LINDA RONDINELLI

In July 2003, Linda Rondinelli gave up her job as a Marketing Analyst to do full-time community service for a year as an AmeriCorps* VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America) with a barely livable allowance. She chose SAHELI, an 11-year-old-all-volunteer, support, and advocacy organization for underserved Asian victims of domestic violence in Austin, Texas for her community service.

Community needs and solution: SAHELI had exceeded its capacity as an all-volunteer organization and badly needed two full-time paid staff to attend to the immediate and long-term needs of the victims, make community presentations, participate in collaborative task forces with other nonprofits, and recruit, train, support, and coordinate volunteers. Linda was determined to find a way to meet this need. She researched and selected appropriate funding sources, wrote grant proposals, collected data, obtained support letters, and coordinated all activities related to securing grant funds. Because of her efforts, in the past year, SAHELI has been able to secure funding to hire its first two staff members: a Family Advocate and a Community Educator.

Connection building: Linda built relationship with nonprofit consultants, foundations, government agencies, information centers, and other nonprofit organizations. She connected with volunteers and made sure that data collection could be made easier. She redesigned the contents and format of the SAHELI website to make it easy to read for victims, volunteers, and donors. She helped with event planning, and information booths connecting with the community. She also volunteered as a legal advocate with SafePlace helping battered woman get protective orders to connect with the victims’ needs.

Ongoing involvement: Linda started volunteering with SAHELI before her VISTA contract officially started. She took a six-week course at the University of Texas to learn the skills needed for writing grants. She has worked with pleasure for long hours, evenings, and weekends during her VISTA year. She extended her VISTA term to help SAHELI implement the grant and recruit staff. After finishing her VISTA term, Linda continues to volunteer as the Secretary of SAHELI Board of Directors and a newsletter editor.

Impact: Because of Linda’s hard work and excellent research and writing skills, SAHELI has received a foundation grant for $15,000, a federal grant of $5,000, and an annual state grant of $80,000, renewable up to three years. SAHELI can now sustain and expand its services to help underserved victims of domestic violence and educated the community. Linda’s energy, passion, dedication, teasingly long and always updated “To Do” lists for the team, and her contagious laugh has energized her colleagues.

Innovation: Linda has shaped SAHELI’s strategic planning and presentations for Board success. She made valuable suggestions for funding success and back-up planning. Linda redesigned our forms to make data collection easier. SAHELI’s website was cluttered and hard to use and she redesigned many frames of the website. She learned Dreamweaver and other tools needed to maintain the website. She also developed internal working documents for the Boards smooth operation.

MINDY STREET

Mindy Street, Miss Auburn , has educated her community about Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.) and implemented a mentoring program to help children at a local elementary school, especially those who suffer from A.D.D. She has developed a program entitled “ADD for Success” which focuses on areas that have proven most difficult for those who have been diagnosed with A.D.D. Using bright visuals and interactive games, she has captured the attention of children to help them with focus, comprehension organization and completion of tasks.

Mindy has partnered with CHADD, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping children and adults with A.D.D. She has chosen this partnership in hopes of impacting people across the U.S. with her “ADD Success” Program. Mindy has been instrumental with CHADD in developing a Teachers Manual to be distributed throughout the U.S. She served on a national committee of researchers and educators in this effort. Her involvement has included revisions of the manual materials, offering input to the content of the material, and interviewing local educators to solicit ideas and manual materials. The manual will educate classroom teachers on effective teaching methods for children with AD/HD.

In October 2004, Mindy participated in the CHADD International Convention held in Nashville, TN. She met renowned leaders and researchers in AD/HD. She acquired valuable knowledge to take back to the local schools and her community. Mindy’s dedication to CHADD and helping those with A.D.D. and AD/HD has been demonstrated by two fundraisers that she herself organized. Fundraiser goals included raising monies for research, increasing name recognition of CHADD and educating the public about CHADD. Results included over $1,300 raised through a silent auction; a substantial amount of publicity for the events; and educating many people during the events about CHADD and AD/HD. She is presently in the process of hosting a “No Show Dinner” with hopes of raising more funds for CHADD.

Mindy has utilized the experience and knowledge gained through her involvement with CHADD by starting a local after school mentoring program, targeting K to 5th grade. She assisted the children in learning important skills that many children, especially ones with AD/HD, never learn. These include goal setting skills, listening skills and organizational skills. She has seen direct results from time spent with these children including a drastic improvement in grades, improved handwriting skills and the development of organizational skills.

In addition to mentoring these children, Mindy has spoken to over 1,000 other elementary school children about “ADD for Success.” She has also informed many adults about the program and AD/HD through faculty meetings, organizations and civic groups. Mindy is truly dedicated and plans to continue to champion this cause. Her future goals include conducting additional fundraising for CHADD and promoting the Teachers Manual throughout educational systems in her state. Her most challenging goal is educating her college peers about AD/HD and recruiting them as mentors in the local school system. Through her recent election as Miss Auburn, Mindy will implement her mentoring program at her university.

BARBARA FRICKE

Barbara Fricke has been volunteering at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital for four and a half years. The fact that she has volunteered for that long says a lot about her dedication to service. The majority of hospital volunteers stay for one or two years, because working with cancer patients can be tough emotionally.

During her time at the hospital, she has spent most of her time in the infusion room where the patients receive their chemotherapy treatments. As a volunteer in the infusion room, Barbara is responsible for making the patients as comfortable as possible by bringing them warm blankets, drinks, snacks, and DVDs to watch during their stay. Barbara is also responsible for stocking the nurse carts with the necessary items that are used throughout the day. She is a valuable asset to the Huntsman Cancer Hospital and Institute.

In her time with Huntsman Cancer Hospital, the staff has noticed that she goes out of her way for the patients and their families. She is willing to help them physically and emotionally and has made strong friendships with the people she has encountered. She is always cheerful, pleasant and her co-workers as well as her fellow volunteers enjoy working with her. She is always willing to help.

Barbara is an ideal volunteer because her first concern is the happiness and well being of the patients. She thinks of others before herself and has often been a comfort for those in need.

THE LYDIA PROJECT, INC.

The Lydia Project provides encouragement and spiritual support to women facing a cancer diagnosis in Augusta. When the diagnosis of cancer is made, the person often feels disconnected and different from those who do not have cancer. Friends do not know what to do or say to help. Often the woman becomes isolated for this reason and the fact she does not feel well. With the diagnosis of cancer, often there is no long-term solution, only hope in the present.

Through the Lydia Project cancer patients receive a tote bag which are created stitch-by-stitch by community volunteers and given free-of-charge to any woman currently undergoing cancer treatment. These unique totes are designed to be a visible sign of spiritual support and are made possible through community contributions of fabric, trim, monogramming and the talent of volunteer seamstresses. The tote is filled with practical items and carries the message of hope to those facing this devastating illness.

The Lydia Project gives women in the community a vehicle to donate their skills and time to help other women who have cancer. The volunteers use their skills to cut and sew tote bags for cancer victims and also spend time in the office organizing volunteers or speaking engagements. The sewing and monogramming can be done at home on the volunteers’ own time. The tote becomes a symbol of the love and hope these women are sending to these recipients they do not even know. They become connected by the fact the woman sewing the tote signs a card after she has made it and it and the recipient receives this card with her tote.

Cancer will probably always be with us. The need for totes only seems to increase as the word is spread about this project. It has been a little over a year since it officially organized and yet hundreds of lives have been touched.

The notes and cards received from the recipients is evidence enough of the impact of these bags. They take the tote with them wherever they go, especially treatment. It is like taking along your best friend or security blanket. It also is an avenue to open doors for conversation with others.

The popularity of hand made bags has certainly grown in the last couple of years. The idea of women making the bags for a cause is just an expansion on their creativity. These women love to use their hands to create, and anyone can be involved. The need for emotional support is great for women and their families facing a cancer diagnosis. Often their own feelings of hope and love can change the outcome in many different ways.

No woman involved in The Lydia Project, Inc. has received a salary including the Executive Director despite the many hours worked.

RUTH HARRIS

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, almost 50% of Denver’s female population over the age of 65 lives alone and the majority have annual household incomes below poverty. The combination of gender, age and poverty creates an environment that disconnects elderly women from the larger community. This can be followed by fear, isolation, a feeling of helplessness and even death. Without a concerted effort to re-establish connections with the community, there is little chance for improvement.

Ruth Harris is an 83-year old woman who has gone beyond the call of duty as a Senior Companion Volunteer. She is the Point of Light who turns fear into courage, isolation into engagement and helplessness to empowerment. More importantly, she brings friendship, love and a reason to live into the lives of persons she serves. Single-handedly, she greatly improves their quality of life and becomes the family to clients that have no family.

Ruth ‘serves’ as a Senior Companion Volunteer for 20 hours per week at Denver’s Health Center at Franklin Park. For those 20 hours, Ruth receives a stipend of $2.65 per hr. Additionally, Ruth donates her own personal time on holidays and weekends to visit with her clients. She humors them with jokes and sometimes sings to them. Ruth was an entertainer in her younger years and utilizes these talents to help clients experience a brighter side of life. Some days, Ruth pushes wheelchairs outside so that her clients can get some fresh air and say hello to neighbors Ruth believes that being connected to the community is a relative measure; it depends on where people are at the moment.

Despite her height at four feet and two inches, she lets nothing interfere with her volunteer work. She faithfully boards the Access-A-Bus (Denver’s handicap bus service) everyday to arrive at her volunteer site on time. Ruth’s activities include providing companionship and support to chronically ill senior citizens as well as Alzheimer’s and AIDS’ patients.

Seniors! Inc. in Denver, CO, is the nation’s first Senior Companion Program, starting in 1974. Remarkably, Ruth has served 23 of those years. She has volunteered over 22,000 hours and served over 1,100 clients. Ruth says “This involvement gives purpose and meaning to my life. It keeps me young.”

Regular survey results show that over 80% of Ruth’s clients believe their quality of life has improved greatly due to the services she provides. Her supervisors say she’s irreplaceable and that when Ruth walks through the door, the environment brightens noticeably.

Ruth Harris and other Senior Companion Program Volunteers improve the quality of life of persons often left behind; and exemplify the spirit of “Seniors helping Seniors.” Ruth Harris brings a loving face and big hearth to this spirit, which is why she’s know throughout her community as “Little Ruth with the Big Heart.”

ERIN LEA TURNER

Erin Lea Turner, 20 years old, is a Communication Arts major at Troy University. She actively demonstrates her sincere passion for the arts with a focus on meeting the educational needs of others. In 2003, Ms. Turner responded to a multi-million dollar budget-cut effecting Alabama’s community and educational arts programs by founding and leading ArtStart, Alabama. Ms. Turner’s ArtStart, Alabama website serves as a communication conduit. It gives schools an avenue to reveal their needs to the community as well as providing the community a positive way to intervene through volunteering time, supplies or services and secure continued successful students.

Ms. Turner’s professional service attitude combined with personally caring, sends a clear message regarding the importance of the arts in a diverse society. Through her performances in theatre, festivals and arts educational workshops and overseeing drama/vocal/dance students throughout the state, many young (and young-old) people, have met and developed healthy friendships in a respite from the stress and pressures of school, work and home. Ms. Turner’s belief that there is emotional satisfaction and logic by supporting the arts encourages the development of young artists who might otherwise never use their talent. These young people have been enriched intellectually and emotionally by what they have seen, heard and learned.

Ms. Turner’s ArtStart, Alabama program is individualized to meet the social and physical needs of diverse groups. She has devoted time with our special need communities in Hoover and Valley, Alabama and creates plans for their future arts interests. Erin puts her heart into volunteerism with her ArtStart, Alabama platform. Yet, with this busy schedule, she displays poise and balance throughout her lifestyle. Academically, she’s a Dean’s list scholar, while her spiritual needs are witnessed by her active on-going church support. Socially she actively participates with her university sorority and honors fraternity as well as her family and friends.

In our technology-oriented society, the arts are more necessary to the quality of our life than any other time in history. We are more hurried and hyper, there’s more crime and drug abuse revealing a desperate need for visual tranquility of a museum, rich sounds of music, or the dazzling sights of dancing. Ms. Turner demonstrates her passionate belief that the quality of life can be improved through the arts and she has a plan to do it.

MARION H. BAKER

Let your light shine before men. Each community has someone who helps the poor, cares for the ill, serves the church, supports community agencies and gives of oneself. Seldom can this person be found in one person. But the Mayville-Portland area has Marion Baker who fits all these descriptions.

Marion’s involvement in providing organizational skills for fundraisers for the local hospital, the Catholic Church, Mayville State University, and the Women’s Club, has resulted in numerous successful projects as a result of funds raised. Her time volunteering at the local food pantry and driving over 150 miles at least every other month to pick up foods staples from the North Dakota Community Action Agency for low income elderly people, displays her commitment to make all lives better. She’s also involved with Meals on Wheels and a local hospice for many years. One year she sewed and knitted numerous hats and caps for those in chemotherapy. She is involved directly with some Hospice clients, but helps Red River Valley Hospice in any need, including running errands, office help, special needs and fundraisers.

Often it is the little things that stand out about Marion. She is the one who volunteers to deliver gifts for the Catholic Church Ladies Guild and to the homebound or nursing home members at Christmas and Valentine’s Day. She is usually one of the first to help prepare and serve at parishioners’ funerals or weddings. It is the card she sends, the thoughtful word or surprise, often a handmade gift, to those who need that extra touch. Her sewing skills have resulted in quilts being given away when the heating went out at the university and quilts being auctioned off to benefit specific fund raising needs like Relay for Life and Luther Memorial Nursing Home Benefit.

It isn’t everyone who will volunteer their home phone number to take reservations for numerous community activities, but Marion contributes even in her ‘off’ time. They often say giving of oneself is the ultimate gift and Marion does just that not only by service, but also by donating blood regularly since her type is needed and is rarely donated.

In conclusion, many people wish to make some impact on those around them at least once in their lives. It is the rare individual who can touch the lives of the young and old, community activists and homebound, the wealthy and the needy and do so with a cheerful smile, never asking for anything in return. This is Marion Baker, our community Point of Light nominee.

JOSEPH S. AUBAIN

Joe Aubain is a man who loves his island, his home. He has seen the devastating effect of cruelty on animals in the Virgin Islands and its link to family abuse. Since 2000, Joe Aubain has worked constantly to help prevent the epidemic of animal cruelty and its subsequent toll on families.

As President of the Board of Directors of the Humane Society of St. Thomas, he has significantly affected the lives of thousands of animals and countless children and adults. His unrelenting volunteer efforts launched a campaign to build an Animal Care Campus for the purpose of providing proper care to the island’s many unwanted animals and providing the value of humane education principles to thousands of school children.

As a seasoned nonprofit professional and animal lover, Joe Aubain envisioned a “campus” of facilities and activities designed for the enjoyment and education of people along with meeting the needs of unwanted animals. Dogs would be able to romp in one of several dog parks, or be exercised by taking a leisurely walk on nature trails. Cats would have lots of room to play in a tropical cabana. Families would visit the beautiful grounds and bring their beloved pets for walks and socialization with other animals, something unheard of in the community. Injured iguanas and migratory birds would be cared for in sanctuaries. Most importantly, children would visit the campus and learn to respect animals and the environment, and thus, display the values of humane education to one another, and as they grow into adults, teach these values to their children.

A steadfast believer that animal abuse is family abuse, Joe Aubain has already begun to see a dream realized-the positive impact of humane education on the community.

Joe Aubain has worked to enhance the quality of life of Virgin Islanders through his involvement in numerous causes and community based organizations. As Executive Director of the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce for the past 14 years, he has stepped in and assisted numerous individuals and organizations when the “community safety net” failed them. His experience and the relationships he has built throughout the community has enabled him to launch this massive effort of (1) raising 3 million dollars for the construction of the Animal Care Campus, (2) managing the project design and construction, (3) developing the organization by raising funds for an executive director to develop and implement a strategic plan, (4) diversifying and growing the organization’s membership from less than 200 to a goal of 2,000 in less than two years, and (5) mobilizing the community’s elected officials to enact stronger animal cruelty legislation.

In addition to this phenomenal undertaking, Joe Aubain finds time to adopt and rescue animals. As he will step out of the Presidency in June 2005 at the organization’s annual meeting and preparation for the groundbreaking, Joe Aubain will remain on the Board as the volunteer project manager for the capital campaign and construction of the Animal Care Campus.

JAY LAPHAM

The leadership of Mr. Jay Lapham manifests itself in his quiet and steadfast commitment to keeping our children protected. Through his dedication and leadership skills, Jay Lapham tirelessly works on community, state, and national levels to develop and promote programs that hold child abusers criminally responsible for their actions. As part of Mr. Lapham’s dedication to the children of his community, he has donated over 2,000 hours developing and implementing quality training programs in partnership with other community agencies to train professionals in the prevention, investigations, and prosecution of child abuse. All of Mr. Lapham’s time devoted to providing outstanding leadership to community agencies has been as a volunteer.

Mr. Lapham began his journey as an outstanding leader in issues related to children in 1996 by assisting the local children’s hospital in its efforts to teach others about the dangers of those who prey on children. He continued his efforts throughout 1997 by partnering with Tarrant County College to provide leadership in developing a training program for social workers, police, and medical personnel. In 2000, Mr. Lapham joined the Shaken Baby Alliance as a Board member of the agency. Thus began a formidable record of developing and teaching in the Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma and SIDS Regional Training Institute and the Serious Physical Child Abuse and SIDS Program. These nationally recognized programs have resulted in the training of over 15,000 Texas professionals dedicated to protecting our children.

This list includes seminars and conferences where Mr. Lapham has volunteered as a lecturer-trainer, and provided leadership and direction in the development of the training program:

The prosecution of Child Abuse Cases 2002-A Workshop for Child Abuse Professionals-sponsored by the Texas Children’s Justice Act Project and TDPRS Austin, TX (07/02)

Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma & SIDS Regional Training Institutes: Paris, TX (07/04); Killeen, TX (06/04); Brownwood, TX (06/04); Lubbock, TX (08/03); Harlingen, TX (07/03); Abilene, TX (07/03); Corpus Christi, TX (06/03); Galveston, TX (05/03); Marshall, TX (04/03); Denton, TX (01/03)

Serious Physical Child Abuse and SIDS Advanced Investigation Training, Fort Worth, TX (12/04, 07/04, 06/04, 04/04, 02/03, 01/03); Austin, TX (01/04)

New Mexico Multi-Disciplinary Conference on Serious Physical Child Abuse (03/03, 11/04)

Florida Conference Serious Physical Child Abuse (03/04)

“Offense to Prosecution” Serious Physical Child Abuse-Second Annual Starfish Conference (03/04)

3rd Annual Child Victims: Interventions and Investigations-Bastrop, TX (07/04)

The Alaska Maltreatment Conference-“Translating Ideas into Action” Anchorage, AK (10/04)

Mr. Jay Lapham is an outstanding choice for the Daily Points of Light Award for his outstanding leadership skills in developing quality training programs that provide professionals with the tools they need to prevent child abuse and seek criminal prosecution of those who dare to hurt our Texas children. His leadership and willingness to donate countless hours of his personal time have no doubt led to the prevention of child abuse to our littlest Texas citizens.

ALEX RICHARDVILLE

Every once in a while in life, you cross the path of an individual that just seems to stand out. I have had the opportunity to cross paths with a young lady that fits perfectly into the “stand out” description. For several times I have seen her and each time it has left me in amazement. Many teenagers today have little or no respect for their community and in fact sit around waiting for handouts.

During the weekend of September 17th, the town of Ligonier, along with many other communities of Western Pennsylvania were fighting floods as a result of the hurricane. Alex walked up to a fire truck, pulled down hoses, threw them over her shoulder and turned and walked away as if it was a normal everyday activity. I sat and watched in awe for quite some time as she went from house to house working right along side the other volunteer firemen helping the flood victims. Before long, I heard several people talking and everyone was curious to know who she was and unfortunately I stood in silence.

Recently, I was among a group of people that were helping to locate a local woman that was missing. Once again I crossed the path of this young lady. I heard through the grapevine that she had volunteered many hours with the search and rescue mission.

Alex is very active, from being involved with the girls’ soccer team to being a member of the Blue Grass Committee to volunteering time as a junior firefighter. She attended firefighting school at St. Vincent and has been volunteering for a year and a half. Alex says that she has been to a lot of calls in her tenure as a volunteer firefighter.