mission was part of the Interfaith Housing Department for about 10 years, but has now functioned independently for the past 2 years. The purpose of the organization is to improve the quality of life for individuals through better housing. The Interfaith Mission has become involved in a number of projects to improve the lives of those in their community. Two learning centers have been established, home-ownership counseling is offered, and the organization is in the process of building 24 rental units in Georgetown.

The two learning centers are located in within the high-risk neighborhoods of Pepper Ridge Park and Twin Cedars. The children who use the centers come from under-privileged, multi-cultural, low-income families. Volunteers come to the centers from IMSC, local churches and the surrounding community to help the children with their homework, provide special reading programs for those in need, teach English, offer drug awareness programs and home ownership counseling for first time home buyers. Since their opening, there have been definite improvements in the academic performance of the children who attend the centers’ programs. They have improved in their language skills, reading, and writing, and have a better understanding of mathematical concepts. IMSC pays for the rent and utilities for the units while volunteers from local church organizations provide the snacks and supplies. The children have also had the opportunity to take bus trips to the Baltimore Aquarium, the Opera, and other local events.

Through private donations and local organizations, IMSC was able to purchase 4 lots in Sussex County; two were donated to Habitat for Humanity. The other two lots are also going to be used to help families within Sussex County find better opportunities for housing. The problems of the community are immediately addressed by IMSC.

Presently, IMSC is building 24 rental units in Georgetown for its poultry workers. IMSC is building the rental units to provide better housing and assistance to these people who are seeking affordable housing in a suitable living environment.

IMSC brings together Sussex County members of all faiths and backgrounds. They are striving together to build a sense of community, by initiating and participating in efforts to make systematic, economic, and social changes by developing leadership within the community. IMSC is funded through fundraising activities, the local Ministerium, individual contributions, and contributions from other local organizations.

Conejo Clinic

Over twenty years ago in Thousand Oaks, California, the Conejo Clinic was established to provide medical and legal assistance to those who could not afford private care. The Clinic is open Monday through Friday, operates in rent-free space from Community Conscience and is volunteer-run.

A base donation of ten dollars is requested of each clinic patient, although services are still provided if the patient cannot afford to pay. The Conejo Free Clinic also provides information and referral services by telephone and distributes a current list of organizations providing services that the clinic does not offer. In addition, the clinic has established a video library on health and personal development.

Once a month, every morning and evening, immunizations are distributed and the records are stored with the Clinic. Local physicians and registered nurses provide free medical services during daytime hours throughout the week and evening hours on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday by appointment only. The services include blood pressure checks, HIV testing, pregnancy tests, and birth control counseling.

The Conejo’s Legal clinic is open on Tuesday evenings by appointment. The legal staff is comprised of local practicing attorneys and paralegals who volunteer their services during the evenings. The legal clinics are a consultation service only, serving an average of 20 people every Tuesday. Once a month, the Clinic sponsors a family law and custody class.

The clinic is funded through grants and private donations as well as contributions from the City of Thousand Oaks.

Steve West

In September 1996, Tennessee implemented Family First, a welfare reform initiative. This program is designed to provide temporary assistance to families, while they are moving from the welfare system to self-sufficiency, through employment. One of the challenges of the Family First Program is to assist participants in the battle to overcome barriers to employment.

In Blount County, a suburban county located fifteen miles south of Knoxville, employment opportunities are good but the lack of transportation is a serious barrier to obtaining and retaining employment. In response to this problem, Steve West, a local auto dealer, contacted Ms. Carol C. Richardson at Tennessee’s office of Human Services to discuss their need for transportation. Together they developed the First Wheels Program in 1997.

Shortly thereafter, Mr. West appealed to the Chamber of Commerce Foundation to be the lien-holder for the vehicles involved in the project. He rallied local auto parts dealers and citizens to donate clean-up, tires, batteries and various additional supplies. His staff also got involved donating their time by providing safety checks. He even drafted an agreement contract to be signed by qualified applicants and recruited a local attorney to review the contract.

With the support of his automotive suppliers and others from the community, Mr. West was able to provide qualified participants with a used car to get them to and from their new job. The car is theirs to keep if they adhere to the signed agreement they have with Mr. West. The donated vehicles have a 24-month lien on them. If the participant complies with the guidelines over the two-year period, the lien is released. First Wheels participants must maintain full-time employment, provide proof of insurance, and provide proof of maintenance, in order to keep the car.

Since the program’s inception, Mr. West has donated a total of eight vehicles to Families First Participants. These participants have left the welfare system and are doing well in their jobs.

Tropical Elementary Publishing School

About 4 years ago, the parents and teachers at Tropical Elementary School established the Tropical Elementary Publishing Center in order to assist student and faculty with their writing endeavors. The Center is funded through the School Improvement Committee, the Tropical Library Fund and individual donations of the parents. The volunteers are parents of the students at Tropical Elementary School. The Center is used by approximately 1,000 students at Tropical Elementary and is responsible for publishing about 1,500 books annually.

The Centers focus is on education. The parents have developed a center in a portable classroom with computers that have been donated and fixed up. Teachers are able to call in and set up appointments for their students who have written stories. The child is sent to the center and receives one on one attention from a parent volunteer at the center. Together, the child and parent type the story, make any needed changes, print the story, bind it into a book, and make a creative cover that the child designs from clip art.

The service is invaluable. The Center provides activities to help the students express themselves in a meaningful way. The administration has noticed an increase in the scores of the children’s reading and writing, but more importantly they have noticed a desire within each child to improve. The students want to write and to publish their materials.

Teachers are also able to receive services from the Publishing Center. The parent volunteers make class sets of books, laminate teaching materials, and provide materials for the Young Author’s Conference which is held annually at Tropical Elementary.

The Publishing Center motivates each child to read, write, and use his or her imagination. Through the Center, the child’s self-esteem improves, as the child sees the results of his or her work.