THE DREAM FACTORY, INC.

The Dream Factory, Inc. is a volunteer-based, nonprofit organization that grants the dreams of critically and chronically ill children, ages three through eighteen. When South Central Bell employee Charles Henault founded The Dream Factory in Hopkinsville, Kentucky in 1980, his goal was to create a volunteer organization dedicated to granting the dreams of children with serious illnesses.

Today, The Dream Factory (www.dreamfactoryinc.com) operates more than 30 chapters across the United States and is the second largest wish-granting organization in existence. The Dream Factory grants an average of 350 dreams each year, including trips to Walt Disney World, shopping sprees and meeting with celebrities and athletes. Currently, The Dream Factory enjoys the assistance of 5,000 dedicated volunteers who have helped fulfill over 23,000 dreams since 1980.

Seriously ill children spend far too much time in doctor’s offices, hospitals and treatment centers. They are often denied simple childhood pleasures such as attending school, participating in sports and enjoying time with friends and family members. In granting a child’s dream, the organization is able to temporarily alleviate the child’s pain, allowing him or her to feel like a “normally healthy” child and enhancing his or her quality of life (no matter what the duration of that life may be). Doctors agree that experiencing a dream can extend the life of a seriously ill child as well as bring lasting joy and precious memories to the child’s family.

Granting dreams is the ongoing mission of The Dream Factory, Inc. However, the organization’s relationship with a child and his or her family does not come to a close aftera dream is fulfilled. The various chapters keep in touch with their past dream recipients and his or her families through newsletters, holiday parties, summer picnics and other special events and program services. The national website, which is maintained by volunteers, also aids in The Dream Factory’s ability to share information and keep in touch.

The Dream Factory is distinguishable from other wish-granting organizations in three main ways. First, The Dream Factory grants the dreams of both critically and chronically ill children; they do not limit their program services to terminally ill children. In this manner, they maximize the number of children who can experience their dreams. Second, The Dream Factory is an all-volunteer organization at the chapter level. Their only employees exist at National Headquarters (2 part-time and 2 full-time staff members), and they are able to maintain low overhead costs. The Dream Factory’s goal is to use 90 cents of every dollar raised on direct program services. Finally, their volunteers raise funds in their own communities and then use those funds to grant the dreams of local children. This grassroots approach to fundraising translates in 92% of all funds raised remaining in their community of origin.

ROBERTA KATZ

Roberta Katz has been supportive of the Jewish Home and Care Center for more than 20 years, acting as volunteer and facilitating projects that enhance the lives of the residents. She has served as Treasurer of Hand In Hand, President, and as a board member of the Jewish Home and Care Center and Jewish Home and Care Center Foundation. Katz volunteered in the Home’s Gift Shop and Soda Shop, and she and Hand In Hand Board members take special pride in delivering gifts to campus residents on Chanukah. She also visits the campus on Christmas Day with her husband Elliott and others to provide special treats for staff working on that holiday.

As is often case, those willing to lead an organization are in short supply. When it appeared that there would be no leadership for Hand In Hans, Katz, together with a small group of past Chairwomen of the Board, made the exceptional commitment to serve another term as a Co-Chair and to extend her service on the Board of Directors. This would be remarkable by itself, but when one knows that Katz has also continued her long-term volunteer position as Treasurer, you begin to see her commitment in its true light.

Katz has made tremendous contributions to the lives of the older adults served at the Jewish Home and Care Center, both as a direct service volunteer and as a lay leader. She and the other members of the Hand In Hand board conceived and implemented the visionary grant program, which allows Hand In Hand to financially support special programs created by Jewish Home and Care Center department heads. At this time, Hand In Hand is supporting a program that welcomes each new resident with a card and flowers, the weekly ceramics program, the monthly birthday parties, Purim and Chanukah celebration, and the Home’s Gift Shop. Under her leadership, Hand In Hand also purchased an Aviary for the lobby, which is enjoyed by residents, staff and guests every day. Hand In Hand not only paid for this wonderful addition to the facility, but also is paying for its regular upkeep.

While her work for Hand In Hand isn’t Katz’s full-time job, it certainly could be! Not only does she pay the bills, but she also processes hundreds of membership checks each year. In addition, Katz attends meetings, and can regularly be found visiting at the Jewish Home and Care Center and Chai Point Retirement Center. She is a tireless advocate for the residents and never hesitates to go the extra mile. In addition to her work with the Jewish Home and Care Center, Katz is an active member of the Wisconsin Institute for Torah Study, the Blood Center of Southeastern Wisconsin, State of Israel Bonds and the Society of Jewish Learning.

ROBERT YARBROUGH

Robert Yarbrough balances being patient and kind while also being stern and lovable. He dedicates his life to tutoring high school and college level students in mathematics. About eleven years ago or so, he began his retirement by taking all the math classes that Brevard Community College had to offer. He did this so that he would be prepared to tutor students. He comes to the college twice a week for 4 hours each and then goes to the high school for 3 hours 3 to 4 times a week. He has done this for the past ten years and has even been offered pay for his services but refuses and adamantly claims his payment is seeing the students pass their classes and getting their degrees.

Yarbrough has known since he was 22 years old that he was going to help as many people as he could succeed in their life. You see, when Mr. Yarbrough was 22 and had been recently released from the Marine Corps, he decided to go to College to be an Electronic Engineer. While he went through high school he was more interested in playing football than reading or writing and he was not deterred from feeling that way. Unfortunately, he may not have received a quality education up to that point. To say that he had a disadvantage would be an understatement, but another college bound student who was 17 at the time, took him under his wing and tutored him right through school. Yarbrough graduated with his bachelors of Science degree in Electronic Engineering.

Yarbrough sees his volunteer time as repayment to the young man who took a minute out of his own life to help him. Now, he is taking the time to help others accomplish their goal of receiving a college degree. He is a very humble man and feels he gets a reward each day when he sees the students he works with succeeding in school and becoming successful contributors to society. He is one of the few people in his generation that have dedicated their retirement to helping others, and because of his work, Brevard County is seeing successful youth.

YOUNGSTOWN AREA ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY COALITION

The Internal Revenue Service Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) offers free tax help to people who cannot afford professional assistance. VITA volunteers help prepare basic tax returns for taxpayers with special needs, including persons with disabilities, those with a low to moderate income, non-English speaking persons and elderly taxpayers. A special emphasis of the VITA program is to assist taxpayers who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to claim and quickly receive it. This is a refundable credit for low-income working individuals and families. When the EITC exceeds the amount of taxes owed, it results in a tax refund to those who claim and qualify for the credit. The EITC is money for people who work but do not earn enough income for their family size, and could use the EITC to put food on the table, move into better housing, invest in education, transportation, or save for the future. In addition to the savings on tax preparation fees, when VITA returns can be filed electronically it saves low-income taxpayers from the exorbitant costs of return anticipation loans (RALs), often advertised as rapid refunds.

The Youngstown Area Economic Opportunity Coalition is a community-based partnership in Ohio, which has been working with the IRS for the past two years to provide tax awareness and education, free income tax preparation through the VITA program, and financial literacy to promote asset building. Core members of the Coalition include Mahoning Youngstown Community Action Partnership (MYCAP), Youngstown State University (YSU), Home Savings and Loan, North Side Citizens Coalition for Community Development (NSCC) and the Youngstown/Mahoning Libraries. Over fifty volunteers work at any seven VITA sites sponsored by the Coalition from February through April to prepare income taxes for free to low-income taxpayers. The sites are conveniently located at MYCAP, YSU, a Goodwill site and public libraries. In addition to regular posted hours, the Coalition offers a well attended Super Saturday event to kick off the filing season. In the 2005 filing season, the Coalition prepared 553 federal tax returns, in addition to nearly as many state tax returns, with a 91% e-file rate. Total EITC dollars returned were $280,396, for a total refund count of $663,274. When the savings on tax preparation and RALS is added, the total impact to the community was at least $773,874. In addition to the free income tax preparation, the Coalition provided tax awareness and financial literacy through outreach.

The Youngstown Coalition intends to provide an even greater level of service for the 2006 filing season with the goal of making a $1,000,000 impact to the community. Since the total number of tax returns prepared increased 40% from filing season 2004 to 2005, this goal is certainly within reach. The great impact of the Youngstown Area Economic Opportunity Coalition has been possible thanks to the many volunteer hours generously given by the individuals involved with MYCAP, YSU, and the other coalition partners. Together they have met a real need in the community and demonstrated positive results.

SEAN CHARLES ERSKINE

Sean was a dependable, conscientious volunteer. While I have had many students assigned to my department, I was comfortable in knowing that this young man would report on time, the days of his obligation. Mr. Erskine was a quick study, who demonstrated the ability to focus on assigned tasks, in a highly organized manner, hence completed assignments efficiently.

Mr. Erskine accepted all tasks assigned to him, completing them with efficiency. When he was uncertain as to how to proceed, he quickly sought counsel with appropriate staff. As the summer progressed, I assigned him duties necessitating greater independent thinking and reasoning. Specific duties included the input of data into a national database. He was given a telephone-spread sheet of key phone numbers, to be kept current. Mr. Erskine was assigned the task of loading software on PC’s and making back up software copies. He was given assignments to replace keyboards in various work sites and to trouble shoot, when hospital personnel experienced minor technical problems. I was able to trust Mr. Erskine with a key, allowing him to access telecommunications systems. On one particular day, Mr. Erskine independently shuttled to a neighboring VA site, where he needed to locate various closets and replace spreadsheets. The above truly demonstrates his acceptance of responsibility and fulfillment of assignments, as he took his assignments seriously, and functioned capably.

Mr. Erskine is a pleasant, introspective young man. As he became comfortable with staff, he functioned as a colleague to those that he came in direct contact with. Often, mature veteran volunteers would stop him in the halls and ask if he were an employee, based on the way he carried himself. When they found out otherwise, the gentlemen did not hesitate to compliment Sean on his decision to spend his summer, as a new high school graduate, giving of his time to the veterans. Sean, when observed in conversation with veterans, was respectful and engaging.

Mr. Erskine demonstrated strong leadership ability. He was a role model for the staff of the Information Resource Management division. As an eighteen year old, he accepted his assignments, and dutifully carried them out. It was he who requested to volunteer in this department, so as to have hands on experience in his intended field of study. He eagerly wanted to learn what he could. In my conversations with him, I discovered that this young man demonstrated leadership ability within his community as well, organizing a group of youth from his church to sponsor a meal at a homeless shelter, and organizing a group of young men from his community to play in a paintball tournament, where proceeds benefited a newly established cancer research foundation. Sean was awarded a trophy by the foundation, for his selfless efforts.

Mr. Erskine was an inspiration to all he came in contact with. Both in-patients and out-patients were seen making small talk in hallways with this young man. What was obvious to all was his enjoyment of his work. He demonstrated mature, capable behavior that was an inspiration to patients, particularly those who were involved in Incentive Therapy, and Corrective Work Therapy.

NEWTON THOMAS

Newton Thomas has brought together divergent segments of communities in seven states to achieve a common goal of rehabilitating troubled youth. Thomas has made a significant contribution, connecting thousands of people to help over 20,000 adjudicated children meet responsibilities, obtain employable skills, increase self-confidence, and further their education. Newton has served as a board member for Associated Marine Institutes (AMI) for 16 years and is currently Chairman.

AMI is a nonprofit organization founded in 1969 dedicated to helping delinquent youth through community-based rehabilitation programs. The goal of the 57 schools in seven states is provide structure and discipline for at-risk kids, giving them the tools that will help them to succeed in life. Today, there are over 55 community boards with 750 board members, and 1500 staff members. Together, they tap into their combined strengths and resources to help each AMI School in their community.

These boards have representation from various segments of the community: Law enforcement, judges, community leaders, and legislators. Thomas works to bring these various segments of the population together. The programs at AMI draw together people who would never meet one another if it were not for their love of community. There is nothing in it for them except the knowledge that they are helping misguided kids to be successful and enriching their community.

Because these passionate people are spread from Illinois to Florida, Thomas developed the Connect Initiative. The Connect Initiative began with a yearlong strategic planning process, Thomas spearheaded a process that began with a survey to find out what the obstacles and the opportunities were that people at every level faced. He determined that communication was a major hurdle and the communication process needed to be streamlined in order for the group to be more effective. Thus the Connect Initiative was born.

One year later, there is a monthly newsletter for all board members and staff that highlights best practices, resources, issues and stories that will connect people from the school level, through the community level, state level to a national one. Each helping to circle back to the children they help. As a result, there are now monthly steering team meetings that get critical information flowing from the corporate headquarters to the schools and back again.

As a result, although the national average for re-arrest among juveniles is at 59% only an average of 28% of AMI’s kids are re-arrested, making AMI a national leader for rehabilitating adjudicated kids.

Thomas’s efforts started 16 years ago and his last 2 years as Chairman have really allowed him to make his mark and put policies and procedure into place that will be followed for years in the future. He has been traveling the country to work with all 795 School Boards and politicians to ensure the safety in communities throughout the country.

FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

Established in September 2003, Financial Resources for Economic Empowerment (F.R.E.E.) consists of one full-time staff member who serves as a Program Coordinator and approximately 100 volunteers who regularly participate in the daily operation of the initiative. The volunteers are a mixture of ethnicities, races, and genders ranging from 20 to 80 years of age.

Volunteers are recruited through a coalition of agencies whose missions are complementary. The F.R.E.E. Coalition lead by Community Action Program, Inc. of Taylor County is comprised of the following entities: Abilene A Call for Help Center, Abilene Board of Realtors, Abilene Christian University, Abilene Housing Authority, Boys and Girls Clubs, Cisco Junior College, Dodge Jones Foundation, Dyess Air Force Base, FaithWorks, First Financial Bank, Hardin-Simmons University, Internal Revenue Service, McMurry University, Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Texas Society of CPAs, Texas State Technical College (West Texas), Texas Tech University Small Business Development Center, The Center for Non-Profit Management, and United Way of Abilene.

Individuals choosing to volunteer with F.R.E.E. carry out various duties such as completing tax returns, filing, organizing public relations efforts, teaching money management classes, writing business plans, and facilitating asset specific workshops on weekly bases throughout the year. Volunteer efforts address economic issues in the community that serve as barriers to families living at or below the 200% federal poverty line. Through F.R.E.E., volunteers have helped approximately 2,000 families receive $1.7 million in tax returns since 2003.

F.R.E.E. has also paved the way for approximately 100 low-income families to receive financial literacy and asset specific education, which has led to the establishment of 40 Individual Development Accounts.

MARJIE GARCIA

Web Wise Kids is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to equip young people to make wise choices online. They work hard to teach children to recognize and avoid criminals on the Internet so that they can prevent being victimized. Since the Internet provides predators with nearly unhindered access to children, it is essential that children be prepared to respond appropriately when they encounter a safety risk online. The organization is dependent on government and private funding to continue to deliver their fun, video game style educational software to schools and students at no cost to them.

Despite a debilitating medical condition, Marjie Garcia faithfully volunteers three days each week to assist Web Wise Kinds. After suffering a spinal cord injury which left her with impaired mobility and chronic pain, Garcia looked beyond her circumstances and began donating 24 hours a week to Web Wise Kids. Since 2002, she has been a very valuable part of the team and accepts no compensation for her services.

On behalf of Web Wise Kids, Garcia diligently pursues new funding opportunities, which allow Web Wise Kids the resources to continue educating children. In addition to applying for grants from foundations, Garcia also creates top-notch proposals, and builds quality relationships with funders. In addition, Garcia develops relationships. She enjoys interacting with people and always makes time to go beyond superficial conversation to find out how people really are. Garcia projects the same warmth and friendliness whether she is talking to a child, a staff member, or a potential funder.

The staff, volunteers and clients at Web Wise appreciate Garcia’s warm heart, optimistic outlook, and professional business skills. Garcia has a passion for protecting kids and is an advocate for children’s online safety.

FRIENDS OF ALASKA PYLI

Friends of Alaska PYLI is composed of 100 caring adults who have joined forces over the last eight years in a coalition giving youth and families, especially less fortunate, opportunities to give back to their communities through personal service. Their connecting partners include: Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice, Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals, Alaska Association for Student Governments, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Anchorage, Mountain View Boys & Girls Club, Boy Scouts Western Alaska Council, Anchorage Senior Center, Chugachmiut Native Corporation, AmeriCorps Volunteers, Communities In Schools Alaska, Anchorage Youth Advisory Commission, University of Alaska Upward Bound, Prudential Jack White Vista Real Estate, Key Bank of Alaska, and Anchorage Daily News.

The organization developed an innovative Alaskan Seasons of Service strategy to involve diverse youth, adults, families, seniors, and agencies to promote meaningful volunteer service. They emphasize skill building, tool sharing, participant diversity, hands-on intergenerational service and community connection. They focus on human and social needs of disadvantaged such as the isolation senior citizens feel, lack of basic supplies homeless experience, absence of positive role models some children face, and disconnection/disempowerment young people feel in their communities. Friends of Alaska PYLI organize multi-age projects on major national days of service with special days such as National Kids Day and Thank Your Mentor Day.

The ongoing service activities began in 1998 continuing in every day volunteer service activities such as mentoring, training, facilitating, project organizing, fund-raising, grant-writing, and community service leadership. The cornerstone of the community impact is their eight-year commitment to the Prudential Spirit of Community Initiative encouraging volunteer service by young people.

Thousands of youth, families and agencies have benefited because of many projects Friends have started and sustained. They include but are not limited to: President’s Volunteer Service Awards in Alaska since 2003 and yearly in the Spring to youth, & families; small $ 500-$ 2,500 grants for MLK Jr. Day, NYSD, and Join Hands Day community activities; mentoring hundreds of youth who have received local and national recognition for their service; creation of BSA Venturing Unit # 508 for youth 15-22 emphasizing Venturing Through Service since 2003; Prudential Spirit of Community Youth Service Recognition Ceremony since 1999 honoring Prudential Spirit of Community Award & PVSA winners, and PYLI Youth Leadership graduates uplifting 1000 youth and families; National Youth Service Day projects since 1998, Join Hands Day projects since 2000, National Make A Difference Day projects since 1999, September 11 National Day of Service projects since 2003, Martin Luther King Jr. Day projects since 2000; and 20 Points of Light Youth Leadership Institutes (Alaska PYLI) training 600 students and adults from 15 different Alaskan communities since 1998. Through Friends of PYLI Alaska youth and families serving together have addressed real needs of seniors, disadvantaged children, local parks, homeless, public library and the sick.

ASSOCIATED MARINE INSTITUTES (AMI)

Associated Marine Institutes has dedicated itself to achieve a common goal – rehabilitate troubled youth into responsible and productive citizens. AMI is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help delinquent youth through the development of community-based rehabilitation programs. The goal of the schools is to “turn the lives around” of misdirected kids, giving them the tools that will help them to succeed in life. Through its programming, AMI has grown from just 6 programs, serving 200 youth, to 53 programs in 6 states serving over 3,000 youth and families yearly.

In 1969, Judge Frank Orlando had a young man in front of him that had committed a crime, but he realized that sending the boy to a juvenile detention center was not going to benefit him. Judge Orlando understood that the boy was not out of reach yet. So, he called a friend who was managing a marine research program and asked if he would take the boy on one of his oceanographic research projects and put him to work. The friend obliged and after a few months passed he called the Judge back and told him to send more boys his way. They realized that the boys felt like part of the group, and that they were happy to earn their way. Positive rewards for their good work and effort reinforced their worth and made them understand that the more they put in the more they will receive. These experiences gave the adults the idea to establish AMI, a permanent program to serve these kids.

Rehabilitation is an integral component in each of AMI’s programs. It is shared with the clients through many avenues; academic instruction, experiential education, mentoring, goal setting, vocational training, and working to increase self-esteem through responsibility and accountability. Overall, the programs strive to provide an opportunity for kids who are academically behind in school, and have behavioral issues, to catch up or surpass their peers.

Community service is also key in AMI’s education. They believe that because kids belong to their community, they should take ownership in their community and develop respect for it along with respecting themselves. The kids are involved in community service on an ongoing basis and constantly learning their value and what value they can add to the community.

AMI has managed to bring together all facets of the community to make a difference in the kids and their lives. Law enforcement, judges, business professionals, legislators, retirees, family members, they all come together. Through their efforts and those of AMI, an average of 28% of AMI’s kids are re-arrested compared to the national average of 59%, making AMI a national leader for rehabilitating adjudicated kids.

What AMI has done for years, results in successfully reintegrating youth back into their communities, schools, and family settings. AMI strives to impact as many youngsters as possible without compromising their standards of effectiveness. The data proves that AMI is succeeding, but they believe it is because the founders have a genuine desire to help children succeed.