ECKERD YOUTH ALTERNATIVES, INC.

During the 1960’s, hospitalization was the treatment of choice for troubled children when it appeared they could not be helped at school or through outpatient counseling. Recognizing that children needed a better alternative, drugstore magnate Jack Eckerd and his wife Ruth founded a small wilderness camp for troubled children in 1968. Eckerd Youth Alternatives (EYA) mobilizes 1,200 employees and volunteers to help troubled children become responsible, productive members of their communities.

The camp is situated in the woodlands near Brooksville, Fla., and it pioneered the wilderness adventure therapy approach in the Southeastern United States. The approach is innovative and unique, and it takes children out of society in order for them to learn how to live within society’s boundaries. The Eckerds believed that there was no better way for a child to learn how to trust themselves and others, to learn self-respect, responsibility and to challenge old thoughts and behaviors than in the awe-inspiring and supportive embrace of Mother Nature.

EYA has grown from a single wilderness camp into a multi-faceted, non-profit organization offering more than 30 diverse youth programs in seven states. With more than 1,200 employees and volunteers serving more than 5,000 young people every year, EYA is considered one of the nation’s leading providers of services to delinquent and at-risk youth. During 1999, EYA served 5,500 youth through 17 wilderness camps in Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont as well as in nine juvenile justice and seven early intervention programs in Florida.

The long-term economic benefit of preventing one youth from leaving high school for a life of crime is profound. A 1998 study in the Journal of Quantitative Criminology documents that preventing one high school dropout from turning to crime saves from one and a half to two million dollars in victim costs, treatment, lost job productivity, and incarceration.

Initially, the children sent to an EYAWilderness Camp were enrolled there as a last hope. The general perception at the time was that the caring, nurturing Eckerd approach to overcoming anger, hostility and bitterness in children was hopelessly naive. However, the skeptics were wrong. Today, more than 35,000 troubled youth that EYA has helped over the past three decades will attest to its effectiveness and success.

Since its founding, EYA has maintained the highest achievement standards. In 1999, nearly 90% of all youths who exited programs successfully achieved treatment goals and graduated. Youth, on average, improved reading and math skills by one to two grade levels during treatment, and about 74% of youth remained out of trouble with the law a year after graduation.

LITERACY COUNCIL OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA

According to the National Institute for Literacy, more than 129,000 Northern Virginia adults are functionally illiterate, which means they are unable to complete a job application, read a prescription bottle, or read to their children. Established in 1962, the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia is the oldest and largest organization in Virginia dedicated to combating this statistic. The Literacy Council is the only regional program that provides instruction to illiterate adults. This is accomplished through one-on-one tutoring, classroom instruction, and computer-assisted learning.

In Fiscal Year 1999, the Council served 1,687 students. This represents a new record for a literacy organization in Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and was made possible, in large part, through the efforts of 942 dedicated volunteers who contributed a total of 37,340 reported hours. The value of time and expertise donated by these volunteers exceeds $629,000. The value to the students is priceless.

The Literacy Council’s original mission was to serve Basic Literacy students. However, as the area population became more diverse and community need grew and changed over time, the Literacy Council responded by expanding to meet these demands. The English as a Second Language (ESL) program was instituted in 1976 to serve new immigrants and help them develop basic survival and day-to-day skills.

In 1999, the Family Learning Project was established in partnership with Fairfax County Head Start research indicating that children of non-literate parents are more than twice as likely than the general population to be illiterate. Laubauch Literacy International prompted the formation of this program. In the program’s first year, 57 families were served. Parents received English or pre-GED instruction while volunteers worked with children, reading books and playing educational games. The one-to-one tutoring program is utilized in both the Basic and ESL program. Individual tutoring allows students to progress at their own pace and the 9-12 month commitment made by volunteer tutors ensure that significant progress can indeed be made. In addition, the Literacy Council supports the students in various ways, including a student support group called the Amigos, a Dictionary Project that supplies free copies of Webster’s Dictionary to every students, and showcasing student essays in various publications.

The success of Literacy Council programs is largely attributed to the efforts of thousands of volunteer who have donated their time over the years. In a recent Council survey, 94% of students exhibited a marked improvement in their reading, writing, or English-speaking skills. Every students said they would recommend the program to someone they know. Others indicated that the program has helped them get a better job, pass tests such as the citizenship test and GED, obtain a driver’s license, and read to their children.

Gabriella, a Literacy Council student, writes how her life has been affected: “When you can’t read and write it is like watching a movie in black and white with no color. Reading and writing add color to my movie. It is a whole new dimension that enables me to function on a daily basis.”

DR. BONNIE BERGIN

Dr. Bonnie Bergin was the originator of the service dog concept. She founded the world’s first service dog agency 25 years ago. She has devoted her life to her work, training service dogs for disabled people. She has a heart for the disabled as well as teens growing up with the many challenges of peer pressure, alcohol, drugs, and violence.

In 1991, Dr. Bergin started the Assistance Dog Institute so that further research could be done. Her goal was to produce a better service dog. Two years later she began an innovative program called the High-Schooled Assistance Dog Program. Her idea was to show at-risk teenagers how to train the service dogs. This, to her, was a win-win situation because she could serve two distinct groups at one time. Her idea, though unique, has been hugely successful. Today there are 10 such programs operating around the country due to Dr. Bergin’s efforts in Rohnert Park. There are also programs functioning in Israel because of the innovations of Dr. Bergin and the High School Assistance Dog Program.

The High School Assistance Dog Program pairs troubled teens who are incarcerated or in a group home – often on probation – with a golden retriever. They have daily sessions in the instruction of service dog commands. These are children who have committed crimes against the community, but they are now giving back to their community by training service dogs for disabled people. The teens gain increased self-esteem, communication skills, and anger management, as well as the unconditional love of their dog. The disabled person gets much needed help for their independence, as well as a new friend. At graduation, the teen hands over the dog to its disabled recipient in an emotional ceremony. Although they miss their dog, they are very proud of the good job they have done. The person who gets the dog is always very grateful and appreciative of their efforts.

The teens frequently volunteer extra hours each day to work around the facility. They assist in socializing the new puppies, grooming the dogs, and doing facility maintenance and clean up. Demonstrations of the dog’s 89 commands as well as answering questions about the training process are about of the public demonstrations in which the teens participate. The teens have these demonstrations for schools and businesses.

Dr. Bergin is paid $1,200 monthly by the Sonoma County Departments of Education and Probation to provide this class to the teenagers. She works an average of 14 hours per day; often she works longer days. Dr. Bergin always goes above and beyond the call of duty to perfect her work. Her priority is the teenagers, and she devotes her time and energy to helping them reach their goals and fulfill the potential she knows they have to become more productive citizens. Dr. Bergin provides the children with job references, consults with a psychiatrist on the best ways to work with them, and provides many other opportunities for these children who generally come from troubled families.

The mission of the agency she founded is “Helping Dogs Help People,” and she does this in many ways. With her help, the at-risk teens learn about helping others, too.

KIM BOBO

Kim Bobo tirelessly fights for justice for low-wage workers in America, particularly those who work in our nation’s poultry industry. As founder and director of the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice, Bobo is the driving force behind a unique program that boosts the religious community’s involvement in the everyday struggles of workers.

Workers in America have an increasingly difficult task in improving their wages and working conditions through unions. One in every ten workers is fired for trying to organize a union. In the poultry industry alone, 250,000 minority workers toil in unspeakable conditions to earn wages that leave them below the federal poverty level.

The conditions in these plants are America’s hidden shame. Workers stand in freezing cold plants and make hundreds of painful, repetitive motions a day. They are forced to work overtime without compensation and still struggle to support themselves or their family. Large companies appear to seek out vulnerable people to work the poultry lines. They offer low wages to those who are already living in poverty or too frightened to stand up for their rights in the workplace. Only 30% of poultry workers have the protection of a union.

Kim Bobo has taken it upon herself to speak up for the rights of America’s poultry workers. She has built a nationwide network of people of faith who are taking action in their communities to support workers’ right to organize for a voice on the job. Through the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice’s Poultry Program, religious leaders and other concerned citizens have reached out to support poultry workers in North Carolina, the Delmarva Peninsula, Georgia, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky and Texas.

Bobo and the Interfaith Committee have helped poultry workers and other low-wage workers organize for better wages and working conditions in communities across the country. She has provided innumerable resources for congregations to spread the word about the need for people to take on behalf of low-wage workers. While receiving minimal compensation for her work as Director of the National Interfaith Committee, Bobo creates opportunities for community members and people of faith to volunteer their time on behalf of workers.

Bobo founded the Chicago Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice in 1991. During 1996, she founded the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice. She spent a decade as the director of organizing for Bread for the World, ten years as trainer of organizers at the Midwest Academy and is the author of “Lives Matter: A Handbook for Christian Organizing” and “Organizes for Social Change.”

To learn more about the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice, see the organization’s Web site at www.nationalinterfaith.org

WHITNEY THOMPSON

Whitney Thompson has a unique ability to motivate others while improving her community at the same time. Though she is a youth, when it comes to leadership and community service, there is no task she is not ready to undertake. Her record of accomplishments is astounding and would even be considerable for an adult. Whitney is one of 30 young Texans to serve on the Texas Youth Action Council. The selection process is vigorous, and her selection attests to her accomplishments in her community and her abilities to lead and inspire others. She was also selected to serve on Youth Service America’s National Youth Action Council.

Whitney is the founder of the Jessica Landry Wellish City Heroes Legend Team. This team is now a national model for all City Heroes high school based teams in the United States. Under Whitney’s leadership, the team has about 150 members and completes one to three service projects each month. When she saw what she and her team had accomplished, she knew others could be doing the same. Whitney took it upon herself to contact another high school and gave them aid so they, too, could establish their own City Heroes Team. The new team, Southside High School Carpe Diem Team now also boasts of 150 members committed to serving. As a member of the City Heroes Advisory Council, she is working to establish more teams in the San Antonio area.

Whitney’s leadership and service to others has inspired her classmates to volunteer, supplied assistance to hundreds of individuals and many non-profit organizations and provided a model for national duplication along with motivating countless numbers of people to help solve community problems. She never seems to forget that she must act where she is to make a difference, and she always sees that there is more to be done by becoming involved at the state and national level.

Whitney has a wonderful spirit that engages people, along with a determined attitude and an intense desire for change. She is a senior at Antonian College Preparatory High School and carries a 3.26 grade point average. She first volunteered at three while painting a home for a family in Phoenix, Arizona. While in elementary and middle school, she read to children, checked in guests at SAMM Shelter for homeless, was recorder at two National Blind Chess Championships, assisted at Treasures Benefit for the Lighthouse for the Blind and organized various food drives. While in high school, she averages 60 hours per month of volunteer service. Some of the programs she has participated in are the OYE National Senior Citizens Event, Advanced Training Academy, Martin Luther King March and Service Day, Organ and Tissue Awareness Program, Bulk Mail for Children’s Congress, KABB Kid’s Fair, Antonian Leadership Conference and You Are Important to Me Because.

She conceived and organized the first Antonian Leadership Conference, was the 1999 NBA Team-Up Award winner, 2000 Semi-Finalist NBA Team-Up Award, 1998 Youth Imagineer of the Year and she received the Prudential Community Spirit Distinguished Service Award (out of 20,000 nominees). Whitney believes what she is doing now is only the beginning and she is confident to mature into a strong woman who will continue to make a difference wherever she is.

PATRICE WILLIAMS

Patrice Williams founded the Minorities in Broadcasting Training Program in 1993 in response to her struggles to gain employment in the broadcasting industry as a news reporter. Instead of giving up or complaining, she did something about it. Minorities in Broadcasting Training was funded solely from her personal savings, and she continues to work for the organization without a salary in order to keep her dream alive.

The program provides training opportunities to minority college graduates in TV/radio news reporting and news management. Her job entails extensive fundraising that sometimes takes years to secure a single donation. She has used her networking skills to gain support from Sam Donaldson, Jane Pauley, Tom Brokaw, Dan Rather, Montel Williams and other news reporting personalities. Some of them lend financial report, while others endorse the program. In addition to this, she nurtures and signs up TV/radio stations to take in her trainees, extensively screens the potential trainees, and runs the one-person office on a daily basis. One of the trainees recently appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show.

Williams plans and implements and annual fundraising benefit that is necessary to keep the program alive. She also maintains a Web site and bi-weekly e-mail newsletter. Finally, she is responsible for all the publicity concerning the program as well as the fundraising. Although she sometimes struggles to meet basic, monthly expenses, she has never succumbed to the stress. She refuses to throw in the towel, and appears to care more about others than herself at times because of the lack of sleep and all the work she takes on the keep the program running. Her greatest joy is to see one of her trainees succeed and call to thank her for believing in them and giving them a chance.

William’s desire is to see many more minorities in broadcasting. She was offered positions in the newsroom, but not the positions she knew she was qualified for. Her goal is to make a difference, and she will help those who want to help themselves. Patrice Williams was selected as one of Turning Point Magazine’s 1997 Living History Makers, and she was recognized by STAR 98.7 radio station as a Woman of the Year.

The Minorites in Broadcasting Training Program has created training positions at TV and radio stations all across the country. Currently more than 20 stations are training sites, while more than 100 stations have agreed to give permanent employment consideration to graduated trainees. Participating stations pay trainees a small stipend, and working in the new environment gives candidates the valuable hands-on experience that can be added to their resumes to open doors. Screened trainees work as a Television or Radio News Reporter Trainee, or as a News Management/Producer Trainee.

Patrice Williams is proud to see many young men and women who have left the program go on to pursue their careers and only hopes they continue to mentor others so they too can have the chance Minorities in Broadcasting Training Program gave them.

CALIXTO VASQUEZ

Calixto Vasquez is a member of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Carrollton Police Department in Texas. He saw the need for change in the community. Students are bombarded with dangers and temptations today more than ever. It does not matter whether you live in a rural area or the city; youth are challenged to stay on the right path. They are faced with decisions that could affect them for the rest of their lives. Gangs, drugs, alcohol and violence are common themes in schools. The negative forces seemed to be taking over, but he was confident that could be changed.

In 1995, the IMPACT mentoring program was founded in an effort to reduce gang violence, drug activities, keep children in school, reduce crime, get parents involved, and tear down the barriers that existed between the youth in the community and the police department. Vasquez was instrumental in the inception of this program and can take some of the credit for this drastic drop in violence. He exemplifies community policing and personally mentors a group of 30 adolescents. IMPACT stands for Integrity, Motivation, Perseverance, Attitude, Character, and Truth.

IMPACT involves the officers teaching the meaning of integrity and the importance of being a person of integrity. They also share the definition of motivation and explain the importance of being a person of action. Perseverance is also discussed as well as the part it plays in succeeding in life. Attitude is a choice and the teens and mentors discuss the importance of having the right attitude in all affairs and remembering that keeping a positive outlook truly makes a difference. The mentors explain that a person’s character distinguishes him or her form others and how important it is to have good moral character. Truth is most commonly used to correspond with facts or what occurred and the pair also goes over truth as it relates to keeping your word, being dependable and being honest.

Officers act as mentors to teens. IMPACT targets youth who are labeled “at risk” and gives them an opportunity to succeed academically and in life. Participation in the program is voluntary, and the juveniles are given a choice as to whether or not they want to be a part of it. The mentors identify and offer solutions to problems and provide individual attention the children who may not have been fortunate to receive the same in the past. The pairs meet weekly at the school for one-hour sessions. During the meetings the mentors discuss relevant topics with the children like non-violent resolution, peer pressure, accountability to oneself, self-motivation and goal setting. The mentors also strive to build positive relationships and personal convictions about choices that the children make and will continue to make throughout life. Though they meet weekly at school, the mentors also contact their partner during the week to cultivate the relationship.

IMPACT is a partnership between the teen, their parents, the school district, and the police department. Parents are contacted on a monthly basis about their children’s involvement in the program, expectations of their teen and what they can do to help. This program also works with HOPE for Kids mentor volunteers in the Carrollton area. Currently there are eight schools with 160 children participating in the program. In 1995, there were 200 gang related incidents in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch areas. This past year, there were only two.

CANINE CONNECTION

In 1992, a dedicated volunteer from the Capital Area Humane Society and staff members of Children’s Hospital Child Life Department decided to institute a dog therapy program. The Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, has a rich heritage of Community support and volunteer involvement that dates back to 1892. Children’s Hospital serviced the entire central Ohio Region. The daily census is more than 160 patients and the clinics and Emergency Department care for more than 100,000 patients per year. The staff and volunteers of this hospital believe children need more than medicine to get well. Thus, the dog therapy program was founded.

One of the goals of the program is to reduce the stress time spent for a hospitalized child away from home. Some of the patients stay two days; however, there are those who are hospitalized six months or more. The planning and preparation for the program took years of hard work to put into place the hospital policies, guidelines, and legal issues. The pet therapy dogs had to have health screening tests, pass a training visit, and also pass a suitability test. After two years of arduous volunteer work, the Canine Connection became a reality.

The benefits of the volunteer dog therapy program fall into three categories: social, psychological and physical. The social benefits are increased patient responsiveness and pleasure, opening up lines of communication for the patients, and establishing a different kind of rapport with the staff. In addition to that, children who cannot speak get the assistance of the dogs crossing the language barrier.

The psychological benefits are the therapy dog being a link to reality and a humorous experience for the patients. Furthermore, the dogs are used as a form of intervention to reduce pain and anxiety, which improves the general psychological adjustment to illness. Dogs can help improve memory and speech by having patients give commands, and the dog visitation can act as a catalyst to discuss issues that the patient has but is not comfortable bringing up. The physical benefits of the program are significant drops in patients mean arterial blood pressure, improved movement in fingers and hands because of brushing or petting the dogs, and when a patient gives the dog a treat or throws a ball, their deficits in balance and coordination are improved.

Ms. Reed, the catalyst for the program, has been a consistent and dedicated volunteer with the program since 1992. Currently there are 10 volunteers, dogs, and owners who, in 1999, contributed 30 hours of visitation along with travel time and animal bathing time.

The Canine Connection is an all-volunteer operation from trainers to owners. They have rigorous tasks that must be completed every time they volunteer. This program gives patients something to care for, a source of consistency in their lives and a return for play and laughter.

SUSAN CIRIELLO

Susan Ciriello joined the volunteer staff on March 12, 1990, months before the actual opening of the Ronald McDonald House of Springfield, Mass. She has given her time, talent, and love to the families and the Teen Board for almost 10 years. Ciriello has been the activities director for several years, bringing families to hockey games, circuses, basketball games, rodeos, and movies. She has done activities with the children in the House as well as cooked meals, baked cookies, and made birthday cakes.

As a Teen Board advisor, Ciriello attends monthly meetings with students from area high schools to plan activities for the children and families at the Ronald McDonald House of Springfield. She is involved in the recruitment, interviewing, selection process, and training for the Teen Board. She is actively involved with the volunteer committee, working projects such as “Hallowscream” at the local amusement park to raise money for the House, handing out informational fliers at volunteer fairs, and selling House merchandise at various community fairs. Ciriello has participated in two masquerade charity balls raising $2,000 for the “home-away-from-home.”

As a regular House volunteer, Ciriello has committed more than 2,500 hours working on Thursday morning as the receptionist – answering telephones, taking referrals for families, counting volunteer hours, filing, typing, and other office duties. She also actively participates in decorating the House for holidays and is a member of the Speakers’ Bureau as a spokesperson promoting the House’s mission. Ciriello is always ready to lend a helping hand in numerous functions such as shopping, as well as delivering and picking up donated items.

Not only is Ciriello a committed, dedicated volunteer for the “House That Love Built,” she is also involved in her church youth activity programs. She has been vital to the Special Olympics program for adults who have received kidney transplants. Ciriello is a kidney transplant survivor who feels a strong vocation to community involvement.

Susan Ciriello is not only a special volunteer but a special person as well. She brings a sense of humor to cheer the families at the Ronald McDonald House of Springfield and brings a smile to their faces. The children and teens relate especially well to her as she has the unique ability of making every person feel that they are special.

GREENWOOD CULTURAL CENTER

The history of the Greenwood Cultural Center traces back to the 1921 racial war – the most devastating urban disaster since the Civil War. The historic boulevard, Greenwood Avenue, was destroyed by fire, 35 square blocks and 1447 residents and businesses were demolished, 300 citizens died, and more than 10,000 were left homeless. Funds promised by local authorities to rebuild the battle-torn community did not materialize. A cry of desperation arose from senior citizens, pioneers of the neighborhood once known as the Black Wall Street of America.

One year later, there were signs of the independence and resilience of the African-American community, as the business district began its rebuilding. In just a few years the Black Wall Street was completely rebuilt without outside assistance. In the mid-1970’s, urban renewal bulldozers were knocking down these walls from the past and older citizens protested – something must remain to preserve this proud legacy. An old, two-story house, “Prince-Mackey House,” which was rebuilt after the 1921 incident, was among those scheduled for demolition. The pioneers saw the house as a location for a heritage house, museum, or center to teach the history of the area to young people. The heritage house was spared and restored 10 years later. After 25 years of advocacy, what is now the $3 million Greenwood Cultural center was developed, with the first $100,000 being raised from the African-American community alone.

From this meager beginning the Center, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, now operates a $500,000 program and operations budget and administers programs impacting more than 200 children per day. The Center has adopted three schools. It has many volunteers active in each of the after school programs. The Center is a facility that is igniting great pride in the community. It was an idea completely developed from the grassroots. Since 1995, the expanded facility and its programs remain a valuable symbol of African-American achievement.

The Greenwood Cultural Center uses the arts and history to teach children the value of learning and sharing cultural contributions to society. Summer Arts XII is a 4-week course that moves children ages 6 to 11 through visual and fine arts, dance and music. Started in 1986, it is the flagship program of the Center. It serves 50 to 75 students during the summer, engaging them in the art of storytelling and developing thematic stories through a Learning Quilt Project. Alcott Elementary School’s Arts, Athletics and Academics program (3 A’s) is an after school program that serves 150-200 children. A “PeaceBuilders” component was incorporated to counter school and community violence through positive peer pressure and conflict resolution. Music & Math, Singing & Science is a program at Lindsey Elementary School serving upper elementary and middle school students. Parents as Partners are volunteers in both the 3 A’s and Music & Math, Singing & Science Programs.

There is also the Women of Tomorrow program for young ladies ages 13-15, a Dance Academy that includes hip-hop, ballet, and tap dancing, a videography class to promote community awareness and ameliorate truancy that trains student photojournalists how to use cameras to record cultural community events.

The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame and the North Tulsa Heritage Foundation are also housed in the facility and, although separate, work collaboratively with the Center.