HERMAN SLOTOROFF
When a recovering heart patient contemplates life after surgery, the prospects may seem bleak. Herman Slotoroff, a 70-year-old retired accountant from Somers, NY, however, saw opportunity on the horizon. Told by his doctors that exercise and a good diet were essential to his recovery from a heart bypass operation, he took them at their word. The result, 10 years later, is an ongoing program, the By-Pass-Open tennis tournament, that through his efforts has contributed more than $200,000 to the American Heart Association for heart research. It also has promoted the cause of exercise and a healthy diet for hundreds of recovering heart patients.
Although he had never organized a public event before, Mr. Slotoroff, an avid tennis player before his operation, created the By-Pass-Open in 1993. He incorporated the Open as a nonprofit organization, convinced a nearby tennis club to donate its facilities on an off day, and then personally undertook all the myriad tasks needed to make the tournament a reality. Recruiting recovering heart patients as players, through referrals and through suggestions offered by the many doctors he solicited, his first day-long tournament set the pattern for a day-long tournament that has taken place every year since then. The program has not only won funding for heart research through entry fees and sponsorships, but has promoted the cause of a healthy diet through the printed material he has made available at the tournament, and through the low-fat pre-event and post-tournament luncheon.
As his program has grown, Mr. Slotoroff has won commendations for his efforts including a book on exemplary nonprofit concepts, CPR For Nonprofits, and attracted players from all over the country including such luminaries as former New York City Mayor David Dinkens and CNN financial commentator, Myron Kandel. The program he created is a unique effort and one will continues to grow annually.
For more information on the tournament, visit the By-Pass-Open web page or the American Heart Association web page.
PETER LOR
Peter Lor is a longtime member of the community served by NYU Downtown Hospital: his 65-year residency in Chinatown has been interrupted only by his military service. During the World War II, to protect the United States, to make peace in the world, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps to serve the country (1942-1947). After his retirement from the restaurant business, Mr. Lor was looking for a way to stay active and benefit the community. In 1995, he heard NYUDH Volunteer Department recruiting Chinese Volunteer Corp. on the radio, making an appeal for volunteers to work at the Hospital. Mr. Lor saw his opportunity, and has been serving at the hospital ever since.
At the age of 80, when many people might feel overburdened by the demands of volunteer work, Mr. Lor is at the hospital every week, sometimes helping with filing in the Outpatient department, preparing patient’s charts for doctors, getting laboratory reports and getting supplies for the clinic. But most often Mr. Lor translates for Chinese patients who are non-English speaking.
A couple of years ago, Mr. Lor was diagnosed with cancer. However, he has not let health difficulties interfere with his community service any more than he has let age slow him down. In recent years he has undergone radiotherapy and chemotherapy for cancer and has continued to volunteer at the Hospital throughout his illness, even for the four months in 2000 when he was receiving both regimens simultaneously. Today, with his chemotherapy continuing, he says that it makes him tired; but he has not cut back on his schedule at the hospital.
In fact, when someone is in particularly difficult circumstances, he is willing to help far beyond his scheduled duties if patients need him. Not long ago, a 40-year-old woman, unable to speak English and without family or friends help, was referred by clinic for surgery at the Hospital For Joint Diseases. Without reducing his other scheduled volunteer time, Mr. Lor accompanied and translated for the woman during all the related appointments and through the surgery itself, spending up to five hours at a time at the Hospital For Joint Diseases.
Because so many people served by the hospital are Chinese immigrants, cultural and social problems often hamper their ability to obtain relief from health problems. At the outpatient clinic, more than 90% are Chinese, and 60% of the patients in inpatient care are Chinese. Bilingual support is necessary and crucial to providing these patients and community residents with quality health care services.
Until the early 90’s in Lower Manhattan, the predominant Chinese language was Cantonese and only 10% was Mandarin. Today 50% of Chinese speak Mandarin. There is a great demand for Mandarin interpretation at the clinic. Patients who speak only Mandarin Chinese are unable to communicate with most of the Chinese staff who speaks Cantonese in the clinic. Mr. Lor spoke only Cantonese when he came to volunteer; in order to meet the demand of interpretation for the Mandarin speaking patients, Peter learned to speak Mandarin at the age of 72, when conventional wisdom has it that a new language is nearly impossible to learn. Now he interprets both Cantonese and Mandarin for patients.
LINDA MALINOWSKI
Linda Malinowski works daily to find ways of making life better for those around her. She is a dedicated supporter of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a local food pantry and members of her community.
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is dedicated to curing and improving the quality of life for people suffering from Leukemia, Lymphoma, Hodgkins Disease and melanoma. Ms. Malinowski works to raise money for the organization throughout the year. The money is used for research, financial assistance, and patient aid programs and for patients and their families. She also sponsored a young girl, Lindsey, for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Lindsey was born with Down’s Syndrome and Leukemia, and she and her family are vigorously fighting the disease. They are very thankful for Ms. Malinowski’s support and are looking for the funds to help soon find a cure.
Ms. Malinowski also practices the art of active listening. Many may not recognize this talent as valuable but it can save lives. People with serious concerns or problems talk with Ms. Malinowski because she is willing to lend her ear and direct them to agencies that can further assist them. In addition, she will follow up with a card or letter to let that person know she is still thinking about them and encouraging them to be positive and to continue to work through whatever challenge they are facing.
Malinowski has also volunteered her time with the Wild Life Federation, the Humane Society and a local food pantry that is a Catholic Charity program helping needy families in the community. She also helps elderly neighbors with chores around the house as well as transporting them to doctor’s appointments or to the grocery store. Ms. Malinowski also makes sure they take their medications, fix lunch and visits with them to keep them company.
THE CHILD RESCUE FOUNDATION, INC.
Thousands of women and children are impacted by domestic violence daily. The Child Rescue Foundation, Inc. (CRF) maintains the mission to provide financial aid to families and children impacted by trauma and violence and to continue to establish outreach and feral programs that provide a holistic approach to recovery for those that have been impacted by violence. CRF focuses most of its violence prevention and education programs in the Denver metro area where Denver police respond to more than 6,000 domestic violence calls annually with more than 1/3 of the calls involving children who witness the violence. Since 1996, there have been more than 300 homicides directly related to domestic violence.
The Teddy Bear Project™ was created three years ago to provide gifts for children who have been impacted by violence. In three years, CRF has provided more than 26,000 plush animals as a symbol of unconditional love for kids in crisis. Each year CRF works for months to build partnerships with community leaders (such as the Build A Bear Company, Rocky Mountain Alarm Co. and the Bombay Trading Company) and to gain volunteers who will collect and re-tag the teddy bears. 2003 marks the second year that CRF has collected and retagged plush animals on Make A Difference Day. This year, 97 volunteers helped to collect 1,598 stuffed animals, 40 packets of blankets, and 25 packets of diapers. The collected items were delivered to Denver-area aid organizations.
The Teddy Bear Project™ impacts two different portions of the Denver community. The first group is comprised of community members who donate or volunteer to retag and deliver the items. They are reminded of the importance of violence prevention and education. The volunteers are also motivated to take action in their own lives and the lives of those that they care for. The second group is composed of people who have experienced violence and may depend on the kindness of aid organizations and individuals for their survival. The stuffed animals are retagged with the contact information for CRF, which offers information on available resources, if and when the child is in trouble. The tags also contain a special message to the recipient with its own special name. The University of Denver athletes/students have an ongoing commitment to this program and feel hat it greatly adds to the students’ college experience by exposing them to the issue of domestic violence by aiding the healing process for children in crisis.
Domestic violence impacts all of us. CRF’s program is unique, because it strives to galvanize the community, especially the children, in giving back to the community. More than 2,700 Girl Scouts work on this project during the fall season each year. These symbols of unconditional love provide hope, peace and care in times of crisis.
DOROTHY NELSON-2
Well into her 70’s, when many senior citizens might consider slowing down, Dorothy holds two on-going volunteer positions, both requiring a high level of skill and commitment.
Dorothy has been a volunteer staff member of the Montgomery County Volunteer Center since June of 1998. She works approximately 15 hours per week, and maintains and updates a vast database of volunteer needs of the over 600 non-profit or public agencies that are registered with the Volunteer Center. This is no small task with more than 2,000 volunteer opportunities in the database that is ever changing with the needs of the community.
In order for the Volunteer Center to mobilize people and resources to deliver creative solutions to community problems, the database serves as the link in matching businesses, religious organizations, school groups, scout groups, neighborhood associations, and individuals to one-time, short-term, or ongoing volunteer opportunities. As such, it is critical that the information contained in that database be current and complete. Her work requires meticulous record keeping, computer, and people skills. As the technology changes in maintaining the database, Dorothy is ready and willing to learn a new system or process to insure the efficiency and integrity of the database.
Dorothy became a member of the Montgomery County Long Term Care Ombudsman Program in February of 1995. The program is designed to resolve complaints made by residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The program serves more than 6,000 long-term care residents throughout the region. Dorothy oversees the quality assurance component of the program. Her nursing background and quality assurance knowledge have been an integral part of the successful record keeping required in the advocacy work of the more than 60 volunteer ombudsman representatives and eight staff members of the program. Dorothy has created an atmosphere of credible service because she assures continuity through the review of all records before closure. She is dependable and reliable, volunteering an average of 3-4 hours every week.
In both programs Dorothy’s work meets critical community needs. At the Volunteer Center the database that she manages is posted on the Volunteer Center website and accessed by thousands of county residents who are interested in getting involved and making a difference. The feedback received from the agencies that rely on the Volunteer Center database to recruit volunteers, and from the people in the community that access the database on the website is consistently positive. Her work is literally building a connection between the needs of the nonprofits and the resources of those interested in solving community problems.
Her work with the Ombudsman Program also has an important impact. Due to Dorothy’s competency in the quality assurance field, the program is able to continuously re-evaluate areas for training and improvement. Her work helps make the Program’s goal, to promote the highest possible quality of life and care for residents living in the County’s licensed nursing homes and assisted living facilities, a reality.
YOUTH RALLY STAFF OF THE UNITED OSTOMY ASSOCIATION
The United Ostomy Association is a volunteer-based health organization dedicated to providing education, information, support and advocacy for people who have had or will have intestinal or urinary diversions. Headquartered in Irvine, California, UOA serves more than 25,000 members in the United States of all ages.
People with ostomies come in all sizes, ages, and physical descriptions. More than 250,000 people have been helped by UOA in the past 40 years. Often the association meets them as young children, watches them grow through their teens to young adults and ultimately sees them as fully independent and productive adults.
For 25 years, UOA has been sponsoring a summer Youth Rally – a camp for children aged 11-17 who have an ostomy or related procedure, usually caused by birth defects such as Spina Bifida, Hirschprung’s Disease, Cloacal Exstrophy, Crohn’s and Colitis, or even bladder or colon cancer. Ever since the first UOA Youth Rally in 1978, they have been dedicated to healing young lives affected by ostomies, continent diversions and bowel and bladder medical conditions. In fact, UOA is the only agency in the United States that conducts this event for children with these conditions.
In these 25 years, UOA has reached thousands of special-needs children. The Rally is held on a university campus and includes informative health education classes on topics ranging from dating and hygiene, multiple surgeries, what clothing will camouflage the ostomy appliance, and dancing, sightseeing, shopping, and all kinds of sports. Days are filled with active times of laughter and learning and quiet times of conversation with peers and staff who have similar situations – all provided in a sage, healthy, fun-filled camp environment. Many of these children have never met another person their age with the same medical challenges, and for many it is the first time they are away from home, The Rally teaches the independent living skills they will use for the rest of their lives to be fully functional adults. And the children make lifelong friends with home they communicate regularly to discuss their progress to wellness.
The Youth Rally requires dedicated staff and medical professionals that are passionate about helping special-needs children. It takes more than 50 such counselors and specialized nurses to support the Rally each summer. Most of them are ostomates themselves and all of whom have used their personal vacation time and own finances to attend and provide the special attention our campers receive. The expense to promote and run the Rally is entirely born of donations made my UOA chapters and members, the special volunteer counselors and nurses, other medical professionals, and corporations. UOA’s Central Office provides administrative support, while the Rally Program Chair, Medical Chair and Psychological Support Chair are all volunteers.
Most campers attend the Rally for 4-6 years consecutively. Once a camper turns 18, they “graduate” from the Rally. Many of them subsequently return as volunteer counselors because they learned the skills they need to be able to now help other children. This truly demonstrates the benefit of the Rally and the ongoing involvement of the campers. At last year’s camp, close to 50% of the volunteer counselors were previous campers.
JADE RUBICK
Domestic abuse has been in the forefront of our society during the past decade; however, what is not publicized is that it does happen to men. According to the latest published survey of US couples, two million men a year are severely assaulted by their spouse or mates.
Men have been told that they cannot leave the family, even if there is abuse, because they are abandoning their responsibility. Many men stay in abusive relationships because they feel they can act as a protector for the children from possible abuse. They also stay because they assume the legal system will not grant them custody because they are a man. They also fear that visitation in the hands of a controlling spouse will never be easy, and they may not see their children again.
There are 24-hour crisis lines and shelters available for women experiencing domestic violence, but there are hardly any such services available for men in the United States. Jade Rubick created and founded a nonprofit organization, Stop Abuse For Everyone (SAFE). This organization provides resources and services for those who are dealing with domestic violence. SAFE is an international organization with headquarters in Portland, Oregon.
Mr. Rubick started SAFE in 1996 as a grassroots organization and it received its 501(c)(3) federal status in the beginning of 2001. He developed SAFE after experiencing first hand the lack of services to underserved victims of domestic violence crime in the arenas of law enforcement, health care providers, social service and other domestic violence intervention programs.
He looked to make it as easy as possible for service providers to expand their services to other victims. Through Mr. Rubick’s efforts and support, SAFE now provides a myriad of services. They provide Professional Trainings and Presentation through the SAFE Speakers Bureau, Brochures for the underserved DV groups, on-line resource lists and direct services such as court advocacy, support groups, hotlines and community resources.
SAFE has served tens of thousands of people since its inceptions. Mr. Rubick has let men throughout the world no they are not alone and not to keep silent. He has also created The Stop Abuse For Everyone website at www.safe4all.org. This site has a list of resources that indicates what kinds of help are available in various areas in addition to an on-line support and discussion group.
RUTH CORNELL ATHEY
Ruth Athey took in her friend to live with her and her family after a domestic violence case and divorce, when her friend had no money, car or a home. Mrs. Athey helped her friend to find a house in the neighborhood where she lives so she could be near her children. Mrs. Athey also helped her friend to furnish a large, four-bedroom house with furniture from her antique shop, at cost. This is just one example of Ruth Athey’s kindness and generosity.
Mrs. Athey is a Red Cross volunteer who has served at Ground Zero and numerous other assignments, since her husband’s death. Mrs. Athey also volunteers at the Herrick Public Library gift shop. She has been a guardian counselor and power of attorney for many people whose families live far away. She also intends to donate her body to Mayo Clinic for research.
Mrs. Athey can best be described as a special person, a loving neighbor and friend.
GOLUB CORPORATION
In 1964, Golub Corporation approached 4-H Youth Development programs in Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady and Schoharie Counties to work jointly in providing about 4,000 youth with a great opportunity. Youth in grades 3-12 from the participating counties would learn how to propagate vegetables, experiment in vegetable production, practice record keeping, accept responsibility and experience the business side of agriculture.
The Golub Corporation proposal stated that they would supply youth with seeds and plants, marketing supplies, a warehouse training session and recognition on completion of the program. Jointly, Golub and the Cornell Cooperative Extension Associations developed a plan for the program. Youth would be required to fill out an application, which would include a plan of the garden, and a choice of which Price Chopper store would market the produce. Applications for the program were to be filed out and handed in by February. The applications would be available through Cornell Cooperative Extension in the participating counties. Golub Corporation would purchase up to $500.00 per growing season. (The average amount earned in 2002 was $90.00 per grower.)
Volunteer area leaders provided by Cornell Cooperative Extensions, support gardeners on a day-to-day basis with encouragement, marketing questions and growing tips. Cornell Cooperative Extension staff provides overall program organization, training to area leaders and participating youth, and assistance in marketing produce. Volunteer Master Gardeners make personal visits to gardens, providing technical support and encouragement.
The commitment that Golub made and continues to make over 39 years, to youth development in the Capital District, is far beyond financial. Youths have demonstrated leadership and decision-making skills by planning and planting a vegetable garden with the positive support form trained caring adult volunteers. They have been provided with opportunities to practice life skills such as, planning/organizing, goal setting, critical thinking, problem solving, learning to learn, teamwork and responsibility.
LEE-MARTIN SLOAN
Lee-Martin Sloan helped to organize the Helping Hands Club, originally called the Humanitarian Club, in 2000. She has remained an integral part of the club, serving in the capacity of Chairman of the Board of Student Advisors, as she has for three years.
Lee-Martin spends many hours helping plan and carry out projects for the club. She is very generous especially with her personal resources, for example putting together and donating Holiday Hope Chests for two children.
Lee-Martin is always one of the first to sign up to help. She is project-driven and goal-driven; therefore what the club commits to do, Lee-Martin will see the project through to completion in a timely fashion.
The Helping Hands Club under Lee-Martin’s leadership completed the following projects this year:
- Tim Jones Fund Raiser: Tim is a HHS student that was injured in a car crash in the fall. The club sponsored a penny drive and a bake sale to help the family with expenses. Tim was in Huntsville Hospital then moved to the Shriner’s Hospital in Chicago; therefore expenses were extraordinary high.
- Riverfest Project for the Volunteer Center. Lee-Martin volunteered several hours to this project.
- Halloween Card Project: Lee-Martin purchased cards for the club to sign and forward to the Hospice nurses for distribution to Hospice patients in Morgan and Lawrence counties.
- Towel Drive for the Caring Place: The club donated more than 80 pieces including bath towels, hand towels and bath cloths. Lee-Martin and other club members delivered the towels to the Caring Place.
- Coat Drive for the Caring Place: The club supplied more than 25 coats to the Caring Place. Lee-Martin made flyers and distributed them in her neighborhood. She ask for donation of coats, collected the donations and delivered the coats to school.
- Angel Tree Participants: The club worked for the Volunteer Center providing workers at the tree. Helping Hands also sponsors one Angel. Lee-Martin did the shopping for our Angel
- Baby Food Collection: Lee-Martin encouraged club members to donate baby food at the club meeting.
- Volunteers for the Children’s Miracle Network: Lee-Martin encouraged club members to volunteer to work the phone center. She also set up a sign up sheet to insure the times promised by the club was covered.
In addition to volunteer work, Lee-Martin helps her Mom care for two younger siblings. Also she tutors a junior high school student to earn spending money. Lee-Martin is a superior student. She has a 3.35 GPA and will complete the requirements for an Advanced Diploma in May 2002. Her college plans are not complete at this time but she has visited several campuses and hopes to make a decision soon.
