DEIDRE DOWNS

Deidre Downs is a 22-year-old college graduate whose future plan includes medical school and a career as a pediatric oncologist. She was recently named as a Rhodes Scholar finalist. However, her commitment to community service is her most outstanding achievement.

In 2000, Downs founded an organization entitled Making Miracles. The mission of Making Miracles is to provide services to pediatric cancer patients and their families. The program enables student volunteers from various high schools and colleges in the Birmingham, Alabama area to engage in direct volunteer service with children who have cancer.

During the 2000-2001 school year, Making Miracles volunteers worked one-on-one with pediatric cancer patients at Children’s Hospital and held a Rock-a-Thon to raise funds for pediatric cancer research. The following year they planned and directed activities for patients at Hope Lodge, a residence facility for patients undergoing cancer treatments. In addition to the work with her volunteers, Downs mentors a teenage cancer survivor and serves on the American Cancer Society’s Junior Board of Directors in Birmingham.

In August 2002, Downs began her current project, a specialty license plate for the state of Alabama. The proceeds of this plate will go directly to pediatric cancer research. Teaming up with Dr. Robert Castleberry, head of pediatric oncology at UAB/Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, Downs designed the tag and has begun implementation of this project. The Legislative Oversight Committee for License Plates has submitted the license plate to the Alabama Department of Motor Vehicles for approval. Upon its approval, Downs will be promoting this license plate across the state of Alabama through public speaking engagements, public service announcements, media coverage, and mailings.

Time is of the essence for Downs and the success of her license plate project. She has only a year’s time to secure at least 1,000 purchase commitments, in order to ensure that the plate is mass-produced. In its initial commitment year, this license plate has the potential to raise a minimum of $41,000 for research, with the extended potential of hundreds of thousands in the future. More information about Downs’ license plate and her efforts to help find a cure for pediatric cancer can be found on her Web site at www.curingchildhoodcancer.org

Downs is dedicated to children and to pediatric cancer research, which is evident in her community service efforts as well as her career choice of pediatric oncology. Through Making Miracles, Deidre Downs has provided services to families suffering with sick children and she is in the process of mobilizing a community and statewide effort to support pediatric cancer research.

SHER DIL & GAY LE-CLERC QADERI

Through their organization, Friends for Afghan Redevelopment (FAR), Sher Dil and Gay Le-Clerc Qaderi raise money for school supplies and clothing for Afghan children. They also bring Afghan women to the United States to train them in the principles of small business development.

Shortly after the tragic events of September 11th, the Qaderis formed an organization to aid Afghans in rebuilding their country. FAR is working to better the lives of all Afghans through two principal programs. First, it raises money to purchase school supplies, clothing and medical services. Second, FAR selects Afghan women to come to America for five weeks. During this time they are shown and taught small business development skills.

Sher Dil Qaderi is originally from Afghanistan. He shies away from stories of his youth. He does not like to talk about the fact that he was a son in a family of nobility, a teen-age guerilla warrior or a freedom fighter who broke Muslim law and left his land to secretly marry an American woman. At the age of 13, in 1980, he joined the Afghan freedom fighters in their campaign against the Russians. The revered Ahrnad Shah Massoud led the freedom fighters, a man who was later assassinated by the Taliban shortly before September 11th. He does like to talk about his many returns to his homeland. During the past year, they have traveled back and forth to the war-torn land to help build schools, orphanages and provide relief work.

Gay Le-Clerc is also not a stranger to efforts related to the Afghan people. In 1984, she set up a field hospital on the Pakistani-Afghan border. This infirmary provided much needed medical assistance to people who would have gone without.

The Qaderis believe that the future of Afghanistan can only be assured by educating its people. FAR, with a first class board of directors of some of Nevada’s most prominent individuals, is their vehicle for achieving their dream of not only a better Afghanistan, but also of a better world. In addition to contributing to medical clinics, schools and technology, the Qaderis will also be building relationships between the Afghan people and Americans. They share the belief that you begin peace in the world by building upon commonalities, not differences.

WILLIAM LEAHY, M.D.

Legends have it that true heroes must be passionate and compassionate. Dr. William R. Leahy is both. As a tireless volunteer he has unselfishly dedicated himself to community needs: seeing that the citizens of Prince George’s County can thrive regardless of age or station in life. His long and prestigious record in medicine is enhanced by his huge volunteer investment, in time, personal funds and especially hands-on leadership. He is an outstanding community educator and civic visionary: a volunteer extraordinaire in the broadest sense. Without fanfare, the determined William Leahy, M.D. encourages others to be better, kinder human beings. A steady voice of conscience in Prince George’s County for more than two decades, he is also a leading catalyst for new approaches both in educating youth and providing adequate and affordable health care for the elderly and homebound.

A practicing physician with and partner in Neurological Medicine, P .A. in Greenbelt, Maryland since 1979, he is board-certified in both Pediatrics and Neurology with a specialty in child neurology. His path to volunteer leadership was in part shaped by his mother, whose own life was marked by dedication to community service. A longtime Maryland resident, Dr. Leahy has volunteered all his adult life for church, for schools, and for community needs arising from his “professional” home, Prince George’s County. His dedication to helping grew from his deeply felt determination to respond to critical generational issues, to meet the challenges arising from both young and old, from illness, poverty and lack of education. His outstanding charitable efforts are highlighted by his work as a health care educator and service as volunteer leader of several Prince George’s County health care support groups.

Since many of Dr. Leahy’s patients are also elderly, and in urgent need of care giving, he has first hand experience with the dreadful impact of inadequate elder care resources. But most of all, for years he had been troubled by witnessing senseless murders and other violent crimes perpetuated by – and on – the County’s youth, some of which affected his own patients directly. As a consequence, he chose to devote more than six months to searching for a program that puts all these challenging issues together. When he discovered that no such program existed that helps BOTH the young and the old to care for one another, he decided to start one. Thus, Leahy became more deeply involved in home health aid education. He became more and more dedicated not only to making sure his patients received the best care possible, but also equally as important to give direction and meaning to the lives of young people in his community.

A decade ago, already involved in a lively medical practice, and teaching the home heath aide program at Bladensburg High School, he conducted research for and wrote the highly-acclaimed textbook: Providing Home Care: A Textbook for Home Care Aides. To fulfill the promise of the textbook in 1996, he became founder and leader of a visionary model-training program launched in Prince George’s County called The High School Home Health Aide Training Program. This program has witnessed a success rate in program completion and certification of 97% or better each year, and during the past year; its enrollment tripled.

BERNIE FREED

Sometimes it is difficult to remember that Bernie Freed even has a last name. This is because whenever the name “Bernie” is mentioned, residents of North Miami, Florida, instinctively know of whom you speak. It appears to be true that legends are often known by one name; Bernie Freed is certainly a legend in the Alzheimer’s Association/South Florida Chapter’s service area. His reputation has even reached beyond their geographic region.

Freed’s foray into the devastating world of Alzheimer’s unfortunately began when the love of his life, his dear wife May, was diagnosed with the dreaded disease. Crushed, but with a resolve to press forward, Freed became a model caregiver, meeting May’s every need. Fortunately, the Alzheimer’s Association/South Florida Chapter was there to provide assistance and he went to the organization for support.

Freed, out of his own need, saw the importance of the work with Alzheimer’s patients and decided to become a volunteer for the Chapter. He began by helping jumpstart the Telephone Reassurance Program, calling caregivers from home. As often happens, the effect of Alzheimer’s disease on a loved one becomes so overwhelming that caregivers are forced to place them in a facility. Freed reluctantly placed May in a facility and was devastated by the harsh reality of this action. Instead of becoming mired in self-pity and depression, he immersed himself in the work of the Chapter. That was 10 years ago; May has since passed away but Freed rarely ever missed a day visiting her making sure she was well cared for and happy.

Freed is always at the Chapter office every day no later that 9:30am. In order to accomplish that, he has to arise hours earlier to prepare himself to be able to function. It is quite an ordeal for him to be able to leave the house in the morning because Freed is now 91 years young and handicapped. He is bent and stooped and walks with the help of a stroller, always in constant pain from crippling arthritis coupled with other health issues. However Freed, somehow, is able to see these things as challenges to be overcome. His can-do attitude and smiling face belie any problems. He is truly the “poster boy” for the power of positive thinking – positive thinking being the catalyst for positive action.

He is still the driving force in the Telephone Reassurance Program through which he has spread his own very special kind of light by inspiring, touching and helping thousands of caregivers through the maze that is Alzheimer’s. His special brand of compassionate assistance and his perceptive ability to know when to just listen is invaluable to caregivers who have reached the end of their rope. He literally changes lives.

Freed also has “special cases” he likes to call during the evening and on weekends. For years he has been the facilitator for the Chapter’s largest and most popular support group. Now, at age 9l, he is helping one of the sister chapters implement a Telephone Reassurance Program. Freed receives mail at the Chapter addressed to Dr. Freed, Private Practice because those he serves believes he should have a title after his name – something equally as earned and important as any M.D., Ph.D. or Esq. — perhaps, Freed H.B.E. (Human Being Extraordinaire) or Freed G.A. (Guardian Angel).

MILFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT EXPLORER LAW ENFORCEMENT POST 29

The Milford Explorers has as a part of its mission dedicated itself to serving the community. The young people in the Post have volunteered hundreds of hours on projects doing just that. The Post has undertaken several projects that help to raise public awareness on crucial issues facing the community.

Post 29 received national recognition for its KidCare Project. The Kodak Corporation and the National Center developed this project for Missing and Exploited Children. The Project involved fingerprinting and photographing young children and giving that information to the child’s parent. This information can then be given to the authorities in the event the child is missing. The Milford Explorers have fingerprinted and photographed more than 2,000 children during the last few years involved in the program. In 1998 and 2002, the International Society of Crime Prevention Practitioners awarded the Milford Post the Community Crime Prevention Award.

KinderVision was created in April 1991 as a result of work the program founder performed on behalf of Leticia Hernandez, a seven-year-old kidnapping and murder victim of the San Diego area. The founder assisted in developing a citizen’s committee to raise reward fund monies for her return and the arrest of the perpetrator. Her killer is still at large. Each participating family receives a free copy of the KinderVision child safety video which is designed to be used as a resource in the home for parents to teach their children how to be safe and when they are not with them. At the KinderVision events, children are video recorded for parent’s safekeeping.

The Gun Lock Safety Project was funded by a mini-grant through the Community Partners for Health (CHNA-6). This project distributes Gun Trigger Locks to gun owners with children in the home. This project was awarded the “Most Innovative” project in the Massachusetts Department of Public Health statewide Conference in 1999.

The Teen Health Pamphlet is the most recent project of the Milford Police Department Explorers Law Enforcement Post 29. This is a pamphlet that was compiled by the Explorers for young people in the region. The Explorers received technical assistance on this project from the Milford Franklin Pediatrics and Adolescent Care. The project was funded by a mini-grant received by the Milford Explorers from the CHNA-6. The pamphlet contains resources for teens on a wide variety of health related topics such as suicide, eating disorders, dating violence and drug/alcohol abuse.

Milford Exploring Law Enforcement Program is an educational program designed to give young people between the ages of 14 and 21 years of age an insight into a career in law enforcement. The program has received state and national awards for its outstanding community service. In addition, some of its members have gone on to achieve successful careers in law enforcement.

LUCY RANGEL

The Baptist Children’s Home provides assistance to children ages 7 to 17 that are waiting to be put into foster care or returned to their parents or legal guardians. Lucy Rangel began to volunteer at Baptist Children’s Home a few years ago after she saw the girls and the lack of love that they so desperately needed. She looks forward to her volunteer service and it is fulfilling for her each time she visits.

Many of the youth at Baptist Children’s Home wanted to know why Rangel came and why she wanted to help them. As time went by, the girls began to get to know Rangel as a volunteer as well as a friend that cared about them. Rangel has become an integral part of the children’s lives and guides them with her advice, love and support.

Rangel spends every other Saturday in the Baptist Home spending time with the youth. Sometimes she just talks to them, and other times she is there merely to listen. She takes the time to learn about them and even teaches them to sew, bake, cook and how to be ladies. The most important thing Rangel does is to let them know they are important and they can all reach their goals in life. She leads them by example and shows them where hard work can take them.

When Rangel visits, she is an active volunteer. She has days where she is scheduled; however, some days she comes by to check in on the girls. Those extra visits do not go unnoticed; in fact they mean a great deal to the children.

During her tenure at the Baptist Home, Rangel has encountered some difficult children who are hurt and looking for love. They need acceptance but do not know how to ask for help. Rangel has especially taken to many of them and does not give up. She sees they have had difficult pasts and need to learn positive ways to deal with their past hurts and anger. Rangel looks to find new ways of dealing with their pain.

Most of the children Rangel works with at the Baptist Home come with no hopes or dreams. They have been told that they cannot do anything right and they will not amount to anything. Rangel refuses to accept that and works with each and every one of the children, whether it is in a group setting or individually. She works to open a door to the things they have been missing all of their young lives. She teaches them about self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-love. The children now realize they are wonderful human beings and they can set goals for themselves.

KATHERINE & MARGO SULTENFUSS

Twelve-year-old Margo and fifteen-year-old Katherine Sultenfuss are excellent students who are always seeking additional learning opportunities and genuinely desire to help people in their community. In the fall of 2001 they heard information about the RCS Food Pantry at church, during their Sunday service. After the service, the girls and their family approached and offered to help.

During the sermon Margo and Katherine had already started to plan a way to supplement the RCS Food Pantry’s donations, which had dropped dramatically after September 11th. They wanted to approach their father’s business contacts and encourage them to donate to the Food Pantry rather than send a gift basket to clients during the holidays. Together they developed a flyer and, with the help of their mother, mailed an appeal to more than 1,000 doctors and other business people in Pinellas County.

The response was overwhelming. The letters brought in more than $3,000 during the first few weeks, but the sisters wanted to do more. They then wrote a press release and contacted area news media. After reports in the St. Petersburg Times and the Tampa Tribune more people signed up and the response from the original appeal continued to grow. By the beginning of December they raised more than $14,000 for the purchase of food. During that same time donations continued while the Food Pantry was experiencing a 400% increase in need as more people lost their jobs in the lagging economy. Money brought in by Katherine and Margo insured that no one was turned away during the holiday season.

Through the summer months they worked on the program for the next year, recruiting three more teens to help. Their goal is to add new recruits, of all ages, each year so this program will continue even after they graduate and leave for college. The group applied for and received a grant to cover printing and mailing expenses so that all money raised would go directly for the purchase of food. They increased the number of letters sent and appeared on local television and in local and national print publications. This year the group raised more $22,500, once again filling the gap created by the still growing need for emergency food in their community.

Margo and Katherine are amazing young ladies and true credits to their family and their community. The sisters saw a need and worked to fill it and they continue to look for more resources and outlets to raise money and help more people in their community.

LANGLEY RESIDENTIAL SUPPORT SERVICES

This year, Langley Residential Support Services (LRSS) marks its 20th anniversary of serving adults with mental retardation in Fairfax County, their families and the community by providing quality, comprehensive residential and community support services that will enable these adults to live valued, productive lives. LRSS, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, serves adults (ages 18 years and older), with mental retardation residing in Fairfax County, Fairfax City, or Falls Church, Virginia and who are eligible to receive services through the Fairfax/Falls Church Community Services Board.

In the early 1980s, members of Trinity United Methodist Church, Redeemer Lutheran Church, and Immanuel Presbyterian Church, working with the Fairfax County Community Services’ Board (CSB), mobilized community volunteers under the “Private/Public” scheme to establish a group home to address the urgent, unmet community need for both residential facilities and professional counseling and services to serve these young adults with mental retardation. The Langley Nonprofit Housing Development Corporation was chartered by the Commonwealth. Langley’s first group home (known as the Melrose Group Home) began housing five women in November 1985. A second home (Junior League Group Home) welcomed three men and two women in April of1989.

The needs of the residents of the homes changed as they acquired more independent living skills. With the assistance of the CSB, Langley opened its first Supported Residential Program (SRP) in December of 1991. It served four women, two of whom were graduates of a Langley group home. Langley’s second SRP home (three men), opened in December 1992. In December 1993, Langley further expanded its services and established the Community Support Program: a drop-in program serving the needs of consumers who live: on their own, in their family’s home, assisted living centers, even homeless shelters.

In June 1997, Langley’s Board of Directors voted to change the name of the nonprofit organization to Langley Residential Support Services (LRSS). In 2000, Langley’s administrative offices have expanded; satellite office in Springfield opened, allowing LRSS to serve consumers on the Route 1 corridor. Consumers use the facility to practice their cooking and laundry skills.

LRSS impacts consumer’s lives by helping each live more independently; develop an integrated presence in the community, improve self-esteem, support physical and emotional needs and develop an individual lifestyle.

PATRICK MCKAY

Patrick McKay is only 10 years old, but he is already an example to many adults and youth in his community of Pasadena, Maryland. He has already contributed far more to his community than most adults.

Patrick makes regular contributions of food, clothing and toys to a local battered women’s shelter sponsored by his karate school. He also makes regular donations to The American Red Cross, Purple Heart and Goodwill. He has donated coats to the “Coats for Kids” program and books to underprivileged children programs. Annually, Patrick also participates in the collection and delivery of food in the Pasadena Holiday Parade. In this parade, Patrick dresses as an elf and throws candy to the children watching. After the parade, Patrick helps to deliver the collected food items to charitable organizations and the Maryland Food Pantry.

Patrick has even delivered warm meals to the area firehouse while they were fighting raging mulch yard fires during last summer. The fires resulted in the firefighters working mandatory double shifts. Patrick’s competition team also organized and held a group car wash in which they donated the proceeds to the September 11th fund to help the victims and their families.

Patrick’s latest project has been developing a seminar and video for children. This video teaches them how to keep safe from bullies, and a second video will teach children how to be safe from abduction. He thought of this project on his own and has spent countless hours researching, preparing and filming. He hopes to have the project completed so he can introduce it to his community later this year. Patrick draws upon his martial arts experience and expertise to educate other children in hopes of keeping them safe from physical harm.

Patrick is very eager to help others. Because of his service, he was awarded the Special Team of Role Models (STORM) TEAM status at his karate school. They estimate that Patrick works at least eight hours each week to help his underclassmen and others.

In addition, Patrick and his family adopt a needy family during the holidays. They provide for them the things needed to help make their holiday brighter. Patrick enjoys shopping for the children and dropping off the items with his brother. He also regularly contributes to his elementary school fundraising efforts to earn new classroom computers and funds for trips which some of the students could not otherwise afford.

BEN ATKINSON

Ben Atkinson saw a community need and led a group of volunteers to do something about it. His daughter, Amy, was born with spina bifada and was severely disabled. She was enrolled at Gateway Education Center, a public school that teaches kids like Amy. Most of the students operate in wheelchairs and learn to function with adapted equipment and toys. Amy made a mark for herself at the school and the teachers loved her quick smiles and warm hugs.

In 1997 Gateway participated in a community fundraiser, the Human Race, and raised about $2,000; pretty good for a first time group. Atkinson participated but commented to a small group, "We could make this a little bigger," and the group said, "OK, you're in charge." Atkinson formed a committee and revitalized the fractured PTA with his enthusiasm and vision. He started a letter writing campaign that told stories about the kids and described the new equipment they could purchase with people's donations. The Human Race became a unifying force for the PTA to work together and Atkinson led the charge.

The efforts of a unified PTA paid off in 1998 and continue to payoff. In 2001, Gateway Education raised $65,000 through the Human Race. Atkinson was the president of the PTA from 1999-2000 and became very aware that there was no program for students like Amy once they reached age 22. So Atkinson and others decided to institute a program to keep the students engaged, social, and busy after they graduated. He thought they might be able to raise money for the effort through the Human Race for what has come to be known as After Gateway. Before it even was off the ground, After Gateway raised $20,000; Amy was the top fund-raiser for the whole event, personally raising more than $14,000. Added to other grants and fundraising efforts, the Human Race allowed the new program to open in 2002, serving seven severely disabled adults.

Sadly, Atkinson's daughter died unexpectedly of pneumonia two days after Christmas 2002. The church was full at her funeral; Amy had made a difference in the community. Atkinson and his family are even more determined now to keep her legacy, After Gateway, going strong. The Volunteer Center instituted the Amy Atkinson Achievement Award for the highest fundraiser in the Human Race. Atkinson and his committee have set a goal of $25,000 this year – they want to purchase a van to transport the folks at After Gateway to the field trips they so enjoy. They are getting wonderful support so far and have every expectation to meet the goal and exceed it.

Through Atkinson's leadership, his wife's support and help, the community has been made a better place. Everyday citizens who have able-bodied children have made friends with these disabled kids and have anew appreciation for the efforts it takes to manage life. And, graduates of Gateway Education Center now have a place of their own, After Gateway.