STEPHANIE RAE ANDRESEN

Stephanie Andresen overcame her physical disabilities and birth defects with treatment from the Shriners Hospital for Children. She realizes how fortunate she was to receive treatment free of charge from the Shriners Hospital, and promised to pay them back somehow. She started to pay the hospital back in the year 2000 by starting a fundraiser in her community that would benefit the hospital. This fundraiser and public relations campaign, called Ride for Shrine, is now in its third year. This event, which is a motorcycle ride, is one that is very close to Stephanie’s heart.

Because of her physical disabilities, Stephanie will never be able to ride a motorcycle by herself, but she is able to ride with her father. Stephanie plans and organizes the event. She books the venue, obtains donated food and beverages from local businesses, designs and prints all posters, banners, waivers, and tickets, and solicits local businesses to donate raffle prizes for giveaway at the event. She also coordinates advertising – on radio, television, and in the newspapers. The event takes an entire year to plan.

Stephanie’s Ride for Shrine fundraising event helps the Minneapolis hospital gain public awareness by informing people about the Shriners Hospital for Children. Stephanie is quick to speak about misconceptions that people may have about the hospital and she is not afraid to answer questions about the leg braces that she wears. In fact, she encourages adults and children alike to ask any questions that they may have. This alone shows courage and commitment. She makes herself available to local schools and clubs to talk about the Shriners Hospital and living with a disability. She does all of this while attending Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and maintaining a high grade point average.

The Ride for Shrine is Stephanie’s passion. She believes that by holding the event she is making the world a better place. Although she devotes a lot of her time to this endeavor, she also finds time to dedicate to other volunteer work. For more than two years, she has been feeding a local resident that has dementia and is immobile at a nursing home twice a day seven days a week. When this resident was placed in the hospital for pneumonia, she spent the night by her side. The doctor’s are amazed that this particular resident is doing so well.

In March of last year, Stephanie was assaulted in the nursing home where she volunteers. The perpetrator was another resident, and Stephanie bravely stepped in front of the assaulter to protect the resident that she cares for. Stephanie bore the brunt of the attack, instead of the immobile resident.

Stephanie has also been involved with the March of Dimes, the Alzheimer’s Association, and local benefits for personal families. She sets up carwashes, candy sales, and bake sales to raise money for the March of Dimes. Stephanie also set-up collection jars at local businesses in order to collect money for the March of Dimes. She has also developed her own program called “One small S.T.E.P. Toward a Better Tomorrow.” (Support, Trust, Education, Participation.) This program was developed to encourage community members to volunteer and find their passion in life.

JANE HALL

We often have the opportunity to read about extraordinary people who make a difference in other people’s lives. Jane Hall is one of those people. She is one of those individuals whose very presence makes people better for having known her. She always displays a cheerful and competent attitude, and her energy is contagious. For more than 20 years she has worked at Roy High School in various roles, but her greatest contribution is in the positive attitude she promotes to all of the students and staff.

Hall is a strong supporter of the Roy athletic programs and an enthusiastic supporter of the Roy and Riverdale communities. She has worked on the Riverdale City Civics Club and is politically active; she is an involved citizen. Her enthusiasm for the 2002 Olympics took on an unusual volunteer spirit. Although she was unable to commit as a volunteer for the Olympics, she volunteered to “babysit” children so that everyone could enjoy the games. She also rallied students and faculty for the torch run down 1900 West in Roy, and coordinated theme days at the high school to generate interest and involvement for faculty.

Hall has also been a longtime supporter of breast cancer support groups, having lost her sister to breast cancer. For years she participated in the annual walkathon. She also lovingly cares for the needs of five elderly couples – visiting them regularly, taking them meals, and transporting them to doctor’s appointments or shopping. This she does in addition to providing the same care and attention to her own parents and husband’s parents.

Hall has served on the Roy High School Sunshine Committee. Sometimes, she is officially on the committee, but always she is the sunshine of the school. Students rely on her encouragement and help. She willingly types scholarship applications or student resumes, which is not part of her job description. She knows kids’ interests and strengths and frequently is the one in the counseling center who pinpoints a specific student who is “perfect” for a particular scholarship and encourages him or her to apply.

Hall’s involvement with her church is extensive as well. She has served twice as the Young Women’s President, as the Primary President, as the Relief Society President, and multiple times as a Primary teacher or Relief Society teacher. She also worked with those in need when the canal in Riverdale flooded a community. She provided food and water everyday for the clean up volunteers.

JENNIFER LOLLEY

Seven years ago, Jennifer Lolley began the battle of a lifetime. As a recovering anorexic and bulimic, she knows firsthand the devastation both physical and mental that occurs not only to the victim, but also to the loved ones of a person suffering with an eating disorder. Eight to ten million Americans battle with an eating disorder. This figure does not include those who are dangerously dieting, have an unhealthy body image or are confused as to society’s idea of an acceptable body.

Standing 5’8″ and weighing only 88 pounds, Lolley was hospitalized three months for anorexia and bulimia nervosa at the age of 16. The battle did not end there. She was hospitalized three more times, entered a four month intensive residential program for eating disorders, and had a feeding tube surgically implanted into her main artery for three months. Her personal battle with eating disorders has given her a desire to publicly speak to others about this epidemic facing our country. Lolley asserts that men and women must be made aware that their worth does not lie in the size or shape of their bodies, but rather in their uniqueness as an individual. Since 1998, she has been unselfishly using her experiences to bring a message of awareness, prevention and hope to all.

On April 11, 2003, Governor Bob Riley signed a proclamation that Lolley wrote declaring April 26th as Eating Disorder Awareness Day in Alabama. She has partnered with ANAD, the National Association of Anorexia and Associated Disorders, serving as a support, counsel and resource person to fight against eating disorders and spread awareness. This past spring, she organized an Eating Disorder Awareness Week on the University of Alabama-Birmingham campus. She set up booths to distribute literature, held a fundraiser for ANAD and directed a Candle Light Vigil with guest speakers, entertainment and the theme: “Accept Yourself..Accept Others!”

She developed a presentation on Eating Disorder Awareness and delivers her message to thousands of men and women of all ages. She speaks in churches, schools, college campuses, and support groups across the states of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Those with whom she speaks with gain knowledge of the different eating disorders, warning signs, medical facts and complications, different treatment methods, and the ways to prevent the development of an eating disorder. She has printed her own Eating Disorder Awareness pamphlet, has an Eating Disorder Awareness web site and has an Eating Disorder source book library, which contains more than 25 books. Lolley also started a letter campaign encouraging President Bush and states across the country to pass parity bills, which will ensure equal coverage of eating disorders and prevent insurance discrimination. She has also conducted several eating disorder support groups and counseled numerous individuals.

To know that she may have led just one person to make the right choices, to get help or to avoid the battle that nearly took her life is an incredible accomplishment. She is living testimony of an eating disorder survivor. She is answering the cries for help of eating disorder sufferers and delivering an inspirational and educational message of awareness and hope to women and men of all ages.

LAWRENCE MOYE IV

Lawrence "Larry" Moye IV has been a program volunteer for Lucy Hart Hill Family Literacy Program in Greene County for more than five years. Larry has given unselfishly of himself to many worthwhile community endeavors but seems to focus on projects that help the underprivileged or those that deal with social problems.

The Lucy Hart Hill Family Literacy Center operates a multicultural educational program for parents and their young children. The student population is compiled of Hispanic students, African-American students and Caucasian students, so it is very important to blend all three cultures together so all will be a part of the team and focus on reaching their goals rather than dwelling on their differences. Larry speaks Spanish and has been very involved with Family Literacy in teaching the parents and working with the preschoolers.

Larry has never received a salary or stipend for any portion of his volunteer work at Family Literacy. He does, however, have creative ideas and creates a fun-filled environment for those with whom he interacts. He has literally moved furniture for single parents, done landscaping work at the Family Literacy campus, planned puppet shows on drug and alcohol prevention for children, written grants for the program to purchase literacy bags and parenting resources, and help teach Spanish parents to speak and read in English. He has provided Christmas wish list services to families in need for the past five years and volunteered as teacher assistant in the summer program for the preschool class. His love and enthusiasm for people is what truly makes his service outstanding. It is evident that he cares deeply about his fellow man.

In addition to his own volunteer time, Larry has recruited more than a dozen of his fellow high school classmates to come to the Family Literacy center and get involved. This provides human resources for the center and also spreads the understanding of literacy programs in the community. Many of these students have volunteered more after being introduced to Family Literacy through Larry. He has also given several presentations about Family Literacy to civic and church groups in the community.

Larry has received awards from numerous programs such as: North Carolina Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service, The President’s Student Service Award, Governor’s School Participant, and Outstanding Young Volunteer of the Year from the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He has been on mission trips to southwest Georgia with Habitat for Humanity and also spent a school break in Guatemala working in hospitals and in a school for children who live in the Guatemala City dump.

In his young life Larry has exhibited the sentiment from Winston Churchill about life – that one makes a living by what he gets and one makes a life by what he gives. Larry Moye has already given a lot to his community and no doubt his dedication to volunteer service will follow him throughout life. Larry’s stewardship, mentoring and proactive response to challenges at Family Literacy demonstrate his sincere desire to make educational opportunities the best for others that they can be.

The Director of Family Literacy has witnessed firsthand what Larry has done to make life better for others. Larry plans to complete high school his senior year with more than 500 hours of service to various organizations and then “start again” in college.

DISASTER ACTION TEAM OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS

As the sun set on April 30, 2003, severe storms raced across Maryland. At last light, the strongest tornado ever recorded in the region cut a mile wide path of destruction across two counties. The twister went straight down Main Street in La Plata, Md., blasting businesses, churches and homes into splinters and casting the entire area into its darkest night. One of the buildings totally destroyed was the office of the American Red Cross. Throughout the night, Red Cross volunteers from across the state mobilized and began moving to help the stricken community. Among them were many members of the Central Maryland Chapter of the American Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT).

As they arrived they immediately began sheltering victims, preparing breakfast for thousands, conducting a damage assessment and establishing a command post near the site of the destroyed Red Cross Chapter House. As the sun illuminated what many described as a battlefield, it also shown brightly on red crosses on vehicles and dozens of jackets moving among the debris bringing hope and comfort to a town that was no more. The rays also brightened a tattered red and white banner reattached anonymously to a twisted chapter flagpole symbolizing all would be well in the light of the new day.

The incident described, fortunately, does not happen often. However, what the Disaster Action Team members accomplished is a regular occurrence. Each day, Disaster Action Team volunteers from the Central Maryland Chapter of the American Red Cross respond to 2-3 home fires. In fiscal year 2002, they responded to more than 800 local incidents serving more than 7,000 people with in excess of $1 million in direct services. Additionally, during that fateful year they were among the first humanitarian aide workers to reach the Pentagon, Shanksville, PA and the World Trade Center. Also that year, members deployed to floods in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and Texas; hurricanes in Louisiana, Mississippi and Guam; tornadoes in Texas, Mississippi and Alabama; as well as western state wild fires. In all, they served more than 5,462 days attending to major disasters.

This level of response is what has been since Clara Barton loaded relief wagons bound for the Johnstown Flood, and is now and will continue to be as long as volunteers such as the Disaster Action Team of the American Red Cross, Central Maryland Chapter, rise like the sun to extinguish the darkness of despair surrounding disasters.

JAY HUDSON

Jay Hudson is an avid bird watcher and photographer and has a great appreciation for the outdoors. He is the volunteer newsletter writer of a nationally recognized column on the relationship between bird behavior and human behavior. He is editor, writer and photographer for the Great Bear River Bird Refuge Newsletter and was the creator of the Riverkeeper Program for Weber County. He has also written articles and provided photos for Sunset Magazine, Standard Examiner, Weber County Library, Junction Magazine, Trust for Public Lands, Weber State University, Salt Lake Tribune, Utah Outdoors Magazine, U.S. Forest Service, Marriott Slaterville City, Riverdale City, Ogden Camera Club, Weber Pathways, Audubon Society and Trust for Public Lands.

Hudson’s additional service projects are in the educational realm. Hudson volunteers as a children’s storyteller in the elementary schools, serves as a guest lecturer at Weber State University and is a volunteer writer of short stories for the library newsletter.

In addition, Hudson has spent in excess of 15 years successfully negotiating with approximately 35 entities. He has contacted them for purchases, gifts or simple agreements for the development of the trails in Weber County, including the Indian Trail/Bonneville Shoreline Trail, the Ogden and Weber Rivers portions of the Centennial Trial, Coldwater Canyon Trail head and the 22nd Street Trail head. Because of his efforts, cash, equipment and operations, architectural drawings, construction of shelters and fences were donated. Also bridges, signs, trees, retaining walls, pavement, lighting and maps were given to the projects because of Hudson’s persistence.

Hudson created the web page of the Ogden Trails Network on the city’s web site and the Weber State University web site. He wrote the narratives, provided the photos and coordinated the design. Hudson found the funding for the publication of three different maps of the Ogden Trails Network, also. He has presented the Trails network to churches, civic clubs, Weber County cities, schools and universities, County Commissioners and many others. It is estimated that Hudson brought together 3,500 volunteers and funding in excess of half a million dollars.

The office of Mayor Matthew R. Godfrey said that Hudson has been the single most influential source of the city’s beautiful trail system. The Mayor believes Hudson’s efforts can be attributed to his leadership, perseverance and ability to find and mobilize resources. He has a support network and his highly regarded in the community. This enables him to obtain funding, coordinate large groups of other volunteers and solicit donations for projects. Hudson has a positive effect on and an excellent working relationship with the City of Ogden and other cities throughout Weber County, other government agencies, the business community and the volunteers that share his vision.

VOLUNTEER INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM

The Volunteer Involvement Program (VIP) consists of a group of full time students at Weber State University who donate their time and skills to service through various committees and groups. The VIP Program consists of Bridging the Gap, Cares, Alternative Spring Break, Christmas Tree Express, Done In A Day, Environmental Projects, Homeless Projects, Jump Start, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Special Olympics Team, YCC, Best Buddies, Davis Campus, Habitat for Humanity, and Kiwanis International.

This year, Bridging the Gap, a group of students that work with the elderly, are planning and implementing the Senior Health and Information Fair to be held at the Golden Hour Center. This fair will offer information on senior health and be marketed by the students to Davis and Weber Counties. The students at Weber plan on having this become an annual event. They have also spent time with retirement homes providing activities and companionship.

Cares, a program where students mentor elementary age children, has planned events for every month of the year. Students work with three elementary schools in Weber County School District. Some of their programs include a trip to the pumpkin patch, bowling and dinner at Weber State University, and an up-coming Easter Egg Hunt. The one-to-one relationships built with the students are the best reward of this program. College students are able to impact the lives of young children in a positive way.

The Christmas Tree Express committee donated a tree to be auctioned off, with proceeds going to the Ogden School District Foundation. In addition, they distributed trees to 18 organizations across the campus. These trees were decorated and displayed in the bridge and then donated to needy families across the Wasatch Front. This year, the Homeless Committee members tied quilts, which they donated to the Ogden Rescue Mission for the men. This committee also became the waiters for the Gouffilet Gala. The Jump Start students work with the after school program at the Marshall White Center. They also plan an activity every month.

The YIP Martin Luther King committee planned with members of the community and different agencies for months to prepare for the Munch and March event. After breakfast at the Marshall White Center, the students and others marched up Martin Luther King Street to the 25th Street Pavilion, where they presented a program. It is a significant challenge to plan an event that involves the city, community agencies, media, and the police department and have the event become both meaningful and fun.

The committee for the Special Olympics Team spends many hours in practice with their teams. They transport them to many area games throughout the state for competition. The students spent a weekend with the team in Beaver competing in volleyball.

The YCC committee assisted with the fundraiser, Real Men Can Cook, held at the Ogden Union Station. Members of the football and basketball teams served as bus boys, while others helped with beverages and cleanup. This committee also works with children at the YCC. Their Halloween party includes neighborhood children where students helped with games, pumpkin decorating, face painting and prizes.

The goal of the Best Buddies program is “to enhance the lives of people with Mental Retardation by providing opportunities for one-on-one friendships and integrated employment.” In November they held a dance to celebrate the 8,000 books that had been collected in October. They donated these books to the homeless shelters in the Ogden area. These committee members spend time with their buddy twice a month.

This year the Alternative Spring Break students went out to Antelope Island State Park and participated in a service project. With the help of park rangers, they collected rocks to line the parking lots. Last year this committee went to Portland, Oregon to build houses with Habitat for Humanity. Several students were so impressed with this program that they attended the Habitat for Humanity convention in Indianapolis. They have since reinstated a chapter at Weber State University. They have formed a committee comprised of students, faculty, and advisors and met with the Habitat for Humanity in Brigham City. Currently, students are involved with helping to construct eight homes.

The Davis Campus group is heavily involved in Share the Harvest and the Done In A Day group not only runs the blood drives at Weber but also helped plant trees in the Ogden area to help serve and beautify the community. The Environmental group is involved in both recycling and the Earth Day Mall along with working on adopting a trail.

Along with their committee duties, the YIP Program decided to be involved in the statewide food drive competition with other universities. They collected about 1,700 pounds of food that they donated to Catholic Community Service to distribute to local areas. They are also planning to volunteer at R.C. Willeys on the 16th of this month in order to donate that money to the Angel House.

BEST BUDDIES, SAINT JOSEPH COLLEGE

Best Buddies, Saint Joseph College (SJC) Chapter is an active club with slightly more than 20 members. The mission of Best Buddies, SJC is to provide an opportunity for college students to be matched in a one-to-one friendship with individuals who have intellectual disabilities. By becoming a college buddy, students befriend someone with a developmental disability, but also learn about themselves in the process. In addition, the SJC chapter helps to educate the college and larger community about individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities.

The Fall 2001/Spring 2002 semester was a transition period for the SJC chapter of Best Buddies but in the Fall of 2002 each member completed more than 30 hours of community service. In October 2002, members of Best Buddies helped to organize a large Halloween Party for students at the Gengras Center, a unique special education program for elementary, middle and high school students from around the state with intellectual, developmental, learning disabilities, and related behavioral challenges. Volunteers organized the entire event from start to finish, including decorations, games, music and food.

In November, Best Buddies members volunteered and used the SJC campus as a donation site for the United Way’s Button-up Connecticut coat drive, collecting more than 70 coats. In addition, Best Buddies volunteered and sponsored a “Book Blowout” which collected more than 840 books to support a number of literacy foundations in Hartford, including the Catholic Worker House, Mercy Housing and Shelter, HARC and Trust House. While planning these volunteer projects, the members still meet weekly with their buddies and hosted monthly group outings, such as pumpkin painting and bowling. In the spring semester, Best Buddies plans to sponsor Project Wheelchair to raise awareness about accessibility. The group has also arranged to host the Best Buddies Connecticut Annual Fair, on the SJC campus.

The SJC Chapter of Best Buddies continues to carry out their organizational mission, going a step beyond by taking the time to educate others about individuals with intellectual disabilities and volunteering within the community.

CARING FOR HAVASUVIANS IN NEED UNITED PROJECT (CHIN-UP)

Interagency is one of few places community members of Havasu City, Ariz. have to turn to when they have hard times, lose a job, are unable to pay the rent or electric, have a debilitating illness, or need a safe place to stay in the middle of the night when running from domestic violence. Interagency searches to see if they would qualify for any federal, state or county funding. However, there are many who do not qualify to receive these services and they were falling through the cracks. The Caring for Havasuvians In Need United Project (CHIN-UP) was organized to meet the need and rescue these individuals during their emergency and give them a hand up before their life became even worse.

CHIN-UP is innovative and looks for creative ways to meet community needs. Manufacturers’ coupons are used to fund the program. By starting a “grass roots” operation, including churches, service organizations, schools, senior centers, the homebound and other individuals, a coupon campaign was started to raise funds for the needy. The organization cuts, sorts, stamps and hangs manufacturers’ coupons on the corresponding product in the four recruited supermarkets. When the consumer purchases the product with a coupon on it, the “cents-off” goes to C.H.I.N.-L.P. to aid those in need. There are no paid volunteers and all the money stays in Havasu.

When a person goes to Interagency for help, they are carefully screened. It they do not qualify for any other program, CHIN-UP steps in to help them. Money is never given directly to individual, but instead goes to the electric company, landlord, or another creditor after carefully checking the situation. This help is given on a one-time-only basis so that people do not become dependent on the program and are able to remain self-sufficient.

Through the last 10 years, CHIN-UP has raised in excess of $380,000 and helped more than 5,500 needy individuals, which is a measure of their success. Through this achievement many others are attracted to volunteer their time and energy to CHIN-UP. The group has created a Procedure Manual that is regularly requested by those who are amazed at the program and want to replicate it in their hometown or another state.

Churches regularly add this activity to the Ladies group programs to set aside a month or two, or a whole year donated to working with CHIN-UP. Many churches and organizations have a drop-box in their buildings for people to drop off their coupons each week. A private school volunteered to help, as did the Honor students at Lake Havasu High School. CHIN-UP volunteers served cookies and punch to customers at Food City, Bashas and Smith’s supermarket on a Saturday to say thank you to the customers for shopping there and buying the products which have the manufacturers coupons stamped with the CHIN-UP logo. Mayor Melanie Grinstead-Hanak signed a proclamation naming May 7, 2002 as CHIN-UP Day in honor of the volunteer organization’s 10-year anniversary.

JEROME COLWELL

Jerome Colwell is a caring, compassionate young man who is eager to take on problems in his community, even those that exist outside his job description. He never talks about all the little things he does to make peoples’ lives better, but he can often be found performing a random act of kindness for someone in need. He is a quiet hero.

Jerome has been a Youth Counselor with the Covenant House since March 1994 and a Volunteer for the American Red Cross since 1992. The following organizations have all reaped the benefits of his service over the years as well: Project Read, Harmony House, the Boys Scouts of East Orange, the Big Brother Program and Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey. He participated as a Volunteer Leader in the Make a Difference Day Program, NJ, Nickelodeon’s Big Help, Project Santa, Stand for Children, World Hunger, MS, Cancer and many others.

Jerome has received letters of commendation from Former President Bill Clinton, Senators Frank Lautenberg and Jon S. Corzine. His office wall is adorned with certificates of appreciation from Governor McGreevey, Congressman Menendez, Bayonne Mayor Joe Doria and Jersey City Mayor Glenn D. Cunningham. He is the recipient of a Resolution saluting his service from the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly. Clients have written to him thanking him for making their life better with their children.

The length and depth of Jerome’s service to his community is precious but yet so rare. Jerome is a person who has made life better for many citizens with his concern for the well-being of others. He brings together diverse groups to solve some of the community problems for the seniors, youth and infants. He makes sure others get involved in making the community and the world safe and better for all citizens.