MARLIESE THOMAS

One-tenth of all Americans will die of cancer, unless something is done to find a cure for this disease. According to the American Cancer Society, many types of cancer can be prevented through healthy nutrition and lifestyle habits. Education and research are the keys to prevention and, eventually, the eradication of cancer deaths.

Even though her father’s mother and father died of cancer, Marliese Thomas never considered cancer a viable threat to her mother’s security. On April 4, 2002, her mother called her at college and said two words – breast cancer. Just four days later, Marliese’s mother underwent major surgery involving a right mastectomy and reconstruction. The entire family had questions, and the American Cancer Society’s reputation was such that it was the first place Marliese looked for information. During the following two years, her mother would undergo chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, radiation therapy, and operation on a surgical hernia. Recently, Marliese’s uncle was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which was isolated and removed.

In Spring 2003, Marliese returned to full-time status at Loyola University New Orleans. She found ways to work with the American Cancer Society, giving to others as they had given to her family. Her studies in public relations were invaluable, as she interned in the Kenner, La., office, volunteering more than 150 hours contacting local media about events and writing articles published in Health & Fitness magazine and the New Orleans Health Club Punch newsletter. An article about her involved with the Miss America system and community efforts, “Beneath the Crown,” was printed in Affaire de Coeur and Turn for the Judges, both national publications.

Marliese is also a trained spokesperson and community lobbyist for the American Cancer Society. She testified before the New Orleans City Council and remained in touch with her local representative, encouraging him to support a bill to restore local control of non-smoking areas. Louisiana taxpayers spend more than $1 million annually on healthcare for affected by smoked, either directly or secondhand, when less than 25% of the state population actually uses tobacco. As a result of Marliese’s lobbying efforts, the Louisiana State Hosue of Representatives passed an act allowing parishes to decide individually about making establishments non-smoking, except businesses where liquor is served. Marliese is also a guest speaker at civic meetings, schools and businesses, presenting a program of healthy living to prevent cancer development.

In October 2003, Marliese was a volunteer and team leader for the greater New Orleans Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Her team, the Theta Psi chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Sorority for Women, was invited to sing the national anthem and raised pledges in honor of Marliese’s mother. Not only was the cancer survivor there to see them perform, she was able to walk the entire course with them. In May 2004, mother and daughter will be teammates with other family in the Cullman, Ala., Relay for Life. Marliese is currently seeking full-time employment with the American Cancer Society, not only to continue the work she has begun, but also to make her impact exponentially greater and long lasting.

AUSTIN ROBERTSON, JR.

For the past 40 years Austin Robertson Jr. has devoted his time and talents to community service projects focused on education and the prevention and treatment of addictive diseases including gambling, alcoholism and drug abuse. The programs and organizations for which he has served are diverse, but his actions have been polarized to turn hardship into hope.

Because of Mr. Robertson’s counseling and encouragement, the Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling established CORE (Center of Recovery), a residential program that is both a place of help and hope for problem gamblers and their families. At its opening, CORE was the only state-funded facility of its kind in the United States. Mr. Robertson’s leadership in this area has further enabled the Association to open a similar facility in New Orleans. In addition, Mr. Robertson was instrumental in establishing the Louisiana Problem Gamblers Help Line, a 24 –hour 7 days a week program for referral and crisis intervention.

Mr. Robertson also is stabilizing force for the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse of Northwest Louisiana. His guidance in fundraising, capital expenditures, including acquisition of facilities to treat afflicted individuals and families, and day-to-day management maintain the Council’s focus on its mission to heighten public awareness that alcohol and other drug dependencies are preventable and treatable conditions. Under his direction, the Council’s operating budget has grown from $200,000 to an excess of $3,000,000. These funds enable the Council to help an average of 5,000 alcoholics and addicts to reclaim their lives.

Mr. Robertson also serves with Centenary College, which is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River. His tireless efforts on behalf of Centenary have enhanced the financial stability of the College and its Endowment funds, which in turn allows more students to avail themselves of outstanding educational and cultural opportunities. Through the establishment of a Pooled Income Fund, Mr. Robertson has greatly increased the College’s ability to attract and retain donors, regardless of means, who are interested in the future of America.

Mr. Robertson’s development of a Pooled Income Fund for First United Methodist Church of Shreveport enables members and non-members to contribute a modest amount towards the upkeep of the Church and the continuation of worthy community services that focus on preventative rather than curative. In addition, Mr. Robertson introduced the concept of a Pooled Income Fund to Red River Radio, which is a community-supported service of Louisiana State University in Shreveport. The station’s programming enriches the lives of the listeners and provides opportunity for personal growth by presenting materials that encourage new insights concerning life’s experiences and the relationship among individuals, society and the cultural environment.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD ALLIANCE, INC.

The Good Shepherd Alliance is a nonprofit organization with a mission to promote self-sufficiency and empowerment in the Northern Virginia area. They do this by teaching those who are suffering from homelessness and poverty and helping them to realize their individual assets as well as the assets in the community. The Good Shepherd Alliance has been in the Northern Virginia community for more than 20 years and currently operates a number of programs and services for those suffering from poverty and homelessness. Their services include emergency and supportive housing, workforce and youth development, case management, crisis services, counseling, advocacy and community outreach.

The Alliance has received local, state and national recognition for its work with these special populations, including being featured in several dozen local, regional and national media outlets. Most recently, the Alliance was named the first “Shelter of Promise” in the United States by America’s Promise for its work in providing a safe environment for children and families. The National YMCA, one of only two in the state of Virginia, also named them a National Safe Place. In addition, the Alliance has been recognized as a national model in delivering services to the homeless and those living in poverty from such organizations as the Congressional Hunger Center, Civic Practices Network, Institute for Children and Poverty and the University of Massachusetts.

They identify this need through a variety of avenues and will continue to do so through a collaboration with four organizations: the Institute for Children and Poverty, the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, the Union Seminary at Columbia University and the National Association of Community Action Agencies. These organizations are helping the Alliance to promote community dialogues called Dialogues on Poverty. These conversations bring community citizens together to promote action on behalf of those in transition and homeless. They have a lasting impact on the community, while in the short-term bringing these issues to the forefront of the community’s consciousness.

In 2003, the Alliance worked with more than 1,500 individuals and/or families through the various programs and services. Internally, the organization makes a commitment to having former homeless guests or former program participants on all levels of the organization’s leadership, including the Board of Directors and the Advisory Board. The Alliance continually acts as a beacon to the community for those that are often unheard. Most of the staff were formerly homeless, and this allows the organizations to help the guests obtain their goals in real ways.

Part of the programming includes an avenue for all program participants to volunteer or give back. The Alliance views civic engagement as an avenue to develop a deeper sense of community belonging, giving the low-income and homeless community members roots and a voice in the community. Often times, chronic homelessness is perpetuated by not giving those suffering a sense of community belonging. The Good Shepherd Alliance develops stronger community roots by empowering individuals to have a voice in the direction of the community for which they live. This has spawned various grassroots efforts by the homeless, including a voter registration drive and a homeless arts initiative.

OLEGARIO CANTOS, VII

Volunteer Olegario “Ollie” Cantos has been a Big Brother with Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters in Los Angeles (CBBBS), one of 460 affiliates of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBS), since 2000. Mr. Cantos was recently chosen as 2004 Big Brother of the Year by the 27 member agencies of the California Collaborative of Big Brothers Big Sisters. He exemplifies CBBBS’ mission of transforming lives through one-to-one mentoring relationships between a caring adult and a child in need.

Mr. Cantos’ entire life is about service and overcoming obstacles. His motivation for becoming a Big Brother stems from experiences surrounding growing up blind and realizing firsthand the value of mentoring. He writes: “As a blind child, life was difficult at times, not because of any barriers posed by my disability itself, but more accurately because of attitudes by some kids and adults about my blindness, which limited my opportunity for well-rounded growth.” Mr. Cantos has endured the physical and emotional obstacles of his blindness, yet has pursued his goals and achieved them. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Loyola Marymount University and a Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, and has received numerous awards and commendations for volunteer service.

Mr. Cantos understands well the positive effect a caring adult can have on the life of the child. He epitomizes the successes to which numerous mentoring studies give testimony. He is Big Brother to two boys – Seth, now 14, and Vicente, who is disabled due to a traumatic brain injury caused by a car accident when he was very young. Vicente is now 19 years old.

Over the years, the pairs have done just about every activity imaginable – from playing catch to going to the movies, from community service to just hanging out together. Mr. Cantos’ personal disability has never inhibited activity and as he does all things, Mr. Cantos engages his Littles with unbridled enthusiasm, energy, optimism and joy.

Mr. Cantos says: “More than ever, kids these days need positive role models to go to for advice, help guide them on a path to a solid future, and be a buddy to them in good times and in bad. I truly believe that, with the right level of commitment firmly in place, disability becomes immaterial. Indeed, that is exactly what has happened. It’s the quality time that’s most important.” He continues, “As far as I am concerned, these awesome buddies of mine ARE my little brothers, not just as part of the program in name only, but as brothers in every sense of the word. In a very real way, I have adopted them, and these adoptions are for life!”

Now residing in the Washington, D.C. area, Mr. Cantos continues to maintain communication with both his Little Brothers, often talking to them for hours at a time. On August 6, he stepped down as General Counsel and Director of Programs to the 90,000-member American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) where he provided advocacy and legal counsel to people with disabilities at a national level and served as the International Coordinator for Disability Mentoring Day. Just yesterday, he began service as the new Special Assistant to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in the United States Department of Justice. President George W. Bush and Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao have recognized him for his work.

DORIS FREDIEU

Doris Fredieu is an employee of the Federal Correctional Complex (FCC) in Lompoc, California. She is the epitome of a volunteer as she continually volunteers in many different arenas, both at work and home. She has been involved with the Affirmative Action Committee as the Federal Women Program Manager (FWP) since 2000 at FCC Lompoc. During her tenure as FWP Manager, she has been a key player in the success of the current FCC Lompoc Affirmative Action Committee. Her dedication and professionalism to the program are beyond reproach.

Fredieu was instrumental in developing and organizing the gathering of Christmas gifts for needy children in the annual “Angel Tree” charity. As a result of her dedication and can do spirit, Fredieu was able to collect gifts from staff for over 110 children in the local community. She also organized a Christmas party for children of the Marks House, a local homeless shelter, where she collected a pair of shoes and Christmas stocking for each of the more than 15 children.

During the holiday season, Fredieu was also responsible for collecting food items to make Thanksgiving meals for the local women’s shelter. There was enough food to provide ten meals for the families who resided there.

Fredieu is also actively involved with the Lompoc School District. She helps as a volunteer for the Junior Achievement Program for the 9th grade class at the local high school. She has also been a judge for the Senior Class projects for the local high school. Fredieu is also a volunteer for the community’s literacy program, where she spends her personal time assisting adults who cannot read and write.

A school supply drive was a success due to Fredieu’s dedication. She implemented, organized and coordinated the donations of 15 backpacks filled with school supplies for a local homeless shelter for children. As a result of the overwhelming response to her request, there were additional school supplies donated. She has also been actively involved in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and Daffodil Days.

Fredieu also implemented a recognition program for outstanding students from both local high schools to be awarded during Women’s History Month. She also established a fundraising committee for scholarships of the children of staff at FCC Lompoc. Due to her determination and dedication, the committee raised over $2,000 that was given out to the students.

FAMILY SERVICES WOODFIELD

For the past 154 years, change has been a constant at Family Services Woodfield (FSW) as it works to carry out its mission of building families and communities. The biggest change came in 1988, when FSW moved to the inner city of Bridgeport. As staff left in the transition, FSW replaced them with community members who brought not only formal skills, but also knowledge of their neighbor’s needs and strengths.

Vyola Parker of Parker’s Pampering and Wellness Spa opened her business in Bridgeport in the summer of 2000. A relative suggested she enroll in a Workshop in Business Opportunities (WIBO), a 16-week course for business entrepreneurs, to sharpen her business skills. Parker and her classmates delved into financing, human resources and building a business plan. In fact, Vyola Parker and her family members are now among 188 entrepreneurs whom WIBO has graduated in the past four years. Through other Family Assets programs, she has obtained a grant to buy inventory and hooked up with a mentor, another community business owner whom she meets with regularly. Now she is looking into a micro loan through Family Assets to help her expand.

Today FSW is so thoroughly embedded in the community that distinctions between staff and community blur. Staff may come first to FSW as clients, volunteers or children accompanied by their parents. Together with their families and neighbors, these staff help shape FSW’s constantly evolving services that embrace all dimensions of what low-income families in Bridgeport need to thrive.

Families turn to FSW for connections to senior services, youth programs, mental health care and Family Strengthening Teams. When an FSW counselor could not find services for a deaf child, FSW created deaf outreach program. Young people in the juvenile justice program make and sell boats and guitars through FSW partnerships with business entrepreneurs.

FSW not only help families develop economic sustainability, but the agency practices the principle itself. More than half of FSW’s income comes from revenue-generating activities. FSW’s Employee Assistance Program successfully markets its extensive counseling expertise to for-profit companies. The Food Service Enterprise began as Meals on Wheels for seniors, and has now grown to include food service for childcare centers, families, individuals with HIV/AIDS and a for-profit frozen meal delivery service. The Deaf Sign Language Interpreter Program, one of the agency’s most significant financial engines, counts all of Connecticut’s acute care hospitals among its clients.

In addition to generating revenue, FSW ensures that no single funder provides more than 10 percent of the agency’s total income. FSW also became the first family services agency in the country to gain U.S. Treasury Department Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) certifications in order to strengthen financial services available to the community through Family Assets.

BETTY ANN HAUSER

Betty Ann Hauser is a volunteer for Amen Food Pantry, the American Red Cross, the Magnolia Hospital Auxiliary, Project Homestead, the Salvation Army, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency along with other organizations. Ms. Hauser not only serves the community through the agencies, but she also recruits others to become volunteers in the community.

Ms. Hauser helped form the Amen Food Pantry, which serves the entire county. Several churches had their separate food pantries; however, Ms. Hauser met with all the church leaders and suggested combining their resources to serve the entire community. Thus, the Amen Food Pantry was formed. While serving at the pantry, Ms. Hauser recruits volunteers from churches, schools, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Brownies and other organizations.

Ms. Hauser also works at the Magnolia Hospital as a “Pink Lady Volunteer.” She helps people locate clients in the hospital. She also makes craft items for the hospital craft store. Ms. Hauser also takes it upon herself to recruit retired men and women to come in and serve with her. Ms. Hauser has received a pin for contributing in excess of 3,500 hours of volunteer service.

Ms. Hauser serves at her church by teaching religion classes to the youth. She has also been a mass choir leader and youth choir leader for several years. As a Red Cross volunteer, Ms. Hauser spent three weeks in New York after the tragedy on September 11th. She impacted the lives of many families there with her compassionate words and listening ear. Last year, she spend three weeks in Texas helping with the Flood Disaster and three weeks in California giving aid to those who were being affected by fires. Because of her time with the families there, she still keeps in contact with some. Ms. Hauser has also helped locally in Mississippi. She collects food and clothing for those who have been victims of house fires or floods.

Ms. Hauser also serves with the Salvation Army. She has been an active supporter of the Back to School Program and has purchased school supplies and backpacks for children whose families were not able to afford them. She has also helped with Christmas baskets that benefit the entire family. Ms. Hauser has also set up time for scouts to earn their service badges by having them help at the Amen Food Pantry.

Ms. Hauser has also represented Kappa Kappa Iota Teaching sorority club on the Corinth Area Arts Council for seven years, trained classes for CPR and community first aid certification and trains new volunteers for the Magnolia Hospital Auxiliary. She is a Community Disaster Education Instructor, a Shelter Operations Trainers and is an avid supporter of Project Homestead.

Before retiring from her career as a Real Estate Agent, Ms. Hauser served on the State Board of Realtors and the Four County Board of Realtors. She was instrumental in solving business problems both on a state level and locally. Ms. Hauser works to serve the poor and vulnerable. She always takes care that the dignity of the recipients is protected, and they are respected as brothers and sisters in Christ.

LESLIE MILLER

Leslie Miller has made a life-long goal of educating children and teens about the reality of cancer in their lives and what they can do about it. Because she knows that cancer affects every one in two men and one in three women, Ms. Miller is working to educate the community and especially youth, about this health concern.

Ms. Miller founded Teen Cancer Awareness Advocates Taking Steps (CAATS) For Prevention and Detection. This is a group of students dedicated to instilling early cancer detection and prevention habits in their community. Teen CAATS currently consists of about 20 high school students, and Ms. Miller organizes and plans all of their activities.

Ms. Miller is very active in the community and has coordinated a Cancer Awareness Week for the past two years in both her high school and the entire community at large. The mayor has made a proclamation each year designating one full week to cancer awareness because of her efforts. Cancer Awareness Week (CAW) is focused on teaching youth about the reality of cancer in their lives and what they can do about it.

During CAW, Teen CAATS assist Miller in the many activities. They take part in the rallies where cancer survivors and those closely affected by the disease speak to others. Ms. Miller contacts every florist in town and solicits donations of purple ribbons for the students to wear for support and unity. In addition, Ms. Miller works to get purple bows donated to hang in the businesses throughout Clarksville. Businesses also donate prizes, which are given to random students that are wearing their purple ribbons during this time. Ms. Miller also collects photos from students and faculty members of friends that were victims of cancer and use them in a memorial wall. This wall puts real faces on a disease that so many often try to ignore. There are also post CAW health classes that evaluates the knowledge participants have gained during the week.

Ms. Miller is aware that prevention is the most desirable way to approach cancer. As with many other things, it is better to be proactive than reactive with this disease. She teaches about eliminating the use of tobacco, limiting alcohol consumption, eating more fruits and vegetables, avoiding inactivity and applying sunscreen everyday.

Cancer Awareness Week for Kids is a program that Ms. Miller designed with Teen CAATS. This targets second graders and presents them five methods of cancer prevention. Ms. Miller provides creative activities like puppets, coloring sheets, word searches, poster contests and singing. She and the Teen CAATS spend a week with the second graders and teach them how to utilize these steps to remain safe from cancer. Their age makes them very good candidates for prevention because these positive habits are being learned early.

In addition to Teen CAATS, CAW and CAW for Kids, Ms. Miller also organizes a high school team for the annual Relay For Life, which is the American Cancer Society’s largest fundraiser. During this past year, they raised in excess of $1,200.

ELEANOR WEN

Eleanor “Ellie” Wen is the founder and manager of an innovative Web site that features hundreds of recorded texts and has become a vital tool for many worldwide who are seeking to improve their English. Ellie created the Web site titled RepeatAfterUs.com. Her website features more than 4,000 texts that range from Mother Goose to Hamlet to the Gettysburg Address. Audio clips accompany more than 500 selected texts and allow the site visitors to hear a range of material read aloud. She has dedicated hundreds of hours to finding material, recruiting readers, contacting literacy programs and maintaining the website.

While Ellie was running a poetry workshop and a tutoring program for children at Las Familias del Pueblo, she began to conceive RepeatAfterUs.com. The poetry workshop helps the local immigrant families, and she believed another program could give more assistance to those who were trying to master the English language. She saw first hand the importance of learning English and how mastering the language would positively impact the children’s futures. However, she felt that non-English speakers that lived in more isolated areas would have greater difficulty meeting with a tutor.

RepeatAfterUs.com utilizes the Internet to bring the English language and teaching material to many people in her city, in remote areas and far beyond. Since its inception, the site has had an excess of 20,000 visitors. Students, teachers, Peace Corps volunteers and literacy programs throughout the world have visited and praised the website. Individuals, organizations and embassies in countries from Egypt to Uruguay have sent messages of thanks and appreciation.

Ellie’s work to bring the English language to people in remote areas has impacted a myriad of individuals. At the most basic level, her site offers free, accessible educational tools to persons working to improve their mastery of the English language. It is a service to non-native speakers striving to integrate and participate more fully in American society. At a deeper level, the site’s material showcases the beauty of the English language and the richness of the American culture.

Ellie has used a technological tool of the future, the Internet, as an ambassador for the language, culture and spirit of our great nation. She is using the Internet to aid and educate people all over the world. Her dedication reaches out to the international community and creates connections that stretch across the continents. Ellie does all this while continuing to volunteer at Las Familias del Pueblo, fencing, acting, writing, singing and serving as her high school Junior Class President.

KIM BULLARD

Women leaving prison in Alabama walk out the door with ten dollars in their pocket, a bus ticket and little more than the clothes on their back. Most of them have no one to turn to, no means of survival and they feel alone and afraid. Kate Richardson works with Aid to Inmate Mothers (AIM) and is a former inmate herself. Marian “Kim” Bullard heard Richardson speak to the UMWIM group at St. James United Methodist Church in Montgomery and was inspired to encourage the women of her group to partner with AIM to create a clothes closet for newly released inmates.

Ms. Bullard was the catalyst in the final stages of making Kate’s Closet a reality. Bullard is a member of the Good News Board of Directors and the RENEW Network Steering Committee as well as the President of the UMWIM. She mobilized resources in the community and at the church so these women who had already paid their debt to society could receive assistance to get them started on a positive road for the rest of their life.

In June of 2002, Kate’s Closet was born, and it was more than a second-hand store. Ms. Bullard wanted it to be a nice place that the women felt welcomes since they have been through so much and are now being faced with many demands. Their goal has been to allow the women to have at least one hour to gain self-confidence and to find all the positive attributes that they each have within. Also during that time, they can pick out suitable clothing and hygiene products they were in need of. Kate’s Closet has trendy racks and cabinets and brightly painted walls. These extra touches give the converted barn the charm and class of a high-end mall boutique. The suits, dresses, shoes, purses and accessories are donated in excellent condition; some of the items still have price tags attached.

The shop is run exclusively by volunteers, and Ms. Bullard coordinates the volunteer schedules from the UMWIM group. Newly released inmates find unconditional love and acceptance at Kate’s Closet. They are welcomed with the same excitement you are welcomed in a high-class boutique. During their stay at Kate’s Closet, a makeup artist treats the women to a makeover and accessories to complete the six outfits with which each woman is provided. In addition, the women are able to select a wrapped basket of hygiene items, new undergarments and pantyhose.

When the women come to Kate’s Closet, Ms.Bullard does not quiz them about their past. Their questions center around the women’s favorite color and whether they prefer to select suits or dresses. This outreach to prison inmates has become a community effort, going beyond UMWIM. Two local television channels covered the grand opening of Kate’s Closet. Ms. Bullard solicits many women in the area to donate to Kate’s Closet. She has even received support and assistance from the Junior League with this project.

After leaving Kate’s Closet, the women are then assisted by AIM to secure employment and housing and to provide essential supportive counseling for one year after release. “ Women come in to get something to wear, but they leave with hope.” Ms. Bullard has not only impacted the women who are released from Julia Tutwiler Prison in Alabama, but because of her efforts and those of the other volunteers, Kate’s Closet has become a model for other communities to replicate.