TERRANCE MUSCATO
Terrance Muscato began volunteering at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center on February 15, 1981. His first assignment was in Recreation Therapy Service. Approximately five years later, when Voluntary Service was in need of a greeter, Muscato was asked to join the office staff. From that point on, his title has been Voluntary Service Office Manager.
Muscato was born with a disability known as hydrocephalus, a condition that causes fluid to collect inside the skull. His disability has never limited his commitment to the VA Medical Center, the patients or volunteers at Canandaigua. He volunteers four days a week, eight hours a day answering the phone, retrieving the mail, making copies, greeting donors, delivering donated items throughout the medical center and a variety of other tasks.
With an office consisting of only two staff, Muscato has become essential and has provided the assistance needed to enable the volunteer program to become more productive. He is the first smiling face that prospective volunteers and visitors to the VA encounter. He is the essence of the customer service standards that the VA strives to provide and maintain throughout the facility. He is dependable and prides himself on being well versed in the volunteer program policies and procedures.
When Muscato is not volunteering at the VA, he assists his mother at the Canandaigua Veterans Club, a community-based veterans program where veterans socialize and are treated to a hot meal each night. The adoption of this program has provided a much needed community service for the veterans. Many veterans are disconnected from the community and find this a place of salvation. For many veterans who are recently discharged from the safe surroundings of the VA and who for the first time in their lives are found in a position of isolation, this community-based program serves as a learning tool for broadening and enhancing their social skills. Muscato plays cards with the patients, helps his mother with cooking and maintenance and serves as the veterans’ companion.
Muscato’s commitment to the VA Medical Center and veterans is an ongoing involvement. He continues to provide the medical center and the veterans at the Canandaigua Veterans Club with his dedication and commitment to excellence. With 19 years and 40,100 hours of volunteering under his belt, it is safe to say that Muscato will be volunteering for a long time to come.
POSITIVE OPPORTUNITIES, INC.
Positive Opportunities, Inc. (PO), founded by Frank Pizzoli, has a mission to provide HIV-related employment training, technical assistance, program development, and client services to individuals and agencies. PO is an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) organization. PO is a private sector, nonprofit, professional service rather than a “one-size-fits-all” public agency, therefore they can customize services to meet customers’ needs. PO’s service does not duplicate any existing HIV/AIDS service within Dauphin and Cumberland counties. PO empowers HIV-infected individuals to stay employed, return to work, and/or learn new skills in order to gain employment. All participation is voluntary.
PO began in 1997 with a $5,000 grant from Bristol Myers Squibb (PO raised and added an additional $2,000) to assess need for HIV-employment related services. Based on needs assessment data, in 1998 PO received a $9,800 grant (PO raised and added $400 to grant) from Greater Harrisburg Foundation and the National AIDS Fund to operate a one-year pilot project. In 1999, Roche Laboratories provided a $3,500 grant. In 1999, PO became a formal subcontractor of services through the AIDS Planning Coalition of South Central PA and the AIDS Community Alliance, serving seven Central PA counties.
By “returning to work” HIV-infected individuals, PO demonstrates a successful model to regional, state, and federal HIV-related social service programs as they worked with “return to work” issues surrounding HIV disease.
The community benefit of PO is that employed individuals pay taxes rather than absorbing public funds. Community agencies, often overwhelmed when social problems arise, are offered a “tested” workable model to imitate and innovate. PO assembled various program components from other Foundation-based organizations nationwide and re-assembled them into its Pilot Project. There are similar, but not identical, programs elsewhere.
Based on Pilot Project data funded by the Greater Harrisburg Foundation and the National AIDS Fund, of 20 referrals made to PO during 1998/99, 10 clients have successfully been “returned to work” via training, job coaching, resume development and job placement. Total funds raised from inception in 1997 to date are $24,300. By June 2000 when all 10 employed clients had completed one-year of employment, they will have collectively paid $23,400 in federal taxes – or slightly more than it costs to market test and demonstrate the Pilot Project (based on average hourly wage of $8.00). Currently, PO has 11 active clients.
Since inception, PO has provided model start-up initiatives and technical assistance, training, and direct services to 19 Federal Government HIV Project Officers, PA Department of Health, Gateway Employment Services, AIDS Planning Coalition of South Central PA, AIDS Community Alliance, Berks County Behavioral Health, PA AIDS Education & Training Centers, Behavioral Health Managed Care, and PA AIDS Training Conference, Delaware AIDS Consortium.
ANISA RAMAILEH
Anisa Ramaileh’s desire to volunteer began in 1997, after her sister, Summer, died from leukemia. Anisa organized a group called Helping Hands, in which she provided plaster hand molds to parents of terminally ill children. This program has been recognized by local and national organizations.
With this recognition additional volunteers became involved to create the Summer’s Friends Organization to raise money for cancer research and the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. With Anisa’s initiative the volunteers have become more aware of hardships faced by family members with terminally ill children. The members are currently sponsoring a program to help a local teenager with a bone marrow transplant. Funds are raised through the use of flyers circulated throughout the business community and residences. Volunteers meet with student and business groups outlining the organization goals. “Heart of America,” a national service organization, recognized Anisa’s leadership skills and sponsored her trip to Washington, D.C., in the fall of 2000 to speak to 5,000 inner school students on the values of service.
Volunteers met with teenagers and discovered a prevalent problem of depression, stress and high community suicide numbers. The group, under the leadership of Anisa, wrote a grant proposal to Youth Vision for depression and stress funding and to start a teenage suicide prevention program in her community.
As a student at Bountiful High School, Anisa is State President of the Governor’s Youth Council in which she plans meetings, projects, rallies, retreats and organizes committees that provide resources, such as informational brochures, to the state. She is Vice President of Operation Smile, a program that helps raise money to fund operations for children in third-world countries suffering because of facial deformities. As Vice President of the Key Club, Anisa assists the President in membership drives, announcing meetings, doing service projects and fundraisers. The club’s goal this year is to raise $1,000 for children with Iodine Deficiency Disorder and for the Children’s Miracle Network. She is President of the Volunteer Incentive Program with a goal that each member will serve their community for 100 hours or more. These organizations are just a few of the many in which Anisa is involved.
During the 1999/2000 school year, Anisa was one of two Utah students receiving the National Horatio Algier Service Award for academic achievement and her devotion to community service. She was also a recipient of the 2000 Governor’s Youth Achievement Award as well as the 2000 Davis County Youth Achievement Award.
THE LEAP CENTER
The LEAP Center is a project created in 1993 by the Kosciusko Foundation of Education, the Kosciusko School District, the Kosciusko Schools PTA and the Kosciusko/Attala Chamber of Commerce to provide help for at-risk students. Funding for the LEAP Center budget, which is approximately $30,000 annually, comes from local businesses, clubs and individuals, private foundations and from annual Learn and Serve grants provided by the Mississippi Department of Education.
Students in grades K-12 may come to the LEAP Center to study in a quiet and safe environment, use the substantial reference materials available and receive tutorial assistance as needed. Tutoring is provided by volunteers: certified teachers who team with uncertified but well qualified adult tutors and high school student tutors. There is no cost to students for any assistance provided by the LEAP Center.
Students in grades K-5 who need tutorial assistance are given scheduled times to come to the LEAP Center. They receive small group tutoring in areas where they have demonstrated weakness in school. Students in grades 6-12 may “drop-in” as needed. They receive small group or one-on-one tutoring in subjects where they need help. As part of this process, mentoring also occurs.
Having recently completed its seventh year of operation, the LEAP Center has a solid track record of positive results. Examples include improved attitudes of students who receive not just tutorial assistance but also genuine interest and encouragement from volunteers there. In many of these students a feeling of self-worth, of knowing that someone cares, produces self-confidence, which in turn leads to greater effort being put forth and greater success in the classroom.
A more specific example is provided by the two seniors who would certainly not have graduated with their class this year without the assistance they received at the LEAP Center as they worked on their correspondence course in geometry from Mississippi State University. Through one-on-one tutoring and encouragement, they both passed geometry, just in time to walk and receive their diplomas. The students themselves, the volunteer tutors who helped and the entire community benefited from this positive experience.
The LEAP Center continues to be an example of how a community can work together with its public schools to produce a winning combination that benefits students, schools and the community as a whole.
NYUMBURU CULTURAL CENTER
The University of Maryland and the Nyumburu Cultural Center have formed a partnership to increase awareness and understanding of diversity, particularly concerning race and culture. Nyumburu is Swahili for “freedom house”. The Nyumburu Cultural Center has served the University community for 27 years. Nyumburu’s productions and activities include lectures and seminars, art exhibits, workshops in the dramatic arts, dance, music and creative writing. Academic courses in blues, jazz, gospel music performance and creative writing are also offered.
The Nyumburu Cultural Center is dedicated to advancing and augmenting the academic and the multi-cultural missions of the university by presenting a forum for the scholarly exchange and artistic engagement of African Diaspora culture and history. All programs are open to the entire university community and are open to the general public.
The Joint Service Project is a new program that has been created within the Nyumburu Cultural Center. This community service program, created by Toby Jenkins, Coordinator of Campus/Community Outreach & Public Relations, focuses on issues affecting the Black community as well as join together groups of various ethnicities, race and cultures.
The program has addressed the issue of homelessness through working with Sasha Bruce Youthworks. This agency provides various services for youth runaways, abandoned children, and children given to the center upon parental request. The program provides shelter, meals, tutoring programs, cultural trips, etc. The University of Maryland has sought to create a unique connection with this group in providing physical labor support, tutoring and mentors, as well as providing transportation and invitations to campus events. The goal is to expose youth to a higher education environment so they will choose to pursue a college education.
Through the Friendship House, the program provides family support services including welfare to work programs, daycare centers, tutoring programs and teenage employment programs.
The Joint Service Project also serves the student community at Maryland. It is important while students pursue degrees and careers, they simultaneously are exposed to issues for which these degrees and their education could potentially help.
The Joint Service Project consists of diverse groups coming together on several Saturdays during the semester to focus on an area of service, travel to the site to perform the service and then reflect on the service over lunch. Nyumburu provides transportation, food and the service site. Each Saturday focuses on a different community need. The first Joint Service Project was held in November 2000, at the Friendship House in Washington, DC. Twelve student organizations participated as well as several individual students.
DEB NARO
Deb Naro has helped to organize and plan the implementation of the Community of Caring program in Plymouth, New Hampshire, as well as addressed the needs of students with disabilities. Representative Naro chaired the committee that brought many local parents, teachers, school board members, administrators, students, and community members together to research the Community of Caring program and its potential impact on the Plymouth schools and community.
The Community of Caring Program is a comprehensive, prevention-based character education program that began in 1986 in five schools and has spread to over 800 public schools nationwide, emphasizing five core values: respect, responsibility, trust, caring, and family through student forums, values across the curriculum, parent involvement, teacher training, and community service. Thanks to the leadership of Naro, and the efforts of many local parents, teachers, school board members, students, and administrators who served on the Department of Education to cover full implementation costs, the program will begin its second successful year in the Plymouth schools.
Naro emphasizes that supporting values-based programming and promoting partnerships between the school and community is important because students learn in many different contexts: the family, the school, and the community. Naro believes character education and academic learning should not be conceived as separate goals because of a mutually supportive relationship. She states, “Building a sense of community has many payoffs for students and school communities. It boosts academic motivation and achievement, lowers discipline referrals, reduces high risk behaviors, increases pro-social behaviors, and improves school climates by building trust and respect for self and others.”
Naro was recently presented the Community of Caring National Community Leadership award in San Diego, California by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the program’s founder and honorary chair. Naro was selected for her leadership in helping “to build strong communities where all members, but especially the most vulnerable, are treated fairly.” Also, in 1999, Naro along her husband, were recipients of the New Hampshire Parents of the Year award and finalists for the National Parents of the Year award.
Representative Naro has served on numerous committees supporting children, families, disabilities rights activism, and education.
PROJECT AMERICA, INC.
Founded in 1993 by three college students, Project America is a 501(c)(3) orgnization headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, that inspires and teaches people to take positive steps in their communities, and creates partnerships between volunteers and organizations that need them. The volunteers empowered by Project America have performed millions of hours of community service valued at tens of millions of dollars.
Specific Project America activities include Radio Reaching Out (RRO) for Capstar Broadcasting, one of the nation’s largest radio networks. Created in 1998-99, RRO utilizes Capstar Broadcasting stations to link volunteers with community organizations. RRO has been extremely successful, generating more than 2.5 million service hours valued at more than $32 million. Alternative Spring Break is another Project America activity that engages participants in a weeklong service experience to help a community in need through service. Evenings are spent in leadership development sessions. Participants leave the Alternative Spring Break with a concrete plan to lead their home campuses in effective community service.
Project America fosters a sense of connection through service. Its programming is designed to meet the four needs of community assistance, education, leadership development, and social responsibility. From restoring houses to teaching inner-city children to read, Project America motivates others to address pressing local needs. Project America fosters dialogue about pressing social needs so that each volunteer understands his/her role in the framework of social change and community improvement. Project America believes the leadership potential in youth is overlooked or underdeveloped. Project America programming helps volunteers develop skills to lead others in positive community action. Project America develops socially responsible adults by targeting this audience to create a lifetime dedication to community improvement.
Project America approaches every problem as an opportunity. The program works in partnership with the community to define mutual goals to meet their needs. Project America also empowers individuals and develops leaders through service. Young people, particularly high school and college students, are an untapped resource – Project America involves youth in the solutions to real problems in real-world situations.
Project America mobilizes volunteers in two ways:
- Through work with corporations, universities, large member organizations, national and local nonprofit organizations, and communities to connect those who do community service with those who need volunteers
- Through education and empowerment of the individual volunteer. Project America teaches volunteers how to lead effective service learning programs.
Project America follows up with project leaders and educates volunteers on the importance of ongoing service regularly. Recognizing that no community service effort is problem-free, the Project America staff helps volunteers find innovative and effective solutions to their service questions.
DANIELLE CATHCART
Danielle Cathcart started raising money for Wipe Out Kids Cancer (WOKC) when she was about 11 years old. In 1994, Danielle’s five-year-old friend was diagnosed with cancer. She fought hard for two years, but she eventually lost her battle. Danielle and her mother were devastated by the loss and felt that they needed to help other kids. After crying for days, Danielle and her mother decided to do something about it. Danielle stood outside stores handing out fliers and asking for donations.
Although this fundraising was of great benefit to WOKC, it was not enough for Danielle. She mentioned the idea of having a rummage sale to raise money and the idea was a big hit. Friends and people from her school and church were more than happy to donate items to the cause. Danielle would accompany her mother after school to pick up the donations for the sale. The church also donated their parking lot for the sale. The day before the sale, Danielle and her family and friends sorted all of the donated items.
The day of the rummage sale, the parking lot was filled with people. Danielle sold food and tickets for the cakewalk, as well as items for sale. She raised approximately $5,300. The following summer, she prepared for the second sale. That summer she collected about $6,500 for WOKC. Danielle raised enough money with each sale that she was considered one of WOKC’s sponsors. Her work became known as Danielle Cathcart’s Kids for Kids. Her monetary donations were given to researchers at Children’s Hospital where it was used to help find a cure for cancer.
Danielle has touched everyone that she has met through her Kids for Kids organization. People often call and ask her how they can help. Her mother, Cynthia Cathcart, is now the Chairman of the Board for Danielle’s organization. Thanks to Danielle’s efforts, the researchers at Children’s Hospital are $11,800 closer to finding a cure for cancer.
Between sales, Danielle and her mother organize additional fund raisers between sales and they host an annual Halloween party and other outing for young cancer patients at Children’s Medical Center. They recruit volunteers at The Episcopal School of Dallas, where Danielle is a seventh-grader, and at other area schools. They have also taken an active role in getting involved with some younger patients at Children’s as part of Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer.
Danielle has been able to spread joy by involving many of her friends from school and church. The children are now extending their efforts to start auxiliaries at other schools and to organize more volunteers. As the project expands, volunteers plan to add new fundraisers with additional activities with ambassadors – patients at Children’s Hospital who get to go on outings and to parties with well children.
DONNA EARLY
Donna Early’s volunteer service spans throughout Summit County in Ohio. She is an active and dedicated member of their chapter of the American Red Cross. Early has served as Chapter Chair from 1996 – 1999, and prior to that appointment, she served two three-year terms on the Board of Directors. In addition to holding committee positions and offices, she also does volunteer work with the public.
Under Early’s leadership, the Summit County Chapter received the President’s Award for Cultural Diversity due to their increase in the number of minority volunteers. They also received the Ten-By-Ten Award for their Community Dinner program, which feeds up to 200 people in their community every month. At the present time, Early is implementing and developing a joint relationship between the International Institute and the American Red Cross. This partnership will provide comprehensive services to the Refugee Resettlement program. As a result of Early’s efforts in mobilizing the two agencies, necessary items and support will be more readily available to refugees who relocate into Summit County. This is just one example of how Early enabled the chapter to fulfill it’s humanitarian international mission along with the needs of the community.
The International Institute is located in Akron, Ohio and resettles over 400 refugees annually into the Summit County community. With limited resources and volunteers at the Institute and the international mission of the American Red Cross, the collaboration was fruitful. The agencies are providing transportation from the airport to the refugees’ new apartments and the Red Cross is also partially furnishing these dwellings. Their future goal is to be able to supply transportation to medical appointments and government offices also.
In addition to mobilizing the two agencies, Early has also touched upon the issue of refugee employment support. She founded a recruiting and staffing firm in 1981 and translated her desire to help others into a successful national agency. Early’s clients now include those she welcomed into the United States, and she is happy to aid people in becoming self-sufficient.
The Refugee Resettlement program has created more than 50 volunteer opportunities. These volunteers provide the support needed within the first months of the refugees new life. An ad hoc committee has been formed with volunteers and staff from both agencies. They looked to delineate and commit to serving the needs of the refugees.
BLENDA WRIGHT
Blenda Wright has volunteered with Southern California Housing Development Corporation (SCHDC), an affordable housing provider, since 1997 at the Rancho Verde Village Community in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Rancho Verde Village Apartments provide programs such as After-School Tutoring, English as a Second Language and an urban dance class free of charge to its residents and the surrounding community.
Wright was one of the first volunteers that SCHDC enrolled. Her love for children and education pulled her to the After School Tutoring Program, which was established in 1997. Wright is the first face that the children are excited to see after school. For many of them she is the only face they see because they are latchkey children. She immediately creates a comfortable environment for the children, which includes beanbag chairs and sofas. When one enters the serene learning environment, the sounds of classical music and laughter fill the air.
Although Wright’s first priority was and is always the tutoring program, she continues to assist with the summer lunch program, holiday events and field trips. She not only initiates the idea and chaperones the field trips, but also in many cases has assisted families financially so they are able to attend. Wright strives to give children new experiences that they may not receive without her. This included a recent field trip to play in the snow. As we all know Southern California is not an easy place to find snow, although many of us have taken trips to the local mountains or out of state to experience it. Most children at Rancho Verde Village are not able to do this for many reasons. This was until Wright helped to organize a trip that would take children to a place where they had a chance to do so. These children will never forget that trip, nor will they forget Blenda Wright.
The tutoring program has begun to develop into the more “formal” program that is currently in operation. Tutors are received in collaboration with local colleges and trained in tutoring techniques in the areas of reading and writing. Wright has embraced the new program and developed herself through the training with the other tutors. She is always concerned about what is best for “her children.” Every child that steps foot in the Learning Center becomes one of “Blenda’s children.” Everyone in the community knows, respects and loves Wright and the commitment she has to the children of Rancho Verde Village.
In total, over the course of three years, Blenda Wright has volunteered more than 1,000 hours with approximately 150 children and families of the Rancho Verde Village Apartments. She is the most dedicated volunteer at SCHDC.
