PROJECT PHOENIX

Project Phoenix is a youth tutoring/mentoring program coordinated by a group of dedicated student volunteers at The College of William and Mary. William and Mary students established the program six years ago. The students recognized the opportunity to impact the lives of middle school youth who are not currently achieving to their fullest potential and noted a responsibility to serve as effective role models.

Each week students tutor at three local middle schools, working with approximately 20 students at each of the schools. Volunteers tutor students one-on-one followed by an educational program, which is conceived, organized and facilitated by volunteers. Volunteers also organize weekly Saturday education programs. Program areas include Career Exploration, Civic Responsibility, Culture/Education, Life Skills and Health and Fitness. A sample of programs include: a demonstration at the local fire house, an annual etiquette dinner, a trip to the Virginia Living Museum, historical scavenger hunt and trips to local museums.

As a consequence of participation in various educational activities, college volunteers motivate and inspire middle school students to aspire to succeed. The interactions build confidence in middle school students and expose the students to experiences they would likely never have an opportunity to take part.

Project Phoenix works in partnership with guidance counselors from each middle school. Students who are not currently achieving academically and/or socially are offered an opportunity to participate in the program. Counselors discuss the program with each student’s parent or guardian and determine whether Project Phoenix fits the student’s needs prior to being accepted into the program. Periodic communication with guidance counselors and family members is integral to the success of the program.

Project Phoenix has approximately 60 volunteer who serve as tutors and mentors. Each year 12 students accept leadership positions on a volunteer executive board. These students plan each tutoring session and weekend activities. In addition the volunteers coordinate transportation, orientation, training, team building activities, and program evaluation among other responsibilities. These volunteers are integral to the function and success of the program. Without their tireless efforts, the program would not exist. The corps of volunteers gives more than 10,000 hours each academic year to making the program a success. Since the program’s inception approximately 600 students have volunteered an estimated 50,000 hours to the program and the community.

Project Phoenix has touched the lives of college students and local middle school students. Coming together weekly, the students recognize the similarities among them and educate one another. For many middle school children the interaction with volunteers is the highlight of their week. They are reminded that people indeed care about their well-being.

The program literally changes lives. Middle school graduates of the program have gone on to accept leadership positions in high school and now some of the graduates are attending college. The students involved with Project Phoenix make a conscious choice to make a difference in the lives of children.

BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB MEDICAL IMAGING, INC.

LifeLinks, Inc., the largest provider of services to individuals with mental retardation and other forms of developmental disabilities in Greater Lowell, is just one of many nonprofit agencies routinely receiving the volunteer service and support of Bristol-Myers Squibb Medical Imaging’s community-minded employees.

Each year, more than 20 Medical Imaging employees help LifeLinks to overcome the obstacles faced in addressing the expensive repairs needed for a dozen residential homes in the community. Without having to hire outside expertise, they manage to combine their collective home repair skills and complete all needed repairs with thoroughness and quality, giving the nearly 30 developmentally disabled people living in these homes beautiful and safe homes to live in.

The LifeLinks Community Center is a thriving and busy classroom and therapeutic setting where daily 135 community members with the most severe levels of developmental disabilities come for education, therapy and recreation activities. The Center takes a lot of physical abuse and each year needs many small and moderate repairs and painting. Tens of dozens of Medical Imaging employees take the lead each year to make these repairs with love and quality.

Less than 10% of LifeLinks’ annual budget is directed to administrative overhead. For the past five years, the volunteer office work of Medical Imaging employees has helped to free up thousands of dollars in overhead which LifeLinks has been able to put back into improving program services for the disabled.

Each year Medical Imaging has hosted LifeLinks’ Annual Barbecue donning aprons and wielding spatulas, as they cook and serve hot dogs, hamburgers and ice cream to nearly 150 individuals and their families, while other Medical Imaging volunteers coordinate outdoor games and challenges. These good works leave a lasting impression on the people served that Medical Imaging employees are truly their “friends.” This close relationship with people with disabilities has also opened the minds and hearts of Medical Imaging’s volunteers, with many expressing delight in their new friendships and greater awareness of the rich potential of people with disabilities.

In just this past year alone, Medical Imaging volunteers have not only improved the quality of life for community members with developmental disabilities, they have saved LifeLinks 47,500 in maintenance and repair costs and another $3,000 in donated office supplies and clerical help. In the past six years, Medical Imaging’s direct donations such as their Annual Golf Tournament and direct volunteer service have resulted in tens of thousands of dollars for Lifelinks, most of which was in the form of donated time and skills. They have donated an average of 350-400 hours a year, every year directly and indirectly serving the community’s most vulnerable citizens, people with developmental disabilities.

Just a few of the other organizations benefiting from Medical Imaging’s community service are Big Brother Big Sister, YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, Habitat for Humanity, American Cancer Society, American Red Cross, Elder Services and Catholic Charities Food Pantry.

REBECCA SKLEPOVICH

Rebecca Sklepovich has been striving to make a difference in the area of human needs in a variety of ways. In 1998, Rebecca was elected co-chair of the Youth Service Coalition, a youth volunteer group, and was also elected vice president of the Inter School Council, a branch of the American Red Cross. In both organizations, she worked to address vital concerns in the community through mobilizing teen volunteers to commit themselves to a number of service projects. Projects included holding food drives for the needy, participating in crafts and games with nursing home residents, planning and executing parties and art projects for underprivileged children, assisting with major community events, and having numerous fundraisers to buy holiday presents for the community’s poverty stricken.

Not only did these projects provide joy to all those who directly received benefits from them – they provided a sense of satisfaction to all who volunteered for them. Additionally, these projects contributed to the alleviation of serious social problems. For example, visiting elderly nursing home residents helps them combat loneliness – holding food drives provides nourishment to the hungry – providing activities for underprivileged children gives them stimulation that they wouldn’t normally receive.

Rebecca is still active as a co-chair for the Youth Service Coalition. She is still with the Inter School Council, but completed her term as vice president. Instead, she is now the youth representative for the Red Cross Board of Directors, and voices the concerns of Alexandria’s many youth to the adult board members. She also serves as a youth HIV educator for the Red Cross – teaching other youth in her community about HIV prevention through organized presentations and informal outreach.

Rebecca spends weekly time working with the children of her city. She has been a Brownie Girl Scout leader for four years now, and helps them form into young ladies by teaching them fundamentals for life, introducing them to the idea of service and helping them to achieve their goals. Her work has helped these children to build confidence in themselves and spread happiness to others. Rebecca also serves on a weekly basis as a 4th grade religious education instructor at her church, teaching children morals, values and reinforcing the basics of religion. This helps them to strengthen their faith and love for others.

Lastly, Rebecca has begun a service organization at her school called the Christian Student Association. Though this club is very new (she just started it two months ago) they have already assisted the Red Cross with a toy drive and have several projects lined up for the upcoming months including helping ship bikes to third world countries and making bookmarks for child abuse awareness. In short, Rebecca is a cooperative and hard working young woman whose ideas for service are innovative and original. She not only has personal desire to serve, but motivates others to serve as well, which is perhaps her greatest contribution of all.

MILAN SKRTIC

Milan Skrtic has served New Smyrna Beach Middle School for more than two years an average of 40 hours per month. He brings a unique combination of resources to the students, helps the students and teachers improve their skill levels, and he uses innovative approaches to keep the children excited and interested.

Skrtic is no stranger to volunteerism. The father of three sons, he was active with them in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. Then in 1973 he, and his wife, joined the Peace Corps and took the family to Ghana, West Africa. Skrtic was a business advisor to the Ghana Business Bureau in Accra, Ghana.

Skrtic first connected with New Smyrna Beach Middle School when he became a mentor to one student. Soon he picked up another student. After that, he began to notice they had concerns with math. He worked out an innovative plan and taught them math using the stock market. Because of the success, 15 seventh graders met weekly with him for a class period, doing “Stock Market Math.” Throughout the school year, he met with 10 of the 15 and trained them to be “Stock Assistants” who in turn worked with 20 other seventh graders. This program ran for the entire semester.

Skrtic also spends one class period every Wednesday tutoring a small group of eighth graders in science. As the students’ performance improves, they can rotate out of the study group and a new student comes in to get assistance. This special time for the children not only makes them feel “important” in an adult’s eyes, but it has resulted in their science grades changing from “F’s” to “B’s.”

Because of his background as an aerospace engineer, Skrtic also began a Learning Lab that is aimed at students having continual difficulty in math and science. He uses real world concepts that involve math and science to help the children understand. He also designed a student survey to offer insight to teachers concerning patterns of students who are not passing. In addition to this, he holds an enrichment science class for high achieving seventh grade students. He developed a simulation curriculum that involves teamwork to solve current and future global problems.

As the youth see their scores improve in the classroom, they feel better about themselves. Their self-esteem as well as their report card grades are boosted, and that will help them as they continue to mature into adults. Skrtic initiated the relationship and enjoys opening the eyes of children to the wonders of math and science. He not only helps by tutoring and mentoring, he also serves on the School Improvement Technology Correlate, and he has helped to write the school’s five-year technology plan.

Milan Skrtic is an ingenious man who the children look forward to seeing during their school week. His positive attitude and consistency touch the children and let them know he cares for them. His diverse knowledge also adds to the number of approaches he takes with the studies of math and science. He is a retired senior who is giving his all to helping children succeed.

IMPACT URBAN AMERICA

Impact Urban America (IUA) is a faith-based, social-entrepreneurial organization that provides community services to the inner city of San Diego through relationships with churches, communities and corporations. The services provided are housing, jobs, and life skills training to people that do not have this access through traditional means.

Impact Urban America initially started in 1992, when Estean Lenyoun, a pastor at Marantha Chapel in San Diego, realized that his desire to serve people extended beyond the steps of the local church. With a background in commercial real estate and a desire to help inner city residents, he and Rosie Grier formed “Rosie Grier’s American Neighborhood Enterprises.” The organization purchased a complex of homes and apartments in inner San Diego, an area well known for crime and drugs. This complex, called Vista Grande, was cleaned up and cleaned out by working with community leaders and people with a heart for change. Vista Grande became a model for the rehabilitation of substandard housing and inner city rejuvenation.

Having seen success in housing and neighborhood rehabilitation, the vision for a broader community service began developing. In 1998, Impact Urban America was formed to go beyond housing and neighborhood issues. Realizing that housing meets a basic need and that independence and self-supporting individuals within a community are a long-term answer to many social problems, IUA began to address additional needs through jobs, life skills training and home ownership opportunities.

Believing that home ownership is part of the American dream, housing opportunities were researched. At the same time, home ownership is a prelude to disappointment and failure without the ability to make a monthly payment, maintain a property, or build equity through improvements. As a result, the first major focus for IUA was to provide jobs. The thought is that when a person has a job, he has the beginning for security and success. While there are many other important elements to a successful life, jobs in the inner city are lacking, as evidenced by high unemployment rates in poorer areas. By bringing jobs to the inner city, pride in accomplishment and security/success patterns occur.

IUA works with local businesses to fill positions using residents of the inner cities. There are unique challenges to this work. As people were employed, the need for more assistance became clear. Some people were not accustomed to simple tasks that must be performed in order to be productive in a work environment. As a result, IUA began skills training – both in practical work skills (i.e. computer skills) and also in life skills (i.e. alarm clocks and bus passes).

In the year 2000, IUA had more than $1 million in revenues, and has put more than 1,000 people to work in San Diego County since inception. IUA has associated itself with well known individuals who bring tremendous leadership skills in diverse disciplines. It is the combination of church, community and entrepreneurs that make this organization successful. IUA is a nonprofit corporation that is run in a for-profit manner to demonstrate self-sufficiency and income generation so as to support expansion.

DOCIA FISH

Docia Fish has been a volunteer with the Foster Grandparent Program for the past 12 years. She gives love and attention to the children. In addition to this, she reads to the children and helps them with their studies. Mrs. Fish does all of this at the young age of 91 years old!

Born on December 23, 1909, Mrs. Fish was the third of six daughters born to Nathan and Bertha Moose. The family resided on a farm near Danville in upstate New York. She grew up there and attended Danville Schools. At 18, she married Paul Fish and they raised a family of four. The family moved to Southern California, to Kansas, and then back to California. Mrs. Fish worked for the Willits Senior Center for several years, and while she was there, Mable Gordon talked to her about becoming a foster grandparent.

The Foster Grandparent program is a federally funded senior program that serves children with special or exceptional needs. Some of the children are learning disabled, physically disabled, or mentally handicapped. The Foster Grandparents develop one-on-one relationships with one to six children in the classroom. The Grandparents provide their service of individualized tender loving care, friendship, and tutorial assistance.

Mrs. Fish has been dedicated to being a Foster Grandparent. When she first took on the volunteer responsibility, she was not sure if it was something that would “fit.” However, she became attached to all her children and even also became the cookie lady because she makes cookies monthly for her classes. Mrs. Fish has had many challenges in 1998. She lost her husband in January and later that year she had a stroke and was hospitalized for a month. Once she recovered and was released, she was right back on the job.

Grandma Docia is the Foster Grandparent of Mr. Gabe Ward’s first grade class at Brookside Elementary School. The children as well as the teacher have gotten attached to her. She is greeted each day with a hug and smile from different children in the class. They look forward to her loving smile and compassion. The children help her to settle into her special chair and get started on her time with them. She knows when the children need to be heard and when they may need some help with class work. Mrs. Fish has a keen sense of those children who also need some quality time. Because of her loving approach, these students have made noticeable academic achievements. Teachers have also seen many children improve their social skills and self-esteem.

REV. DR. WILLIAM MASON

Rev. Dr. William Mason began his ministry with the United Methodist Church in June of 1964, and has been dedicated ever since. His first assignment was the Asbury United Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma; and under his leadership, the church grew from 118 members to 5,250 members by 1993. Along with the population growth, the budget also grew from $10,000 to an excess of $2.5 million.

Rev. Mason has been quite active during his years of service. In the 1980’s, he led a drive to petition the Quik-Trip fast food stores in Tulsa to remove all pornographic materials from their shelves. They agreed to his request and to this day, none of their 61 stores carry these items. In addition to his petition to that chain, Rev. Mason has spoken from the pulpit against sexually explicit movies and television programs. He encourages his congregation to write letters of protest to this type of entertainment. He feels very strongly about the moral decline in our country and never hesitates to speak out about its effects on our young people and the adults.

Rev. Mason also served as a member of the Alcoholism Advisory Council l of the State Department Board of Mental Health, and was a member of the Mayor’s Council on Alcoholism of Tulsa. He opened the church doors in 1965 to AA, Al-Anon, and Alateen meetings. The church also provided office space from 1984 to 1989 for Destination Discovery, an organization that provides programs for latchkey children in three large apartment complexes. Through his encouragement, a tutoring program has been ongoing every week for these youth at his church. In addition, the Meals on Wheels operates out of the church kitchen three days per week to serve south Tulsa.

In 1977, Rev. Mason was instrumental in getting Tulsa to host a citywide Leighton Ford Crusade and in bringing the Bill Gothard Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts to Tulsa. He also served on the Governor’s Committee on Ethics in Government, the Board of Tulsans for Community Values, and the Board of the American Red Cross of Tulsa. This seems to be quite a resume of service, but it does not end here. Rev. Mason was also very active in the Southeast Rotary Club of Tulsa, and upon his retirement from the full-time ministry was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship by his fellow Rotarians. Rev. Mason is also highly involved in hospital visitation; it is one of his highest priorities. Each day, he goes to several Tulsa area hospitals visiting with anyone who asks for a Protestant minister.

Oral Roberts University honored Rev. Mason on May 1, 1977 with an Honorary Doctor of Divinity, and on May 15, 1982 he was honored with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from Oklahoma City University in recognition of his many contributions to his church, the city of Tulsa, and the state of Oklahoma. Rev. Mason retired in June of 1993, but he continues to be an integral part of the Tulsa community. He was named Pastor Emeritus of Asbury United Methodist Church in 1995 because of his outstanding service.

WADE DEMERS

Wade Demers has averaged more than 80 hours per month of service to Emory L. Bennett Veterans Nursing Home. Demers is a Disabled Veteran who served in the Vietnam War. Because of his service in the armed forces, he decided to serve in other capacities for other veterans who were in need.

Demers gives much of his time serving at the nursing home. He drives the van, which takes the residents food shopping, on fishing trips, to lunch, dinner, and other outings. He also assists residents with activities at different outings and will come to help at a moments notice. His service helps to free the staff at the nursing home so they can accomplish their duties more efficiently daily. This also allows the paid staff to spend more time with the residents who look forward to the same.

He is also a great motivator. Demers is responsible for suggesting various activities. He suggests restaurants, fishing holes, and other places that the residents may enjoy participating in. He also mobilizes the community and makes them aware of the needs of the elderly veterans. He also recruits others to volunteer and give back to the community.

Because he has health issues, Demers is not always able to do what he wishes. He gives as much as he can and is known for bringing clothing, books, food, and other items that are necessities for the veterans. He also tries to help monetarily and if some of the men are homeless, he refers them to shelters or other resources where they can obtain help.

Though Wade Demers’ work is centered in the Oak Hill, Florida, area his service touches veterans across the country. Many of the men who come through his area are transient and moving from place to place. He works with them and gives them help and words of encouragement to help them keep hope and continue to live.

DEPRESSIVE & MANIC DEPRESSIVE ASSOCIATION OF TOLEDO

The Depressive and Manic Depressive Association (DMDA) of Toledo is a chapter of the National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association. Their mission is to educate clients, families, professionals and the public concerning the nature of depressive and manic depressive illnesses as treatable medical diseases. They also wish to eliminate discrimination and stigma, improve access to care, and advocate for research toward the elimination of these illnesses. They do not endorse or recommend the use of any specific treatment or medication. For advice about specific treatment or medication, clients are advised to consult their physician or mental health professional.

The DMDA of Toledo began in May of 1999 with one support group and four members. Today, they have grown to five support groups, and they also sponsor community education and outreach programs. The support groups average 15 to 20 people per meeting. DMDA of Toledo has developed specialized support groups for family members, women’s issues, survivors of suicide, hospital outreach and community support. They receive no public funding and rely solely on private donations. All of the staff is volunteers.

One of their programs is Generation Y. This is an anti-stigma, youth sensitivity and mental health awareness program. Generation Y teaches children to be sensitive towards others who have mental illness, behavioral problems, or are different from them in a number of ways. It is also designed to bring awareness to children, their families, and the community. This program, just as all the other programs of DMDA of Toledo, have a speaker’s bureau, a series of plays and skits, workshops and classes for both adults and children, and education material. The participants present these four components. The children present speeches on how they feel about mental illness, ADHD, racism, and other issues of tolerance. Children also present short, 5-10 minute skits or plays in which they act out their issues or concerns. The workshops are always age appropriate as well as the material.

The Toledo chapter works hard to meet the needs of those who suffer with manic depression or clinical depression. Though they do not have multi-level funding sources, they have not given up. This chapter knows there is a need for these services in the community and will continue to fight to survive. They recently obtained donated office space and are able to continue to reach more people needing their services. Weekly, they receive more than 40 calls for information or linkage to other support services in the community.

LISANN PETERS

Lisann Peters’ life-long focus is advocacy, consisting of knowledge, public education and leadership focused on issues affecting youth. As an advocate for children and for education, when she heard of the critical need for school supplies for children from low-income families, she decided something must be done. She started “Supply Train” which is a collaborative effort of the Girl Scouts-Circle T Council and the Arlington Independent School District Council of PTAs. School supplies are collected by the Girl Scouts and PTAs. Peters helped create the initial program including the advertising collection, pick-up, sorting and distribution of school supplies to needy students. This program was created in 1987 and still continues today.

Peters also co-founded the Arlington Will Award and Recognize educational Excellence (AWARE) Foundation in May of 1989. It was created as a way to encourage innovation and excellence among Arlington ISD teachers. Outstanding teachers, nominated by their students, parents or fellow teachers are onserved by AWARE board and community members. Crystal and monetary awards are given to the winners in five different categories.

Peters was instrumental in creating an endowment fund to help ensure the long-term benefit that AWARE brings to the community. This permanent funding source will make a significant impact to the program, which literally reaches 60,000 students through the encouragement of 4,100 teachers who strive for and achieve excellence in the classroom. Former Texas Governor George W. Bush recognized AWARE as an outstanding example of how a community can support its teachers.

Peters was also instrumental in founding Youth Leadership Arlington (YLA). This program was established to provide a program which identifies and develops leadership abilities and potential among high school juniors from diverse social, economic, reacial and geographic backgrounds while encouraging closer ties between Arlington’s schools and fostering a desire to commit individual talents to the community now and in the future. YLA seeks to build students’ self worth and to provide interaction between students, business and community leaders and decision makers. Working with the tenth class, Peters continues to coordinate the program.

Lisann Peters has given immeasurable time and energy working for youth. When she heard about the obstacles that the Girl Scouts-Circle T Council had in trying to provide Girl Scouting at School in at-risk areas in Arlington, her intervention and support of the Girl Scouts at School program were vital. Today, several Arlington schools are actively involved with the program. Peters now serves as President of the Circle T Council and advocates for making girl scouting available to every girl in the Circle T jurisdiction.

Peters continues to be an advocate for youth as she serves on the baords of Tarrant County Child Protective Services, Region 3 CPS Council, Tarrant County Community Partners and Texas Community Partners. She also serves as a HOST Volunteer at Webb Elementary where she works with three students weekly and serves as the coordinator for this program for her Rotary.