VIRGINIA VAUGHN
Virginia Vaughn was diagnosed with stage IIIc ovarian cancer at the age of 43. Finding very little information about her illness, she went online and found the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC). She founded and is President of the Delaware division of the NOCC (DE NOCC). The organization’s mission is to promote education and awareness of ovarian cancer.
Vaughn has been in contact with doctors statewide to promote more awareness and sensitivity to the needs of women with ovarian cancer (newly diagnosed or survivors). DE NOCC serves as a support group for survivors, their families and caregivers. Vaughn regularly speaks to women’s groups about ovarian cancer and distributed information throughout the state via libraries, doctor’s offices, health clinics and churches.
Vaughn arranged for DE NOCC to be a Prevention Partner with the Healthy Delaware 2010 project. Healthy Delaware 2010 is a state-specific plan of Healthy People 2010, a national health promotion and disease prevention initiative. Its goals are to increase the quality and years of healthy life and eliminate health disparities. Vaughn received a Healthy Delaware 2010 Hero Award (in preventive services use) in 2002. She also received one of Delaware Governor Minner’s 2003 Outstanding Volunteer Awards.
Vaughn is also a volunteer with the American Cancer Society of Delaware and assists in advocacy and legislation issues. She wants to work to get more legislation passed in the state, not only for ovarian cancer, but for all forms of cancer. She feels that there is a great need to get better health insurance coverage for cancer patients. Selected as a Community Ambassador for the American Cancer Society (Mid-Atlantic Region), she was one of the representatives for Delaware at Celebration on the Hill in September 2002 in Washington D.C.
For several years, Vaughn was heavily involved with the Delaware Chapter of the National Rehabilitation Association (DRA), including holding the office of Secretary for several years. She was President of the DE Chapter of the National Rehabilitation Secretaries Association and a member of the DE Chapter of the National Rehabilitation Administrators Association. In addition, Vaughn has volunteered at the Mancus Foundation, provided parties for children at Terry Children’s Psychiatric Center and participated in bowl-a-thons to benefit Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
Vaughn completes all of her volunteer service in addition to working full time and assisting with caring for her mother, who was paralyzed from the chest down after a robbery attempt several years ago. Although Vaughn faces possible recurrence of her ovarian cancer, she vows to make sure that other women know of this “silent killer” and strives to save as many women’s lives as possible.
DELAWARE VALLEY EARTH FORCE
Delaware Valley Earth Force supports programs that encourage youth to work cooperatively with parents, educators, community leaders and businesses to address environmental problems through service projects in their communities. Delaware Valley Earth Force brings to the greater Philadelphia area the mission of Earth Force, a national organization that gives youth the skills to turn their passion for the environment into lasting change in their communities.
Delaware Valley Earth Force trains and supports educators in the Earth Force community action and problem-solving (CAPS) program. CAPS help educators guide youth to create long-term solutions to local environmental issues in their communities. The CAPS framework emphasizes the importance of conducting balanced research and developing a strategy that ensures a sustainable solution to an identified problem.
In its fourth year of operation, Delaware Valley Earth Force works with more than 2,000 youth in the Philadelphia-metro area. The majority of those involved represent underserved communities where many of the students have been identified as “at-risk.” Delaware Valley Earth Force has programs in traditional public schools, charter and magnet schools, alternative educational settings and community organizations.
Through Delaware Valley Earth Force’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, Cheltenham Township High School students have been conducting experiments and extensive research on the possibly harmful effects diesel fuel emissions from idling school buses can have on students. They collected signatures for a petition for buses that do not use diesel fuel. They videotaped the visible pollutants coming from the buses. The students presented their findings to their local school board. The school board agreed to look into buses that use alternative fuels and examine new policies about how long buses can idle. The students’ research was the basis of a grant the school board submitted to a transportation company to upgrade their bus fleet. Other schools have worked to tackle urban blights, reduce water pollution, protect wildlife and more!
One of the teachers at Turner Middle School said because of Earth Force’s time, energy and commitment, her students are rejuvenated, invigorated, excited and actively protecting the environment. They no longer use only textbooks to learn about history, geography or the environment. The students are excited about doing research and learning on their own. She feels that she is truly guiding her students’ and they are enjoying learning new concepts. Another teacher advised the Earth Force CAPS methodology has inspired her students to take on environmental problems in their community and also going beyond the surface to achieve a deep understanding of the complexities of environmental issues.
BRITTANY MACDONALD
Brittany Macdonald is a 24-year old graduate of Brigham Young University from Orem, Utah. She is an example to other youth and a mentor to those younger than her.
Brittany served as the President of Brigham Young University’s Golden Key International Honor Society from 2001-2002. She utilizes her position to help motivate and inspire other children. In March of 2001, she led more than 2,400 youth in Utah County to live a healthier life.
Brittany mobilized in excess of 100 Brigham Young University Students to volunteer with elementary students. The college youth went to pair up and teach third and fourth grade children in Provo, Orem, American Fork, Spanish Fork, Lindon, Payson and Lehi.
Brittany and her volunteers gave 40-minute BEST presentations to the children. BEST is an acronym for healthy living. The “B” is for building a healthy body through exercise, the “E” is for eating right, the “S” is for staying away from drugs and alcohol and the “T” is for thinking ahead to setting goals.
The children and teachers as well as the volunteers benefited. The teachers supported the program because it involved college students in the lives of elementary students. The message came across to them in a better way because they saw it coming from people that to them were still ‘young people’ as opposed to coming from their teachers. The students became very involved and the volunteers saw the impact they were having on the children.
Brittany’s work on this project, combined with her grades and extra curricular activities, earned her a USA Today 2002 All-USA College Academic Honorable Mention. USA Today was seeking 20 students who could be held up as representatives of all outstanding undergraduates in the country. The judges considered not only grades, honors and leadership; but they also looked at how the nominees apply their intellectual skills outside the classroom and how that benefits society.
Brittany graduated from BYU in April 2002 receiving summa Cum Laude and valedictorian for the College of Biology and Agriculture honors. She currently continues her efforts promoting healthy lifestyles in children by working as a clinical dietitian at Primary Children’s Medical Center.
TEDDY BEAR LADIES PLEASANT VIEW 9TH WARD
When a child comes to the Utah County Children’s Justice Center to tell their most difficult and terrifying story of sexual or physical abuse they never leave empty handed. Thanks to a group of women in the Pleasant View 9th Ward, when each child is ready to leave the Children’ s Justice Center they get the opportunity to pick out a special hand made teddy bear. For more than 10 years, the women of Pleasant View 9th Ward have come together each month to make a difference in the lives of the children of the community.
Throughout the month, women cut out and sew the shells of these teddy bears and on the 4th Tuesday of each month they come together to stuff and decorate the bears. In the past 11 1/2 years, they have made and donated almost 9,000 bears. The materials are donated by the woman or other members of the community. These women who are mostly in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s were once asked how long were they planning to continue to make bears. Their response was as long as there are children who need them.
There are many “bear lady” stories. One member of the group suffered from terrible headaches and she would sew bears in the middle of the night to get her mind off of her pain. She took a short time off from making bears when it was found out that her headaches were caused by a brain cancer, but she is back at work after chemotherapy and radiation. Another member returned to making bears after suffering a minor stroke. Still another continued to keep making bears while her shoulder was in a sling after a fall. Nothing has stopped these women from delivering a minimum of 50 bears to the Children’s Justice Center each month for more than 11 1/2 years.
There are as many stories about the impact of the bears, as there are children who hold them. One child who came to the Center to be interviewed, but was too afraid to tell her story . She still picked out her bear and went home. That night her stepfather took her bear and cut it to shreds with a knife and told her he would do the same to her if she spoke to anyone about what he was doing to her. The child was so angry about what had happened to her bear, she asked to go back to the Children’s Justice Center and told all of the details of her abuse. She also got to pick out another bear.
The Teddy Bear Ladies are positive proof that everyone has the ability to make a difference and that small individual contributions when joined together, can have a tremendous impact on the lives of children. They are an example of how a community can care for its most important asset- its children.
JACK SHEEHAN
John “Jack” Sheehan has been a volunteer for Hospice of Palm Beach County since 1980, serving hundreds of patients and families. He is 83 years old. Although his body moves more slowly, his heart still reaches out to those in need. He takes his volunteer service seriously and sits beside someone so they will not die alone, and he has driven through the city for hours to grant a dying man’s last wish.
Sheehan has never been much for writing reports so it is hard for the Hospice to document the exact hours he serves. He believes people are more important than reports so he spends his time with the people. He gets to know the patient and their family and makes sure both are feeling better before he leaves. He fulfills his role as a home caregiver by meeting the needs of his client and their family and making that a priority over himself.
Sheehan is positive and works to only comment on the good things. He portrays only the good, always looking at the positive. When he sees the downtrodden and the ill, he looks sad but goes on to make sure each situation he faces is made better in some way.
To describe Jack Sheehan one thinks of humility, compassion, devotion to others, selflessness, generosity and in short, a role model for all mankind. A die-hard Irishman, he knows no color or ethnic boundaries. On one St Patrick’s Day, Sheehan came into the Hospice facility in full Leprechaun regalia right down to the buckles on the shoes. He wanted to make the patients’ day a little happier, and that he did. Unresponsive patients began to talk, and patients who had not been able to smile were almost laughing when he made his visits to each and every one.
Last and certainly not least, one of Sheehan’s most memorable acts of kindness involved a lady, a stranger, who was black and blue all over and very ill. She had no one to care for her. He worked feverishly to get her the medical help she needed, and she eventually became a patient of Hospice. He sat with her every day until her death, though he hardly knew her name. She knew him as her angel.
MARK KAPLAN
Mark Kaplan has worked in the Music Department of the Malden Public Schools since he began teaching back in the early 1970s. He teaches instrumental music and band to elementary and middle school students.
Kaplan often was an elementary child's first teacher of music. As their teacher he wants all of his students to learn to love music as he does. He wants music to be fun and not something to dread. He has dedicated his whole career to his students and making music a part of their lives. Over the years, Kaplan has provided students with the skills they need to participate in special programs such as Tiny Tunes Band, Middle School Band, Jazz Band, All City Band and High School Band, just to name a few.
In recent years Kaplan has been very involved in the planning for the Music Department. Since there is no department manager, he has taken on a leadership role in helping to write curricula for all levels, working on school wide assessment procedures, and in working on the room designs and programs for the five new K-8 Malden schools. Beyond what he does in evening practices and marching in parades, he also gives more time to plan an annual trip to reward the band members.
Over the years working with the band students, Kaplan built up a rapport with their parents. He found each year that he would get more brothers and sisters of former students in his instrumental programs. In no time, parents began to associate Kaplan's name with Malden Elementary School bands.
On two occasions when the city faced financial cuts and the school department eliminated music programs Kaplan spoke out at School Committee meetings about the importance of music in the lives of children. He told them that research shows that students who study music achieve better in mathematics and foreign languages. He told them that having music programs also keeps kids involved in something positive which leads to healthy self-esteem. And finally Kaplan stressed that students involved in music programs are too busy to be hanging around and getting into trouble. Kaplan never missed an opportunity to advocate for the kids.
Whenever you work with students after school in extracurricular programs you see their parents frequently. Over the years, Kaplan got the parents involved with their children's music education whenever possible and they eventually formed the Malden All City Band-Aiders Association. Kaplan and the group raised money, chaperoned trips and events, organized spaghetti suppers, leafleted, fundraised and helped with parades and concerts. Although this group deserves praises for what they have achieved over the years their origin comes from the fact that Mr. Kaplan had a rapport with parents that was welcoming and made them want to contribute to his efforts and the kids.
SABINE AUGUSTE
Sabine Auguste has consistently contributed to the Sacred Heart University community and the local Bridgeport, Connecticut area through her dedicated community service involvement, since she was a freshman in 2000. A resident of Stamford, Connecticut, Sabine entered her sophomore year at Sacred Heart University as the president of Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter. Under her leadership, the Campus Chapter started the year with an annual “sleep-out” dramatizing the affordable housing crisis. The event raised $1,100 dollars.
Sabine worked in partnership with fellow Habitat board members in planning a four-day Habitat Weekend Challenge in South Philadelphia. Fourteen students, under the leadership of Auguste, worked with South and West Philadelphia Habitat for Humanity Affiliates. Working on brick row houses, the participants successfully placed siding on a home and did masonry work. Most importantly, the students learned about the redlining practices that destroyed the Stiles Streets neighborhood.
Sabine also led the Campus Chapter into their alternative spring break trips. In the spring of 2002, the Chapter sponsored two trips: Boston, Massachusetts, and Wilmington, Delaware. Sabine organized the trip to Boston, made all the arrangements and led the five university students and one faculty. She encouraged the group to work in the Habitat neighborhood and planned a Read Aloud visit to a Boston school. They also worked at an after school program. During the week, the students lived in a hostel, worked with Boston Habitat, and experienced the culture of the city.
In April 2002, Sabine initiated Habifest at Sacred Heart University. It was the organization’s first year participating in Habifest – a Habitat for Humanity national effort to dramatize the issue of poverty housing on the university campus. With the assistance of her board members, she was able to organize a shed-building event on campus property. Three sheds were built on the main patio of the university where 55 people participated. Flyers were also given out to educate students about the issue. The sheds were donated to Habitat homeowners in Bridgeport because many of the Habitat homes lacked a place for families to store lawn mowers and lawn equipment. The Campus Chapter also sold t-shirts and pins to raise $780 dollars to pay for the material for the sheds.
Sabine Auguste’s commitment extends beyond her presidency role in Habitat. In the past three semesters, she was one of several student leaders in two annual urban immersion programs at the university. In January 2002, she was a student leader for CURTIS Week, a program that explores the theme of diversity in celebration of the memory and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other social activists. It attempts to confront social issues by exposing the Sacred Heart student participants to the social injustices in society. She led students in their hands-on service experiences. She also facilitated discussion on issues such as urban poverty, prejudice, racism, immigration, and community violence.
In August 2002, she again served as a student leader during Community Connections. Similar to CURTIS Week, Community Connections is an urban immersion week for incoming freshmen. The students lived in Bridgeport and did service work in partnership with the community. She helped in planning the week, transporting and overseeing students at designated worksites and facilitated discussions.
DARLYNN WOSYLUK-WHITING
Darlynn Wosyluk-Whiting has been volunteering for Hospice of Volusia/Flagler for three years. She average 20 hours per month as a care center floor volunteer. Her official duties include helping patients fill out their menus and refilling their ice water. However, from day one, Wosyluk-Whiting felt a calling to take her volunteering to a higher level.
She began to use her highly developed people skills to fulfill patients’ needs and wishes. She befriended a homeless man who came to the care center, sitting with him for hours on end, hearing his life story, promising him she would be with him when he died. She was there the night he died, staying at the center until the early morning hours, fulfilling her promise to not let him die alone.
Wosyluk-Whiting individualizes every patient’s needs, and does whatever is necessary to bring wishes to fruition. One of the patient’s families was having a reunion in New Smyrna Beach and Wosyluk helped move the entire reunion to the care center so the patient could attend. She even created a book of the patient’s memories to be given to each family member as a souvenir. When she picks up on a wish, she sees it through to completion.
One patient wanted to record her life. Wosyluk-Whiting took notes in the patient’s room by day, and typed them on her computer at night. The results were a lovely book of memories the patient could share with her family. One patient believed her life was gifted with three miracles and Wosyluk-Whiting recorded these three separate stories, had them bound together as a book and presented it to the patient.
Each patient’s life is like a drop that radiates a ripple from within, washing over the lives of friends and relatives. When Wosyluk-Whiting so profoundly touches the lives of patients, each in a unique way, she spreads the true meaning of hospice throughout the community. She shows each family member the depth of caring a volunteer can have for any individual, by acknowledging a last wish, no matter how large or small. Wosyluk-Whiting connects on a level deeper than most people. She communicates on a place unencumbered by petty annoyances. One patient told Wosyluk she was like her granddaughter and said to her, “I’ve never loved anyone this quickly in my life.”
No one needs to ask Darlynn Wosyluk-Whiting to find a specific need of a patient; she simply does it on her own. Initially, she was hesitant about working in the care center, fearing her youth and inexperience would keep her form being a good volunteer. However, her wonderful instincts and sincere desire to make a difference in this world kept her going as she searched for a way to use her talents. She makes her own way, following her heart from door to door in the care center, taking in what needs to be met. Even though she is a busy working mother of a boy and girl, Wosyluk-Whiting spends the time she is either not working, or volunteering for her children’s school, at the care center. She has found a way to create her won unique way of volunteering by capturing the memories of her patients. By incorporating the spiritual and emotional need of patients, she has enriched their lives and the lives of their families.
INTERFAITH HOUSING ASSOCIATION
The Interfaith Housing Association (IHA), located in Westport, CT, provides food, shelter and services for homeless residents and people at risk of becoming homeless. IHA has grown dramatically since its inception in 1984, when food and shelter for homeless people were offered in an abandoned firehouse. Today IHA is a nationally recognized model for providing a continuum of care and services for the suburban homeless. Westport is one of only four affluent communities in the country that has shelters for homeless people.
When IHA and other shelters opened in the early 1980s, homelessness was primarily caused by a poor economy and citizens assumed the problem would go away when the economy improved. Instead, homelessness has become an accepted part of life in many communities, however the reasons why people become homeless have changed. A significant percentage of today’s homeless population suffer from chronic mental illnesses, often combined with a history of addiction. In Connecticut, there is a dearth of in-patient treatment services for people with mental illnesses.
When two of the three state mental hospitals and two of the three state addiction treatment facilities were closed they were to have been replaced with community-based programs. Very few programs were actually established – creating a new homeless population. In addition, managed care companies impose severe restrictions on the number of days a patient can receive in-patient hospital services. The result is that people are being released prematurely to the community with no place to go except an emergency shelter. This has resulted in an increased demand for existing services and a need for new programs and services that address the needs of today’s homeless population.
When IHA was incorporated in 1984 it was a largely volunteer program with a two-person staff. It has become a highly professional social service agency with a staff of 24, and the support of nearly 450 volunteers. Shelter is provided for up to 60 people each night, including single men, single women and mothers with children. More than 30,000 meals are served in a year. Programs operate 24 hours a day. Every client receives intensive professional case management services and can participate in the programs listed below:
Homes With Hope is a group of eight permanent housing units for homeless mentally ill adults, individuals and parents with children, who will always need support but have demonstrated the ability to live independently.
Bacharach Community is three small houses that provide emergency shelter for homeless mothers and their children.
Gillespie Center is a shelter for homeless single men.
Hoskins’ Place is a shelter for homeless single women.
Linxweiler House is a 5-bed halfway house for formerly homeless men who are sober and on the road to self -sufficiency.
The Schnurmacher House is a 4-bed halfway house for women in recovery who wish to live in a sober community and who demonstrate a strong desire to change their lives significantly.
NAOMI HUNTING
Naomi Hunting has been a volunteer at the Escalante Valley Elementary School in Beryl, Utah for the past nine years. She affects most people who enter the door of the school, leaving a lasting impression on those she meets.
Hunting is a 30-year old woman with Down’s Syndrome. She attended Escalante in her youth, and now she is there giving back in various capacities. She keeps the children in their seats, and if someone is crying and needs a hug she is right there to help them. Hunting also speaks to the children and shows them how to behave properly on the school bus so they can enjoy their ride and arrive safely. She provides guidance on how to keep their hands to themselves, sit still in their seats and keep the noise level down. Hunting helps with the preschool and kindergarten students. These 3-6 year olds travel approximately 15 miles each way.
Hunting also volunteers in the school cafeteria. There she sets up tables and places salt and peppershakers out on the tables for the children. She is available when the schools need her, and the bus driver states that Hunting keeps her on track with the children and they make a great team.
Hunting takes her service very seriously, and she considers her volunteer work her job. She has gained many friends and helped the young students just entering into the educational system feel comfortable and at ease. In addition to working with the bus and in the cafeteria, Hunting does a little more during the holidays. She dresses up for Halloween and passes out Valentines on Valentine’s Day. She loves being with the children and it is evident in the smiles she receives from the students and the words of appreciation she gets from the staff at Escalante Valley School.
Hunting is one of 350,000 Americans living with Down’s Syndrome. She proves that those afflicted with this condition can live with their families and be active participants in the educational, vocational, social and recreational activities in their communities. Hunting is an inspiration to many and especially those with disabilities, the children she serves and the teachers and staff at the school.
