Angela Bronson

Angela Bronson, a third grade teacher within the Los Angeles Unified School District, piloted an intergenerational program in 1995. Monthly, Bronson brings her class of multi-cultural students, ages 7-9, to the Jewish Home for the Aging (JHA) to interact with their elderly “buddies” aged 70-107. They call themselves the “Mitzvah Munchkins.” With each visit, the students and buddies engage in music, language, games and hand crafts, learning more about each other, life, death, tolerance, love, patience and respect. For many of the residents, these children are their only visitors. Doctors and psychologists on staff have witnessed that since the “Mitzvah Munchkins” program began, the residents are happier, healthier and have longer lives.

Bronson believes that teaching tolerance at a young age, incorporating religious and cultural diversity, respect and cooperation, will help to remove stereotyping and prejudices in their generation and hopefully for generations thereafter. The students are learning valuable lessons on history firsthand; about concentration camps, World War II and NASA. Many of the students’ parents join in the monthly visits and have confided that this program has helped them deal with relationships and death in their own families.

The students’ experiences have been so positive and impacting, that those who belong to outside groups, such as girl/boy scouts, religious schools and piano classes, have brought their groups to the JHA to share and interact with the residents. Many wonderful relationships have formed and several students and their families have taken their buddies away for the day to share in different activities. Twice a year, the residents are brought to the students’ school to visit, have lunch and spend time in the children’s environment. The students love to show their buddies off to their schoolmates. Additionally, each year the program presents one major project made by the students for the residents. These mementos have included a quilt, mosaic table, park bench with a quilted cushion, and a collage of photographs, all of which are on display at JHA.

The Mitzvah Munchkin program has been acknowledged in several newspaper articles, and letters from parents of students, children of the residents, and strangers (sparked by the news articles). Beginning with the 1997 school year, Bronson’s intergenerational program received a $3,000 yearly grant from the Witherbee Foundation, allowing it to continue its service. These funds pay for bussing the children to the home each month, special supplies, and Kosher lunches for the residents.

Operation Care, Inc.

In 1982, a member of a combined group of church ushers, known as the Wilson County Ushers Fellowship, lost her home to a house fire. Other members of the Fellowship brought clothing and house hold items for this family in need. These acts of kindness resulted in an accumulation of clothing of every size and description. This overflow gave the group the idea of setting up a clothing bank to be used for families who experience loss due to fire.

During this time, Annie Ward, a receptionist at Wilson County Department of Social Services, approached the group with her concerns about the large number of persons who were not able to be served by that agency. After talking with other concerned citizens, the group learned that St. Alphonsus Church had a food pantry in its facility. The two groups formed a partnership and created Operation Care, Inc.

Operation Care, Inc. is a nonprofit that works as a county-wide crisis center, aiding clients regardless of race, age, sex, creed or national origin. Operation Care has assisted clients with their utility bills, their monthly rent payments and the purchase of needed medication. Additionally, they have provided food for more than 200 families, clothes for 500+ people and used furniture and appliances for numerous homes.

Operation Care, Inc. receives applications requesting funds for emergency needs. Additionally, Operation Care, Inc. accepts referrals from local churches, organizations and other social service provider agencies. Operation Care, Inc. volunteers conduct a confidential interview for families or individuals with emergency needs. After consultation with the Chairman of the Board of Directors, volunteer workers assist in securing appropriate assistance including financial support, referral services or other aid.

Self-described as “People in the Business of Helping People,” Operation Care, Inc. is run by an all-volunteer staff with 20 board members and 6 volunteer workers. Operation Care Inc. delivers, to persons in need, at least 90% of every dollar contributed to the agency. The organization does not receive grant money; it relies on funds collected from churches, fraternal and civic organizations, businesses, private citizens and periodic fundraisers.

BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE Volunteer Corps

An increasingly urgent plight in today’s society is that of children whose families can no longer provide proper care for them. Whether it is due to death, illness, disability or incarceration of a parent, divorce, chronic unemployment or poverty, parental addictions, abandonment, abuse or neglect, children often end up the victims.

Founded in 1975, BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE is a national, privately funded, nonprofit organization that saves kids, one life at a time. The program was formed to address this need by providing value-centered, family-like residences and college preparatory educational opportunities for at-risk, yet academically capable, boys and girls.

The program’s unique, holistic approach provides abused, neglected and at-risk children who have demonstrated some academic potential with four critical ingredients for their success—HOPE: a stable Home, Opportunities, positive Parental role models, and high quality Education.

BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE has a National Volunteer Corps, which consists of 25 individuals who are recent college graduates devoting a year of their lives toward helping at-risk teenagers. Generally, the volunteers begin their service during the summer and remain for 12 months, although mid-year assignments are often available. Volunteers live with the children and staff, helping to maintain a structured, orderly, stable, safe and caring home environment. Additionally, each volunteer assumes a “big brother/big sister” role, tutors students in their academic studies, works together with the house parents in the daily operation of the home and explores college and career opportunities with the students. They play the role of a disciplinarian, role model, advocate, mentor and confidante to the youth.

The volunteers receive a monthly stipend of $200, the AmeriCorps Education Assistance Award, free room and board and eligibility to apply for health insurance. Despite these things, when asked, many past volunteers state that the best part of working with BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE is the relationships that they have developed with the youth.

Currently there are homes in 14 U.S. cities and four foreign countries. Several other locations are under development.

Community Suicide Prevention Committee

On December 2, 1997, a 15-year-old shot and killed himself. This young man became the 11th adolescent (ages 12-23) to take their own life in Pierre, SD in less than three years. Ellen Lee, a community member and mother of teenagers, decided to seek out about a half a dozen people from various segments of the community to address the problem. However, by the time the first meeting became a reality, almost 50 concerned citizens were in attendance. From that beginning, the Pierre Community Suicide Prevention Committee has addressed the problem of youth suicide, primarily through awareness, asset-building and community involvement.

Awareness was one of the early issues that had to be addressed by the new committee. The reoccurrence of youth suicide in Pierre was well known in the community; however few people discussed it officially. The Committee decided it would be necessary to bring the issue to the public. This was accomplished by opening advertising meetings, the use of public service announcements and a continuing presence in the media. Since becoming vocal about their struggle, Pierre has been featured in publications such as the New York Times and Teen People Magazine, as well as NBC’s Today Show, In the Mix, the PBS teen-based program, and featured on South Dakota Public Radio.

Cooperation was another early issue that had to be addressed by the committee. Through the work of the Committee, various entities were able to partner with each other to address the issue. Among them were the school system, medical and mental health services, law enforcement, state agencies, media, advocacy services, violence centers, religious groups and concerned citizens. The approach was multi-faceted incorporating professionals, volunteers, parents and students.

Some specific accomplishments of this community working together to deal with a problem include establishing The Crisis Room to place suicidal people in a “safe room” in a hospital rather than jail, creating The Crisis Line—a 24-hour help hotline, sponsoring education problems to help youth deal with depression and a Crisis Management Team to meet and discuss options after a suicide attempt.

The Community Suicide Prevention Committee has not ended the problem of youth suicide in Pierre; however, it has been an example of effective problem-solving. In the 20 months that this 100-member strong, all-volunteer group has been engaged, no other teenager has committed suicide in Pierre.

The Children’s Advocacy Network

A growing city of 50,000 in Southeastern Idaho, Pocatello is a working class, rural community. Pocatello maintains a 17% high school dropout rate, which many attribute to its low tax base and many young peoples’ lack of interest in education.

As a result of these problems, Pocatello has as many human service agencies as a city much larger in size. With so many helping organizations duplicating services and competing for volunteers and dollars, it made sense to coalesce youth interests into one umbrella agency. Thus, in May 1997, after a two-day community workshop, the Children’s Advocacy Network (CAN) was born. Its mission is “to unite the community and families to enhance the well-being of children and adolescents.” More than 100 agency and community members pledged their support to improve the lives of children and young people.

To date the successes are numerous, including a live call-in show where the community sought viable solutions, the construction of a skateboard facility for youth, the establishment of a family resource center, publishing an education page in the Idaho State Journal, conducting literacy campaigns, planting and maintaining a community garden dedicated to peace and creating a comprehensive youth violence survey as guide to reducing violence in troubled communities.

In addition, as a follow-up to the 1997 Presidents’ Summit, CAN held the Southeast Idaho Youth Summit in late 1998. The Pocatello Youth Forum, a group of community-minded high schoolers, planned and ran this successful event under the direction of the chair of the CAN “Valuing Children” committee. More than 150 high school students attended this fun and informative day which focused on skills building and community service. Promises were obtained by forum members from more than 70 local businesses, organizations and individuals.

Steven LoDestro

In 1996, Steve LoDestro, on behalf of the local State Farm Insurance office, made a call to Mercy Home. That call has changed many lives. In looking for volunteer opportunities, LoDestro took a giant step as he and his co-workers adopted Kevin Keating Residence, where 20 young men with developmental disabilities live. This step brought the volunteers into the world of people with autism and significant intellectual delays. His goal was to invite his co-workers, friends and family to meet the young men at the residence and develop activities that would include them in the community. His only criterion for volunteers was openness to new experiences and a compassionate heart.

“Those of us at mercy home got that and so much more,” states Sister Caroline Tweedy, Director of Development, “were they a bit apprehensive? Absolutely! But they tried and succeeded beyond our expectations—and maybe beyond theirs as well.”

LoDestro, co-workers and his wife have learned to communicate with the young men, most of who cannot speak. They have learned that the language of love and caring breaks down barriers and that high fives, smiles and gestures can convey what is in a person’s heart. The volunteers have truly made a difference in the lives of the young men at Keating Residence by hosting holiday parties, helping the guys to get “down and dirty” during community clean-up activities and by just being good friends.

The activities have been varied. State Farm volunteers and the boys raked leaves together and then had parties after the afternoon’s work. Halloween Fright Night was a time for costumes, party bags and games. When LoDestro found out that some of the young men didn’t spend the holidays with their families, State Farm came to their aid, throwing a holiday party complete with Santa and special gifts for each young man.

Additionally, Mercy Home holds an annual Family Spirit Day, where all of the group homes come together with staff and families. LoDestro arranges for the Good Neighbor Bear (State Farm’s mascot) to make special appearances. Armed with an instant camera, he captures instant shots of the volunteers and their special buddies, which become lasting memories for each person. Volunteers then join with families and friends to run specially designed activity booths for the day.

“From one simple phone call wonderful experiences have been created both for Mercy Homes and for State Farm volunteer,” states Sister Tweety on the importance of LoDestro’s service.

David Fyhr

Every day, David Fyhr dedicates significant time and energy to many worthwhile causes, from working with severely neglected and abused children from St. Vincent’s Children’s Home to the improvement and success of United Way of Central Maryland to his leadership role with Health Care for the Homeless to the preservation of the Jerusalem Mill in Gun Powder State park and to local community pools, schools and youth recreation facilities as coach, mentor and friend. Most importantly, he has mobilized hundreds of committed volunteers from his family, young people he encounters, businesses, unions and the community.

Every year, more than 30,000 cases of child abuse are reported in Maryland. St. Vincent’s Children’s Home is a residential treatment facility for children, ages 18 months to 12 years, who have severe emotional and behavioral problems which stem from a history of abuse and neglect. By initiating the Bethlehem Steel’s Annual Day of Caring, Fyhr and co-workers have made a difference in some of those children’s lives. Annually, 75 management and labor employees come together for a full day of needed chores at the home, which included major landscaping, weeding, mulching and renovations of playgrounds. It is estimated that the donation of labor and materials saved St. Vincent’s more than $20,000 every year. As a result, many employees have established year-round activities for the children on their own, including planting flowers for them in the spring and donating presents during the holiday seasons. In addition, Fyhr arranges visits to the steel mill. The children are amazed by the facility and are always made to feel as if they are the most important visitors to come to Sparrows Point.

Fyhr is also active with Health Care for the Homeless, Inc., Maryland’s only nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to providing medical, mental health, substance abuse, social work and outreach/education services to homeless men, women and children. Fyhr has been actively volunteering his time, knowledge, talent and material support to Health Care for the Homeless since 1997. He first came on to the Financial Development/Communications committee of the Board of Directors in an advisory capacity. His desire to be involved with the development activities was a major factor in the reorganization of the effectiveness of this committee.

In 1998, Fyhr was elected to the Board of Directors of Health Care for the Homeless. Fyhr brought to the Board years of volunteer expertise, but most importantly, he recommended other individuals and organizations to become involved in, especially, the financial development activities of Health Care for the Homeless. He personally made the initial necessary contacts, to then be followed up by the staff person responsible. As an example, he recruited a large, major pharmaceutical corporation, who has consistently contributed both financial and in-kind donations in support of the mission of Health Care for the Homeless.

“David Fyhr has a unique ability to establish relationships with diverse groups,” states Larry Walton, President, United Way of Central Maryland. “Because of these relationships, he is able to leverage dozens of individuals with different skills to become involved with him. As a result, he has planted the seed of volunteering in many others’ hearts to help their communities.”

Many of the agencies for which he volunteers refer to him as a long-time volunteer and an old friend.

Lewie Amick

Since retiring from active military service as a US Marine aviator, Lewie Amick has been a builder on a mission. His military service included several tours of combat duty where he saw first-hand the devastation and destruction associated with war and aggression. Amick connects his past experience and present commitments as a community builder, working to improve the lives of others.

MEG’S HOUSE, The Shelter for Abused Women, serving a three county area, is the community service agency Amick is rebuilding. In 1997, Amick approached his church pastor seeking suggestions of community service agencies needing hands-on volunteer assistance. His pastor immediately referred him to MEG’S HOUSE, indicating that the shelter needed a volunteer to supervise renovations required for handicap-accessibility.

Amick prepared plans and launched into the project. He secured estimates from suppliers, licensed sub-contractors and garnered contributions from local material suppliers. He also did most of the labor. His personal volunteer efforts, with no reimbursement, brought the shelter into compliance for handicap accessibility.

This project led Amick into renovating a transitional apartment MEG uses to assist victims into moving from the shelter into independent living. Again, Amick secured all materials, at no cost or below cost, and provided all the labor himself. MEG’S HOUSE now has a completely renovated, first-class transitional apartment as part of its service to abuse victims. The cost savings to the shelter for these two projects was $7,000.

Currently, Amick is involved in providing MEG with a permanent residence. Previously, MEG’S HOUSE had leased a physical plant that was in serious disrepair. Grant funding for MEG’S HOUSE was barely sufficient to meet service needs for 300 clients per year. There were no reserves for repairs and renovation. In order to stay open, MEG’S HOUSE had to find a new, permanent location. MEG’S HOUSE recently purchased, for $60,000, a large home in need of major renovation. The new property, after renovation, will be valued at $300,000. Amick immediately volunteered to help with the renovation, investing more than 950 volunteer hours, working with businesses, industry suppliers, and other volunteers to coordinate the project.

“His work leaves you speechless,” states Dr. Rebecca Lee-Grigg, Executive Director, MEG’S HOUSE. “It’s just like having a hired contractor. He was out for about five weeks this year with illness, but came right back as soon as possible. He has given more than 5,000 hours of service to us.”

The Making a Difference Foundation

The Making a Difference Foundation (MADF) is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit volunteer-driven, community based foundation whose mission is to improve educational and career opportunities for youth. To achieve its mission, MADF offers juvenile mentoring through personal encouragement, tutoring, SAT preparations, college selection assistance, English as a second language and GED courses, job and college application assistance, financial scholarships, grants, school to work/job shadowing, training and placement.

MADF’s ultimate goal is to help every student participant improve their self-esteem and potential for a happy, productive life. The group also aims to work with a diverse mix of underrepresented multi-cultural groups, such as the Hispanic population of Southeastern Virginia. MADF volunteers seek to provide leadership and empowerment training to youth, adults and families and to make information about minority health education available. Finally, MADF strives to reduce youth violence through option building and compassion.

The Foundation started in 1991 in Virginia Beach, VA. The Make a Difference Foundation started with one site, and now operates 30 sites. Since its humble beginnings when Bobulinski, the founder, supported the program mainly from his own pocket, Making a Difference has won school-to-work grants from the state and received such in-kind contribution as office furniture from a local seafood company and scholarship and operating funds from local physicians and educators. MADF has launched partnerships with more than 150 universities, including Morgan State, Hampton and Norfolk State Universities.

The Foundation operates every day of the week, year-round because they understand that the nation’s problems never take a break. Volunteers are mobilized from the business sector, colleges, military and youth to make the foundation vibrant. Throughout the community, they have earned the designation as the organization that is “walking the talk.” Last year alone, an estimated 26,000 hours of service were provided by program volunteers to at-risk youth in Virginia. Since its inception, MADF has helped more than 5,000 students to attend college.

Concentrated efforts in 1998 by MADF, earned the organization numerous state and local awards. Consequently, they were selected as the subject of a University of Wisconsin/Learning Institute for Nonprofit Organizations documentary on volunteerism.

In an effort to fight the growing gang problem in the nation, the Foundation hosted the Virginia Task Force on Juvenile Violence and Gangs. Part of America’s Promise-Alliance for youth, they worked locally to bring a South Hampton Roads Alliance for Youth into existence, with the objective of bridging racial divides.

With their local area being ranked among the lowest in the state’s school systems, MADF has helped in bringing about a change to those statistics. Committed to their goals, the Make a Difference Foundation “walks the talk” for children and families at risk.

Jerry Dickens

Even with full-time employment with a local developmental college for mentally ill and challenged adults and part-time work as a paramedic, Jerry Dickens spends countless hours serving the American Red Cross mission. As a leadership volunteer he has utilized his professional skills to help the Disaster Services department develop a logistical and accountability system for the Medical Assistance Team (MAT) and a disaster plan for a facility for the mentally and physically challenged. He also served as the Co-Chair for the Disaster Health Services (DHS) Committee.

Dickens’ commitment to the mission of the Red Cross is apparent in his extensive community service. In support of the Disaster Health Services program, Dickens reaches out to the community to form agreements with pharmacies and community service agencies to continually improve the level of services the Red Cross provides to its clients. From its inception, Dickens was a member of the First Aid Safety Team (FAST), which served as the primary first aid station at community events. He also instructs First Aid/CPR through a local hospital and serves in any capacity of disaster preparation and education where a need is identified.

In the trials of immediate field decisions, Dickens effectively uses his knowledge, resources and insight to make the best choices. This has been apparent from his first national assignment in response to Hurricane Andrew. He was reported to be an excellent trainer, organizer and innovator. In South Dakota in 1993 he was able to control an insect infestation at a shelter by using his diplomacy skills to coordinate the shelter and local logistics crews. During the Greater Houston Floods of 1994, an incident involving a communicable disease threatened the health of shelter clients. Dickens orchestrated the relocation of the shelter, the complete disinfection of the original facility and addressed the emotional and physical needs of the affected family.

Last year during the response to Typhoon Paka in Guam, his service was rated “highly efficient” with empathy and cultural sensitivity. In fact, Dickens was so welcomed by the community that he was invited to many community events, including a local wedding. In Nevada, 1996, he acted as a Human Relations Liaison and was commended for his application of Red Cross policy and genuine compassion as he identified and addressed health issues. Dickens also worked at the Coast Guard Recovery Site for TWA Flight 800. When morale was ravaged by the extreme conditions and the overpowering sense of tragedy, Dickens worked far beyond his expected workload.

These activities are indicative of the invaluable contributions he has made to his local Red Cross chapter. But, they do not even begin to illustrate the contribution that Dickens makes to the community, the chapter, and the American Red Cross. The greatest commodities he offers are his time and his personality, which make his work so unique – an indefinable spark that has been observed and lauded in every one of his almost twenty national disaster assignment reviews. He has been recommended to serve as a mentor and a leader for the next generation of Red Cross volunteers.