KIM POLLARD

Kim Pollard is a vital part of Salem Middle School’s Library Media Center program as shown by her spending a minimum of every Thursday in the Library Media Center. She can “do it all” as she tackles each task working nonstop from 9:00 AM until 3:30 PM. She can mend, cover, shelve, and pull books; check in and check out materials to staff and students; inventory materials; and volunteers every day during the Salem Middle School Book Fair and PTA Book Fair.

A project that Ms. Pollard eagerly took on this year is a review of the Library Media Center’s Accelerated Reader materials. This involves checking AR books, verifying that AR Tests are available for the books, remarking the books with neon stickers so students can more easily recognize AR books, and listing new books or materials that the Library Media Center needs to order. This activity involves numerous hours of time with which she eagerly undertakes. The students of Salem Middle School benefit greatly from Ms. Pollard’s enthusiasm, energy and “can-do” attitude.

Ms. Pollard completes all of these activities in addition to her “regular” Library Media Center job of logging in magazines and keeping a current copy on display for student and staff use. She also performs any task that the Library Media Center needs to have done – a vital and essential volunteer for the program.

Ms. Pollard is the Volunteer Coordinator during testing, which is no small task. She spends endless hours contacting parents to monitor the hallways during testing. She has materials, such as chairs and signs, ready for the volunteers and welcomes them as they enter the building. Her planning and actions for the testing days enable the program to run smoothly.

Another indication of Ms. Pollard’s commitment to Salem Middle School is serving as Corresponding Secretary for Salem Middle School’s PTA. She takes on a variety of roles to ensure the success of Salem’s students, faculty and staff and is a great asset to the entire school program.

SALON BY ZETTA

In 1989, Salon by Zetta contacted the Domestic Abuse Council, Inc. and offered to provide a holiday hair cutting party to the emergency shelter and transitional housing residents. This event has become an ongoing annual activity for the clients.

The Domestic Abuse Council, Inc. continues to be overwhelmed by this event. First, the cosmetologists donate their professional expertise by providing 30 to 40 women and children residents with free haircuts and manicures. Pizza, soda, cookies and snacks are provided by the Salon or donated by local establishments and Salon by Zetta customers. In addition Santa brings each child and mother a gift that has also been donated by Salon by Zetta or a customer.

The Salon is not very large, but the staff manages to provide all the families with a wonderful new haircut, manicure, food and gifts within several hours. The staff is still smiling once the busload of clients departs from their special time.

Many of the victims who enter the emergency shelter programs have been emotionally and/or verbally abused. Their self-esteem is low due to the abuse they have suffered, so this act of kindness not only provides the families with a gift for the holidays; but it also provides them with a sense of inner beauty while they are trying to start their life over. Some of the children have never had professional haircuts and are thrilled to be so pampered.

Salon by Zetta does not keep this event to themselves; they also involve the community in this annual event. Their customers participate by providing some gifts, local establishments contribute food and DOTS donate a bus for the shelter families to travel in. This annual event has a huge impact on the lives of the families it serves as well as the volunteers who participate. The staff and community members’ lives are enriched because they have made a difference in the lives of someone who genuinely needed some assistance.

Prior to assisting the Domestic Abuse Council, Inc., the Salon assisted an agency that helped children only. The Salon wanted to also include mothers, who may be overlooked during the holidays.

In addition to providing an annual haircutting party for residents from the Domestic Abuse Council, Inc., the Salon also participates in the Locks for Love project, which makes wigs for children who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy. They cut the hair free of charge, package it and send it to the organization that makes the wigs. The Salon also participates in Cut Out Domestic Violence, which is a project developed in 2003 by the Office of Attorney General in collaboration with the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, to train hairstylists about the warning signs of domestic violence and provide customers with referrals to the appropriate domestic violence center. They also mount posters to increase awareness of domestic violence.

FRED BERTRAM

Fred Bertram doesn’t look like a hero – and he probably doesn’t consider himself one – but he is a hero in every sense of the word.

Mr. Bertram joined the Navy at an early age, and served in the Korean War. Since the time of his return, he has worked tirelessly to give back to his country and his community through his work with the Knights of Columbus and the VFW.

Mr. Bertram is a retired firefighter (and that alone speaks for his character), formerly serving in Jacksonville, Illinois. Immediately upon his return from Korea, he joined the Knights of Columbus, and served as the Grand Knight in that chapter. This was the beginning of his volunteerism pursuits. He also joined the VFW about the same time. He has served as Commander of local VFW Post 4549 three times, and has held many offices and chairmanships. The VFW is a very community-service oriented organization, and Mr. Bertram is always there and ready to help with any project.

Mr. Bertram has been involved with the VFW Military Funeral Group for many years. His job is to present the families of veterans with the American flag at the time of burial. This is a sad, but extremely meaningful, task for which he receives no compensation. Sometimes, Mr. Bertram personally attends three or four such funerals per week. His presence at these graveside services is extremely important to the family members of the deceased, because it is one last way to say “thank you” in a proper and respectful manner to those individuals who have risked their lives for our country.

In Illinois the outside temperature is sometimes below freezing or more than 100 degrees. This doesn’t stop Mr. Bertram from showing the families of his fellow comrades that their loved one’s service to our country was appreciated. The families almost always send letters expressing their gratitude for this remembrance, and often, the comments are very emotional.

Mr. Bertram is only one member of the Honor Guard, but his years of service to his community and his country should be recognized. He is now in his 70’s and is suffering from Parkinson’s disease. However, as long as he is able he will be out there – rain, shine or freezing weather – honoring those who served, paying those last respects.

SARAH CAYIA

Sarah Cayia, 14, an eighth-grader at Reeds Brook Middle School, created “Boxes for Bosnia,” a school-wide campaign that collected 10 large boxes of school supplies for needy Bosnian schoolchildren.

While Sarah’s father was serving with the National Guard in rural Bosnia, he wrote home about a poor, war-ravaged school his unit was trying to help. Sarah immediately wanted to help, too. “I decided I wanted to help my dad and his unit make these kids’ school life just a little bit better if I could,” she said. Sarah presented her idea for a school-supply drive to her teacher and homeroom class, and volunteers began to sign up to help. They found pictures and other information about Bosnian children on the Internet, and used the material to decorate collection boxes and make promotional posters.

Sarah’s teacher taught a lesson on Bosnia to all seventh-grade students, and Sarah and her volunteers placed boxes in every classroom. They also wrote a newsletter article, produced an advertisement for the school television station, and spoke to each homeroom class. After retrieving the filled boxes, the group sorted and packed the donated items, then delivered everything to the National Guard armory for shipping. “The most memorable part of this project was when my dad sent me pictures of how happy the children were when they saw all of the school supplies,” said Sarah.

THE EPISCOPAL / ANGLICAN CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION – SLIGO PARISH

Ascension began a tutoring program in 1991 after polling neighborhood families to ask what program would be useful to them. Tutoring for children was the most requested service. Ascension contacted the staff at neighboring East Silver Spring Elementary School (ESS), and established the present tutoring program in partnership with the Parent-Teacher Association.

Ascension members Suzanne Hood and Dr. Clara Wing, both professional educators, coordinate the program. ESS School staff identifies children who can profit by individual tutoring, collects information about their needs, and maintains a waiting list. Ms. Hood and Dr. Wing recruit the volunteer tutors, train them, and assign on child to each tutor. They provide ongoing guidance to tutors and communicate with the classroom teachers about each child’s progress.

The tutoring takes place on Saturday mornings and on Wednesday afternoons in the church Sunday School rooms at 630 Silver Spring Avenue, Silver Spring, MD. Children work one-on-one with tutors on reading and writing, skills, and math skills if appropriate. The program maintains a large book collection and a computer lab with educational software that children and tutors use together. The individual attention from an adult is important for the children, and they enjoy snacks and play during their break, as well as the academic work.

The Tutoring program had seven children and seven tutors in 2003-2004. In June 2004, 100% of the children’s teachers enthusiastically reported that the program helped the child both in reading/language arts skills and in study skills.

Dr. Wing, who speaks Spanish and French, handled communications with the students’ parents, many of whom could not speak English. This led to the creation of an ESL program for adults at Ascension. The Literacy Council of Montgomery County trains volunteers for this program. Each student is asked to pay $15 at the beginning, which goes to the Literacy Council to cover part of the cost of the textbooks, but there is no weekly or yearly charge to students. Ascension’s ESL teachers also meet several times a year as a group to share ideas and discuss challenges.

ESL teachers find their work fascinating and rewarding. The contact with people from another culture enriches their lives, and we find it exciting to watch students progress from the early stages of learning English to a command of the language that opens doors for them in the workplace, enables them to help their children with school work, and allows them to participate more fully in the community.

G. BRENT MINOR

G. Brent Minor, Vice President of Business Development of LaSalle Bank of Chicago, serves on the national Board of Trustees of the March of Dimes. March of Dimes’ trustees, who serve as volunteers, represent the public in governing the organization and advancing its mission to save babies from birth defects, infant mortality and premature birth.

Since 1980, Minor has been a volunteer leader with the March of Dimes and has served in various capacities. He is currently a member-at-large of the National Office of Volunteers and President Society’s Liaison. At the local level, he has served as a board member of both the Illinois Chapter and the Chicago Division and Chair of the Nominating Committee. He has held membership on various committees including Executive Walk, Finance, Revenue Development, Star Chefs and Public Affairs. At the regional level, he served as Chair of the Public Affairs Committee and Regional Chair of the National Office of Volunteers. At the national level, he served as a member of the National Board of Advisors from 2000-2003.

Minor is the founding Chair of the National Office of Volunteers and was its Chair for three years. In this capacity, he was the liaison to many chapters, providing leadership in volunteer and revenue development. In addition, he serves as the liaison to the Puerto Rico Chapter, assisting them with developing volunteers and boards, raising revenue, and working with local government and health professionals.

Minor is an exceptional volunteer who is willing to take on any task for the March of Dimes, no matter how large or small. He has identified countless key company contacts for sponsorship of WalkAmerica, March of Dimes, largest fundraiser, and other fundraising events. He has also recruited dignitaries to chair program events. When the Illinois Division office was without an Executive Director for nearly a year, Minor provided guidance for staff and volunteers to ensure smooth operation. He is the advisor and mentor for volunteers across the country. He is also a trainer and presenter on volunteer development and fund raising for both staff and volunteers.

For the last 13 years, under Mr. Minor’s leadership, LaSalle Bank has been a March of Dimes national WalkAmerica team. In 2003, the bank raising over $600,000 and in 2004 increased that figure to $355,000, and they’re still counting. LaSalle Bank is one of the largest WalkAmerica team in Illinois and one of the largest national bank teams.

In recognition of Minor’s commitment to the March of Dimes, he has received many awards. In 1991, he was recipient of two distinguished awards: the first national recipient of the Elaine Whitelaw Volunteer Service Award, the highest award a March of Dimes volunteer can receive; and the President’s Award for Excellence. In 1995, he received Illinois’ Distinguished Service Award. In 1998, he received the Harry E. Green Lifetime Achievement Award in Illinois, representing a minimum of 15 years of dedicated service. This October, he will be cited as Signature Chefs Honoree.

JEROME SILBER

Jerome (Jerry) Silber has been a March of Dimes volunteer since 1987 and truly represents the ability of one volunteer to make a difference. He started as a member of the New York State Westchester/Fairfield County Division Board. Currently, Mr. Silber is a member of the Greater New York Chapter’s Executive Committee and Revenue Co-chair of the WalkAmerica Executive Committee. He is also a member of the National Office of Volunteers and a Northern Regional Representative.

Jerry Silber, in his capacity as Revenue Co-chair of the WalkAmerica Executive Committee, has been instrumental in coordinating Citigroup’s national team to raise funds on behalf of the March of Dimes. Four years ago, Citibank made a corporate decision to no longer endorse any walking events, including March of Dimes WalkAmerica. Jerry Silber decided to take it upon himself to “be bold for babies.” Mr. Silber lined up key executives, secured private endorsements and added Citigroup’s seven other businesses to the Citibank WalkAmerica effort, resulting in a phenomenal campaign. In 2003, Citigroup raised over $2 million, and in 2004, they raised over $2.8 million, and still counting.

In addition to coordinating the Citigroup team, Jerry Silber also played an important role in integrating two March of Dimes division offices and later integrating a division office with the state chapter office. Along the way, he helped to launch annual giving and even served as local WalkAmerica Chair for several years. At the 2002 March of Dimes Volunteer Leadership Conference, he was awarded the Distinguished Volunteer Service Award.

In his capacity as a member of the National Office of Volunteers, Jerry Silber travels throughout the northern region on behalf of the March of Dimes to speak at various venues. He serves as Co-chair of the initiative to increase youth participation in WalkAmerica and is a mentor to the chair of the National Youth Council.

Jerry Silber’s passion for improving the lives of America’s mothers and babies has resonated across the country. As a result of his dedication and leadership, more money will go to research and programs to improve the health of babies.

James E. Kokas

Jim Kokas is a Vietnam veteran who decided years ago that no soldier, sailor, airman or Marine should ever depart or return from overseas without knowing that someone appreciated their commitment. Jim received his opportunity when he was approached to help organize the military processing center at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside California. Jim personally organized a fleet of charitable organizations and corporate donors to provide emotional support and other assistance to deploying troops and their families.

In 2003, Jim touched the lives of more than 77,000 troops and arranged for more than 17,988 tons of supplies for deploying service members and their families. Working with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) as the state of California’s VFW Southern area volunteer Military Assistance Program (MAP) chairman and the Salvation Army, more than 1.5 million personal items were distributed. Jim worked with Cingular Wireless and the VFW to provide some 7,000 hours of telephone communications using calling cards and cell phones to keep the troops connected with their families at home. This effort alone has enabled fathers and mothers to stay in touch with their children, filling what could have been a great emotional void during long overseas deployments.

Already in 2004, Jim and his band of volunteers, agencies and corporate donors have provided 32,000 gift packs and another 8,000 tons of needed assistance. Everything from food to baby wipes have been donated to families, many of whom are living on less than half of the breadwinner’s normal pay. This kind of support is particularly significant to a mother of a new family who is left alone to care for them and cannot work because of the age of her children. In addition to the supplies, Jim’s phalanx of volunteers has given these families comfort, advice and often an ongoing relationship that will likely continue for years.

In addition to the supplies and moral support, Jim has organized large “send-off” and “welcome home” celebrations for tens of thousands of military personnel. Fulfilling his heart’s desire that no troops would depart or return without sufficient recognition, Jim’s well-organized events are the envy of deploying troops all across the U.S.

Through Jim’s efforts, and abandoned hanger at March AFB was converted into “support central,” a place where deploying and returning troops and their families can rest, enjoy a snack and receive encouragement from hundreds of volunteers working round-the-clock to ensure no service member or family is missed.

The thousands of hours and personal funds that Jim Kokas has committed for the past two years have earned him the respect and cooperation of the military commanders at march AFB. He has brought dozens of corporations and non-profit organizations forward to help America’s heroes, heroines and their families. Through Jim’s efforts, thousands of individuals from the surrounding community have taken a personal interest in the lives of America’s men and women in uniform. The long-term impact of Jim’s work remains to be seen as these very personal relationships grow over the years.

SAN AGUSTIN DEL COQUI, INC.

After offering workshops during 1990 to children in public and private residence (housings) as well as to diverse communities and their experience with youth retreats, the Augustinian Sisters chose to work with the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

Their vision is to prevent secondary wounds to abused and neglected children and youngsters whom have experienced maltreatment so that they will not suffer the consequences of being victimized again by their parents, tutor, or by the institutions responsible or their well-being. With this vision the Augustinian Sisters have intervened offering education to the minor’s support network. They work with their biological parents to teach them and provide them with tools that will help them care, discipline and supervise their children as well as to help them on their personal development. They also have worked with minor’s case manager, foster parents and teachers so that they can be sensitive to their needs and to respond appropriately to their special needs.

They have worked directly with over 3,700 abused and neglected minors on Support and Sustain workshops called M.E.T.A.S, in Spanish. Through these workshops the have accomplished developing on minor’s a sense of belonging, a healthy self-esteem and development and desire to earn an honest livelihood through study and education.

The Augustinian Sisters have taken responsibility working with mistreated minors on three levels of prevention: education, high risk and treatment. They have defended the minors and they have mediated on behalf of them at the Court of Puerto Rico, so that they consider their well-being, permanency and security. The Sisters also worked to obtain funds through the Children Trusteeship for the construction of a Shelter and Training Center for the abused and neglected children and their supporting network.

The Sisters also have developed two programs for the community. The first program is Families on Supporting Groups, which trains facilitators for a social service agency to help them, work with these groups. They also created the San Agustin del Coqui, Inc. Family Reunification Program, which works with rescued minors, their support network and biological parents to help them overcome the behaviors and problems which guided them to become abusive, negligent of mistreating people. The Sisters and a social worker train and counsel biological parents, foster parents and children. As a result, 165 children returned to their biological home achieving 67% reunification during year 2003.

They initiated the publication and free distribution to the community of a magazine in which they and other professionals contribute with articles of interest about the mistreatment subject to educate people about its negative impact. Additionally, the Sisters installed a library providing free service to the community of Aguas Buenas open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with more than 5,000 books available. Children, adults, and homeless children receiving tutoring courses have access to books and Internet for their schoolwork. This library is truly a learning center for the community.

James Milton Jennings

A college professor for 12 years and a pastor for 9 years, Pastor Jennings has provided volunteer religious programming for the Forrest City Federal Correction Complex Low and camp inmate populations since January 1998.

Pastor Jennings has fostered and exemplary partnership involving community programs, citizen volunteers, and programs. His contributions to the local community and the institution are vast and multifarious. Through his commitment to the Bureau and the community, volunteer participation has tripled representing the Church of God at Forrest City. Currently, 35 volunteers provide programming and services to the inmate population. This citizen involvement continues to rank Forrest City among the leaders in the South Central Region for the number of badge volunteers.

Pastor Jennings’s ability to motivate inmates and boost community involvement has translated into achieving program goals. He targeted and recruited volunteers to provide services needed to enhance Religious Services programming for the entire population from activation to present. These volunteers joined a coalition of citizens who donate their fellowship to assist in 15 to 20 faith-based programs. Additionally, Pastor Jennings’s holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Northwestern University, a Master’s Degree from the University of Arkansas and a Doctoral of Education from Vanderbilt University.

Achievements in orchestrating volunteer programs have profited the institution by providing community contacts for the Mock Job Fairs, Release Preparation Program, and Adult Continuing Education programs. Namely, Pastor Jennings has sought out local business personnel and organizations to instruct classes and facilitate job-readiness programs. Under Pastor Jennings guidance, the local community has volunteered their time to donate to numerous community projects and service organizations.

As religious services volunteer, Pastor Jennings has served as a representative for several local community boards and organizations. He also has served as a professor of Education and History at Hendrix College, Life Skills Seminar Instructor for the Arkansas State Prison system, Church of God Youth Leader, adult Sunday School teacher, choir director and community Bible class instructor.

These efforts are testimony to Pastor Jennings’s commitment to the volunteer program and he should be commended for his ability to foster organizational and community goals.