MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOUNDATION’S TIDEWATER YOUTH ENRICHMENT COALITION

During the spring of 2002 after the tragedy that hit our nation on September 11th, young people across Hampton Roads decided to change Virginia for the better. They realized that giving back was a priority for them.

The Making A Difference Foundation started the Tidewater Youth Enrichment Coalition (TYEC) to give young people between the ages of 12 and 18 the chance to show that they can make a difference in their community. Over 2,000 hours of community service have allowed for this group to mentor, tutor, help build decision making skills for young people, office work assistance, publication assistance, youth advisory board capacity building and much more. These youth have proven to Southeast Virginia residents that young people can give back and make a positive impact on meeting community needs.

All 47 of the young adults involved in the project have been given no stipend or money; they are strictly community servants. TYEC have volunteered each day of the week providing services for children in Kindergarten through 12th grade who are in need of mentoring, tutoring and one-on-one care to handle educational and social service issues.

When the youth in the community face an empty home after school, the TYEC provide a safe place for them to come. There they can do homework and have a tutor available if necessary. The youth can also find a friendly face who will also listen to the concerns the child may have during that time. Weekly, 1,000 children have been assisted in various capacities due to the dedication of the volunteers in the TYEC.

Parents drop off their children at the Making A Difference Foundation’s facility during the week as well as the weekends. The TYEC volunteers are available to assist in whatever way needed. In addition to befriending, listening to and tutoring the children, the TYEC volunteers also sort through donated clothing items for the homeless and indigent families of the area. They also help with food donations given to the Foundation, and they distribute the clothing and food donations to those in need. TYEC volunteers also went the extra mile and helped to create various publications to educate the community.

APPALACHIA SERVICE PROJECT, INC.

A visionary minister named Glenn “Tex” Evans founded the Appalachia Service Project (ASP) in 1969. Working in one of the most impoverished regions of the entire country, Central Appalachia, Evans recognized an overwhelming need for making homes in this particular region warmer, safer and drier. From his work with the United Methodist Church, Evans also was aware that youth groups across the country were hungry for service opportunities. Evans believed a “marriage” between the two needs seemed only natural. That marriage is ASP.

ASP’s theology of service encourages people to responsible service against poverty and injustice. In a time when our nation looks for a means to serve those in need, ASP volunteers invest their resources and physical labor into improving lives through home repairs. ASP accepts people right where they are; they do not try to change them, but they are present to meet a need. In America today, there is an imbalance between the rich and the poor. These are two very separate cultures, and throughout the year ASP takes the time and the opportunity to bridge the difference in those cultures and lend a helping hand.

For the past 33 years, ASP has worked throughout Central Appalachia in an effort to eradicate substandard housing by partnering volunteers with families who are in desperate need of repairs to their homes. Because of the large needs, this is a massive volunteer effort. During the year 2002 alone, they will have over 15,000 volunteers from over 30 states repairing 500 homes in Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia.

ASP transforms the lives of those who receive much needed home repair services. However, the lives of the volunteers are also dramatically transformed. Since its inception over 150,000 volunteers have impacted over 10,000 lives in the process of repairing homes. In addition, a disproportionately large number of ASP volunteers decide to choose service-related careers because of their experiences. Many of the volunteers also go back to their homes to continue service to enrich their own communities.

ASP is a Christian ministry, but neither the volunteers nor the service recipients must suscribe to a particular belief or religion. ASP believes they always share their faith through the good quality of their work and the careful stewardship of their resources.

PALM COAST LIONS CLUB

The Palm Coast Lions Club helps more than 42,000 print disabled and physically handicapped residents in Florida. They maintain a collection of more than 2 million books and circulate more than 1 million books annually by repairing special playback machines and recording print materials into cassette tapes and Braille. They also pull, mail, inspect and reshelf the books, which go and come on a semi-truck each day, perform duties in the Technical Services Section and help maintain a professional collection. In addition they perform public relations for the Library for the Blind.

The Lion Club’s volunteering at and for the Library helps to fulfill their purpose and mission in helping the blind, hard of hearing and Florida citizens with other disabilities to be able to take their own place in the community. These patrons receive educational and recreational materials and periodicals in a timely manner in a medium they can use other than print.

This Lions Club chose to volunteer at this Library in 1981 after a patron spoke to their club about the needs of this Library. After volunteering and seeing the Library’s needs they have recruited Lion members to fill these positions. They do their own recruiting and teaching others as they bring them in to volunteer. They have all worked, recruited and trained others in every section of the Library. Through their dedication they have helped to make it the largest library of its kind in the world. They have even been recognized in Update, the national newsletter of National Library Service, the section of the Library of Congress for the blind and physically handicapped, in both print and picture.

The Palm Coast Lions Club has a program for eye screening of pre-schoolers and school children at schools and elsewhere using special photographic equipment and an analysis by a doctor to determine potential eye problems. The Club supports student scholarships, high school Leo Club, training of guide dogs and takes a blind patron to schools to read stories to children in Braille. They also support the Florida Lions Conklin Centers for the Blind, Inc. and is often recognized by the Council on Aging for more than 20 years of volunteer service.

The quality of life of library customers/patrons is enhanced through the efforts of valuable volunteers such as the members of the Palm Coast Lions Club. They are so attuned to the library’s needs for volunteers they each travel 80 miles round trip to perform this hands on work. In the year of 2001, the number of volunteers has increased from 10 to 20 members from this Club. They have recognized the lack of sufficient funding for the Library and have helped in this area; two pieces of equipment are in the process of being donated now. They volunteer additional time on special workdays and bring others to volunteer when special workdays and special projects demand extra help.

DAVID PICKETT

The Beacon of Hope Boulevard Clubhouse is a special program for those living with mental illness. David Pickett has been a volunteer at the Clubhouse for a while and his experience there has been both educational and rewarding.

He faithfully comes to the Clubhouse to ensure it is in good condition for the clients. He makes sure the garbage cans are empty and changes the bags each day. He mops the floors, cleans the restrooms, wipes off the tables, washes the dishes and mops the kitchen floors. Pickett also wipes down the kitchen counter and sweeps the floor inside and outside the Clubhouse. He also encourages the clients to take pride in their facility and helps to teach them various ways to maintain cleanliness at the center.

Picket also goes to the post office and drops off mail for the staff at the Clubhouse. He works the front desk and assists with clerical duties like answering the phones and making sure the members and visitors sign in. Pickett assists the Director by escorting her to the bank. He also stays until the end of the day to help the clients close the facility at night and ensure that all the members are safe. In addition to these duties, Pickett also is a member of the Clubhouse Recreation Team. The Team does monthly event planning for various trips for the members.

Pickett likes to serve as a role model for the members at the Clubhouse. He knows it is hard dealing with mental illness because he also is living with the disease. People who are not sensitive to the needs of the mentally ill seem to use fancy words and make it hard to understand. However, Pickett makes it his business to ask questions and to educate himself daily. He was shy in school and the teachers assumed he was learning disabled so he was placed into special education classes. Because of this, he was not challenged academically; so now as an adult, he takes the time to learn patience, continuing to educate himself and help others learn more about those who are mentally ill.

The Clubhouse is the focal point of his volunteer service; however, it is also like a second home to Pickett. He shows the members there that they can succeed and have successful recoveries while gaining an understanding of life and the positive ways to live. Pickett takes the time to also help the clients with reading, and he enjoys welcoming new clients. He then looks to serve them to the best of his ability and welcomes them to the Clubhouse also.

Because of his positive attitude and dedicated service as a volunteer, Pickett was able to obtain a job as a porter maintenance worker. He hopes his success will continue to inspire those at the Clubhouse to continue in their recovery, return to the workforce and become productive members of society.

NANCY SIMONS

Nancy Simons has always been an advocate for children. She attended every practice for a POP Warner football league. In addition, she was at every game and fundraiser with the team. She also made it possible for children who wanted to participate to attend by giving them a ride.

Simons became a Police Athletic League (PAL) volunteer in 2001. She then worked with the basketball league. Though it is volunteer work, Simons takes it very seriously and is as dedicated to community service as she is to her paying jobs. Though she does work three jobs, Simons always makes time to work with the children in the community.

She has built a basketball court in her back yard. Many times there are 10 to 20 young people playing ball there instead of in the street. Simons makes it a point to help to direct youth and keep them on the right path. Her time as a PAL volunteer in invaluable and the program would not be as successful as it is in Kansas City without her attitude, dedication and demeanor.

She has done a myriad of tasks with the PAL program. Simons has managed and coached basketball. He has helped young people who needed additional instruction or tutoring with their work. She held fundraisers that enabled the basketball team to go to the National PAL Tournament. She speaks to the children about drugs, gangs and the dangers of hanging out in the streets. Simon also gives of her personal space by allowing children to utilize her personal basketball court. She creates a safe friendly environment for youth to participate in educational and fun activities.

Most people go home on a Friday night after working three jobs for the week; however, for Simons, that is the beginning of her real work. She believes it is her moral obligation to help keep the children off the streets, out of gangs, in school and out of trouble. It is evident that she is serious about this as she spends all of her free time doing just that.

When the PAL Officer was off work due to an injury, Simons stepped up so the children could continue to have recreational activities. She made sure all the young people had something productive to do during the evening hours in his absence. Many of the children in the PAL program come from single parents homes and their parent is not able to see them play sports. Simons steps in to fill that void and continue to encourage the youth. She treats all of the children as they were her very own, and they appreciate the sacrifice she makes to spend time with them.

THE CHORE SERVICE

The Chore Service was initiated by the Volunteer Center of Bergen County in 1977 to fill a growing need of home repair services for the elderly and/or disabled in Bergen County. The primary goal of the Chore Service is to help the elderly and disabled remain safe in their own homes. Chore is a free service; the clients are responsible to pay only the cost of the parts.

Volunteers working with paid drivers perform Chore’s services. Chore has approximately 25 volunteer handymen and women providing service on regularly scheduled crews. Two Chore vans with a crew of two to four volunteers are on the road every workday, reaching approximately 1,400 clients every year and completing more than 2,000 household repairs.

Chore completes simple household repairs that seniors and the disabled cannot do themselves. Some of these repairs are: the installation of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, fixing leaky faucets, weatherizing doors and windows, fixing door locks, repairing broken windows and minor electrical work. The Chore Service volunteers have become quite experienced in the installation of grab bars and railings, items that are often essential for individuals recovering from illnesses and accidents and those faced with frailty associated with aging.

The volunteer staff working for Chore is a unique group of men and women. To volunteer at Chore, a person must commit to one day a week from 8:30 am to 3:00pm. The volunteers are all retired senior citizens ranging in age from approximately 60-85. Each comes to Chore with his or her own skills and expertise. They are asked to go to all kinds of neighborhoods, from the very poor to, only occasionally, the very rich, and treat each client with dignity and respect. On a regular basis they are asked to go above and beyond what is expected of them and they do so willingly and without complaint. They understand the needs of the client population and provide service with kindness and warmth. Several thank you notes enclosed provide an example of how much they are appreciated.

The achievements of Chore are noteworthy on several accounts. The Chore program addresses the needs of the senior and disabled population in several ways. They honor a person’s need to be independent, while remaining safe in their own homes. Chore addresses the fact that the price for repair service often greatly exceeds the fixed income of the client population. There are many times when the handymen and women are asked to do a small task like changing a light bulb. Clearly there is no one to hire to do such a task, but it is of the utmost importance to the client’s safety and well-being.

In addition to keeping seniors and the disabled safe in their own homes, Chore provides an opportunity for retired people to work on a volunteer basis. Volunteerism fulfills a need for those wishing to help others and give back to their community. It is also a chance for volunteers to develop new long lasting relationships with their peers, and the camaraderie among Chore volunteers is delightful. The crews also provide the clients, many of whom are isolated and living alone, someone to talk to. Chore is a program that touches the senior and disabled community with integrity and kindness.

BROOKE ANDERSON

Brooke Anderson saw the importance of children having good role models and mentors more than 10 years ago and has been striving to ensure that the children of our nation are equipped with the skills they need to make good decisions. Brooke has mentored children in a variety of ways. She has volunteered at Mentoring Programs in the Atlanta and Athens area as well as throughout the state of Georgia. She has personally mentored children in after school programs, the Boys and Girls Club of America, and she has volunteered at Young Audiences of Atlanta. She has also been actively involved in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Organization and the 4-H Clubs. Brooke reads and speaks to children in elementary and middle schools across the state. She received a scholarship from NIKE P.L.A. Y. corps for her work in coaching youth tennis at a local park for two years.

Brooke has designed a program to be placed in middle-school classrooms to assist children in making good decisions. The program that she developed is called "Decision Making 101." This program gets back to the basics of teaching children right from wrong. Brooke has designed a placard that reads "Decision Making 101." The placard has three questions: 1. Is my decision good? 2. Is it right? 3. What are the possible consequences? This placard enables children to visually see three basic questions every day in their classrooms to help them think twice before making a decision and then make the right one.

Brooke has presented "Decision Making 101 " to State Departments of Education in all 50 states and the program is currently going strong in seven states. She has also created a brochure in which she shares her goals for America's youth and discusses "Decision Making 101.” Brooke has written and produced a 15-minute instructional video titled "From the Heart: Straight Talk With America's Youth." The video discusses issues facing young children today and sorts through the right ways to handle different situations. Educators and mentors are using this video as a catalyst to prompt discussion in their schools and organizations.

A brochure and an informational packet have been sent to every school superintendent in the nation and every Boys and Girls Club Director in the nation. Brooke has been in touch with First Lady Laura Bush through Secretary of Education Paige and is eagerly anticipating their first meeting. She has also been in contact with Governor Roy Barnes and he is very excited about "Decision Making 101" and the impact that it will have on our State and Nation. Brooke is working with the Coca-Cola Company to provide sponsorship of this program. If everything goes as planned, Coca-Cola will introduce "Decision Making 101" into every school in which they have vending machines on behalf of Brooke and the Coca-Cola Company.

Brooke is striving to promote this universal mentoring message by placing "Decision Making 101" in every middle school classroom across America. She has plans to establish an interactive web site, a crisis decision hotline, and National Public Service Announcements. She has been featured on the cover of a regional magazine for her program and has recently been selected as the Miss America State Community Service Award Winner. Through her years of mentoring, she has personally touched the lives of well over 15,000 children and informed numerous educators and community leaders.

KATHLEEN MCKENNA-HARMON

Perspectives Family Center and RESTART program share a unique partnership to assist homeless women. The Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) realized that there is a great need to help women who have been on drugs, involved with domestic violence or institutions by training them to become self-sufficient. They became concerned that spiraling housing costs, combined with welfare reform would put many more families on the street.

They work together and provide job training, job placements with competitive wages, future advancement and residency that accompanies the job placement. This partnership gives homeless women the change to obtain a respectful and affordable living situation for their families and a way to support their families on their own. The real estate industry gains well-trained and motivated employees and the women gain self- respect, a good paying job with a future and affordable housing.

Kathleen McKenna-Harmon has been the driving force behind this partnership. She has taken this mission on almost single handedly to promote this program within her industry and community. But most importantly, she has been an invaluable role model, support and cheerleader for the women participating. She has successfully convinced they women that they are worth this opportunity if they want to work for it, and she will be there in any capacity to support them as long as they are doing they part.

McKenna-Harmon has worked passionately on behalf of the women in the RESTART program. These women have very few job skills, but she has developed, recruited, trained and even found employers who will hire the women as resident managers. Because of this, the residents of Perspectives Family Center can move out of transitional housing and into permanent housing with benefits. The women are happy with the time and the “gift” of being able to obtain employment opportunities; however, they are most happy that they can become contributing members to society and have their dignity. For the first time, many of these women are excited about their own potential.

McKenna-Harmon takes a group of women who have failed by society’s standards and works with them to realize their potential and become professional women with a sense of self-esteem and self-worth. The women learn every aspect of the property management business and have the opportunity to go further once they graduate. IREM and McKenna-Harmon will then work with them so they can attain their real estate licenses. McKenna-Harmon is not about a lot of words; she is a woman of action. Her actions have affected many women and their children and resulted in a better Eden Prairie community.

MARYROSE MAZOLLA

MaryRose Mazolla is a very mature 12 year-old girl. For her 12th birthday, rather than accept gifts for herself, she asked family and friends to bring donations to Lahey Clinic in honor of her grandmother, after whom she is named. MaryRose’s grandmother receives care at Lahey Clinic and MaryRose wanted to honor her grandmother and to raise funds for cancer care.

Today, MaryRose continues to seek corporate matches for the funds she has raised and continues her cancer awareness crusade in honor of her grandmother who is her best friend. MaryRose has requested matching funds from various teen magazines and other corporate sources and, likewise, she continues fundraising drives during the Ha11oween season – asking family and friends to give donations in honor of all oncology patients rather than offer candy.

During November 2002, Lahey Clinic featured MaryRose in their Lahey Magazine that is distributed to 60,000 households, physician offices, and other businesses. Likewise, MaryRose was featured in a direct mail piece to 139,000 patients and to donors. In the direct mail fundraising piece, they will include a greeting card designed by MaryRose that will be signed and returned with a donation from donors. The card, featuring MaryRose’s artwork and the greeting, “we wanted you to know that someone is thinking of you today during your visit to Lahey Clinic,” will be given to patients in the oncology department who are at the Clinic for chemotherapy or radiation oncology. It is MaryRose’s hope that by receiving such a card, oncology patients will have a slightly more pleasant visit to Lahey. The direct mail piece is expected to raise over $200,000 for the Clinic.

The devastating news that one has cancer often leaves people feeling isolated or alone. Through mobilizing others to give to cancer care, MaryRose is proving to her grandmother and others living with cancer that they are not alone. Fundraising efforts using MaryRose’s story will allow Lahey Clinic to meet the needs of others living with Cancer. Additionally, MaryRose has educated her classmates, teachers, and friends about cancer and the challenges of those living with various types of cancers. Most importantly, she has given people with cancer hope for a brighter future. These activities have been going on for six months and will likely continue into the distant future. Lahey Clinic’s philanthropy department for years to come, for example, will utilize the direct mail piece. These selfless acts make MaryRose a unique young person. She is a star among the youth in her community.

The fund started by MaryRose is called “Gifts for Nana.” It started with birthday donations and is now growing as MaryRose brings awareness for more research and treatments for all cancers, particularly ovarian cancer.

MARK HUDSON

Mark Hudson, an engineer for Air Products, Inc., a leader, a motivator, a mentor, a volunteer, is involved at Kruse Elementary in the national H.O.S. T.S. (Help One Student to Succeed) mentoring program for students reading below grade level. His spirit of volunteer work is so contagious that his entire team – engineers, accountants, and office staff – participate.

Kruse Elementary is a low socio-economic campus with 89% of its 700+ students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. The students addressed in the program have limited experiences and accessibility to books in their homes. Hudson brings weekly his present-moment energy to the students’ benefit by using his knowledge, expertise, and encouragement. He and his team have students believing they can be successful academically and achieve whatever they dream. Kruse Elementary is now a Texas Recognized campus, and Hudson is one of the reasons Kruse students have a sense of competence as learners in order to perform well on state accountability tests.

He yearly participates in the Kruse Children’s Christmas Party by providing two children with gifts so they experience the joy of Santa. Also, he has helped at an event to raise money for the Project Kruse Scholarship Fund that enables students to attend college.

Hudson’s volunteer efforts span three states- Pennsylvania, Indiana and Texas. For example, he has been a blood platelet donor on a regular schedule for 10 years, donating in each state that he has lived. As a blood donor his platelets are transfused in patients as part of their cancer treatment.

He led a program, Pure Elf, at the Air Products facility in Indiana (Pure Air on the lake), which involved all of the employees (26) and partnered with the Boys and Girls Club of Valparaiso, IN., in which they sponsored needy children during the Christmas season. The major event was the giving of gifts (much like the Kruse program). This program has continued, and last year the team adopted 55 children.

Habitat for Humanity is included in his volunteer activities. He led his team’s involvement in fixing up houses for the needy. What a volunteer – truly affecting children’s lives. When he sees a need, he is there – he lives his values.

Hudson’s qualities as a leader in volunteer work are an inspiration to those who work with him. His values are demonstrated weekly. He wants children to be able to reach their potential and is willing to do what it takes to ensure success. Other volunteer activities are included in the supportive materials.