PASTOR TED AND SOU OLBRICH

Ted Olbrich, Country Director of the Cambodian Foursquare Church, met his wife, Sou, while working for the U.S. Embassy in Laos for three years during the Vietnam War. With backgrounds in business and agriculture, the Olbrich’s spent 12 years pastoring in Woodstock, Illinois before going to the mission field. Their three grown children live in the U.S., while their fifteen-year-old daughter lives with them in Cambodia.

Cambodia is enjoying a fragile peace after years of horrific genocide at the hands of the Khmer Rouge. There are an estimated two million orphans, most of whom have lost their parents to AIDS or land mines. Cambodia has the worst AIDS epidemic in Asia, and landmines kill an estimated 100 people a week. The needs are great. In addition to AIDS and land mines, diseases, undrinkable water, poor health care, drought, childbirth complications, poor schools, unemployment, child prostitution and trafficking, and a low literacy rate are just some of the problems for hopelessness in Cambodia children.

Foursquare Church International sent the Olbrich’s from the U.S. as Missionaries in 1999, with the goal of opening Christian Churches – there were no plans to care for orphans. Upon their arrival they came face to face with the overwhelming orphan crises – including people literally leaving orphans on their doorstep. Ted had a vision for a unique model of Church/Orphan homes, adopting James 1:27 as his driving purpose: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

Since 1999, under the vision and leadership of Pastor Ted and Sou Olbrich,a local non-government-organization, Foursquare Children of Promise, was opened, which now cares for approximately 2,200 orphans and abandoned children, aged from birth to 18 years old, are being cared for and trained in 50 Church/Orphan homes, with 10 more under construction. As part of this unique model, they also train widows to help take care of the orphans. Ted and Sou work closely with Warm Blankets Orphan Care International to secure the provision for the care of the children. In 2002, a National Training Center was completed which trains both children and orphan home staff in skills related to the well being of orphan children.

In addition to the completion of their public education, children are taught English as a second language in each home (the single most valuable skill in finding sustainable employment). Upon completion of their public education, qualified children are assisted in securing scholarships for specialized training in professional careers of their choice. Other older orphan children are placed in apprentice relationships with craftsmen in their community, or brought to The Training Center to be trained in skills, both on site, and in cooperative relationships with other non-government organizations in various areas. The young people are then assisted in finding jobs in their chosen profession. This enables them to be employed in a self-sustaining and productive manner.

ED LONDAGIN

For 20 years, Putnam City Care…Share has had a dedicated, loyal and hard-working sponsor, Ed Londagin. Londagin owns a small hair salon, but he is making a big difference for Putnam City children in need.

Londagin said he identifies with the children of Putnam City Care… Share. He was one of them growing up. He wanted to know and experience someone loving and caring in a hurtful world. He is pleased to provide that to other children in hopes it will change their life. Clients come in and talk while they are getting their hair and nails done. With the one-on-one conversation that goes on, there is an excellent opportunity to share various service projects with clients and solicit support.

Londagin has changed the lives of young children for more than 20 years. Londagin has provided free back to school hair cuts. During the Thanksgiving holiday season, he helps provide Thanksgiving dinner in addition to a one-month food supply for those in need. He also gives generous financial support by buying hundreds of pairs of new shoes.

Not only does Londagin spend his time and resources for the children of Putnam, but he solicits other styling salons to adopt the same philosophy. His goal is to have the children that may be forgotten in Putnam cared for at Christmas by his service and the other salons.

Thousands of children have been provided for due to Londagin. They have felt the warmth of someone caring and the encouragement to continue on and set goals for life. Londagin epitomizes the words volunteer and servant as he puts the needs of others over his own problems and concerns. He shares of himself daily without a thought; it is second nature to him to give. Because of his love and compassion, the Putnam City School District honored Londagin with the Golden Apple Award. This is the highest honor to be bestowed upon an individual for their dedication to the children of Putnam.

YOUTHanasia FOUNDATION, INC.

YOUTHanasia Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit community service organization for high school students in the Greater New Orleans area. Kimberly Byas-Dilosa established the YOUTHanasia Foundation, as a movement rather than an organization, on September 1, 1997. She was prompted to action by skyrocketing statistics and college professors who pinpointed New Orleans as a desolate murder capital. Byas then took action and decided to help save her community.

Byas utilized those she felt had unlimited, untapped energy and creativity – high school students. New Orleans loses someone between the ages of 14 to 19 to violent death or incarceration daily. In addition, 19% of all births in the city are to young women between the ages of 15 – 19. Thus, the creation of YOUTHanasia Foundation, Inc. was not a desire, but it was a necessity. Its ironic name was coined to mark the annihilation of contributors to youth delinquency – violence, illiteracy, teen pregnancy, stagnancy and ignorance.

YOUTHanasia Foundation, Inc. is the umbrella for innovative youth intervention programs such as the Citywide High School task Force, Self Respect Extravaganza and the Citywide High School Explosion. The Foundation provides programs to keep youth off of the streets, out of trouble and out of harm’s way.

YOUTHanasia believes that community improvement and preservation lies in nurturing those who will control it in the future. They specifically developed the Citywide High School Task Force to promote the involvement of young people in community affairs. The Task Force is comprised of students in grades 9 – 12 from public and private school throughout the Greater New Orleans area. They meet on Saturdays to discuss community problems and to create and implement community service projects to combat these problems. The members look beyond personal differences and unite to address the issues confronting their community as a whole.

The young people are creative and innovative in their approaches. Among other projects in their Violence Eradication, Health Awareness, Education Advocacy, Recreation Advocacy, Cultural Arts Awareness and Operation Clean Up, they have refurbished a playground, prepared and served meals to homeless teens in the New Orleans Drop-In Center. YOUTHanasia has also held a “Play Day” for the young patients of Children’s Hospital, a “Tournament of Champions” to help fourth graders prepare for the LEAP and painted patient rooms at the New Orleans Adolescent Hospital. YOUTHanasia developed the annual Self-Respect Extravaganza in an effort to combat teenage pregnancy through self-improvement and education. This summer, YOUTHanasia held a literacy enrichment camp for inner city kids. The youth Task Force members served as camp counselors.

YOUTHanasia has collaborated with the FiYiYi Mardi Gras Indian Tribe and the Backstreet Cultural Museum to provide inner city kids with free school supplies. The Foundation also participates in the Louisiana Nature Center’s “Helping Hands Day.” Their intervention success is evident in its results; 100 % of all graduates have gone on to college or the armed forces.

STAND UP FOR KIDS OF NORTH COUNTY

Stand Up For Kids is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1990 that is based in San Diego, CA, with programs in more than 16 states. It is an all-volunteer outreach program that nonjudgmentally helps homeless and street youth 21 and under by providing them friendship and nonperishable foods, hygiene products and outdoor gear to make their life on the streets a little easier. It comes into a community when there are volunteers to support it. Funding is generated 100 per cent through community donations.

StandUp for Kids Oceanside began summer of 2001 with 2 volunteers. Today there are more than 30. In January 2003 the group began subleasing 600 square feet of space in a downtown building, leased by Lifeline of North County. This is called the Educational Resource Center, developed to provide a place to help the kids take the steps to get into productive roles in society. There, three nights a week, the volunteer outreach counselors load their backpacks with donated food, hygiene supplies and clothing; they walk and look for street kids who need them. The kids on the street know they can count on these volunteers to be there at the same general time each week. With more volunteers this can happen every night of the week, and also extend to other parts of the City and North County.

While counselors walk the streets, other counselors work the Center, offering youth a place to come for a few hours to get out of the elements, freshen up, eat warm food, and talk with new and old friends. The kids are expected to do a chore in appreciation, and clean up after themselves. Professionals are being invited to work in the Center, counseling the youth. Staff meetings, community orientations and trainings are also held there. There is a living room with games, VCR, books and a guitar; a kitchen and computer room are also available. At the end of each month, a birthday party is held; volunteers bring their spouses and children, and everyone sings happy birthday to those who has had their birthday during the month. It gives the Kids a chance to think of family members who have had birthdays during the month. A community volunteer bakes the homemade cakes.

At the end of each visit, kids return to the streets to sleep. Housing children under 18 is difficult in our society for many reasons. It is a sadness that volunteers have to bear.

Volunteer counselors must be at least 16 years old and go through several weeks of training before hitting the streets or working the Center. High school and college students are encouraged to apply. All volunteers must be fingerprinted and background-checked.

StandUp for Kids has a strong relationship with the police and the dozens of nonprofit agencies who exist to serve indigent people. It is especially challenging to find services for youth under 18, however. Survival is difficult on the streets and, although people see homeless men and women every day, it is not well known there are nearly one and one half million children living on the streets of the United States. Statistics reveal that 13 die each day from disease, assault or suicide. Prospective volunteers of North County should call 760-439-2112, or email [email protected] . Those living outside the area should check www.standupforkids.org for your nearest program, or to start one of your own.

“The mission of STANDUP FOR KIDS is to help homeless and street kids. This mission shall be carried out by a national volunteer force whose on-the-streets outreach efforts will find, stabilize and assist homeless and street kids in their efforts to improve their lives. The organization’s mission shall also be furthered through deterrence and resource programs provided in schools and via the Internet. All facets of this mission shall be guided by the mandate that our volunteers shall tell kids they care about them and then, at every turn, prove it.”

LYNDA WYRICK

The Urban Ministries of Raleigh is a nonprofit, interfaith organization that was founded in 1981 to meet the needs of the poor in Wake County, North Carolina. The organization has made a covenant with the residents of the county to identify and relieve the effects of poverty in the community providing an organized structure for the reallocation of area resources. The goals of the Ministry are to provide basic necessities to those in need, provide services that promote self-sufficiency, build awareness of the issues surrounding poverty within the larger community, provide a challenging, rewarding and supportive environment for staff and volunteers and to remain aware of and leverage area resources to maximize their impact within the community.

The programs provided by the Urban Ministries could not succeed without the aid of dedicated volunteers. Last year alone, they served more than 13,000 families and individuals with the help of an excess of 1,000 volunteers. Linda Wyrick was one of those volunteers, and she is still an integral part of the Wake County community as well as the Urban Ministries of Raleigh.

Wyrick embraces every aspect of the mission of Urban Ministries. She has a multi-faceted approach to reach out to families and individuals in crisis. She has immeasurable desire and fierce determination to help clients achieve the ultimate goal of self-sufficiency. Because of this, her skills and abilities are a focal point of the large volunteer contingent.

Wyrick began her involvement with the Urban Ministries as a member of the Board of Directors in 1997. She continued to function as a member of the Board until 2000. While on the Board, she was able to assist in t he facilitation of the continued growth of the organization and increase Board participation in various programs. However, her involvement with the Board did not satisfy her zeal to have an impact on the lives of those in need.

Wyrick then began to volunteer with the Crisis Intervention Program in the later months of 1997. She understood and almost immediately became an advocate for that particular program and its goal; to help families and individuals maintain their housing. Initially her role was limited to client interviews. She later expanded to working in the emergency food pantry and then to picking up items from corporate sponsors. Her involvement with the organization has evolved into her becoming an integral component to the success of the Crisis Intervention Program.

Wyrick’s impact on the organization and community is enormous yet difficult to measure. During the last five years, she has helped to meet the basic needs and identify additional resources for more than 1,100 Wake County residents. Hundreds of these residents received emergency financial assistance and have been able to maintain stable housing. Her involvement with the different facets of the organization has also resulted in her being a part of the community building; she encourages other to become involved also to help address the needs of citizens in crisis.

JEAN JORDAN

Jean Jordan’s mission is so broad and varied, it is difficult to describe it fully. She spends time working with the First Baptist Church of Natchitoches and their various ministries. She is also a part of the Heritage Manor of Natchitoches Rehabilitation and Retirement Center’s volunteer group.

Jordan is well known in Natchitoches and is an active servant through her church. She has been an active member there for 26 years, and today you may still find her bagging or boxing food so she can deliver to the poor and elderly. She also works to find clothes and furnishings for families who do not have any. Jordan has served on many committees through the years and lead the way for community involvement by her church. She has taught Bible Study, led the girl’s Auxiliary mission organization, been active in the Women’s Missionary Union and faithfully attends worship and other special activities at church.

Jordan is also a part of the Eastern Star organization. During her 48-year membership, she has been the Worthy Grand Matron for the State of Louisiana – which is the highest office, a member of the Cancer Committee of the General Grand Chapter and a part of the Order of the Eastern Star International Organization. Her duties in the international organization entailed working with 12 states to raise money for cancer awareness, treatment and research. She has also been the chairman of two fundraisers annually. In addition, she has coordinated funerals, visited members and their families during illness and death, transported members to doctor’s appointments and made calls of comfort. Jordan has also supported the Masonic Children’s Home, Shriner’s Hospital, the Heart Fund, the Arthritis Foundation, the Knights Templar Eye Foundation and the Home for the Aged and Infirm through her volunteer service as an Eastern Star.

Jordan is also a Georgia Master 4-H Club Life Member and was a Retired Senior Volunteer Program volunteer for three years. Her husband served 24 years as 4-H club Agent, and she assisted him as a 4-H leader during that time. She also worked with the Lov’n Care Mission for six years. She served as a food pantry monitor, dispensing food to needy families monthly; organized, stored and inventoried food from the food bank and community drives; and sponsored Senior Adopt Families for the past three years. Jordan also makes cakes and cookies for the Activity Department of Hospital Long Term Care Unit for the past 12 years as well as serving at patient activities and outings. She supports the Boys and Girls Club of Natchitoches to better educate the children in hopes of preventing crime, and she takes magazines and books to the hospital for the families of the patients.

Jordan was honored as Louisiana’s 2001 Mother of the Year for her dedication. They select winners based on a demonstration and promotion of good family values and morals.

VIRGINIA PROCTOR

Virginia Proctor is 84 years old and her relentless dedication to improving the health of all people is an inspiration. Proctor is an integral part of the Global Health Action.

Global Health Action’s early years is the story of two hardworking and determined women who chose to devote their time to make this dream organization a reality. Against all odds in the late 1960’s, Proctor and co-founder, Ada Fort realized that the huge discrepancies in global health care needed to be addressed. Sadly, many health professionals in developing countries did not have access to current information and research that was vital for diagnosis, treatment and care of disease.

Proctor and Fort knew that healthy people and healthy communities result in a healthy world. They worked tirelessly to make this a reality. It took several years of planning, studying and petitioning for funds before their diligence paid off and the International Nursing Services Association (INSA) was founded in Atlanta.

INSA is now known as Global Health Action (GHA). It is a private nonprofit organization that was established in 1972 to improve global health. Its mission is to empower health professionals from across the globe by enhancing their leadership and management skills so they can deliver better health care to their communities. With a proven history of designing and conducting community health training, leadership and management programs, GHA has trained more than 5,800 health professionals from 88 countries. Those graduates in turn serve 75 million people worldwide.

Through GHA, Proctor conveys the message that global health is a necessity as opposed to a privilege. She generates an understanding among people that it is the local leaders that can affect the greatest change because they are a part of the culture and the community. In addition, they have a vested interest and commitment to improving local health conditions. Proctor has been an integral part of the organization in excess of 30 years. She began as co-founder and a volunteer who has donated numerous hours of her time to speak, teach and fundraise on behalf of GHA.

Today, Proctor’s main passion is to raise awareness of GHA’s Give a Goat Project. This project provides Haitian families with a source of milk, meat and money that pays for school tuition, additional food and medical expenses. For her 80th birthday, Proctor accepted no material gifts. Instead she used a challenge to her church to raise money to purchase 25 goats for families in the mountains of Haiti. She then received 54 birthday goats for walking five miles in the Atlanta Hunger Walk. Four years and numerous goats later, Proctor, known as the “Goat Lady,” still receives goats for the Haitian project. To date, more than 400 goats have been donated at her request.

Proctor is an invaluable gem to GHA. At the age of 84, she still attends conferences, fairs and other events on behalf of GHA. The Atlanta Journal Constitution highlighted her because of her efforts to help others. She has and continues to have a far-reaching effect to serve others.

FASHIONABLY FRANKFORD

Fashionably Frankford. is a unique clothing project located in Frankford High School in Philadelphia. PA. The program has three clothing closets operated by the students of the Business Academy of the high school. Students of all races and economic backgrounds come together to manage the clothing store. The project started in 1998, and the students took a vacant classroom and turned it into a men’s closet providing work clothes to men in transition. Students, both male and female, gave up their lunch and after school activities to help men select the perfect interview outfit. As the need for their services grew, so did Fashionably Frankford and it was decided to add services for women and children, too. After opening the closet in March of 1998, the students were honored by the Philadelphia 76’ers for their community service. The program is planning a grand “re-opening” in late September to introduce the new services and newly decorated closets to the general public.

The students worked together as a group to form a Board of Directors, recruit and train other students, learn about clothing inventory and basically, how to run their “business.” Although no money ever changed hands, the students learned valuable retail skills. They learned to work together as a team and how to talk out their differences instead of physically fighting to make their intentions known. In September of 2002, Fashionably Frankford is adding additional services. Along with the individual closets serving men, women and children, the students will have a waiting area for its clients and will offer “customer service” The retail skills and customer service skills being taught to the students will prepare them for future employment in the retail field.

Also in the 2002 – 2003 school year, Fashionably Frankford will start a Peer Counseling Center to address the issues of family violence and dating violence. Students will receive 45 hours of training before being able to counsel their peers. Domestic Violence Advocates will train and supervise student peer counselors. There will be a counseling room where students may meet with peer counselors in a safe and secure environment. Fashionably Frankford is a division of Street Clothes Project, Inc; a non-profit organization created to give assistance and support to men and women completing job-training programs or is referred by social service agencies Fashionably Frankford provides business and casual clothing, as well as, personal care items, free of charge for school, job training, interviews and employment. The organization is dedicated to helping those who are working towards making a positive life change and they are committed to being able to give back to the community.

HELEN GOLOD

Helen Golod has been with the Martin County Chapter of the American Red Cross in Disaster Services only four years, but her original affiliation with the Red Cross goes back to a hospital in the Philippines during the Vietnam War. She wrote letters for GIs and did what she could to help alleviate their suffering. When she retired to Martin County, she remembered the satisfaction she got from that work and decided the Red Cross mission was one she could wholeheartedly commit to.

Golod’s commitment to disaster relief service has been the focus of her life over the past four years with our chapter. At the local level, she serves as a leadership member of our Disaster Response Team. In this capacity, Golod’s wears a pager around the clock for two weeks at a time. Pager communication enables rapid response to 911 operators, who alert the on-duty DRT captain when a fire, hazmat spill, or other community disaster requires direct relief assistance to victims or canteening for fire/rescue workers. Golod has responded in all weather and at all hours to bring Red Cross relief when it is most needed in our community.

Golod’s is a skilled and caring caseworker who is much in demand at disasters on the national level as well. She has worked 12- to 15- hour days on 14 different national disaster relief jobs, often in primitive conditions, at the scene of disasters caused by hurricanes, tropical storms, flooding, tornadoes, and terrorism. Golod spent a total of 10 weeks in New York City after the fall of the World Trade Center Towers. For three weeks in NYC, she supervised a team of social workers working the high-rise buildings around Ground Zero to identify individuals, families, and businesses affected by the terrorism with either immediate or long-term needs. They literally pounded the pavement with a goal of offering immediate aid and comfort to any who needed it and to familiarize all victims with the range of services available to help them cope with disruption of their lives and other losses.

As a member of the Red Cross roster of national disaster workers, Golod has rapidly risen from an inexperienced technician to a highly regarded team supervisor in less than three years. Golod does not passively wait to be called into action as a disaster relief worker. She shares her expertise at her home chapter by serving as coordinator of local disaster volunteers, staffing all special events sponsored by the Disaster Services division and ensuring that trained shelter workers are available for our 6-month hurricane season. Golod is an active trainer and has taught dozens of classes to new recruits.

JOSEPH CURRY

Joseph Curry is a 35 year-old male challenged by the affects of multiple sclerosis(MS). Despite that and even because of that, Curry has demonstrated the highest degree of altruism through his activist and volunteer activities.

While serving on the local Board of the MS Society, he helped create a “Wellness” program of aquatic fitness for people with MS. ACAC, which is a local fitness center, provides classes, education, Certified Instructors and periodic review and follow up. Curry then personally acquired a grant from the Christopher Reeve Foundation to assist in continued funding.

Because of his work as an advocate for those with MS and their families, Curry was awarded the Alex Sawyer Award from the MS Society. This encourages him to continue in his fight for education and awareness for the MS Society.

In addition to other service activities, Curry pursued national aid to further the mission of the MS Society. He pursued the cast of NBC’s, “The West Wing” to help with a public service announcement (PSA). The cast is working with the MS Society’s headquarters in New York to film the national PSA.

Along with his work for the MS Society, Curry volunteers with other community service organizations. He spends time locally as a volunteer ombudsman and mediator for an assisted living facility, Eldercare. He assists in dispute resolution between residents, staff and local leaders.