FRED DOWNS AND JIM MAYER

Fred Downs and Jim Mayer are career employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Both men were profoundly injured in Vietnam. Mr. Downs lost his left arm and nearly all of his other extremities as well. He was scarred all over by shrapnel and the harvesting of the uninjured skin to graft onto his wounds. Mr. Mayer lost both of his legs below his knees. Now, more than 30 years after their experiences, Downs and Mayer are positive men who are helping other Veterans heal. They both volunteer and work with soldiers, sailors and airmen who have recently suffered traumatic injury. Neither harbors bitterness or resentment because of their disabilities, though it is hard for them to do what many of us take for granted like getting up at night and getting out of the bed to go to the bathroom.

Both men share their stories with soldiers who have similar injuries. They serve as an inspiration, and the soldiers realize there is life after amputation. Since April of 2003, the pair has visited in excess of 60 wounded soldiers at Walter Reed and National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland as volunteer amputee peer visitors. Their motive is to help other amputees in any way they can. Their service began during the 1991 Gulf War. They heard news reports that Saddam Hussein had dispersed a million land mines to maim and kill coalition forces if they invaded Iraq. They strategize to figure how they could best help the wounded. They remembered their recoveries and when they most needed someone.

Mr. Downs and Mr. Mayer organized field trips, picnics and hosted backyard barbecues for the injured from the Gulf War. After the war was over, the team continued visiting service members injured in training accidents or deployments. They keep in touch with many of the patients they have met, and 22 of the 58 wounded soldiers Mr. Mayer met during the Gulf War showed up at his house for a July 4th barbecue in 1996 for a five-year reunion. They see other troops at the National Veterans Wheelchair Games and the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic. Mr. Mayer also sponsors “Alive Day” celebrations. He has held them every year since 1970 when he almost died on April 25th.

Mr. Downs encourages the soldiers to do things on their own to aid in recovery. He believes in encouragement because it worked for him. After his injury he went to school, get married, started a family, wrote three books and he leads the Veteran Affairs multimillion-dollar prosthetic and sensory aid service. He has also established land mine survivor programs in several countries.

As American troops began the build-up for Operation Iraqi Freedom, Mr. Downs and Mr. Mayer expanded their volunteer roles by meeting with military surgeons at Walter Reed. They shared their insights in to the traumatic injuries and talked to them about how they felt when they were injured. The pair also discussed how they thought the medical staff could help the wounded soldiers. These two men are positive and upbeat and always look for a way to encourage someone. Mr. Downs wrote a book, Aftermath, that discusses his year of hospitalization and the 52 plastic surgery operations he underwent to survive. Their example has been important to the young men and women recently injured and frightened about what that change will mean in their lives.

BERMIRA GATES

For 15 years, Bemira Gates, an alumna of Clark Atlanta University, has contributed to campus and community organizations by bridging the gap in areas of unmet needs. Gates founded CUWIN (see you win), a nonprofit organization with the single mission of relating education to real life situations. CUWIN assists grassroots, faith-based and nonprofit agencies with serving disadvantaged neighborhoods. This is accomplished by building collaborative partnerships with national organizations. CUWIN promotes academic excellence through neighborhood volunteerism.

Some of the organizations that have partnered with CUWIN are First Book, Georgia Mentoring Partnership, Communities in Schools, Boys and Girls Club of Metro Atlanta and Sisters Motivating Achievement by Recognizing Talents (SMART).

Gates has helped build a powerful coalition of members of colleges and universities and nonprofit businesses to address unmet needs in areas of study. By educating communities with students of higher education, neighborhoods are able to create programs with committed volunteers. Gates has a tremendous commitment to recruiting volunteers to share their talents with the community at large.

Ms. Gates, an AmeriCorps alumni, has more than 10 years of community service experience in surrounding neighborhoods in Atlanta, Ga. Her accomplishments can be seen in a number of neighborhoods, Reynoldstown and Historic West End, to name a few.

While attending Frederick Douglass High School, Ms. Gates volunteered in the Reynoldstown community as their neighborhood journalist for several years. She introduced Reynoldstown to technology by constructing web pages and providing information to help low-income residents obtain home ownership. In 1998, she was able to provide funds to Reynoldstown through a community service grant given by AT&T. In 2002-03, Ms. Gates, 29, spearheaded the Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU) Technology Project. She coordinated volunteers at the Atlanta University Center, one of six sites throughout the United States participating in the program. Building a bridge through local community nonprofits, she created sustainable activities and collaborative economic efforts with other AmeriCorps projects.

Ms. Gates is continuing to help nonprofit organizations obtain funding and devise innovative projects. The digital divide is just one of the most sought after areas in which she serves. She has also dedicated her strength and talents in giving back to the community in the areas of education and social responsibility. She currently works with Hands on Atlanta’s Social Entrepreneurship Program and First Book’s Literacy Program, giving to impoverished minorities who have minimal access to educational materials.

ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL

For the past five years, St. Joseph Catholic School has been involved in Make A Difference Day. Participation has become a tradition at St. Joseph School. Past projects have included completely renovating a transitional housing facility of The Salvation Army, raising money for Canine Companions for Independence (trained dogs for the handicapped) and Candlelighter’s of Brevard (non-profit organization that helps children with cancer in Brevard County). Last year’s project was a shoreline habitat restoration of the Indian River Lagoon in honor of a September 11th victim. The school is continuing their working relationship with Marine Resources Council that began last year with plans to build a greenhouse on campus.

The goal of this year’s project was to raise awareness and money to help open the doors of The Sue Pridmore Center for Homeless Women and Women with Children. The students also built a playground, landscaped the facility and created inspirational banners to be hung inside. Prior to the event the students collected personal hygiene items for the shelter residents. This newly constructed, yet unopened facility needs the financial support of the community to open the doors. Through the work of St. Joseph Catholic School students and the coverage of the local newspaper, others have been inspired and in turn have come forward. A $5,000 donation was recently made as a result of the Make A Difference Day project.

The children throughout the school year collect canned goods for the hungry. When the community is notified of shortages, the schoolchildren step in to do their part. Beneficiaries of canned food drives have been the Saint Vincent DePaul Society, Daily Bread, and Project Response. When the local animal shelter’s shelves were empty, the students collected canned and dried food for the animals.

Each year, the students spend two hours on Friday afternoons visiting with the residents at the home. Students collect personal items and create gifts for the residents during the holidays. They are also invited to the school to watch Christmas Plays and Spring Musicals. The 1st graders sing for them annually at the holidays.

The school also participates annually in National projects such as Pennies for Pasta that benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Jump Rope for Heart that benefits the American Heart Association and for the past nine years has participated in OxFam. Last year, through the forfeiture of their lunches, the students collected $767.50 for OxFam to help stamp out hunger around the world.

The students at Saint Joseph School have learned that making a difference in their community is what life is all about. They are always involved in a food drive, collecting items for the needy, or planning the next volunteer project. There is never a time that they are not being taught to think of the less fortunate. Teaching the next generation at an early age to care about others and show their compassion by taking action is what education at Saint Joseph School is all about.

KAREN ABRAMCZYK

Karen Abramczyk began her volunteer experience with Wayne County Adult Day Center (WCADC) in the spring of 2002. She continues to give of her time during each school break. This past summer she volunteered 200-300 hours at WCADC, working directly with the participants and their caregivers.

Karen is entering her sophomore year at Lake Superior State University. Because of the time she has spent with seniors, she changed her major from education to the field of human services. Each day Karen welcomes the participants into the program offering comfort and a cup of coffee. Karen listens to her senior friends, always seems to hear everything that is asked of her, and more importantly hears what her seniors are incapable of asking. She instinctively knows when someone needs to use the restroom and will guide the participant through the necessary task, all the while allowing the participant to maintain their dignity. Karen is tuned in to every participants need and makes every effort to meet their request. It is her pleasure, to serve her “friends”. To Karen it is a privilege just being with the seniors of Wayne County.

Karen’s volunteer service is not limited to WCADC; she also participates in fundraising for the Alzheimer’s Association and the Wayne County annual senior picnic. Karen often says, “Because of them [participants of WCADC] I am a better person”. When Karen’s friends and relatives ask how she is spending her summer, Karen lights up and begins to tell about her time spent with the seniors. More often than not Karen is met with the reply of “Ewe! How can you stand that?” or “It must be so sad and depressing” or “I could never do what you are doing.” On the contrary, Karen states she has “never had so much fun in my life.”

Caregivers are even surprised to learn Karen is not paid for the work she does and yet she continues to show up with a smile. Karen believes she is lucky to know the senior participants for who they are. Karen takes delight in getting to know the person.

DR. ROBERT SPRINGER

When the biggest copper mine in the Tri-Communities area of Mammoth, San Manuel and Oracle, Ariz. closed a the end of 1999, every store in San Manuel that sold alcohol sold out; domestic violence escalated that night to an all time high, and hundreds of miners found themselves unemployed, at a geographical and economical dead end. The only way out of this desperate situation would require business skills that included mathematics – providing tools for new jobs and opportunities. The children of the miners were most at risk.

Dr. Springer offered his services as a math tutor in the local high school. He quickly found that the students did not lack intelligence, but did lack initiative. Nearly half of the high school students were flunking math, and did not have the basic math skills that should have been learned in junior high school, or even elementary school levels. They had not mastered enough of the mathematic concepts needed to pass the state mandated test in Arizona called the AIMS test.

The need for providing basic mathematic skills was apparent, motivating the students was necessary, and Dr. Springer focused on a solution. He dubbed the plan “Project Catapult,” intending to catapult these students to higher levels of mathematics. Working with Accelerated Math, developed by Renaissance Learning Corporation, he devised a computer generated math program, focusing on the concepts the students needed to learn algebra. Working with the school, and with SBCO, he brought computers and printers into the school, began working the students through basic concepts, enlisted other retirees as tutors, and his “Project Catapult” was underway.

Dr. Springer recruited tutors – retirees who came forth to work with these students, traveling a 60-mile round trip each time they went to the high school. Working with students in this isolated mining community, these adults patiently provided positive adult role models, praised the students on their progress, encouraged those who struggled with the math problems.

Project Catapult has now been established in the San Manuel Junior High School, in Oracle Elementary school system, and even in Mammoth Elementary School, which feeds students into the San Manuel system. On any given school day, Dr. Springer can be found in one of these participating schools, watching the progress, helping a student, talking with a teacher.

In 2001 8% of SMHS students passed the practice AIMS test; the following year 21% passed. Superintendent Dr. Marilyn Semones has been so impressed with this tutoring program that she intends to take it to the association of school superintendents to fund a commercial version of the AIMS Drill Set for use by all schools in the state.

This form of tutoring, the dedication of the founder and the volunteers, truly “leaves no child behind”. These youngsters of rural mining and/or migrant families are mastering the concepts of basic math and algebra. They can move on to meaningful jobs, graduate from high school, and move out of a cycle of poverty into productive lives. And all because Dr. Springer volunteered to tutor a few students in the math program.

COLLIN MCKAY

Collin McKay is merely nine years old, but he has already contributed more to his community than most adults. He started “Collins Cause” to collect items for care packages to send to our troops over seas serving their country. He also has made contributions to Sarah’s House, a homeless shelter in Anne Arundel County, the Maryland Food Pantry and the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Collin wanted to get actively involved in supporting American troops. His organization delivers encouragement to United States military personnel stationed in Iraq. Initially, Collin placed a collection box at his elementary school and received donations of magazines, newspapers, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and deodorant and snack food items. He then began to solicit and receive additional support from friends, neighbors, school staff members and area merchants for the care packages. Collin also organized a fundraiser at the Cheshire Crab Restaurant to earn additional money to send the packages to the troops.

Collin has also made regular contributions of food, clothing and toys to a local homeless shelter, Sarah’s House of Anne Arundel County. He also has given to the American Red Cross, Purple Heart and the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Collin has donated coats to the “Coats for Kids” program and books to various programs that serve children who are not as fortunate as he.

Annually, during the holiday season, Collin and his family adopt a needy family. They provide for the things they need to make their holiday less stressful and more joyous. Collin helps shop for the children in these families, and together with his older brother, he delivers the items to the family or to the designated drop-off points.

For the past several years, Collin has also tried to volunteer his time to the Fresh Airways Program, which is a summer camp for asthmatic children. He suffers from severe asthma, and since learning how to manage it himself; he has been eager to share his knowledge with others. However, his age has kept him from actively taking part in these camps just yet.

In addition, Collin is active in the martial arts and is working on a video with his brother that is geared towards children ages 6 to 12 years. This video is teaching children how to not be a victim of abduction and it utilizes and shares various self-defense skills. This video will be the second in his “Best Defense” video series. Collin regularly contributes to his elementary school fundraising efforts to earn new classroom computers and funds for trips, which some of the students could otherwise not afford. At the age of nine, Collin helps to strengthen the moral fabric of his community and is proving to be an outstanding role model for other youth.

MOLLY BANZ

Although in age Molly Banz qualifies as someone in their “golden years,” energy-wise, she is more energetic that most people under forty. Whatever it is, she is one who can, if at all possible, get things done when all else fails.

Ms. Banz owned and operated Molly’s Seafood and Grille restaurant in Napa for many years and became well known for her home-like cooking and friendly gathering place. It was in her position as a restaurateur where she began helping those in need. She started by providing free meals to 67 senior citizens who were driven from their homes in the 1986 devastating Napa flood. She sought donations from Napa’s citizenry and was able to furnish a hot meal for six weeks to those who came.

Some time later, a terrible house fire took the life of a young mother and two of her small children. One child and her grandmother survived, but the grandmother had no money with which to bury her family. Ms. Banz placed an ad in the Napa Valley Register asking readers to come in to her restaurant and put just a dollar in the big pickle jar on the counter. Hundreds of people did just that so the grandmother’s beloved family could be buried. That was the catalyst that began the group now called Molly’s Angels.

Ms. Banz knows that many people seemed to fall through the cracks when it came to getting help from established charitable organizations. She believes that if each person in Napa would donate one dollar a month to a nonprofit organization with no overhead, that the majority of these families and individuals could receive at least some assistance.

Four years later, there now exists a core of approximately 30 hard working Angels. Thousands of others, both residents and visitors, become “Angels” by donating money, time, and talent to help Molly’s Angels help those in need. What used to be Molly’s Seafood and Grille has now become Molly’s Angels Café, a nonprofit restaurant where all the profits go to helping those truly in need. The restaurant waiting staff is comprised mostly of volunteers, including teenagers whom Molly is teaching about work ethics. Ms. Banz believes that an organization such as Molly’s Angels could be started in other towns and cities across the nation although they wouldn’t necessarily have to involve a restaurant.

What makes Molly’s Angels a viable nonprofit organization, sometimes envied by visitors to Napa, work? Simply this dynamo called Molly Banz and her hardworking Angels. She and her angels have found homes for the homeless, jobs for the unemployed, fed the hungry, provided funds for expensive medical treatments and equipment – and the list goes on.

DIRECTORS OF “ONE VOICE”

“One Voice” was created in 1997 and is comprised of youth from five different high schools in and around Richfield, Utah. Students with an interest in singing and performing try out and, once selected, sign a “code of ethics” they must follow to be members of the choir. Each year, the number of those auditioning has increased dramatically – from 19 in 1997 to more than 100 in 2003.

Janet Kimball Bird founded the choir in August of 1997 and she, along with Richard Barnett, direct the choir. Deanna Cowley was invited to join the staff one year later. Each of them has been volunteering their time and talents for the past seven years. The directors of “One Voice” are each accomplished musicians and vocal soloists. Janet Bird is an accomplished vocalist and vocal coach, Richard Barnett is a seasoned instrumentalist, and Deanna is an outstanding pianist. Each of them spend countless hours working with the youth, finding music, learning songs, developing choreography, practicing music, rehearsing for performances – and the list goes on. Approximately 500 hours per year go into making this group a polished choir.

Janet, Richard and Deanna possess many qualities needed to make this group successful. They have inexhaustible patience with the youth. They are consummate professionals, and demand the same from the group, teaching the youth that only their best is enough, and showing them that they can achieve their goals through hard work. They are organized; each practice is well planned and purposeful.

“One Voice” has built connections in the community by presenting annual Christmas and Mother’s Day concerts. They were requested to sing when the community united in a show of support for Richfield’s National Guard Troop that was activated, and also for the 2002 Winter Olympics. They have been requested to sing at the services of numerous religious denominations in Sevier County as well as in Nevada, California and at Disneyland. They also present an annual concert tour and this year will be in Washington D.C., April 2nd – 9th.

While performance is a key element of “One Voice,” the most important is that of unity within the choir. Since the choir consists of students from five different high schools, it has been an emphasis from the beginning to instill within the choir a sense of support, trust, and acceptance for each other. This sense of support has been felt by the community as students from each of the high schools have united to attend each others’ athletic events and dramatic performances throughout the years.

“One Voice” gets its name from a song of the same title by Barry Manilow. This song talks about the importance of and power of one voice, and what a difference one voice can make speaking out for positive things. This theme is incorporated into the very structure of the group. In addition to improving their vocal skills, the young performers learn self-esteem and self-confidence through “One Voice.”

Janet, Richard and Deanna spend countless hours improving the talents and abilities of the young people in “One Voice.” They freely give their time to help the youth develop their own talents, and learn new ones in an environment of trust, caring and fun. The contributions they make to the lives of youth are immeasurable. They provide an experience that would not otherwise be available to youth in this rural area. Their presence in the community is electric and adds a special touch to any performance in which they are involved. Janet, Richard and Deanne are investing their time and talents to unite the youth of Sevier County and the community they in which they live one song at a time.

MARJORIE BARNBROOK

Marjorie Barnbrook has been an Intake Worker volunteer since May 1983. This year, she was honored during National Volunteer Week for 20 years of service. She has donated more than 2,755 hours of service over the last 20 years.

In her capacity as an Intake Worker, Ms. Barnbrook has conducted in-person and telephone interviews with low-income individuals seeking assistance in dealing with their legal problems. She has been able to talk to persons in distress and get a fairly clear picture of what the applicant is asking ILS to do. In this way, she actually begins to prepare the potential case file.

The agency’s mission is “to provide high quality legal services to the low-income community in Indiana.” Ms. Barnbrook helped to fulfill this mission by completing a high quality intake that an attorney will work on. She has been an important link between vulnerable or disconnected people and their opportunity to a obtain free legal assistance to solve various problems such as housing difficulties; access to judicial and administrative proceedings; safety, stability and well being; and improving outcomes for children. For example, without Ms. Barnbrook’s service, an applicants in dire need of a divorce to escape an abusive spouse might not have an Intake Worker to take their application. Also, without Ms. Barnbrook, someone who needs Medicaid benefits might not get the help they need to appeal their Medicaid denial.

Ms. Barnbrook was consistent in her attendance on her regular Thursday afternoon intake shifts. She is reliable and conscientious, especially during summer months when students are gone. Her experience with ILS helped her know what questions to ask the applicants.

Ms. Barnbrook did not let the sad, heartbreaking stories of many applicants dissuade her from volunteering. She continued her personal mission of giving her skills to help others as best she can. In June of this year, due to physical health, Ms. Barnbrook was forced to retire. She is the first volunteer to be honored with this length of service by the agency, since the volunteer program began in 1982.

BARBARA LEE

Barbara Lee is an Alderwoman in the city of New Bern where she served and is still serving for over 12 years. She is an entrepreneur in the food serving business for more than 20 years of “Food Palace” on Queen Street in New Bern. A person never leaves hungry, “money or not.” When someone passes away, she contributes food generously to the poor family, especially if there are young mouths to feed.

Her son was incarcerated needlessly for a minor crime, but that did not stop her from crying out even more for the young people. Someone else would have folded their hands and given up, but not Ms. Lee. She organized a group Area Day Reporting Center for young people that are caught up in the system – making it possible for them to maintain their education while under suspension from school and under the court jurisdiction. She has a competent staff, workshops that include parents – teaching them how to help their children. You would be amazed at the participation; she has given the young mothers and fathers a new lease on life – showing them how to help their kids. Her workshops include not only kids from the poor area but also kids from the wealthy area of town, and race is no barrier. Ms. Barbara Lee is a pioneer in the present age.