BARBARA ANN LARKIN

Without benefit of compensation, Barbara Larkin has been involved for many years with the youth of Goffstown. She has been involved as a team mother, concession coordinator and Board member for the Goffstown Junior Baseball organization. Larking has also volunteered with the Mountain View Middle School and its parent group, Mountain View Partnership. She organizes the very successful annual community event, “Pumpkinfest Celebration,” in which all local non-profits are invited to come, free of charge, for a day of fundraising and fun.

Her most recent community endeavor has been raising funds for a local boy and a gentleman, both battling cancer. Larkin’s dedication and drive to succeed in her quest to provide the Ravenelle and Columbe family with the needed funds to make life easier in their time of stress and in the Ravenelle case, to provide the money needed for a life-saving procedure has been phenomenal. Her positive spirit was instrumental in mobilizing all members of her community, area businesses and private citizens alike, to help out in this endeavor.

Larkin was the driving force that helped raise more than $200,000 to help Evan Ravenelle. Thanks to her efforts, which raised the money in less than six months, the Ravenelle’s were able to pay for the procedure and Evan is now is remission.

She is also involved with the Goffstown Network organization and has been instrumental in raising funds for Network, a local food pantry that helps feed the needy of our community. Every year Larkin organizes and helps facilitate the success of this vital fund raising event that enables the Network to provide for its clients throughout the year. She is always there when a community need arises, either quietly helping in the background or completely facilitating in the forefront.

JACKIE WRIN

Jackie Wrin has been an active Viking Ambassador at West Vigo High School for the past two years. Her student leadership has directed student volunteers to conduct cultural diversity lessons for the school body, a live stage production for more than 500 K-3rd grade students and an educational forum for 75 female high school and middle school girls.

She assumed leadership for the school’s Personal Responsibility Day, May 7, 1999. She was instrumental in organizing a lesson for 600+ students on cultural diversity and respect. She collaborated with the local India Association to bring cultural experiences to the classroom, which were well received by the participating high school students.

In October of 1999, Jackie organized a presentation for 530 K-3rd grade students of three local elementary schools, arranging transportation for all students to attend a live stage production called “The Secret Garden.” This project has now evolved into the development of a “Secret Garden” in the West Terre Haute Library. She presented a proposal to the Vigo County Library Administrators and received approval for her plans. Jackie has integrated four high school classrooms in the construction process.

The drafting class has drawn to scale the floor plan, biology has researched plant life for the site, and the textiles and design class is completing soft sculpture for the site. Additionally, Language arts students are writing children’s books in English, Spanish and French. Students of art will be painting murals on the walls. All reading materials will focus upon citizenship and their Community of Caring five core values: trust, respect, responsibility, caring, and family. This special reading site is scheduled to open this April.

On January 21, 2000, Jackie completed the implementation of an all girl teen forum. She was responsible for proposing, organizing, implementing and evaluating this overnight experience which assessed female issues relating to sexuality. Seventy-five girls participated in this unique event to simulate the life of a teenage mother by staying all night on a local college campus. Thirty-five 8th grade girls were plagued with a “Baby Think It Over” baby, a doll which simulates a real child. This project was planned on a school night to challenge those involved to attend school despite the disruptions of caring for an infant. This activity was to solidify efforts to prevent teen pregnancy and the option of abstinence as a real choice. Jackie was instrumental in modeling the positive choices that school attempts to teach. In addition, guest speakers addressed date rape, self-esteem, and stress related issues of teen girls.

Jackie is described as a teen that is dedicated, assumes challenges and is a model for others teens to get involved in their community.

ST. JOSEPH HEALTH SYSTEM VOLUNTEERS TELECARE PROGRAM

The St. Joseph Health System (SJHS) Telecare Volunteers are a group of dedicated and caring volunteers, who give freely of their time to support homebound community members with an outside contact once every 24 hours. The Telecare Volunteers have been providing daily comfort to the elderly and physically challenged homebound members for more than 21 years.

In 1978 the increasing number of retirees to the local community inspired the hospital auxiliary to develop a telephone check-in service to homebound persons. This program has continued through the years due to the need and also because of the caring St. Joseph Health System Volunteers who give their hearts and soul to the program. The SJHS Telecare Volunteers provide a daily check-in service to elderly people unable to leave their homes. This program continued to be an asset to the recipients who would otherwise not have regular contact with the outside world. Currently, the program has 60 community members who receive their daily check-in telephone call.

Each Telecare Volunteer must complete a volunteer orientation program and meet Health System Joint Commission Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) required education requirements on an annual basis. The Telecare Volunteers have to work cohesively together because the Telecare check-in service is seven days a week and they must cover for each other when they are unable to perform their assigned shift.

This year, a Telecare Client, who had fallen, lay on the floor all night unable to get up. The Telecare Volunteer attempted to reach the client the next morning without success. Procedure was followed, in which emergency personnel were contacted and help was obtained for the hurt Telecare client.

SJHS Telecare Volunteers truly provide concern and support to people unable to leave their homes.

PATRICIA ZIRKLE

At the age of 13, Patricia Zirkle is on her way to becoming a powerful advocate for victims of domestic abuse. In 1999, Patricia volunteered more than 131 hours at WoMen and Children’s Horizons, Kenosha County’s domestic abuse shelter that also provides advocacy and support services.

Due to her young age, Patricia can not provide direct services to victims and child witnesses. However, because of her inquisitive nature she does understand many of the issues surrounding domestic abuse. She is aware of the social, economical, religious, and cultural issues facing victims as well as the issues of power and control and the cycle of abuse that are present in many abusive relationships.

Patricia recognizes images that are present in the media (television, music, and movies) that often present misinformation to teens regarding health relationships. Due to this insight she recognizes abusive tendencies in the relationships that are developing among her peers and often discusses these tendencies with her friends. She is aware that this crime is under-reported to law enforcement and that providing community education outreach is vital to reaching victims. Nearly all of the 131 hours that Patricia has logged at WoMen and Children’s Horizons have been in community outreach. She is always there to lend a hand at outreach events, and she has helped with many mailings.

Her dedication became apparent during the summer of 1999. WoMen and Children’s Horizons needed many purple awareness ribbons for a large outreach event. Patricia gave up a great deal of her summer vacation to assemble the ribbons. With great patience, she assembled more than 1,400 ribbons, providing WoMen and Children’s Horizons with a needed supply. The ribbons were plentiful at the large event and there were extra to use at smaller events throughout the year and to distribute during October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Besides her dedication to WoMen and Children’s Horizons, Patricia is also involved with the Teen Task Force of the Concerned Citizen’s Coalition on Alcohol and Other Drugs Abuse and volunteers at events with them including the building of and participation in their annual haunted house. In school she is a member of the National Junior Honor Society as well as a participant of the Yearbook club and the Sign Language Club. She wants to someday be a teacher for hearing impaired children.

PATRICK KEENA

Patrick Keena began his voluntary service with the American Red Cross as a First Aid and CPR instructor in April 1979 in Colorado. He has made service to the Red Cross a part of his life as he has changed residences, including his current home of Lexington, Kentucky. In spring 1997, he joined the Bluegrass Area Chapter of the Red Cross. Since his start in Lexington, he has donated 4,660 hours in both Disaster Services and Health and Safety Services.

Through his hard work and dedication, Keena has proved to be an integral part in the development and implementation of our local Disaster Plan. This plan is the model for all Kentucky Red Cross Chapters. As a result of his efforts, retention of disaster volunteers has been at an all-time high. The local Disaster Action Team has taken form under his leadership. Since he is a Disaster Instructor, the Red Cross has increased the number of courses taught at the Bluegrass Chapter.

As the Disaster Action Team Captain, Keena has motivated local disaster volunteers to move into action. He has established a six-month training calendar for disaster volunteers. He and his wife have developed a phone tree to encourage volunteer participation in both disaster activities and courses. He is the first responder to local disasters, such as single-family fire victims. Keena also acts as a Disaster Caseworker. Responsibilities for this position range from working with local victims of disaster to working with victims of national disasters. Keena has also assisted with many presentations in the community for both disaster preparedness and safety related issues.

Last year, Keena taught 160 students in Health & Safety courses and trained 64 volunteers to serve in times of disaster. He teaches both Disaster Preparedness and First Aid and CPR. He has been indispensable in the development of the call to action for the local Red Cross during disasters, a plan that has become a model for other Kentucky chapters. He has the leadership abilities to recruit and motivate other volunteers and paid staff.

It is virtually impossible to give a specific number of people that Keena has impacted through his disaster relief work because of the scope of his service. He serves as a disaster relief worker not only locally, but also on the state, regional and national levels.

JANICE JACKSON

Janice Jackson helped form the first regional Teen Leadership Conference for the area and the first Oldham County community task force to promote drug-free youth (now called Challengers). She currently serves as parent-school liaison on the Challengers board of directors.

Jackson co-founded Project Graduation for Oldham County seniors, a drug-free event held each spring to reduce graduation night tragedies. She also coordinates the production of a Safe Homes Directory, a collaboration between the school PTSAs and Challengers, which lists parents’ addresses and phone number who support only drug-free parties and events at their homes. She monitors legislative session on various prospective laws that will reduce drug abuse, protect families, and provide effective health education for Kentucky students. Jackson also serves as a community representative on a statewide Governor’s Kentucky Incentives for Prevention Advisory Council.

Jackson was elected as the 1996 Volunteer of the Decade by Champions for a Drug-Free Kentucky because of her advocacy and training work for the six rural counties (Bullitt, Henry, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, and Trimble). She received the 1997 Robert Strauss Award at the annual Kentucky School of Drug and Alcohol Studies for her volunteerism in the state and community, as well as the 1997 WLKY-TV Bell Award for “unselfish, humanitarian service.”

Currently, Jackson serves as President of Kentucky Association for School Health. She has been an asset to this organization, bringing about positive change by collaborating with the Kentucky Public Health Association. With everyone working together, public health and school health, there will be a greater impact. Jackson’s leadership has allowed this to happen.

With two children in public schools, Jackson was naturally drawn to serve the PTA. She wanted to help and she wanted the school experience to be a positive one for her family, and others. As her involvement grew, she became more aware of the multitude of issues that face students, teachers, and administrators on a daily basis. With her nursing background, she zeroed in on such issues as nutrition, tobacco, alcohol and drug prevention education, indoor air quality, environmental issues and recycling, playground safety, HIV/AIDS prevention education and all other issues that deal with the health and welfare of children. She has served as member of the Kentucky PTA Board of Directors since 1990 and is currently a member of the Health and Welfare Commission.

Through her work on numerous committees, task forces and boards, her efforts have been a catalyst for significant change. When she works directly with students, whether it is with Peer Leadership Training in HIV/AIDS education or running a leadership development training day for students in her high school, her dedication shines through. Her only motivation is a better and healthier life for all children and youth in Kentucky.

ABIGAIL FIGUEROA

Abigail Figueroa, a fierce community activist, helps not only her assigned service clientele, but involves herself in all aspects of her community. A participant in the Foster Grandparent Program, and not having grandchildren of her own, she has become the Grandmother of all of the children in her community and her service area as well.

Her home in the town of Luquillo becomes the activity center for all the children in the community for holidays such as Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and other special occasions. At her service station, Pablo Suarez Elementary School, she has managed to arrange the donation of sewing machines, carpentry tools, arts and crafts materials, and kitchen equipment for the special education program, to promote their manual skills and develop their sense of independence.

“Grandma Abigail,” as the children call her, has to strong commitment to help the surrounding community through the use of her abilities, such as sewing uniforms for needy children in the economically deprived area. Her efforts have resulted in a significant impact on the special education children, especially in the sewing and arts and crafts workshops.

In her quest to assist others, Grandma Abigail trained herself in sewing and upholstery to be able to transmit this knowledge to her students. Additionally, she invests in manuals and magazines for her self-education that she ultimately donates to the school as educational materials. She loves to share her knowledge with her students.

In school, she helps with tutoring in the areas of mathematics and Spanish, makes donations for school activities, works preparing or serving meals, involves herself in children’s games, organizes talent shows, and makes the costumes for the children’s special presentations. Also, Grandma Abigail coordinates service activities for the needy children such as dental care workshops, arranged in cooperation with the local dentist, Doctor Diaz, which offer dental care and follow-up to participants free of charge.

Grandma Abigail is the leader of the six Foster Grandparent Program volunteers at the Pablo Suarez School, and also serves as a scout for the program. When she meets someone with the ability and qualifications to become a Foster Grandparent Program volunteer, she refers them to the program office. She has recruited several special people to the program that are now assets to the Foster Grandparent volunteer service effort.

To know Grandma Abigail is a blessing to all in the program. Her concern for the community’s well being is not limited to the children. She also established a church-based arts and crafts school for homemakers that expanded through the island east region.

STEPPIN’ OUT

Steppin’ Out enhances student involvement in community service, attaining community awareness, interaction, and collaboration between Baylor and Waco. It also provides opportunities for experiential learning, civic leadership, and social responsibility. In 1992, 1,913 volunteers were involved in Steppin’ Out and this year, the number grew to an all-time high of 3,500 individuals.

Three years ago, the organization committed to involve the community more directly and has involved more than 400 individuals from local high schools, churches, and civic organizations. In 1999, 26,000 hours were volunteered at more than 100 job sites; 34 of these sties included beautification efforts such as cleaning vacant lots or planting flowers, 33 houses were assisted with painting and maintenance, 29 sites involved serving the elderly, 10 jobs helped the needy, and five sites worked with children.

More than 150 nonprofit organizations rely on the services provided by Steppin’ Out. Agencies including the City of Waco Action Center, Neighborhood Housing Services, and the Area Agency on Aging refer individuals to this program. The City of Waco reported two-thirds of houses were built before 1950 coupled with merely 40% home ownership contributes to the startling rate of 50-60% sub-standard housing. Each semester, Steppin’ Out meets the needs of the elderly, disable, or economically disadvantaged residents with yard and home maintenance.

Steppin’ Out is one of the largest and oldest programs on university campuses. This student run organization began in 1985 as a week of events leading to the day of service. Shortly after in 1989, the project became a one day event including both the fall and spring semesters. A peer institution study in October 1999 revealed that this program is unique in its longevity, percentage of undergraduate participation (30%) and recruitment of external volunteers from high schools, churches, and civic organizations. Not only was Steppin’ Out one of the first all-university days of service in the nation, but it is also one of the most successful.

In 1993 Steppin’ Out became an independent organization in the Department of Student Activities and several additional organization were birthed from this charter: Best Buddies, working with mentally handicapped; MPACT, and educational team that gives presentations at local middle schools, and Baylor Buddies, a mentoring program for at-risk youth. Every year, literally thousands of individuals are exposed to community service through this program. Often Steppin’ Out reaches students that have never volunteered or have never been exposed to the agency or social issues where they are serving.

For 15 years, Steppin’ Out has not only organized all-university days of service, but has also exposed students to a variety of volunteer opportunities encouraging them to adopt altruism as a lifestyle. Agencies depend on Steppin’ Out to meet any unrealized needs. Year round committee members contact area agencies, schools, clubs, media, and businesses for service projects, volunteers, and involvement.

BRYANT RANCH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Five years ago, Bryant Ranch Elementary School teachers, Donelda Warhurst and Liz Stumpf, were exploring ways to teach their 2nd and 3rd-grade students the value of having a natural river in their city. To gain more insight about this topic, they contacted Park Ranger staff at Featherly Regional Park and the “seed” of a highly successful, ongoing environmental restoration project was planted. This project has empowered the students to remedy a situation jeopardizing the natural habitat of the Santa Ana River, which is located just ½ mile from Bryant Ranch School.

The extremely aggressive species “Arundo donax” or Giant Cane threatens the Santa Ana River’s native riparian habitat. This invasive plant can grow up to 10-inches per day and consumes millions of gallons of drinking water annually from the Santa Ana River groundwater basin. On learning of this serious threat to a local waterway, the students of Bryant Ranch School joined County of Orange, Harbors Beaches and Parks Adopt-A-Program in the development of the “Once Upon A River” project. Beginning in October 1994, 70 students were trained to properly identify and remove “Arundo donax,” replacing it with native river-dwelling species. They worked two days per month throughout the school year.

After five years and 10,080 volunteer hours provided by 280 students, an acre of the invasive “Arundo donax” has been completely removed along the Santa Ana River within Featherly Regional Park. As a result of the “Once Upon A River” project, the area has been restored to native riparian trees and plants. This has resulted in an estimated saving to the County of Orange of $30,000. The efforts of the Bryant Ranch Elementary School students have attracted offsite mitigation by the development community. To date, more than 40 acres of invasive species have been removed by local developers, saving the County of Orange approximately one million dollars in native habitat restoration.

The long-term commitment of the students has also attracted the attention of community members, local businesses, and the media, resulting in increased project support, an expanded volunteer base and a greater awareness of an important environmental issue. They have addressed community needs by actively safeguarding the environmental and by raising awareness of the significance of the Santa Ana River, including issues such as storm drain management and the importance of removing invasive species for the protection and guardianship of a groundwater basin and precious local wetlands.

Overall, Bryant Ranch Elementary School students have established an important tradition of caring for the Santa Ana River, which is passed down to new students each year. The significance of this tradition is that it ensures ongoing protection of the environment and continuous education of younger generations in protecting natural resources. The overwhelming success of Bryant Ranch Elementary School’s “Once Upon A River” project has had an immediate as well as long-lasting impact upon the native habitat of the Santa Ana River and Featherly Regional Park and will help foster further restoration of this important groundwater basin.

BEN ADAMS MOORE, JR.

Ben Moore became the volunteer coach of the Joints in Motion program four years ago. The Arthritis Foundation began a new fundraising effort, which prepared people to run a 26.2-mile marathon. Moore was recruited and is the only coach, among 80 nationwide, who maintains a volunteer status.

At 74 years old, this retired Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel is much more than a trainer. He has completed 61 marathons himself, his first at the age of 50. He also dances, sings, and is a storyteller. His stories include life achievements and milestones such as helping to raise more than $140,000 for the Arthritis Foundation and exceeding the Arthritis Foundation’s national average of retaining participants (Foundation average=70%; Moore’s average=92.5%). He has trained more than 400 novices to run in their first marathon and volunteers for all Annapolis High School track meets, both indoor and outdoor. In addition, Moore is an Annapolis City Police Reserves member.

In 1979, Moore trained 20 women (45+ years old) to run their first marathon. Moore gives inspiration to the older community, as well as the youth and encourages fitness and exercise to everyone he meets. He teaches people how to make fitness a way of life and nurses injuries for his trainees and many other community members.

To help his cause, Moore organized 10 volunteers to set out water, soda, and cups for local runners. These volunteers have performed this service every Saturday since 1979. He recruits individuals to volunteer in the JiM program. To date, he has recruited more than 15 people to train and raise $3,500 each for charity.