Renate Rojas

Having arrived in the United States from Austria and speaking only some English, Renate Rojas understands the challenges faced by the non-English speaking adults with whom the Volusia Literacy Council works.

Rojas has worked with the Volusia Literacy Council for five years and has averaged 128 hours per month. She has accumulated a total of 6,168 volunteer tutoring hours. Renate’s first assigned student was a Puerto Rican woman whose English language skills were at a fourth grade level. This woman wanted to improve her English to be able to communicate with co-workers and be more active in the community. Rojas started working one on one with the woman twice a week. In 14 months the woman tested out at an 11.5 grade level in her language skills. This remarkable achievement was thanks to the commitment of both the student and the dedication of Rojas.

She has assisted with the “English as a Second Language” classes in Pierson, Florida, traveling from South Daytona two nights a week to help as many as 21 students in a month’s time. In 2004 she became a presenter at tutor training sessions for the Volusia Literacy Council.

Rojas willingness and desire has helped her students not only master the English language, but also to improve their life and work skills. Thirty-seven residents of Volusia County with whom she has worked have become more involved in their children’s school, developed better parent skills, raised their self-esteem, obtained employment and become more self sufficient.

Rojas has seen first hand a need and has been very diligent in her effort to address the problems of those learning English. When asked to expand her tutoring services, she readily accepted the challenge and continues to do so today.

Dick Wells

Dick Wells has shown that business leaders can make a real impact when they roll-up their sleeves and become involved. He has given literally thousands of hours over the past three years to lead Anchorage’s Promise and Anchorage’s Youth Service Day and he has significantly changed the way young people are engaged in their community. He has involved his entire business in supporting the community and gives his 20 employees time-off to volunteer. An Anchorage resident since 1976, he is a father of six children and ten grandchildren.

In 2002 Wells led a community effort to coordinate a community forum to hear from youth, what young people in Anchorage needed. After receiving feedback from young people themselves and analyzing the results from previous youth summits, it was clear that action, and not more talk, was needed around youth engagement. To facilitate this action, Wells and other volunteers created an independent non-profit agency called Anchorage’s Promise. From the beginning Wells has served as president of the board for Anchorage’s Promise. Under Wells’s leadership, Anchorage’s Promise has established partnerships with the city, schools and businesses as well as dozens of local nonprofits to lead and implement the largest youth service event in the state of Alaska and the second largest youth serving event in the entire country.

Wells’s leadership through Anchorage’s Promise and Anchorage Youth Service Day has accomplished many things. In 2003, Anchorage’s Promise led the tenth largest National Youth Service Day effort in the country – engaging nearly 1,700 youth participants in 18 service projects citywide. In 2004 they held the largest single-day youth event in the state of Alaska bringing together 12,000 people for Anchorage KidsDay and engaging almost 10,000 youth in volunteer efforts. In 2005 they led the second largest National Youth Service Day effort in the country—engaging over 15,000 young people in service. (Number of volunteers involved in all projects implemented by coalition members: 16,587 and the number of volunteers who were youth: 15,121).

From 2004 to 2005 they tripled the number of participants and increased volunteer involvement by 300%. They were also successful in engaging projects from other parts of the state including Fairbanks, Kotzebue, and the Mat-Su Valley. Anchorage School Superintendent Carol Comeau stated that Anchorage’s Youth Service Day is “the most diverse family event in Anchorage”. Through a special partnership with the McLaughlin Center, the local juvenile detention agency, youth offenders were also engaged in volunteer events. Working with Youth Service America, Wells led outreach to Senator Lisa Murkowski’s office that resulted in her sponsoring the National Youth Service Day in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Wells personally met with her at her D.C. office to accomplish this. Many youth and adult participants expressed a sense of feeling of being more connected to their community as a result of Anchorage’s Youth Service Day. Many youth commented that they enjoyed being asked to help in the community and really liked seeing their hard work make a difference. Using an innovative approach, Wells wanted to make sure that young people could get to the volunteer events and worked with the mayor to arrange for city buses to give young people free rides to service projects.

For 2006, Anchorage’s Promise was designated by Youth Service America to be the lead agency for Alaska Youth Service Day. They plan to expand on their previous efforts and aim to coordinate the largest youth service event in the entire country!

Cedar Ridge Middle School 8th Grade Service Learning

Nine 8th grade service learning students at Cedar Ridge Middle School gave parents and community friends the opportunity to “give another birthday, another laugh, another hug, another chance” to accident victims, surgery patients, pre-mature infants, and cancer patients when they held the school’s first ever blood drive last May. The 8-week effort was the first middle school blood drive in Morgan or Lawrence Counties, and one of only a few nationwide, designed as a service learning project. After the students learned about the science of blood and the importance of donating blood, they planned and publicized the event, encouraged other Cedar Ridge students to get involved, and then volunteered at the blood drive

Service learning students attended 4 planning and preparation sessions in which they were introduced to the project, set the goal, decided on a theme, designed a t-shirt, brainstormed ideas, made banners, wrote announcements and a skit, wrote a press release, and heard a presentation on the “science of blood”. Students hung posters around the school, distributed posters to the community, made a presentation to the 5th grade parents’ meeting, and made announcements the week of the blood drive. The day of the blood drive, service learning students helped set up the canteen table, greeted and assisted blood donors, and dressed as “Buddy Blood Drop”.

The Service Learning Class encouraged other youth to get involved. Notes were sent home twice with every Cedar Ridge student, encouraging parents to support the effort and students to compete in recruiting donors. Home & Personal Management students and school hosts and hostesses helped to make the project successful. Austin High School HOSA students partnered with Cedar Ridge, creating and delivering posters to other Decatur City Schools and assisting at the drive.

School-sponsored blood drives are usually held at the high school rather than middle school level. Cedar Ridge Middle School 8th Grade Service Learning students enthusiastically attempting their school’s first blood drive ever. In addition, the blood drive was a service learning project – a first in Morgan or Lawrence Counties and unusual throughout the country. There was no “model” or plan. The students created the project as it progressed.

Although the class met weekly, only 4 one-hour planning and preparation sessions were held over the 8- week period due to Spring Break and other activities. The nine 8th graders in the Cedar Ridge Service Learning Class worked diligently and were successful in their efforts in collecting 82 units of blood to help 246 Alabama hospitals patients. Service Learning is different from other youth service; it is more than “just” volunteering. Service learning is volunteer service that meets real community needs, is coordinated with schools, fosters civic responsibility, is integrated into and enhances curricula, and provides structured time for students to reflect on the service experience. Service Learning is collaboration between schools and agencies, which empowers students by involving them in all aspects of a project, and makes learning interesting.

Nancy & Robert Tolsma

In the 27 years that Bob (Robert) and Nancy Tolsma have been in Florida, they have gone above and beyond when it comes to volunteering. Their activities span across both community service focuses as well as involvement in both their children’s activities and church fellowship volunteerism.

Bob started as a volunteer firefighter in New Jersey on February 26, 1968. After moving to Florida, Bob resumed volunteer activities with the Sarasota County Fire Department in the 1990s, including returning to school in the fall of 1992 to become a state certified EMT. He is currently the Division Chief for the Sarasota County volunteers and volunteers up to 1500 hours per year as a firefighter / EMT. Additionally, Bob has served for 22 years as part of both the local Rotary Club and the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce where he participates in various ongoing committees and community activities.

Nancy is an avid volunteer worker also. She served as a volunteer for the American Heart Association (AHA) for the past 20 years. She currently serves on both the State and Regional AHA State Task Forces, and is presently a volunteer with and is coordinating the CPR program in Manatee County, FL. Over the years, Nancy has taught numerous classes without monetary compensation, as she feels that CPR is such a critical class for the community to have. In her role with the East Manatee Fire and Rescue , Nancy received the “Rookie of the Year” award for her efforts related to CPR training.

Additionally, Nancy has worked with the American Cancer Society (ACS) in the past, and previously served on local ACS committees. Nancy also supported the Governor’s Mentoring Initiative through her volunteerism at Booker School in Sarasota. Nancy’s latest venture is her focus on taking educational courses to learn American Sign Language so that she can become a state certified interpreter.

The couple has worked together to give back to the community. They have dedicated time to the Sarasota County Fire Department and East Manatee Fire and Rescue, taught CPR classes taught free of charge for the past 14 years, supported the Girl Scouts for the past 10 years, and they were active in the PTA for eight years. They were also Sarasota High School Band Boosters for 6 years and have actively served in their church also.

Even with the time dedicated to service, both Nancy and Bob found time to raise 2 daughters and volunteer for the activities that made a direct impact on the girls’ lives- such as Girl Scouts, PTA, and the Band Boosters. They are committed to building strong families and a strong community.

Fay Sparkman

In today’s world we hear about so many people who expect so much from others—from the government, from their communities, even from their churches. Our perceptions of a world full of “takers” makes it even more notable when one comes across a person who finds her greatest joy in giving to others. Faye Sparkman is just such a person, and Hospice of the Valley is proud to have her on their team.

Sparkman became a member of the Hospice of the Valley family in May of 2003, and ever since has been caring for patients and their families while inspiring those fortunate enough to work alongside of her. Hospice of the Valley provides end-of-life care as well as grief and bereavement services to residents of Morgan and Lawrence Counties. Services provided include nursing care, home health aides, medical equipment and supplies, support from social workers and chaplains, and—of course—volunteers.

Whether they answer phones, work with children’s bereavement groups, or coordinate fundraising events, volunteers are a vital part of Hospice of the Valley and they play a crucial role in helping people on the most difficult journey they will ever have to make. Patient care volunteers visit patients in their homes, in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and in the hospital. Depending on the needs of the patient and family, volunteers can provide companionship to patients or respite care for weary caregivers.

Upon completing her training as a volunteer, Sparkman chose to enter the area of patient care. As a former nurse with 40 years of experience working in hospitals and doctors’ offices, she is willing to sped time with patients that many would find difficult to care for, never hesitating to step in and help out in the most demanding of situations. Sparkman has cared for patients with cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, heart failure, and Lou Gehrig’s disease, sometimes where challenging family circumstances are also present.

While the standard workload for most patient care volunteers is one patient per week, Faye typically visits with to and sometimes even three patients each week. She willingly drives long distances—sometimes over 200 miles in one month—to sit with patients in heartbreaking circumstances either to provide the patient with companionship or the patient caregiver with a brief respite from care giving. Never one to refuse extra assignments, Sparkman is reluctant to take a break from her Hospice work, even to go on vacation.

Sparkman provides tender loving care to her patients, holding hands, brushing hair, applying lotion, and painting fingernails. She brings a smile to the faces of many patients and families as she walks into their homes, even if it is for the very first time. Sparkman takes advantage of her volunteer work to help in her 40-year struggle with clinical depression.

Perry Service Learning Program

In the summer of 2004, a team of teachers and administrators from the Perry Public Schools met to discuss the possibility of offering a service-learning course at the high school. The idea was to create a course that provided students with an opportunity to apply the social studies knowledge that they have learned in hopes of instilling within them the skills necessary for active and effective citizenship. After researching similar programs in Northeast Ohio and determining best practices, teachers were selected, a curriculum was written, and the task of lining up partner agencies began. The results have exceeded all expectations. Not only have students in the program become more aware of the problems facing their community, they have built connections with isolated segments of the community and became agents for change themselves.

The Perry Service Learning (PSL) program began during the fall semester of the 2005-2006 school year. Forty seniors enrolled in the course, which combined a rigorous social issues curriculum with on the job learning to promote social involvement in the community. Students in the PSL program volunteer five hours per week for approved agency, organization, or government office positions. The volunteer experiences enable students to make connections to the topics they study in the classroom. Moreover, an online component of the course requires students to reflect on their service experiences via discussion boards, blogs, and interactive chats with the instructors.

The PSL program provided the surrounding communities of Lake, Geauga, and Cuyahoga counties with over 2,500 hours of volunteer service during the first semester of the 2005-2006 school year. Initially there was some concern that the school would not be able to find enough partner agencies willing to sponsor student volunteers. However, it became apparent to the instructors that there was a genuine need for volunteers when they began lining up partner agencies prior to the school year. Within a few weeks time, 23 organizations enthusiastically jumped on board (many requesting 2-5 students). The ease with which the volunteer opportunities presented themselves inspired the instructors to shoot for doubling the number of students involved in the program next year.

Although the numbers of volunteer hours accumulated and agencies helped are impressive, they tell just a small part of the success of the PSL program. The teachers and administrators involved in organizing the program knew that hands-on service experiences would be meaningful, but few anticipated the life-altering implications of the program.

One student who planned on majoring in fashion merchandising in college, decided that she could better use her talents and skills in the field of nursing after volunteering at Hospice. Another student who wanted to be an engineer because he liked math decided to focus his energies on biomedical engineering after working with children in a special needs school. At least a dozen of the students in the PSL program have made arrangements to continue volunteering with their partner organization after the class ends.

Perhaps more than anything, the PSL program has empowered students to be agents of change in the community. Prior to taking the course many students had a sense of helplessness when discussing problems such a poverty, health care, and education. Through their service experiences, PSL students can better empathize with the victims of these contemporary social issues. Working side-by-side with dedicated individuals leading the fight against social injustice has inspired students to become more active citizens themselves. Hereafter, students who went through the PSL program will no longer shrug off community issues as unsolvable. Instead, the PSL program has provided them with the tools to envision themselves as part of the solution.

Tom Barry

The Decatur Citizens Police Academy Alumni Organization (CPAAA) was formed in 1999. The Alumni’s purpose is to assist the Decatur Police Department (DPD) in various ways that will allow the officers to spend more time on the street patrolling Decatur, making purchased for the officers to increase their safety, and to promote the DPD within the community. Prior to becoming a CPAAA member, each person must successfully complete a 10-week orientation class (one night a week). To date, there have been 13 classes and the Alumni currently have about 50 active members.

One of the most outstanding members is Tom Barry. Barry graduated from the 7th Class and has been an active member ever since. In the last couple of years, he has consistently contributed 50 to 60 hours a month. The CPAAA performs many different tasks under the supervision of the DPD. In SE Decatur, there is a DPD Sub-station located at East Acres. This is where Barry spends most of his time. The Crime Prevention Unit (CPU) is located at this facility.

The Citizen Police Academy (CPA) Program is ongoing today as Barry almost single-handedly structures the classes, schedules instructors, arranges the facility and hosts each of the 10 classes. The handouts for the classes are updated and provided through Barry’s involvement. The DPD did all the above when the classes first started in 1998, but now are available for patrolling as Barry is conducting the weekly sessions.

Barry monitors the Neighborhood Watches in Decatur. The follow up of existing Watches or the developing of new Watches are part of Barry’s contributions. There are areas in Decatur that are very grateful for his caring. Again through Barry’s management of Watches, the DPD are brought in as needed when special instructions or services are required.

A by-product of the Neighborhood Watch is citywide statistics. Posted at the DPD Headquarters are monthly charts detailing the various crimes and identifying the zones in Decatur where the incident took place. Tom extracts the data, makes, and posts the charts. The CPU works closely with the Decatur schools and fingerprinting all the students in one of the CPU’s involvement. Here again, Barry is involved helping coordinate and print. The CPU has a project called S.A.F.E. The purpose is to provide supervised fun and counseling for teens in the East Acre’s area. As time permits, you will also find Barry assisting this worthwhile program.

How do you quantify a person’s contributions to the community who has contributed over 2500 hours with the CPAAA and the CPU? There is no financial reimbursement for all of Barry’s efforts or money to cover travel expenses; however, due to Tom Barry, Decatur is a safer community.

Megan Alonge

Megan Alonge has been a volunteer with Community Blood Centers of South Florida since 2000. She has organized many blood drives over the past 6 years and has spent countless hours working towards brining awareness to the issue of the importance of being a blood donor. Although her volunteer work in the area of blood donation has been her main focus, she has also volunteered with other organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Relay for Life and Race for the Cure.

Alonge has spent countless hours increasing public awareness on the importance of becoming a blood donor. In 2002 she was nominated by the Florida Association of Blood Banks for the Donor Chairperson Award and is currently the coordinator of the “My Blood, Your Blood” program which was developed by America’s Blood Centers. It is her goal to foster a new generation of blood donors through education and understanding of this very important issue.

As a conscience member of the community, Alonge has chosen to make a difference in the world she lives in. Her efforts have not only helped maintain the blood supply locally, but they have also saved lives. In 2001 Alonge held a blood drive for a young boy who was battling cancer. She was able to recruit more than 200 donors, many of which had never donated blood before. Many of those first time donors were so moved by this young boy’s story that they continue to give the gift of life through blood donation. Though Alonge is still very young, she has made a commitment to making a difference in her community and in the lives of so many people who have benefited from her effort.

Sara Froeming

Sara Froeming is affectionately known as “the cookie lady” by the officers of the Appleton Police Department (APD) where she has been a volunteer since 1996. She was the first Northside Cop Shop volunteer, setting a standard of excellence for other volunteers to follow.

She has worn many hats for the Appleton community. While serving as a volunteer with the police department, Froeming has worked the entire week of Police Week annually, manned the gunlock giveaway station, worked in the reception area for the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Conference and created a database for the officers to use. Froeming has also developed their first VIPS newsletter, created crime maps for officers to use, dressed in the “redman” dummy suit for officer training and role-played for the hiring process.

In addition, Froeming spent 33 hours at the APD one week while on vacation. During this time, she created floatation ropes for Officer John DeLong and Capt. Julie Bahr, inserted pictures into the APD history document, put Green Bay Packers card sets together for the officers to give to kids, assisted with recovered stolen property with Det. Dan Woodkey, assisted the Community Engagement office with Christmas Crusade and helped to organize VIP brochure & policy manual. She also manned the Northside Cop Shop reception desk, helped with an open house, assisted with the Young Citizens Police Academy, met with HR on VIP policy manual and assisted with the Senior Safety Fair.

Froeming continues to make community survey calls and updates the Neighborhood Watch database. She also completes monthly calls to the 186 Neighborhood Watch Captains, attends all Neighborhood Watch start up meetings and is the SpeedWatch program road volunteer & communication coordinator. Because of her dedication, vast skills, dependability and her friendship, Froeming was awarded the Civilian Community Service Award on May 7th, 2003, from Mayor Timothy Hanna as approved by the Chief of Police Richard Myers. She was not only the lone volunteer to receive this award, but the only VIPS volunteer to ever be nominated.

Froeming has given the city of Appleton more than 2800 hours of service. This calculates to a taxpayer’s savings of nearly $50,000. She is a self-supporting, 39-year young woman who has fully committed herself to the agency. After working a full day on Mondays, she faithfully comes to the APD to volunteer 4 hours. She does the same on alternating Tuesdays and again, at the Cop Shop on Thursdays. An occasional Sunday at the Cop Shop is not out of the question for her either. As another gift, she prepares special treats to share either at the Cop Shop or at the main station, thus, the moniker “cookie lady.” At least one week, if not more, of her yearly vacation is given to the APD. Despite overcoming multiple surgeries and caring for her parents, Froeming is always ready when duty calls.

Selena Quick

Selena Quick is the BellSouth Pioneer President of the Greater Orlando Area. When she took over as President, she aggressively tripled the volunteer projects in and around her community. She has a passion for helping others and it shows in her every day life. She is actively involved in so many things; it is hard to think that she has a life outside of volunteering. But often, she brings her children in to help, showing them as well, and the benefits of helping others.

Selena touches the lives of so many. Her roll as President of Pioneers enables her to help others less fortunate and she encourages others to do the same. Some of her projects include but are not limited to: THE RUSSEL HOUSE (a home for A-Typical handicapped children) where she visits the children quarterly and recently had materials donated to install phone lines for free; SCHOOL MENTORING PROGRAM: A part of the mentoring program at Evans high School and helping new teachers stay in school through the Signature Project; JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT. (Volunteers with JA as well as fundraising); ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS US MAP PAINTING (where a 20’ x 15’ map of the United States is painted on various elementary school grounds and the children learn the States by playing games on it with teachers); 2nd HARVEST FOOD BANK (this year, she had 10 BellSouth Vans loaded full with canned foods and non perishable items during Save you Christmas Food Drive with Channel 2); DRESS A CHILD (where she organized dressing needy children from head to toe for Christmas presents from parents who could not afford it; SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE: where school items are collected and delivered to Elementary schools in the low income areas; BLOOD DRIVE: She has the blood mobile come out to her office building every quarter for donations; THE BIG RIDE: A project to promote Brain Injury Awareness, where she was able to get the Mayor of Orlando to declare it “The Big Ride Day” in the city of Orlando; and SALVATION ARMY: She organizes hundreds of Christmas Stockings to be filled and Teddy Bears to be dressed for needy children every Christmas.

Quick’s outstanding leadership abilities arm her to be able to help others in her community. Not only has she helped the lives of so many, but she enjoys helping others and never expects anything in return. She really does go above and beyond. She is someone that is so caring and makes such an impact around her.