St. Vincent’s Health System

The day after Hurricane Ivan hit, Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola was running on generator power, without running water and suffering structural damage. The number of patients in the hospital continued to grow at a rapid pace. With special needs shelters full and many area people left homeless and injured, the number of patients coming to the hospital was steadily increasing. Many Scared Heart staff members were stranded at the hospital, many had not been home for days, and had no idea of whether there was even a home left to return to. Employees that would normally come in to relieve staff were stranded at home or in shelters. The only chance was help from outside. Late afternoon on Thursday, September 16th, St. Vincent’s Health System’s Chief Executive Officer, John Maher called Sacred Heart Hospital to see if St. Vincent’s could help.

An immediate call went out for volunteers, within two hours more than 100 responded. The biggest hurdle was not in getting volunteers; St. Vincent’s staff is well known for commitment to the community, but in getting them to Pensacola. With airports closed and roads impassable, it was a challenge. John Maher rose to this challenge by working to find air and ground transportation, even personally guaranteeing the cost of a charter plane. Collaboration with Jacksonville’s major corporations resulted in the donation of two additional planes; St. Joe Company and Physician Sales and Services (PSS) World Medical.

By the following morning, 81 staff members left Jacksonville for hurricane-damaged Pensacola. These courageous volunteers came from all areas of the medical center, both clinical and non-clinical, each willing to do whatever was necessary to assist in providing care for the storm ravaged victims. Two days before government assistance arrived, St. Vincent’s volunteers were the first to fly into Pensacola’s airport after the storm, a frightening experience; and the first to respond to a call for help; and the first to arrive on the scene at Sacred Heart Hospital. Many of these volunteers had no experience in providing post-storm care and had no idea what to expect. Scared Heart’s fatigued and overworked staff welcomed St. Vincent’s with open arms. St. Vincent’s nurses, pharmacists, pharmacist technicians, respiratory therapists, plant facility personnel, clinical engineers did whatever was necessary to get things up and running, working 16 hour shifts, treating major and minor injuries such as dehydration, chain saw injuries, and dialysis.

All had left the comfort and security of their homes in Jacksonville without a second thought to venture out into an unknown situation, wrought with destruction and loss…why? It was the right thing to do! St. Vincent’s arrived with enthusiasm and selfless dedication working side by side with our people under the most trying conditions, no water or air conditioning, inadequate sleeping facilities, no way to clean up or shower.” St. Vincent’s initiative to be the first on the scene and to work without hesitation, gave all of us the hope we needed to carry on. Each of these volunteers did not hesitate to give of themselves to help the community of Pensacola recover from the terrible ordeal of Hurricane Ivan. Years from now, after wounds have healed, St. Vincent’s and its staff will be remembered for their selfless dedication and for their mission of providing for all persons with special attention to those who are vulnerable.

Jon Stewart

Perhaps you remember the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.” In the movie James Stewart played George Baily a banker in the town of Bedford Falls. As a banker George Baily touched many lives—sometimes with even what seemed the smallest of action he had changed the lives of the people in his community. And indeed provided the seeds for growth and development of the community.

Through the journey that takes you back in time, changes the actions of one life, then goes forward to see the outcome, the movie watcher views not only the value of one life and the importance of the contribution of the individual but how one business can have an impact that builds and binds a community.

Johnson County Kansas has its very own George Baily. It is Jon Stewart, President and CEO of Metcalf Bank. For more than 40 years the strong commitment to community has been a tradition at Metcalf Bank. The people at Metcalf Bank believe that it doesn’t just work in the community they work for the community. This commitment to community can be seen in the actions of the bank.

One of the significant ways to measure the community involvement is the time, talents and skills given by the associates of Metcalf Bank. Metcalf Bank has an employee volunteer program that encourages getting active. Between 70% and 75% of the associates participate in this program.

The associates who volunteer outside of work hours earn “Met Bucks” they can use as currency at the “Met Mall” to purchase t-shirts, hats and other gifts. Each year the Metcalf bank associates spend over 5,000 hours helping the community not-for-profit, educational, civic and social organizations.

In addition to getting associates busy in the community Metcalf Bank supports many community events and initiatives. This is how we at the Volunteer Center of Johnson County have come to know and appreciate their community support. Metcalf Bank has been a supporter of our event The Volunteer of the Year for many years. When Metcalf Bank supports your event you know that they mean it.

There is one initiative of Metcalf Bank that demonstrates their commitment to education – “Saving with Mandy and Andy.” This program partners with local grade schools to upgrade financial literacy. By providing this program to local schools Metcalf Bank agrees to pay the expenses of all printed materials to be used. The materials include Teacher’s Guide and student Workbooks, Metcalf Bank will offer to do a classroom visit with a speaker and do bank tours at a location convenient to the school.

Metcalf Bank is also a strong supporter of Chambers of Commerce, civic clubs, the arts and many community events. They truly are the neighborhood bank. While it is difficult to articulate the many gifts of Metcalf Bank it is not difficult to find people from every walk of life who can tell you a story about how Metcalf Bank changed their lives. It is often this neighborhood bank that makes school loans to folks who believe that they would not have otherwise been able to go to college. It is often the wise decisions of Metcalf Bank that make loans for homes and for business ventures possible when others would not. This wisdom and willingness to support this community is what most resembles that savings and loan in Bedford Falls depicted in the movie. A neighborhood bank supporting the community one family at a time – moving the family, the neighborhoods and the community forward. Metcalf Bank offers us this basic truth of life that we all would like to believe—that each of us, no matter how apparently insignificant, has the power to make a difference, and that the measure of our humanity has nothing to do with fame or money, but with how we live our life and conduct business on a day to day basis. This community is what it is today because of the gifts of Metcalf Bank.

Maryann King

Many people lost everything after the hurricanes this year. Maryann King lives in Saddlebag Lake Resort in Lake Wales, FL in a park of 800 homes or trailers. The three hurricanes completely demolished 150 homes and damaged all the others. She and her husband, Bill, had to flee the hurricanes, but they returned each time to help others who lost their homes or had a lot of damage.

King was in danger of losing everything just like others in the community, but she came back to help others. She and her husband worked diligently to help clean up as well as doing other things needed to help them through the restoration process. King was available to assist with reports of damages and also to help others take it a step further.

King hired workmen to clean up the debris, trees, branches and paid for it until she could be reimbursed. She also called churches and companies to volunteer to come to the park to work along with her husband. She made Sloppy Joes, Bar-b-queue pork sandwiches and other food for up to 30 people at a time. She paid for the food herself. She sends pictures of the places to those residents who cannot readily go home to their homes. King has even let people stay in her motor home while their places were being repaired.

It is amazing that King and her husband are so selfless and giving even in the midst of their own difficulties; however, it is most remarkable that King is 80 years old. Though she is a mature adult, King works to provide assistance and peace of mind to many out of state families, and food and assistance to many workers at the time of the emergency.

Grace United Methodist Church

The Faith Weaver (FW) Friends group at Grace United Methodist Church (GUMC) in Hastings is beginning their third year of service to schoolchildren in the community.

A group of volunteers let by Christian Education Coordinator Lori Christy implemented a school year program that provides a safe and nurturing environment after school every Wednesday.

The church’s location within a mile of three of Hastings’ elementary schools contributes to the program’s success. Each week a group of caring volunteers, led by Mrs. Christy and Pastors James Miller and Lee Wigert, provide after school homework assistance. The volunteers also cook and serve supper, and lead practices for activities including voice and bell choirs.

The innovative project combined the needs of children who may not otherwise have adult supervision after school with the gifts of retired teachers and other dedicated volunteers who are willing to share their time to make a difference in the lives of children. The outreach of this church to children is nothing new for Grace as the facility has also served as home to Pooh Corner West daycare in a partnership with the Adams County Child Development Council for more than 20 years.

The pocket dictionary defines grace as “seemingly effortless beauty, ease, and charm of movement or form” and the staff and volunteers of GUMC put that definition into action through their FW Friends program for not just members of the church but any child in the community

Renny Malach

Renny, beginning his “career” with Missoula Little League in 1971, has been a mainstay ever since. One of the pioneer developers for the Westside Little League, he has served in nearly every position necessary to assure the success of the League. He has been president, business manager, equipment manager, field maintenance supervisor, team manager and coach, umpire, and concession worker. He was also chairman of the building committee for the baseball/softball fields that are now known as the Renny Malach Complex located on Spurgin Road.

Whatever the need, Renny is always there for the betterment of Missoula’s youngsters. In addition to Little League, Renny was active in other programs over the years, participating as an official for football and basketball, as well as an umpire for legion baseball games. As president of the Hawthorne school PTA, he led reconstruction and landscaping work at the school.

Renny has remained a steadfast supporter of Little League for nearly thirty-five years. Currently in his sixth year as the Administrator for District 2 Montana, which covers all of western Montana, which includes 16 Little Leagues, Renny is responsible to assure that the leagues are kept informed of all pertinent information from Little League Baseball, and that each one files the necessary forms during the season.

In 2004, Renny was the chairman for the 2004 Division I conference which was held in Missoula in October. Over 100 league officials and volunteers from 6 states were treated to a weekend of great Montana hospitality while also attending workshops put on by officials from Little League Headquarters in both Williamsport, Pennsylvania and San Bernardino, CA. Because of Renny’s leadership, everyone was thoroughly impressed by what western Montana had to offer.

This year, Renny was faced with a major problem. The Western Regional Senior Girls Softball Tournament was scheduled to be held in Great Falls the first week in August. Due to several unforeseen problems, Little League Baseball requested that the tournament be moved elsewhere in Montana. Although this does not seem like a problem, the request was made only 10 days prior to the start of the tournament.

After discussing the problem with several of Missoula’s presidents, all of whom offered to help, Renny made the decision to relocate the tournament to our city. During the next 10 days, Renny made the decision to relocate the tournament to our city. During the next 10 days, Renny went to work to remake the baseball fields at the Renny Malach Complex into fields to accommodate softball. The mounds used for the baseball program were removed, the pitching mound reconfigured, and the base-paths all repaired to conduct a tournament of this significance as the winner would advance to the Senior Girls Softball World Series in Delaware. As we were expecting ten teams to come, it was necessary to prepare two fields. When things finally settled, we only had seven teams which made it easier because we only had to use one field.

In addition to doing the fields, Renny had to keep in contact with the incoming team managers to answer questions, completely redo the tournament schedule several times, set up rooms for meetings, as well as making sure other teams from District 2 Montana that were traveling out of state were taken care of, logistically and financially.

Throughout those 10 days, Renny put in 12-14 hour days to assure that the teams went away from Montana with good memories. He would be at the fields by 6 am and wrap up his evening around 8 pm after everything got put away and the field was prepped for the next morning. After getting home, he would be on the phone to other league’s presidents or to the Western Region Headquarters in San Bernardino to discuss any problems or to give them updates of scores of the day’s games. He also kept in daily contact with Missoula’s league presidents to see if they needed help with their part of the tournament.

Renny has provided superior leadership to all of the Presidents of District 2 and has earned our continued admiration and respect.

Lois Bachmeier

Lois Bachmeier is a Summit Senior Companion and has been serving in this capacity for a little over 3 years. She is very loyal and committed in her role as a Senior Companion; and when one of Bachmeier’s matches has moved on, she immediately asks if there is anyone new in mind for her.

Bachmeier loves being with people, and people enjoy her genuine conversations and much needed assistance. Bachmeier has provided Senior Companion services to 13 elders with disabilities in Missoula. She is extremely responsible, flexible to the person’s needs, and puts everyone at ease with her approach. When her matches talk with other staff members, they describe Bachmeier as someone they can count on.

Bachmeier helps a number of people with reading because they have lost their sight. She reads labels in the grocery store and assists them with their mail. Bachmeier was matched with an older couple that both have mobility concerns. She had known them when she was young, and she had babysat for their children. Today she assists this elderly couple with their emotional and mental transition as the moved to a small apartment. In addition to light tasks around the home, they all play cards and converse about the “good old days!” Bachmeier has mobility issues, which she does not let “get her down.”

She is a great role model to people who would tend to see the “glass half empty”, because she always fills her glass each morning. Bachmeier’s energy for life cannot help but spill into others attitude throughout the day. Bachmeier’s attitude and approach is reflected further in the transportation support she gives to the people with visual impairments who attend the monthly Visual Support and Education Group. Bachmeier adds this trip to her monthly transportation trips as yet another way to assist people to get out into the Missoula community.

Summit Senior Companions are proud of all of their volunteers and love the vitality and zest Lois Bachmeier brings to their organization. She puts herself and her needs on the back burner so she can make the needs of her elder companions a priority. Bachmeier goes above and beyond the call to service for Senior Companions by also bringing genuine concern and sincere joy each day she spends time with her matches

Nevada Power’s EVC

From the nominator:

“Nevada Power’s Employee Volunteer Council (EVC), formed in 1996, spearheads community involvement by coordinating year-round volunteer activities, supporting the employee volunteer program, and communicating information about volunteerism. This nine-member Council consists of employees from diverse backgrounds who evaluate company-wide volunteer opportunities. The Employee Volunteer program makes the connection with community organizations and works out the logistics so those employees can start to help. Our EVC serves employees who want to get involved in their communities by matching them with a specific organization that meets their interests, addressing community needs through the help of employees and their families. We support endeavors that are vital to the public’s welfare and important to community’s vitality. The program is ultimately creating change – in our communities, and the lives of our employees. The EVC members serve as dedicated volunteer staff to increase employee morale, promote team building, and build stronger relationships with the community. They prepare an annual plan to lead a network of more than 1,800 employees to promote volunteerism throughout the company. Their program unites employees throughout the company for community service, recruiting and developing volunteer teams, helping multiply volunteer opportunities available to employees. These teams provide a ready group of volunteers to be tapped for projects.”

Janine Robinson

Janine Robinson has had to make serious decisions like many adults. Her aim was to be a productive citizen and to be able to give back to her country.

Janine Robinson was diagnosed at age 21 with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Receiving this diagnosis is hard for any person; however, it seemed life shattering to a 21-year old. In addition, she was active and serving in the Army when she realized she would be living with MS. Robinson had to make another decision at this point; should she give up or could she go on.

Not only was Robinson diagnosed with MS, but shortly after, she went blind. Again, to most people this would be a tragedy and even if you were able to be strong through one diagnosis; two was going to be quite hard.

Robinson chose life and life to its fullest. Instead of giving up, she taught herself Braille and began to live life to its fullest right where she was. Six months later, her sight returned and “Blue Mountain Braille Center” was formed at her home in Oregon. She then became a Braille transcriber.

Robinson knows how it is to not have sight so she uses her time to help others without sight so they can still read. Her job as a volunteer included brailing textbooks for the Oregon School system and a blind college professor. Robinson has taken a negative and definitely turned it into a positive.

Robinson has not let the changes that have occurred in her life to stop her. She has utilized her skills with Braille and transcribes parenting books for women in need. She also spent her Christmas holiday brailing a 365-page book last year because she knew someone was going to benefit from it. In addition, Robinson has brailed cards, books, and special material for those who are sight-impaired to read.

In addition to having MS, Robinson has been diagnosed with two lung diseases and is unable to work now. In spite of living with MS as well as other numerous health problems, she spends her time to Braille for blind people. She is dedicated herself into turning negative situations into positive ones and does so every day. Robinson is determined to manage her illnesses while also serving others in need. Instead of feeling sorry for herself or asking “why me,” she is taking the time to learn new skills and utilize each day to its full potential.

Morris Judson

A volunteer group’s success usually depends on one or two key individuals. Morris Judson Jr. is such an individual. Mo, as he is known by all, is a retired mathematics high school teacher.

He had always had a heart for others and has served in various capacities in his community. In the 1970’s, he and another teacher were the first to teach computer sciences in the area. And twelve years ago when he joined the AARP Tax-Aide volunteer program in New York’s Rockland County, the impact of his involvement was immediate and equally significant.

AARP Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest free, volunteer-run tax counseling and preparation service for middle and low income taxpayers, with special attention given to those of age 60 and older. The program operates under a cooperative arrangement with the Internal Revenue Service as a part of the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program. Although the tax season is just three and a half months long, Mo devotes eight months of his time each year to the program and related activities.

As the district’s Technology Specialist, Mo is in charge of electronic filing. He has worked closely with IRS and with software providers since e-filing was implemented in 1985. Thanks to his efforts, 90% of approximately three thousand returns in Rockland County were filed electronically, which is by far the highest percentage in the area.

Every computer-literate Tax Aide volunteer in Rockland has been trained personally by Mo. In addition, Mo is always available to answer their questions by phone, e-mail or in person. He has also trained an elite group of volunteers to transmit the returns to IRS after they have been prepared by the volunteers.

Mo is responsible for receiving, maintaining, distributing, and storing the computers loaned by IRS for the use of volunteers who prepare electronic returns. In addition, he receives and distributes IRS printers for use at each volunteer site and provides printer cartridges, paper and other necessary supplies.

His volunteer activities extend well beyond his e-filing responsibilities. Each year, he helps train the volunteers in both federal and state income tax law and regulations. During the tax season, he prepares returns himself and serves as the Site Supervisor at three sites. Mo reviews each return as a quality review process for accuracy, and to ensure that the clients benefit from every tax deduction and credit for which they are eligible. Finally, in addition to all of that, he transmits the returns prepared at this sites and performs all or the required follow-up activities that are too numerous to mention. In other words , for a volunteer serving as Site Coordinator and County Technology Specialist, e-filing is a whole lot more than just pressing a button!

Mo’s energy and enthusiasm are truly amazing. Despite the many demands of his responsibilities as a super-volunteer, he remains a kind and considerate person. His dedication, demeanor and innate desire to help others are much appreciated by the taxpayers who come to him for help, and by the volunteers who work with him.

Sarah Varadian

Sarah Rose Varadian has grown into the gifted and giving young woman she is today, committed to caring, and a servant to the needs of disadvantaged individuals in the community and beyond. Her life of service touches people at all levels.

Gregory Sullivan, Inspector General, Commonwealth of Massachusetts stated, “In my sixteen years as the Massachusetts House of Representatives delegate for the Twelfth District – Norfolk, and four years as the Inspector General of the State of Massachusetts, I have rarely seen so young an individual as passionate as Sarah in giving her time to the needs of those less fortunate.”

In a televised speech following the events of September 11, 2001, President Bush asked each child in America to send $1 to his fund for Afghan Children. Sarah, all of thirteen years old at the time, turned to her parents and said, “A dollar is not enough from a teenager!” She organized a Children’s Fair in her front yard and, with help from friends, raised over eight hundred dollars for the fund! This led to an ongoing interest in the plight of Afghan Children, especially the girls who, under the Taliban, were being denied an education.

Perhaps because she attends an all girls’ school, where the students are stretched and encouraged to fulfill their highest potential, this struck a chord with Sarah. She is now best known for raising thousands of dollars throughout her high school years through her original independent fundraising project, “Wee Care Bears.” Sarah sews miniature school uniforms to dress teddy bears for sale. She was able to sponsor the opening of two girls’ schools in Afghanistan through CARE, International, to provide Christmas gifts for an entire orphanage in Gumri, Armenia through the Armenian Relief Society, and to provide diagnostic testing for malaria and typhoid through Science With a Mission, Inc, for a large village in Africa, saving many lives. Furthermore, she is currently training younger students to make these bears so that the “Wee Care Bears” initiative becomes a legacy that will continue at her school even after she graduates.

Sarah recognized and identified with a very real need, that of education for girls, and came up with an incredibly creative response. Because of her efforts and ongoing support, the future is brighter for many Afghan girls and, through them, for their communities. In addition, her example and leadership have served to inspire younger classmates to adopt her vision of community as a global concept. This is truly an example of connecting young women across the globe, for the betterment of all.

For her charitable work, Sarah has received citations from two different Massachusetts Governors (one from Governor Jane Swift and two from Governor Mitt Romney) as well as a citation from the Massachusetts House of Representatives “in recognition of creative, compassionate and innovative fundraising for the “President’s Fund for Afghan Children”.

Sarah has been recognized as a leader among her peers through awards such as the 2004 Ten Outstanding Norwood Youth (TONY) Award “for continually going above and beyond in terms of service to the community.” She was one of the only high school sophomores to be selected in the history of the award, traditionally awarded to high school juniors and seniors. Statewide, Sarah was awarded the 2005 Sherman H. Starr Human Relations Award presented to ten students in Massachusetts who “exemplified in daily living a steadfast adherence to American ideals and the betterment of human relations.”

An active member and leader of her church youth group, Sarah has participated in mission trips to the Appalachian Mountains, and to a Native American reservation. At Ursuline Academy, Sarah has been an honor student throughout her high school career and is a member of the National Honor Society. She is a leader within the school, tutoring younger students in a most “confident, capable and reliable way” according to the school officials. Sarah has been captain of Ursuline junior varsity and varsity softball teams, and assistant coach for the junior varsity basketball team. She has now graduated from Ursuline Academy and will be attending Stonehill College in Easton, MA in the fall.