HESTHER RIPPY

Hesther Rippy organizes students needing literacy help and trains tutors to provide necessary services. In the spring of 1998, Rippy came to the Family Literacy Center in Orem to learn how to replicate a literacy center in Lehi. She watched the students and tutors working together and the parental involvement. She saw the students raise their skills by a half grade level each month. Rippy was determined to have this for her city and saw the need to help parents gain skill and values for supporting the literacy efforts.

Rippy attended the Family Literacy tutoring classes. She sought advice from the staff and from the governing and executive boards. She also went to the Mayor and presented her need to have Lehi City’s help. In July of 1998, Rippy was given a small area in the Lehi Arts Building for Family Literacy. Each month, the program grew and after three years of determination and long hours of work; she has gained three large rooms at the Lehi Art Center. She now has satellite programs at Sego and Lehi Elementary along with Lehi Jr. and Sr. High Schools.

Rippy also started an English as a Second Language (ESL) Program at Thanksgiving Point and now at the Lehi Center. She and her staff evaluated students at the local schools and found that many needing help with reading. Currently, the Lehi Literacy Center teaches in excess of 200 students one-on-one.

The Family Literacy Program in Lehi has been very successful under Rippy’s direction. She is making significant differences with each student as they progress to reading on grade level. She has even become skilled at screening students and being able to prescribe for them an individualized program tailored to their needs. She still helps train and work with the tutors, and everyone working with the program has observed continuous progress. The Family Literacy Program is working so well in Lehi, it is a model for other cities and elementary schools. An educator visited from Alabama in July of 2001 and has now started a center in Alabama.

WITNESS JUSTICE

Under the direction of founders Helga West and Randy West, the national organization, Witness Justice was created, launched and has grown into a powerful resource for survivors of violent crime throughout the country. The combined total volunteer hours of the Wests exceed 3,100. During this time, they incorporated the organization and achieved 501(c)(3) designation, developed a sound business plan, delivered various victim programs, recruited a reputable board of directors, applied for and received several grants and have provided direct victim services. In their quest to lessen the disparity in victim services from one community to the next and ensuring that every victim has access to support through the healing and criminal justice processes, they have created an organization that fills a gap in service.

In the United States, citizens have a one in five chance of falling victim to violent crime at some point in their lifetimes. Currently, less than 50% of victims report their crimes, making individuals ineligible for victim services through the state attorney’s office or local governments. In addition, there are many communities without victim support programs. Witness Justice fills these gaps by offering support 24 hours a day, regardless of where, when or how the crime took place. They give all victims equal access to information and support and the empowerment to heal in the process.

Witness Justice promotes connection in a number of ways. They have a virtual community in which victims can connect with one another. They also have a portion on their web site called “Stories Like Yours” where diverse survivor stories are shared so that victims will understand that healing looks and feels differently for everyone and feeling and encounters are more common than one might believe. One of the most requested services is the expert corps of volunteers. Professionals in mental health, security, psychology, relationships, criminal justice and other areas answer specific victim inquiries.

Witness Justice has been in existence for more than two years. They have had an excess of 340,000 visitors to its web site, and hundreds of victims have called their hotline or emailed with requests for direct services or expert volunteer consultation. Their services have become so strong and reputable that referrals now come from law enforcement and state attorney offices. These services have been provided as a result of their committed volunteers as they do not yet have any paid staff.

MARIE MAYEDA TRYON

Marie Tryon has been serving as a volunteer for Ogden City Fire Department in excess of eight years. Annually she volunteers more than 200 hours with the organization. She uses her skills and abilities to help educate the residents of Ogden.

Tryon is instrumental in the writing, music and production of scripts for the public education programs. These programs are geared toward elementary children from kindergarten to 6th grade. The Fire Department visits more than 17 elementary schools. They reach approximately 10,000 to 12,000 children during the school year. Tryon teaches the message of fire and life safety.

Tryon’s involvement in the educational program is directly impacting the community. Because of the fire and safety presentations, the number of juvenile arsons in the Ogden area has been reduced by more than 70% over the past nine years. She has helped develop new ideas to keep the children interested and continue to teach them about safety.

As a result of the time Tryon has volunteered, the Fire Department has received two grants from Kimberly Clark. The $1,000 grant has helped the department obtain a better sound system, props, puppets and clothing for the clowns.

Tryon is an integral part of the Ogden City Fire Department’s public education program. As a result of her volunteering, they are able to produce the quality show they provide because they do not have a budget to pay someone for the amount of time that is spent with this program. During the last eight years, Tryon has donated more than $24,000 of her time.

PROYECTO AZTECA

When an unexpected freeze devastated the citrus crop in 1990, many migrant farm workers in the Rio Grande Valley found themselves jobless and unable to support their families. This area of Texas — Hidalgo, Starr, Webb and Willasy counties — has one of the highest concentrations of migrant families in the United States. With over 500,000 families living in “colonias,” isolated communities of the rural poor living along the Texas-Mexico border, the valley took the hit hard.

Proyecto Azteca, founded in 1991 in response to the crisis, took an unusual tack. David Arizmendi is one of the founders of Proyecto Azteca, which began as an extension of the United Farm Workers’ community service. Proyecto Azteca reaches those families at the bottom of the economic ladder — families with incomes that put them outside of the traditional homeownership market. They cannot qualify for virtually any housing assistance programs because traditional lenders are unwilling to take a chance on families with so few resources. As a result, many colonia families build their own homes, often one room at a time using materials salvaged from abandoned structures. With most homes lacking indoor plumbing or other utility connections, Proyecto Azteca is bringing high-quality housing construction to migrant families in the Rio Grande Valley.

The cornerstone of Proyecto Azteca’s housing development work is its Self-Help New Construction Program. Beginning with just two houses the first year, Proyecto Azteca now works with families to build about 100 homes per year. A kit house — typically a 24 ft. by 36 ft., three-bedroom, one-bath unit — is delivered to the site. Construction trainers provide technical assistance for foundations and utilities, but families average a total of 550 hours in sweat equity to complete their homes. The cost to families averages $13,500, and loan payments are between $50 and $100 a month.

Home ownership is just one step in connecting colonia families to the economic mainstream. Proyecto Azteca also operates four community centers, where families find education programs, social services, citizenship classes and free tax preparation. In addition to home mortgages, the Azteca Community Loan Fund makes micro loans so colonia parents can start or expand a business to give their families greater economic stability. To improve his business, selling clothes at flea markets and garage sales, Victor Rodriquez, who moved his family of nine into their own home last year, used a micro loan to buy a pick-up truck so he did not have to pay someone else to haul the shrink-wrapped bundles of used clothes he buys from local warehouses.

Proyecto Azteca’s loans have helped a cabinet maker buy a table saw, an upholsterer buy a specialized sewing machine and a fruit and vegetable seller purchase a trailer to bring his produce to market. “When we help a family have greater capacity, that increases services to the community,” says Arizmendi. “The investment is small, but the payoffs are enormous.”

Proyecto Azteca is a 2003 Honoree of Families Count, the national honors program that recognizes organizations that are making a difference in the lives of families struggling to survive in tough neighborhoods.

NORMAN GINEBAUGH

The tireless efforts and selfless work of Norman Ginebaugh have improved the services of several nonprofit organizations in West Michigan. His main thrust of activity is donation and commodity pick-ups, solicitations and agency deliveries. Donations are a crucial component to hunger relief agencies, and he helps in providing that pathway.

In recent studies conducted by Second Harvest Gleaners of West Michigan, hundreds of children were identified in the Grand Rapids public school system as being undernourished and in need of nutrition intervention. This hunger issue caused children to suffer abnormal cognitive, physical and psychological development; and these conditions are irreparable. Kids Food Basket (KFB) is a hunger relief agency in Grand Rapids, which is dedicated to attacking childhood hunger in the community and serves an evening meal to children who have been identified by school officials as being undernourished.

The program began feeding hungry children in the fall of 2001, with Ginebaugh as an integral part of its foundation. He embraced the mission and made it a goal to see that no child would have to look in the mirror at the face of hunger. His support and sweat have helped to provide hundreds of thousands of sack-suppers to children in need. Ginebaugh sees to it that KFB has healthy and nutritious food to provide each school day. He continually strives to spread awareness about the severity of the hidden problem and therefore has increased food donation as well as promoting a stronger volunteer workforce. He not only gives nutritious meals through sack supper, but he gives hope to countless hungry children in Grand Rapids.

Ginebaugh spends his days amidst the agencies in the city and assists in several ways. He solicits donations and takes care of the food bank pick-ups. While he is serving he takes note of the needs of each of the agencies for which he serves and shares goods. When he goes to grocery stores to pick up donations, and he makes mental notes of which agencies are most in need of particular items so they can be matched best. His dedication has saved KFB a tremendous amount of money and has allocated goods in the most efficient way.

THE CANDIA FAMILY

The Candia family works together to impact the quality of life in their San Antonio community.

Abel Candia has served as Assistant Scoutmaster and Scoutmaster of Troop 23 since 1982. He also volunteers for the religious program conducted at the Fort Sam Houston Dodd Field Chapel. His wife, Patti, volunteers for the Boy Scouts of America and the Dodd Field Chapel religious program also. She teaches CCD and Sunday school. In addition, Mrs. Candia coaches the cheerleading team on the base.

Rhiannon Candia began her volunteer service as a result of the example set by her parents. She serves for the Fort Sam Houston Catholic Chapel Program as a CCD teaching assistant, a lector and a Eucharistic minister. She also coaches a Tiny Tot basketball team and earned recognition for her stellar coaching ability. Rhiannon was also instrumental in starting a volunteer program at St. Phillips College, where she is a student; and she has served as a camp counselor at Camp C.A.M.P. In addition Rhiannon is a volunteer reader for kindergarten students at Hillcrest Elementary School.

Geofrey Candia also volunteers as a result of his family’s example. He is a middle school student and a member of Boy Scout Troop 23. He is an alter server at the Fort Sam Houston Dodd Field Chapel religious program, and he has participated in feeding the homeless with the Under the Nolan Street Bridge Project. In addition, his efforts that helped to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout include nursing home visitations and his support of San Antonio children shelters.

In addition to their own volunteer activities, the Candia family has drawn other adults and youth into the circle of volunteers at Fort Sam Houston and within the San Antonio community. As a family, they have accumulated more than 2,900 hours of volunteer service. Although they volunteer together, as individuals they bring diverse strengths to their team.

Mr. Candia has inspired his family and others to dedicate their time at talents to volunteer activities in multiple organizations at Fort Sam Houston and San Antonio. Mrs. Candia is a role model to young people both in high school and college. Her focus is to make volunteering a normal part of everyone’s life, not a requirement for graduation. Rhiannon draws her new circle of friends into activities that involve community service. During the Christmas season, she enlisted the help of her friends to deliver gifts and food baskets for Irma’s Angel Project. Geofrey works very hard to practice cheerful service, which is a motto of the Boy Scouts of America Order of the Arrow. He assists in the service projects conducted by his troop, his Order of the Arrow Lodge, his church and his school. His commitment to volunteer has also resulted in other middle school youth choosing to serve.

DEAN ANDERSON

Dean Anderson is a retired Registered Nurse. Because of his training in the medical field, Anderson has chosen to spend his retirement administering to the needs of his community. He serves Central Florida at the Sheperd’s Hope and 211, the official phone number for information and referral services in Central Florida.

Sheperd’s Hope is a free clinic that serves uninsured, low-income individuals. Their clinic locations are opened in the evenings for the convenience of the clients. Most of the nurses volunteer once a month, but Anderson volunteers each week. The staff of Sheperd’s Hope clinic locations is composed primarily of volunteers. Anderson has been a monumental asset to this organization as he volunteers his registered nursing skills on an ongoing weekly basis. He assists in the training of his fellow medical professional team at the clinic also. Anderson volunteers at the Grand Avenue location of Sheperd’s Hope and serves an average of 18 clients per week. He takes the initiative by offering suggestions to management to improve the health care services. Anderson is dedicated to serving the working poor of Orlando who need health care.

The 211 Community Resources information and referral number is new to Central Florida; however prior to 211, the Community Services Network had the challenge of offering this valuable service to people in need of community assistance. Anderson has been volunteering with the Community Services Network since 2000, and when they became the 211 Network, Anderson continues his efforts with them. He is still answering calls form Central Florida citizens in need and directing them to appropriate agencies to meet their needs. Anderson answers between 50 and 100 calls per day covering a wide variety of situations ranging from simple questions to crisis level issues.

The 211 Community Resources maintains a resource database that includes 425 agencies offering more than 3,000 services. Staff members and volunteers initially receive three to four weeks of intensive training before they are permitted to take a call. Additional training and in-services are required on an ongoing basis throughout the year. Given the vast amount of knowledge, patience, resources and time required of an Information Specialist, it is easy to see how few volunteers are willing to provide a long-term commitment to such a position. Anderson has been a steadfast, knowledgeable and reliable volunteer for more than three years.

NATIONAL OVARIAN CANCER COALITION

In December of 1989, Gail Hayward was diagnosed with stage III ovarian cancer. Although her physicians told her that the disease would most likely be fatal within two years, she survived 10 1/2 years. What she accomplished in the final 10 years of her life was build to what is now the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC).

Rather than focus on her own health issues, Hayward chose to turn her attention to other women. She was frustrated by the lack of information and public knowledge about ovarian cancer, so she started a network with other survivors and physicians in the United States. She rallied individuals one-by-one and shaped them into a coalition committed to saving women’s lives by working for better education on the risks and symptoms of ovarian cancer. She built the movement at her kitchen table, from her hospital bed and hooked to IV’s in her home.

In 1995, Hayward was able to incorporate the NOCC as the country’s first comprehensive organization providing awareness and education about ovarian cancer. With the assistance of a prestigious national medical advisory board and board of directors from around the country, Hayward set out to develop an organization that would fuel the ovarian cancer awareness movement. She was able to initiate the nation September Ovarian Cancer Awareness public information campaign and create informational brochures and research literature. Within two years of its incorporation, NOCC was acknowledged as the leading educational and information organization on ovarian cancer in the nation.

NOCC remains Hayward’s legacy, keeping alive her spirit of outspoken advocacy, compassion for survivors and families and commitment to women’s health. NOCC initiated the first toll-free ovarian cancer information line and maintains the most comprehensive website for ovarian cancer support in the world. They have also built a network of may state divisions across the United State. Their Board is comprised of diverse professionals from around the country, and the Medical Advisory Board is made up of physicians and researchers active in the discovery of new treatments and early detection methods for ovarian cancer.

NOCC’s mission is to raise awareness about ovarian cancer and to promote education about this disease. By dispelling myths and misunderstandings, the coalition is committed to improve the overall survival rate and quality of life from ovarian cancer. Their goal is to provide the medical community and general population with a national resource focused solely on ovarian cancer; provide complete and accurate information regarding ovarian cancer; and obtain more funding for patient and public education, professional education, quality of life, survivorship in ovarian cancer and basic and clinical research.

NOCC has eight million consumer contacts annually, which includes the web site, telephone, newsletter, membership, community outreach, brochures and information packets. They also have in excess of 75,000 physician contacts each year that include conference outreach and symptom cards for physicians. NOCC now has 43 divisions in 28 states and will continue to work tirelessly for those living with ovarian cancer.

THE MCDARBY FAMILY

The McDarby family of Hillsborough County, Florida has made and continues to make a unique and lasting contribution to the lives of individuals with mental retardation through their involvement with Special Olympics. Like many Special Olympic families, Bob and Val McDarby began their involvement with Special Olympics through their son, Chris who is a Special Olympics athlete. Their love of Special Olympics extended to countless other families in Hillsborough County.

In addition to supporting Chris’s athletic accomplishments, the McDarbys support of Special Olympics Hillsborough County covers an array of volunteer roles. Bob and Val serve as chaperones, coaches and head delegates for Hillsborough County to numerous local, area and state level Special Olympics competitions. Bob also competes as a Unified Partner – a program that puts people with and without mental retardation on the same team – with Chris in golf. They are also among the most ardent cheerleaders for Chris and his fellow athletes from Durant High School.

Through outreach to other families, the McDarbys have helped increase family participation in Hillsborough County by 50%. Additionally, the McDarbys assist Hillsborough County Special Olympics and Special Olympics Florida with a variety of fundraising events throughout the year.

The McDarbys go out of their way to help as many athletes as possible by arranging car pools to practice sessions and competitions. From the weighty responsibility of serving as head delegates to the less glamorous job of standing out in the rain to cook hot dogs at a training day to enduring stifling heat of summer games to man the family tent; there is never a request made of them that they turn down. Their dedication is surpassed only by their compassion and selflessness.

As a golfing family, the McDarby family has helped Hillsborough’s golf program grow by encouraging athletes and parents to try Unified golf. Both Bob and Val are certified Special Olympics golf coaches. Last year the family received an invitation to compete in the Special Olympics national golf tournament. Chris and Bob played as Unified Partners and Val served as their caddy and coach.

The Hillsborough County Training Director says the efforts of the McDarbys and their support make it so much easier for things to happen in Hillsborough County.

NEW YORK DISASTER VOLUNTEERS

For more than 80 years, volunteers from Morgan-Lawrence County Chapter of the American Red Cross have been providing relief to victims of disaster in Morgan and Lawrence Counties, in the state of Alabama and across the nation. Currently, 69 disaster volunteers continue to take training, participate in local drills, maintain the Chapter disaster plan, survey shelters, update merchant agreements and work with other organizations active in disaster so their community is prepared for emergencies. These same trained volunteers respond to local emergencies such as single-family fires, search and rescues, chemical spills, small plane crashes, commercial fires, windstorms and more.

While most reeled in shock and horror at the unimaginable events of September 11th, 10 selfless Red Cross trained disaster volunteers from Decatur responded without a single thought to their own personal safety or the magnitude of this tragedy. Providing disaster nursing, mass care, family service and logistical support, Judy Smith, Karen Butler, Pam Galbreath, Sandra Cross, Linda Smith, Earl Haygood, Linda Robinson, Judy Hawkins, Charles Sanford and Alice Wilkerson spent two to four weeks in New York city.

They worked 12-hour days with families of victims, rescue workers, people displaced from their homes or those whose employment was impacted by the attacks on the World Trade Center. These volunteers made their way to New York as soon as air travel was resumed. Because of the uniqueness of the disaster, their training only provided only a basis for what they faced. The experience was different and the volunteers had to be flexible. Because of the heart-wrenching emotion and extreme stress, the disaster nurses were cycled out and returned home after two weeks. They had provided nursing care to family members waiting for word on their loved ones and to rescue workers, devastated by the scarcity of survivors.

You cannot estimate the impact that the American Red Cross volunteers had on the other rescue workers and family members. They gave countless hours of willingly donated time, compassion, hugs and tears, a shoulder to cry on and someone to listen. The challenge for volunteers was to maintain professionalism and to do their jobs while faced with constant stress and turmoil.

Each of the Decatur volunteers made an extreme sacrifice to help some people they did not know. They had to leave their family for at least two weeks, travel across the country and work strenuous 12+days under emotionally devastating conditions. Each one returned home to continue the local disaster work in which they were previously involved in and to participate in further disaster training.