EL DORADO WOMEN’S CENTER

El Dorado Women’s Center is a nonprofit agency dedicated to serving domestic violence and sexual assault victims and their families. The Center serves a large, primarily rural community on the western slope of El Dorado County in Northern California. With only a small staff, volunteers are in integral part of the Center’s ability to provide quality services to its clients.

There are many volunteers who assist at the center. Some do not work directly with clients but provide the center with important fundraising support services. Others work directly with the clients at the center. At the forefront, there are the members of the Executive Board and Associate Board of Directors. These volunteer members provide policy direction and skills in the area of personnel, management, and finance. All volunteers devote thousands of hours organizing the center’s annual fundraiser, which is an essential source of undesignated funds. Many have said that the El Dorado Women’s Center saves lives. The 29 volunteers who work directly with the victims and their families definitely can attest to that fact.

The volunteers at the center answer the 24-hour crisis line at night and on the weekends. Last year, they assisted in taking over 3,700 calls where they talked with victims and helped them take the necessary steps to ensure their safety. At the center’s safe house, volunteers provided both tangible and emotional support to 45 women and 113 children.

Volunteers play a crucial role to victims at the center with regards to the pro-bono legal services that are provided. The volunteers provide court accompaniment and legal advocacy. They also escort victims in civil court to file custody and restraining orders as well as child custody mediation. In criminal court, the volunteers support victims who are subpoenaed to testify against their assailants.

Volunteers co-facilitate weekly groups in the Men’s Alternative to Abusive Patterns program, which is a 52-week batterers treatment program. The team of volunteers also facilitates two weekly drop-in groups for domestic violence victims. With regards to community education, volunteers also assist in teaching developmentally disabled adults a personal safety course. In addition, they participate in special projects life the Holiday Adopt-a-Family program.

There are many challenges of volunteering in an agency such as the El Dorado Women’s Center, which serves people in crisis. To ensure that each direct service volunteer is prepared, each volunteer must take a 60-hour certified training course. They must also continue to attend in-service trainings throughout their volunteer experience.

In 1999, 9,305 hours of service were given at the center. These hours represent an average of 755 per month of dedicated service to the center and its clients. The El Dorado Women’s Center’s efforts have raised the level of public awareness about domestic violence and sexual assault. Along with the staff, the volunteers have made it easier for victims and their children to make the transition from living in fear to leading violence-free lives.

ELIZABETH MANN

Creating a positive from a negative has been Elizabeth Mann’s inspiration. She believes we may all be faced with adversity, but we can overcome it and become stronger people. She initially gave of herself as an educator and now shares her talents with others as a volunteer.

Mann suffered a mastectomy because of breast cancer, but she did not let that get her down. She fought the disease and now helps others to do the same. The Elkins area of West Virginia is proud to have her serving as the Reach For Recovery person where she counsels other mastectomy victims. Her own struggle with cancer and the heartfelt desire to make someone else’s healing more pleasant motivated her to charter the Randolph Cancer Support Group. In addition to that, she raises monies to maintain the program. She is an excellent fundraiser, and the monies are also utilized for cancer medication, transportation to chemotherapy treatment and other drugs. The Support Group also assists cancer patients and their families with expenses incurred due to the disease.

Mann is multitalented and also gives of her time in other areas. She directs the Melody Chorus, the senior choir and conducts programs throughout the district such as guitar classes. You may also see her at her church assisting with the dinners, fundraisers and serving as Sunday school teacher. In addition to this, she serves as a historian for her church, a Trustee, and she spends many hours during the week singing at area nursing homes.

Though her work is not done for recognition, she has been honored by various organizations. Mann has received the Woodmen of The World Good Neighbor Award, Rebecca of The Year Award, and the Volunteer of The Year Award for the United Way. She was also given a W.E.L.K. Award for Downtown Assistance and a People’s Choice Award for her six-year television show featuring gospel and old time music.

Elizabeth Mann is a humble woman who believes giving back to others is a part of life. She does not believe her volunteer work is anything unusual or more than what the next person does.

LISA TRIFILETTI

Lisa Trifiletti’s enthusiastic personality, high spirits, and caring heart set her a part from many volunteers. She is a goal oriented young lady attending Lorain Community College in Ohio, where she is majoring in Elementary Education. Lisa is active in her church, values the importance of service, and has a desire to serve to improve her community and the education and welfare of children.

Lisa coordinates activities and educates young people at the Church of the North Coast Youth Group. The youth participate in many service-learning activities because Lisa believes this is a great way to be a positive role model to others and get teenagers involved in their community. Lisa is also involved in Wheel In Motion, Trip to Hell, and Joshua Kids. Wheel in Motion is a program that provides the community with a beautiful environment. Volunteers organize trips to parks in the community and spend quality time keeping them clean so the parks are a safe, fun environment for children.

Trip to Hell is a program designed to educate the community about school shootings, drugs, gangs, and other ills that plague society today. It presents a real life picture to the young and old alike. Most young people may see violence portrayed on television or media, but this series opens the eyes of many and lets youth know there is nothing positive about shootings, drugs and gangs. Joshua Kids is a course where volunteers spend Saturday with inner city children. Lisa brings activities and lends a listening ear to the children. She gives the needed one-on-one attention and also aided in the summer camp.

Lisa’s desire to help children took her to Haiti. There she worked with school-aged children and shared her American culture and learned about their traditions also. It was a unique educational experience for the children, as well as for Lisa.

Lisa has also been a part of Craftsmen, Clothe A Child, and AmeriCorp Act. Craftsmen is a program in which volunteers go into homes and renovate them. As a part of the Clothe A Child initiative, Lisa took low-income family children out shopping. This made sure they had proper clothing for the winter season. Lisa is also an AmeriCoprs. So far, she has volunteered at a community childcare center 12 hours per week or more. She is a role model to children and also provides them with age appropriate activities. Through AmeriCorp, Lisa is always recruiting people to volunteer and become active in service learning.

Lisa has also worked with Make A Difference Day, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Parent Involvement Fair. Lisa worked with other AmeriCorp and a non-profit organization, to have a Children’s Festival for Make A Difference Day. All money raised from the festival went towards a new playground for Sheffield Lake. Lisa received a $1,000 grant from Wal-Mart and many contributions from the community. To celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Lisa also collaborated with an AmeriCorp team member and went to local daycare centers to education the children about the life of Dr. King and his legacy. She taught them the importance of equality and getting along as a community regardless of our differences. Lisa volunteered her time to educate parents about the importance of involvement in their children’s education at a Parent Involvement Fair.

GARY DAVIDSON

Since the age of 13, Gary Davidson has been a beacon of hope to his community. He spoke out to support the City of New York in the 1970’s when they were considering declaring bankruptcy by writing editorials to his newspaper reminding them of the spirit of community in the Declaration of Independence. In 1976, Davidson,14, was an active representative for the Boy Scouts of America Troop 515 and spoke to the Deerfield Beach, Florida Chamber of Commerce to encourage the City to stop development of a condominium site and retain it as a public park. As an adult, Davidson continues to serve his community with zeal.

Gary Davidson joined the Jupiter, Florida Police Department as a road patrol officer in 1987 to continue his love of serving his community. While active in the department, he delivered several training sessions for the public in how to properly respond to violent crimes, beach and pool safety lectures, and other crime prevention seminars. In 1992, he responded to a home fire. The residents were hysterical, so he entered the home with a small fire extinguisher and began to fight the fire without any other equipment. When the extinguisher was empty, he returned with another extinguisher and was credited with saving lives as well as the home. That fire became hot enough to melt the metal air conditioner vents in the home.

Davidson was also an educational leader for five years. He led lectures on sea turtles in Jupiter, Florida. He prepared a 90-minute lecture series with musical accompaniment. They were delivered three times a week from May until August. The mission of the series was to educate the public of the sea turtles endangered species status, the time of year they lay eggs, and that they should not be disturbed. The lectures were such a success that people from different countries returned annually for them and even brought their children and grandchildren for the series. He also assisted in the rescue of a baby manatee in 1994. He carried the manatee to safety, and the manatee was ported to the Miami Seaquarium.

Davidson moved to Texas and worked with the Parrot Preservation Society. He donated his Web site design services to them. The services of the society received a tremendous amount of publicity because of Davidson’s assistance and over 100,000 hits during his service. In addition to that, he performed all the French Translations for the multi-lingual site and coordinated free consultation services with bird owners around the world who were experiencing health problems with their parrots.

Davidson has done numerous other acts of service. He is very excited about his work to support a new zoological park. In 1999, he amassed community support from the Austin area for this center that will be a place for hands-on learning experiences in the sciences. The center will also be for research in animal behavior in emotion. He has solicited donations from various organizations to realize this dream.

TEMPLE UNIV. CENTER FOR INTERGENERATIONAL LEARNING

The Center for Intergenerational Learning was born in 1979 at Temple University. Since its inception, the program has served as a laboratory for developing, evaluating, and replicating a plethora of programs designed to meet the needs of older adults, families, and children alike. Currently, more than 2,000 people are participating in 16 programs that address critical social needs.

For the past three years, a retired postal worker visits the home of a family that has been reported for child abuse and neglect to model positive parenting skills and help with the children. During the past eight months, two college students go to the Cambodian Buddhist Temple to assist older Cambodian refugees learn English and prepare for their citizenship exam. Three days a week, a man visits a local elementary school to give one-on-one assistance to second graders who are having problems learning to read. These are just some examples of the services offered through the center.

Older adults serve as literacy tutors and parent outreach workers in elementary schools, child care aides in day care centers, and mentors to children who have been witnesses to violence. The volunteers also offer guidance and love to teen mothers, parents who are having difficulty parenting, and families caring for children with disabilities.

The programs in the center are innovative and two of them are being replicated nationally due to their success. Across Ages is an intergenerational mentoring initiative. It was selected by the Center for Substance Abuse as a National Dissemination Model and is now being integrated into drug prevention programs across the country. Project SHINE – Students Helping in the Naturalization of Elders – is funded by the Corporation for National Service and is operating in five cities now. Over 500 college students help 1,400 elderly immigrants and refugees with English and their citizenship exams. Evaluation studies document the center’s significant positive impact on reading scores, school attendance rates, classroom behavior, level of parental stress, and English language skills.

Along with creating unique venues for young people and older adults to contribute to their communities, the center also promotes partnerships among organizations serving different age groups, conducts research on the impact of intergenerational strategies, creates materials to promote the replication of successful pilots, and provides training and technical assistance to local, national, and international organizations interested in integrating intergenerational approaches into their program services.

The Center for Intergenerational Learning has been a pioneer in the field of intergenerational programming. Its demonstrated effectiveness in mobilizing youth and older adults to serve as resources to each other and their communities will continue to make the center a beacon of hope and an example to all who are touched by its light.

FRONTRANGE EARTH FORCE

FrontRange Earth Force is a Colorado nonprofit group that supports programs that encourage youth to work cooperatively with parents, educators, community leaders and businesses. They address environmental problems through civic action in their communities. FrontRange Earth Force brings to Denver the mission of the national Earth Force, which engages youth to create long-term solutions to local environmental issues. While the national and local offices work closely together, Front Range Earth Force is a self-sustaining, independently incorporated nonprofit.

FrontRange is one of the eight sites around the country supporting the Earth Force Community Action and Problem Solving (CAPS) program. CAPS trains educators and provides them with resources and support to guide youth to create long-term solutions to local environmental issues. The CAPS framework emphasized the importance of conducting balanced research, basing decisions on facts, and developing a strategy that ensures a long-term solution to an identified problem.

In its third year of operation, Front Range works with more than 20 sites, 45 educators, and over 1,000 youth in the Denver-metro area. Those involved represent a broad economic and social spectrum – from inner city, low-income neighborhoods, to more privileged communities, and youth of all abilities. FrontRange has programs in traditional public school, charter and magnet schools, alternative educational settings, and community organizations. They have had the CAPS materials translated to Spanish to serve Denver’s Hispanic community as well.

Through FrontRange’s CAPS program, young people develop the skills and attitudes necessary to become and remain active, engaged citizens. Students themselves are responsible for the whole range of project activities including environmental and community research, environmental problem identification, strategy decisions, design and implementation of an action plan and evaluation. They work collaboratively with other students, realizing that they can make an important difference in their communities.

For example, Sheridan, a small struggling community just south of Denver, is really benefiting from the work of Earth Force youth. An Earth Force after-school program at Alice Terry Elementary School grew into a summer program for 40 students, and continues to expand. Some of the students decided to continue meeting throughout the school year to attain their goals of improving recreational opportunities and facilities for kids. District officials worked with the youth to implement their recommendations and established an ongoing youth advisory force due to the work of the Earth Force.

FrontRange Earth Force has also been responsible for having a newspaper recycling station established at schools for the entire community, free of charge. They have also tacked potholes, drinking fountain water quality and a neglected interior courtyard at Sheridan Middle School. Their dedication was such an inspiration that six other teachers in the building decided to use CAPS in their classrooms this school year.

FREDERICK BIRNIE

For the past ten years, Frederick Birnie has tirelessly given over 50 hours per month to the Volusia County schools. He is compassionate and concerned about all of the children in the county and wants to make sure they all have the opportunity for a good start. His youngest child has cerebral palsy and is wheelchair bound. He wanted his son to be a part of the mainstream in the public school system and worked to ensure that his son and any other challenged student could do so.

Birnie has made three major contributions that have impacted Volusia County. He has been a committed member of the $uccess at Work ($AW) Program. He annually seeks, motivates, trains, and places business representatives into 20 middle school classrooms. Fred initiated the Deland Area Chamber of Commerce Businessmen’s Substitute Program. Community members are trained imparting their expertise knowledge providing classrooms with qualified substitutes. He secured input from more than 200 teachers for the Charter District Leadership Committee by personally visiting schools and telling teachers how important it is for them to submit waiver forms to the charter committee.

Because of his commitment to $AW, the county students are better prepared for the world of work. Birnie has bridged the gap between community and school. The Substitute Program is his brainchild and has simplified the “Star Program,” which enables community members to become qualified substitutes commensurate with their expertise. Volusia students’ education is enhanced because of the program.

Birnie’s bold leadership on the Charter District Leadership Committee brought teachers and the community together to develop a charter agreement, which reflects the best interests of both in providing academic excellence for students. He has re-written the $AW Program to adapt it for special education students and Suspension Out of School Alternative (SOSA) students. Through his efforts, the DeLand Area Chamber of Commerce has been a model for educational involvement. He initiated and developed the Businessmen’s Substitute and is actively recruiting and motivating businesses to be a part of the unique endeavor. His leadership, organization and dedication have resulted in these programs serving as models for other communities.

Birnie is also a volunteer with the Florida Engineering Society and the District Advisory Committee for DeLand Middle School and High School. He has served as President of the School Improvement Committee at Blue Lake Elementary and was a member of the Superintendent’s Search Committee. He is also the mentoring contact for the Florida Department of Transportation and has given up most of his vacation time for educational volunteer work.

Birnie has enthusiastically dedicated himself to making Volusia County Schools the best in the state. His faithful commitment to the students and the education process is evident by his participation in numerous venues. Volusia County’s effectiveness in education students has been enhanced and enriched by his ongoing pledge to make education a priority for the community.

THE SHUSTER BROTHERS

Volunteer service is a way of life and a family affair for the Shuster brothers. For the past several years, Stephen (20), Justin (18), JP (18)and Alex (15) have dedicated much of their free time serving others. They have given over 150 hours volunteering every Saturday afternoon at the Spring Hill Recreation Center working with the Adapted Aquatic Program.

Spring Hill has over 30 athletes who register for Special Olympics Trainings three sessions annually. These athletes with developmental disabilities are true champions in every sense of the word. They train, work hard, and stay focused on reaching their goal. The athletes are intent on success. Success to them may not mean winning every race but overcoming all the obstacles.

Volunteers are the key at Spring Hill. Students require individual training and the Shuster brothers are dedicated servants at the facility. Stephen, Justin, JP and Alex fill the need at the center. They are competitive swimmers who give back to their sport and to their community by sharing their talents. The brothers make a commitment to make a difference.

Parents, as well as the swimmers and coaches admire each of the brothers. The Shusters know the importance of being a consistent part of the athlete’s lives. They take great pains to build the bond of trust that is so crucial to teaching new skills. One young swimmer was fearful of water, but over the weeks of classes; he acquired the confidence to trust the boys and know they would be on each side of him while he swam. The young boy was able to continue his lessons and competed in the Special Olympics State Meet.

The Shusters’ knowledge of swimming and their excellent communication skills have equipped them well for their service. The athletes are at ease with them, and the brothers consistently encourage and build-up their self-esteem. The brothers work hand in hand with the coach to set individual goals and help the team work together to achieve them. Safety is the focus; however, the Shusters always make sure everyone has fun also. They lead team games at the end of the classes to build relationships and promote unity.

The Volunteer Center of Fairfax, Virginia recognized the Shuster brothers for their contribution to the community with the 1997 Family of the Year Award. The McLean Rotary Club awarded Stephen with the Community Service Award for his outstanding efforts in the Fairfax area.

The Shuster brothers have given of themselves to provide others with love and time. These young men have provided personal attention and one-on-one instruction that is needed for these athletes to reach for the “gold”. While their emphasis is on teaching swimming, they have also developed a relationship with the athletes. They inspire the athletes and let them know they are special people and can succeed at their goals in life.

TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY

In 1996 former Tennessee Valley Authority Director William H. Kennoy, founded the Weekend Academy in Knoxville, Tennessee. TVA is a federal corporation, the nation’s largest producer of electricity, a regional economic development agency and a steward of the Tennessee River basin. TVA is governed by a three-member Board of Directors that are nominated by the President of the United States. Director Kennoy realized that TVA and other companies have a responsibility to serve as exemplary models of corporate citizenship. Demographic research showed that the greatest level of economic need was in the central city adjacent to TVA’s headquarters. Intent on making a difference, Director Kennoy focused attention on inner-city children, the future leaders and workforce of their downtown communities.

In response to Director Kennoy’s interest, TVA University, TVA’s corporate training organization, was asked to develop the Weekend Academy as a corporate citizenship initiative designed to connect resources of downtown employers with the children of their neighboring communities. A planning committee comprised of TVA employees, education and community leaders was assembled to give input to program development.

Since 1996 the program has expanded to Chattanooga, Memphis, and Nashville, Tennessee. TVA has provided major funding of approximately $50,000 per site per year and use of appropriate TVA facilities. In each city 50 inner-city children are selected by their respective school system to participate in educational and enrichment opportunities led mainly by TVA and community volunteers on weekends in the downtown headquarters of local businesses. Children in the 3rd through 5th grade are shown that there is a place for them in the future of their community. This age range was selected based on research that showed it to be critical to future academic success.

Highly interactive participatory sessions on topics including science, mathematics, computers, and cultural diversity are held twice a month in all four major Tennessee cities. Field trips are planned to augment learning sessions. Since its inception in 1996, more than 400 children and their families have benefited from the program. At least 100 TVA employees have donated approximately 500 hours of volunteer time to Weekend Academy students. Since 1996 TVA has also awarded graduating Weekend Academy students surplus computers for their use in pursuing academic goals.

Evaluation of the Weekend Academy is continuous and is managed through TVA University. School principals and teachers report that students have achieved greater academic success as a result of their Weekend Academy experience. Parents speak of improved self-esteem and excitement regarding learning. Longitudinal tracking to students sustained progress as a result of the Weekend Academy is planned. Early results are overwhelmingly positive.

TVA has supported the transition of the Weekend Academy from a TVA-sponsored program to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.

VIRGINIA COOKE

Virginia Cooke, affectionately known in the volunteer community as “Ginny,” has done more to benefit people with disabilities in Illinois than most people do in a lifetime. She has built connections in the community that foster ongoing involvement, and her work has not only impacted those with disabilities, but their families as well.

Since she was 13 years old, Cooke has had a genuine concern for people with disabilities. At this young age, she began to volunteer for Misericordia, a residential home in Chicago that services people who have physical and cognitive concerns. This initial experience was the beginning of a mission that Cooke completed as an adult, to serve those who are undeserved and looked at as underdogs.

For the past eight years, Cooke was the executive director of Illinois Partners in Policymaking, and in 1997 founded Phoenix Perth Institute, a small nonprofit organization. The mission of the organization is to educate, improve the quality of life for those with disabilities and to empower families of those with disabilities. Though Cooke receives a minimal salary for her duties as director, she is at the job from seven in the morning to midnight. Her work touches people all over the state with diverse geographic, ethnic, and economic levels. She teaches people to work pro-actively with those in positions to make laws that affect family members. In addition to that, she teaches them that their children should have goals and dreams and that they can attain them.

Cooke has been a dream maker and a miracle worker for families of those with disabilities. She goes about her tasks with humor and joy and takes pride in teaching people to discover their tools they already have to do her job themselves. Her attitude and energy inspires people to achieve what they never thought possible. As a result of her leadership, families who go through the Partners program become familiar with their legislators in order to achieve certain goals. Some of them even go on to serve on state boards, committees, and task forces along with holding leadership roles both statewide and locally.

Cooke’s ceaseless efforts have resulted in policy changes within the state of Illinois. Now, there is money written into the state budget for family support and respite issues and more children are being included in mainstream courses. Her involvement in this area has spanned 20 years, and her involvement with the Partners in Policymaking has lasted for eight years and will continue well into the future.

Ginny Cooke’s innovative approach to solving problems involves those with concerns. She insists that those most affected should be educated. Her commitment in providing opportunities for all people to achieve their fullest potential is what she believes will help others to change their attitude and continue to change our lives.