Matthew Stock

Matthew Stock, a student at Nova High School in Broward County, FL, is showing a commitment to volunteerism and service to help blind and visually impaired.

For many years, Matthew worked as a volunteer at the Broward Lighthouse for the Blind. Through his experiences, he became aware of special needs of blind and visually impaired children. He learned that many children fall behind in school because their classroom teachers are unable to give them the special attention their disability requires. He learned that many are socially isolated and spend a great deal of time at home alone, because the very nature of blindness—being unable to visually gage other’s reactions and being unable to learn by observation—can result in a lack of social skills that lead to isolation.

During the summer of 1997, Matthew became determined to broaden the scope of his efforts and sought to coordinate services between the Lighthouse and the school system. Matthew started the LINC program, with an emphasis on facilitating interactions between students at his high school and visually impaired students throughout the district.

The LINC Project links blind and visually impaired students with high school student volunteers for academic tutoring and a “buddy” program that encourages friendships and helps the children develop social skills and confidence. Another component of the program includes efforts aimed at sighted students. Educational programs presented to school children in all grade levels helps them become aware of the challenges and difficulties of being visually impaired.

Through the LINC project, Matthew has touched many lives. The academic skills gained by the visually impaired children who receive tutoring have a lasting effect on their school performance. The “buddy” program is very effective in helping the children develop social skills and become more active in the community. Parents often remark on the benefits their children derive from LINC. The student volunteers are learning more about disabilities, developing compassion and gaining pride from making a positive impact in the lives of others.

Matthew will continue to direct LINC until his graduation in 2000. At that time, he will hand the direction of LINC over to another student at his high school.

Pat Reagan

Homelessness is often inaccurately seen as a “big city” problem. In Sioux Falls, SD, with an estimated population of 120,000 persons, there are a significant number of homeless. More and more families with young children are becoming homeless in Sioux Falls and a large portion of those families are headed by a single female with few or no job skills, living skills, education, or personal assets.

Inter-Lakes Community Action, Inc. (ICAP) and some concerned members of the Sioux Falls community have banded together to help the homeless. Heartland House, a transitional housing program for homeless families was started by ICAP to help these families. When Patricia Reagan, a resident of Sioux Falls, learned of the program she immediately volunteered to assist in whatever way possible. Through her participation, Pat has become a key component of the success of Heartland House.

Pat is the Chairperson of the Heartland House Advisory Council, which has raised more than $200,000 to support the program. In addition to developing ties to the community, and community support for the project, Pat has also made her own financial contributions to support Heartland House. She regularly speaks to businesses, service groups, churches and schools in order to raise awareness of the homeless problem and raise funds for the continued operation of Heartland House.

A large portion of the homeless served at Heartland House do not have a high school diploma and have little to no work experience. Pat, who owns several employment services in North and South Dakota, has provided many of the residents with in-depth assistance in developing resumes, interviewing techniques and other job-seeking skills. She has also assisted many of the participants in obtaining employment and counseling on how to be a valued employee.

Pat states that her sole reward for her many hours of service is the knowledge that she has been able to make a difference in the lives of people whom are less fortunate. Her efforts have offered a ray of hope where otherwise there may have been none.

Paul Bales

Blount County, TN is home to Paul Bales, a truly caring person who works tirelessly for his community. Paul’s aim is to help those who are less fortunate and he does whatever is necessary to help them.

Through the years, Paul has developed a network of contacts to aid his service. He knows who and where to turn to seek assistance in any situation. Friendship and respect are the key factors that have enabled Paul to develop such a network of humanitarians. He has a knack for recognizing a problem and persuading others to help, whether it is with money or volunteers.

The Empty Pantry Fund, Coats for the Cold and the Area School Bus Safety Check are just a few of the programs Paul has organized in Blount County in the past year. He periodically adds a new cause to his list; the bus safety check was new in 1998 while the Empty Pantry Fund is in its 46th year.

The Empty Pantry Fund is the largest and most important campaign. The project raises approximately $40,000 annually to provide more than 30 tons of food to the less fortunate at Christmas. In 1998, Paul and hundreds of volunteers filled 1,200 baskets with enough food to feed a family of four for a week. Donations and all administrative costs are handled by The Daily Times, where Paul is advertising director for major accounts.

Another of Paul’s campaigns is the Coats for the Cold program. In 1998, 1,000 coats were collected and given away to the least fortunate of Blount County.

Paul also organized the Area School Bus Safety Check. All school buses, vans and other vehicles that transport children were invited to the free inspection conducted by the Tennessee Department of Safety.

These are the most well-known projects in which Paul is involved; however, there are many other acts of kindness. For Paul, kindness is a year-round attitude. Paul’s nominator for the Daily Points of Light Award said, “In a time when so many turn their heads and go the other way, Paul Bales runs to the situation and offers his assistance.”

Carol Olson

Two years ago, the principal of Pine Forest Elementary School called Carol Olson to help tutor at-risk students.

Carol Olson’s philosophy of life comes from a quote from Audrey Hepburn, “God gave you two hands. One to help yourself and one to help others.” Carol started in 1997 by helping one child. One child led to another and another. When summer came, Carol was concerned because she believed that one of the students needed private tutoring. Since the student’s family could not provide private tutoring, she tutored the child free of charge.

When the 1998 school year started, Carol was back and ready to continue tutoring. Carol is generous with her time and her resources. She believed that students could benefit from certain computer programs that could help them to learn, so Carol purchased the programs and donated them to the school.

Other schools learned about Pine Forest’s volunteer. Carol was asked to train other volunteers so that they would be effective literacy tutors as well. Carol readily accepted this new assignment while continuing to tutor students at Pine Forest. There are now literacy tutors in each of the county’s at-risk schools.

This past summer Carol took on another challenge. She trained the Kingwood High School Varsity Football Team to be community volunteers for summer school. These young men became mentors and role models to children who were in need.

Pine Forest’s principal describes Carol as a person who does not have an off switch. Once she is on a mission to help a kid, no one can stop her.

Donna Crnovich

For the past eight years, Donna Crnovich has dedicated her life to making sure the youth of today become respectable, outstanding citizens. She has implemented a wide variety of programs in the Greater Milwaukee area, exposing students to people of all ages and from all walks of life. Although her main focus lies with National Honor Society students, she also encourages other students to participate in her planned activities throughout the year.

Ms. Crnovich arranges many events, including the Holiday Sharing Program, where donations of goods and money, organized by National Honors Society students at Greenfield High School, supply approximately 70 community families with food and presents during the month of December. Ms. Crnovich also has a stuffed animal drive, to provide a local hospital with a year’s worth of stuffed animals for hospitalized children. She is also the sponsor and supervisor of “community bands concerts” which features high school students with their own bands. She feels that all students need a forum to share their talents.

In addition, Ms. Crnovich started Senior Bingo Night. One night each week, students play Bingo with seniors, which fosters healthy relationships between the seniors and students as the seniors share their life lessons and wisdom.

Lake Wilson Clothing Center

In the little town of Lake Wilson, MN, is the Lake Wilson Clothing Center, “The Boutique,” as it is affectionately known to the 320 townspeople.

This small community is located in what could be considered the middle of nowhere. The Boutique, run completely by 10 RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) volunteers, is the only inexpensive source of clothing in the area. The average price of a piece of clothing runs about fifty cents. Individuals come from a radius of about two hours away to get in on the good deals. The area is mostly farmland, and as many reports have shown, small farmers are struggling to survive. Many individuals have voiced that without this center they could not afford to clothe their families. In addition, the center provides free clothing to disaster stricken families.

Every week, at least two pick-up truckloads of clothing are brought in to the store. So that nothing is wasted, all items not sold are sent to the Goodwill at the end of a specified time.

The giving does not end with the distribution of dirt-cheap clothing. Every year, the board decides where the profits of the boutique will go. Last year, the center brought in more than $3,500. Of that, approximately $1,300 pays for expenses. They do not pay rent; their space was purchased over 20 years ago for one dollar. The remaining $2,200 was distributed to 21 local organizations. Some of the organizations benefiting from the disbursements included First Responders (EMTs), a crisis center and the local food shelf.

Jana Poche

In 1996, Cancer Services of Baton Rouge approached the Junior League, a nonprofit organization, to conduct a summer day camp for children with cancer and their families. While there were similar camps for children who live with other diseases, there were none for cancer patients. Jana Poche, a Junior League member, volunteered to run “Camp Care” and the Junior League donated $5,000 to the cause.

A typical day at “Camp Care” starts at the Cancer Services building with breakfast, after which a songfest is held, complete with clowns and balloons. From there, a bus transports the kids to various activities, such as riverboats rides or horseback riding. Occasionally, the kids put on a skit. To wrap up the day, arts and crafts are held back at the Cancer Services building. With donated or discounted meals from McDonalds and Dominos, the kids eat snacks and laugh together all day, side by side with the Junior League volunteers, who serve as camp counselors. A nurse is always on hand to ensure the health and safety of the children.

The first summer was such a success that the Junior League now donates $10,000 per camp and the length of the camp has increased from one to two weeks.

Edmund Brown

Since 1993, Edmund Brown has served as Community Involvement Director for Wal-Mart store #2139 in Lynn, MA. He encourages others in the Wal-Mart family to volunteer using the V.A.P. (Volunteerism Always Pays) program. Mr. Brown primarily works during the day hours, but he is often called upon during off hours to participate in volunteer events. He was instrumental in helping the new Wal-Mart store #2640 replicate the Community Involvement Program in their store.

The Mayor of Lynn appointed Mr. Brown to be on the board of the Council on Aging eight months ago. He organized Bingo at Wal-Mart weekly for the senior citizens and raises money for their Christmas gifts. Through his fundraising efforts 100 economically disadvantaged senior citizens received a Christmas gift last year. Mr. Brown also attends the Council on Aging’s board meetings once a month and he is on the Nominating Committee for new board member elections.

Mr. Brown is also a board member for the Cultural Minority Center (C.M.C.) His involvement there ties in closely with Wal-Mart’s goal to build strong relationships with various minority groups. Mr. Brown developed computer training programs in Spanish and teaches financial planning workshops. C.M.C participants benefit from Mr. Brown’s service by gaining an increased understanding of their roles, job and vocational training, and skills development.

Furthermore, Mr. Brown is currently on the Lynn Cultural Arts Center and Community Brotherhood boards, and actively works with organizations such as C.O.P.E., Salvation Army, S.C.O.P.E., which all provide assistance for people in the transition of coming into the mainstream of life. He reviews applications for bonus grants and educational scholarships, finding judges to choose recipients of the scholarships, and does various fundraising for The Boys Inc. and The Boys/Girls Club.

Mr. Brown received The District Associate of the Month Award for November of 1997, chosen out of 2,500 associates at Wal-Mart, and has received awards presented by the Lynn Housing Authority and Council on Aging for his volunteer and citizen contributions.

The Hospitality Business Alliance

The Hospitality Business Alliance—an Education Partnership of the National Restaurant Association and the American Hotel and Motel Association—is a key sponsor and active partner in National Groundhog Job Shadow Day 1999, an initiative that gives students a chance to see how the skills they learn in school are used in the workplace. They have given endlessly of their time and made the largest financial commitment of any industry.

For Groundhog Job Shadow Day 1998, the Hospitality Business Alliance began an active partnership on this initiative. Hundreds of students were mobilized in Florida, Georgia and Illinois. More than a dozen trade and consumer publications reported on the innovative activity of the hospitality industry.

For Groundhog Job Shadow Day 1999, the hospitality industry has mobilized thousands of hotels and restaurants in 49 states to open their doors to America’s youth. This is an incredible increase in participation in only one year. This $440 billion industry is the largest private sector employer in America.

Herman Cain, President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association, is the primary spokesperson for the initiative and joined General Colin Powell in calling for 500,000 matches this year. Mr. Cain has taken every opportunity to mobilize businesses in every sector of our economy (not just the hospitality industry) to participate in Groundhog Job Shadow Day 1999.

The commitment of the Hospitality Business Alliance in gaining support of local and state associations, as well as individual businesses, will be instrumental in assuring that the coalition reaches its goal of 500,000 participants.

Darrell Armstrong

In 1996, Darrell Armstrong, of the NBA’s Orlando Magic, started Armstrong’s Allies – Armed With Education. The Armstrong’s Allies is an Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) Partnership in Education between Darrell Armstrong and the Orlando Regional Juvenile Detention Center School.

This program targets at-risk juvenile offenders and high school dropouts who have returned to dropout retrieval programs in the OCPS Alternative Education Department. The goal of this program is to help prevent these students from becoming repeat adult offenders and to help them graduate from high school. Each student must sign a contract with Armstrong Allies that states that each student will strive to uphold the standards and behaviors of Armstrong’s Allies: positivity, respect, making a positive difference, sincerity, trustworthiness, responsibility, organization, non-judgemental, gratitude, staying in school, law-abiding, leadership, individuality, equality and sociable.

Members receive an Armstrong’s Allies T-shirt, a personally autographed picture from Darrell, an Orlando Magic fan pack, a Burger King coupon and tickets to an Orlando Magic basketball game. Darrell meets the students outside the Magic locker room where they also get a chance to meet other Magic players. Darrell also exchanges notes and phone calls with his Allies, encouraging them to become law-abiding, successful citizens.

In its second year, the program is 98% successful in the prevention of repeat offenses.

In addition to his work with Armstrong’s Allies, Darrell is involved with the Florida Hospital Foundation’s Dunking For Diabetes program, which is a fund-raising activity to promote awareness and support a program which emphasizes education, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of complications in people with diabetes. Darrell serves as the spokesperson for this effort and every time he dunks in a game, a donation is made to the Foundation.

In addition, Darrell has used his celebrity status to raise awareness for several other organizations, serving as the spokesperson and making visits to places such as the Boys & Girls Club, the United Way, various Stay in School visits at area middle schools and various fund-raising golf tournaments.