Faith Coleman

Faith Coleman held the first Flagler-County Free Clinic session in early 2005 with 6 volunteers. Now in 2007, Faith has helped build the clinic to include 30 volunteers and more medical and ancillary health services to those in need.

She is a volunteer who is actively saving lives to those who are in great need of services especially with our unstable economy and rising unemployment.

The Free Clinic is entirely maintained on a volunteer bases. Faith not only recruits volunteers, but she manages medical re cords, and reviews lab results; without her leadership and energy this clinic would not be able to exist. It is because of her resourcefulness and charisma that hundreds of people in Flagler County get healthcare where they would not otherwise. The people who go to this clinic have no health care coverage at all.

Faith was inspired by her own life to help create this clinic. As a young adult she found herself to be ill with no health insurance and now, after conquering her own health problems she has devoted herself to find a way to pay back and help her community.

The Flagler Free Clinic is her vision and with her energy, her motivation and her achievement, she has created an opportunity for people in the community to seek the help they need when ordinarily they would not have the chance. Faith demonstrates the highest standards of professionalism. She truly inspires by example.

Gwendolyn Matthews

PC Seniors was founded in 1990 to train senior citizens with no knowledge of how to use a personal computer. They were awarded, in 1994, the National Association for County Governments Achievement Award for outstanding service to the community.

Gwen joined the staff of instructors in 1996 and has made herself vitally important to their mission. She has helped expand their course offerings in quality and quantity. At the time of this writing Gwen teaches a major portion of the class instruction and through her efforts has taught over 525 senior citizens in Prince George’s and nearby counties.

Gwen has become lead instructor and has written the “Introduction to Computers”, “Word Processing I” and “Word Processing II” courses. In addition she saw the need for and wrote courses for computer workshops about Care and use of CDs, burning CDs and answers to students’ questions about PCs. She is constantly revising and updating her courses.

With her knowledge of computers and software she is often consulted, by other instructors and her students, about software problems. She uses her knowledge and expertise to keep the 6 classroom and one administration PCs up to date and problem free. These same skills have been applied to reviewing other instructors’ course material and suggesting improvements. Most recently she researched the problem of whether to update the classroom PCs to accommodate VISTA, the new operating system, or to buy new PCs with VISTA pre-installed.

Gwen suffers from Meniere’s disease which makes it hard to maintain her teaching schedule. However she has very rarely ever missed a class or a schedule to make software updates.

Gwen has been a member of the staff for 12 years and the group is very thankful for her volunteer service.

Chad Gaines

It’s been said there’s a thin line between comedy and tragedy…well, Chad Gaines crosses that line with the speed and accuracy of a racecar driver in the Indy 500. His quickness and endurance is evident in his approach whether he is the guest of a TV show, author of a book or renowned inspirational speaker at a school or event.

His intelligent nature coupled with comedic timing might lead some to believe he has lived a long life…he has indeed, but he just happens to be in his mid-thirties. Abandoned, neglected and abused as a child, Chad’s personal story of triumph over tragedy inspires youth and adults nationwide to overcome life’s struggles and live life to the fullest.

Chad didn’t take the easy route, but instead chose a path of hard work and determination over many years of healing and fighting mental illness that almost took his life. Chad could have moved on and forgotten painful memories like most people told him to do but he uses them to benefit others throughout the nation.

“I’ve found that sometimes the things that hurt you the most in your life are the very things you can use to help others!” Chad developed and unstoppable positive attitude throughout his young life. Chad’s talent carries over into everything he does, including his forthcoming book: “Voices from a Locked Room”.

Chad definitely connects, and his audiences are inspired to RETHINK and REACT, Chad has spoken to crowds as large as 6,000. Throughout the course of seven years, in addition to making some of his speaking events Gains has donated clothes and food to homeless shelters and also has organized candlelight vigils for victims of abuse. Chad also consults with fundraising organizations and with individual’s intent on raising money or awareness for causes.

Chad has been able to coach thousands of teen and adults on how to think differently about not squashing your dreams by surrounding yourself with negativity and those types of people. He tells them, “If you want to be rich, do what the rich do, network and build a residual income.”

Some of Chad’s distinctive accomplishments have been recognized through a number of awards, as well as personal commendations from the President of the United States Jaycees. Recently he was the recipient and was honored as one of the Ten Outstanding Young American (TOYA) in the nation. Chad joins a distinguished group of alumni which includes: John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Anne Bancroft, Orson Wells, Walt Disney, and Nelson Rockefeller. Chad Gains is dedicated to many things: entertaining, inspiring, and empowering teens and adults to build their own dreams.

Michelle Boisclair

Michelle has been a volunteer mentor with the Western Youth Network (WYN) since July 2006. Michelle has spent over thirty hours a month with her mentee for the past two years. Michelle always has the safety and health of her mentee in mind.

Michelle is truly improving our community by volunteering to serve an underserved population of youth who live in poverty. Michelle provides guidance, safety, structure and safe recreation for a child that has been exposed to many challenges for her age. Michelle is showing this youth that life can be what you make it and she is encouraging her to make choices for herself that will help her grow to become a healthy adult. Michelle is teaching life lessons by spending time as a role model to her mentee.

Michelle provides opportunities for her mentee to learn from her community. Michelle has involved her mentee in our local Gear Up program to learn about to learn about service and going to college. Michelle encourages her mentee to do well in school and she is supportive of all her mentee’s achievements.

Michelle has been a mentor for two years and plans to see her mentee through high school. Michelle and her mentee celebrated their two year anniversary with reflections back to where they started and how far they have come. Michelle and her mentee have been friends through the school system and Michelle requested to mentor this specific child.

Michelle has truly made her mentee a member of her family by including her on special family dinners, as well as mother daughter time with her own child. Michelle provides unique opportunities for her mentee to take part in take part in activities that improve her overall health, academics, and happiness. The impact Michelle has had on her is hard to gage, it may be the amount of smiles you see when they are together. Her mentee professed in a thank you letter to me that she is grateful to see Michelle and happy that they will be able to continue in the Governor’s One-on-One mentoring program with WYN. Michelle has helped her mentee to improve her grades and reach the next grade level. Michelle has provided a stable home when her mentee has moved over 4 times in the last year. Michelle’s impact on her mentee has been tremendous as her mentee has been able to look at life with new found optimism.

Michelle began as an educator but felt that her impacts were not reaching deep enough. Michelle requested to mentor this child because she wanted the ability to do more and make a difference in this child’s life. Michelle showed innovation in seeking out a mentoring program where she would be able to reach this child on a level that the school setting would not allow. Through mentoring Michelle has been able to become a positive role model and a trusted family friend.

Michelle Cadieux

Michelle Cadieux volunteers her time to assist the Minneapolis community. Her service varies in focus and includes but is not limited to disaster, emergency services and preparedness training. In addition, she donates her time to assist with CPR, first aid, hazmat, incident command and structural services.

Michelle Cadieux is a technical trainer and works on a number of projects. Some of her service is on engineering projects where she has done training in the use of specialized laptops, the NIMS software system, GPS and other systems.

She is one of the CPR for Healthcare Professional Assistant Instructors and has expressed interest in teaching additional first aid and disaster classes for the Red Cross, and other organizations. Michelle is experienced with training and team development with community safety groups. She uses her extensive disaster team/training/simulation experience to train others. In addition, Michelle is a certified Homeland Security Hazmat instructor, Specialized Training Institute Hazmat instructor and Rescue team trainer and safety officer

Michelle enjoys learning so she can use her knowledge to help others. Her skill set enables her to work with the Minneapolis community to ensure they are safe and prepared.

Ruby Clark

Ruby Clark is a retire school teacher and has been active in the community for over a decade. After discovering she had cancer she decided to leave the school system and spend her time volunteering to help youth who struggle with school academics.

Ruby’s volunteer activities have assisted children in both reading and math classes. She has been changing the lives of children one day at a time with her passionate devotion for helping youth.

Because of Ruby’s time with the children, the school has seen outstanding results. The children Ruby works with have seen an increase of 40% in their reading aptitude and a 30% increase in math testing scores. These results are higher than the average outcomes of the public schools in the area.

Ruby goes above and beyond her role in the community. She dedicates more than 100 hours of service to the community per month. She has also helped to establish the community enrichment program that offers jobs, scholarships, home ownership, new business opportunities and health education to all citizens who need assistance, including seniors.

Ruby saw a need, created a solution and provided a service that is and will continue to impact the lives of the youth in New Smyrna Beach. In conjunction with the service she is already providing as a volunteer, Ruby is also starting new programs for adults.

Germaine Lawrence

Germaine Lawrence is a senior at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School and has been volunteering since July 2006. Germaine’s scope of service is wide and reaches from volunteering at the Ramada Inn, speaking to middle school students about volunteering and representing Prince George’s County as a Congressional Aide.

Youth need more role models and it is exceptional to find a young person that their peers can emulate. Germaine is the consummate young adult volunteer. She serves at her high school and in other capacities around the county. As a result of her volunteer work, Germaine was honored by the Prince George’s County Executive Office as its 2006 Most Gorgeous Prince George’s and she was presented with a Proclamation during a County Executive Session.

Germaine goes above and beyond while she is volunteering. She addresses the public with her beautiful smile, a positive attitude and poise. Germaine is a talented student and well respected by the teachers and staff at Dr. Wise High School where she does some of her volunteer work.

Germaine has donated more than 1,849 hours of community service and is expected to earn an additional 345 hours before she graduates. Germaine assists the Administration at Dr. Wise High School. She has been volunteering at the school prior to its opening and is willing to take on any task to assist the faculty and staff. Some of her other community service activities in Prince George’s County include: volunteering at the Ramada Inn as an Executive for the day in the first Youth Entrepreneurship Program sponsored by the Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce; speaking to middle school students and parents on the importance of volunteering during Career Day; serving on her school’s Technical Theater club; performing as a violinist for special cultural and civic events; representing Prince George’s County as a Congressional Aide; and representing Dr. Wise High School as a violinist to perform in China with the Landon-China Orchestra Exchange Program at the invitation at the Beijing Embassy.

Germaine was awarded the Prince George’s County Harlem Renaissance Remembrance Award for Excellence in the Arts, and recently, she was selected for the Maryland Community Star Award. These awards were in recognition of her commitment to community service, leadership skills, demonstrated creativity and a diverse interest.

As a student diagnosed with ADD, Germaine is proof that disabilities and challenges can overcome, and there is no limit to what our young people can accomplish. She is personable, honest, friendly, hardworking and a youth with integrity. Germaine’s leadership skills are also evident in her athletic abilities. She is a second year captain of the school’s varsity volleyball team, selected as a starter for the Prince George’s county All Star-All County Volleyball Team, and earned the honor of 2nd Team All County for volleyball. She is a committed student athlete who attends university camps during the summer and represents Prince George’s County on the Velocity Volleyball Club/18s National Travel Team.

Germaine’s wide range of experiences and skills allow her to be accepting of others and relate to a diverse group of people. In turn, she easily establishes a rapport with others. Germaine is a determined young lady that serves as a role model and inspiration for other youth.

Caroline Bond

Caroline has been serving as a volunteer mentor with the Western Youth Network (WYN) since August 2005. She has truly devoted herself to acting as a positive role model for her mentee. Upon graduation from college, Caroline had planned to move but due to her relationship with her mentee and the program, she decided to stay in the area and make a life for herself here. Caroline has weathered many storms over the past three years with her mentee; however, her consistency and support has been a guiding force for her friend.

There is a great need for mentors throughout our country. Caroline has been a constant support for her mentee by encouraging her to stay in school and helping her to open a college savings account. She has truly embraced the role of a mentor and has impacted the community by empowering a future generation to make positive choices even in the light of hardship. Caroline commutes seventeen miles one way to pick up her mentee and spend time with her.

Caroline has been able to help her mentee get a job and work towards a sustainable life that is positive and free of any type of abuse. When her mentee became a teen mom, Caroline helped her to get to doctor’s appointments and aided in getting the baby enrolled in day care so her mentee could continue high school as a full time student.

Caroline has connected her mentee with the community by getting her involved in service. She has taken her to help out at Habitat for Humanity, and they have created scrap books for youth involved in WYN after school programs. In addition to instilling the need to volunteer to help others, Caroline has also helped her mentee utilize resources available to her that will help her to continue to succeed. Because of Caroline’s dedication and support, her mentee wants to become a mentor to someone younger than her. She sees the effect Caroline has had on her life, and she wants to be the same positive influence to another young lady.

Caroline has made such an impact on her mentee. She is now able to assert herself in a positive manner, face challenges and make sound decisions. Caroline has helped a youth find a genuine friend and has learned how to trust. Caroline has connected her mentee with job link and her mentee is now working part time so she can save for her future. Caroline’s relationship is innovative in that it is consistent and has not ceased. In addition, Caroline has introduced her mentee to new ideas and experiences so she is able to look at life in a positive manner and with a different lens. Caroline’s mentee has hope for her future and is now planning to attend college!

Kevin Bishop

Kevin Bishop is a junior at Northview High School in Dothan, AL. He began volunteering when he was in the seventh grade by helping his grandparents with Meals on Wheels. In January 2006 he began serving as a teenage volunteer at a local hospital. Kevin also serves with his church and the Harbor Light Medical Center. His scope of service is wide, so his impact has also been very wide.

Kevin has been volunteering at a local hospital at the information desk and was selected as the teenage volunteer of the 1st quarter in 2007. Kevin also serves with the Wiregrass Area Food Bank where he is a Brown-Bag supporter. He also volunteers with the Youth Build-Habitat for Humanity and Dothan Leisure Services where he volunteered at two Life Skills/Cooking Classes for physically/mentally challenged youth and adults.

Kevin also volunteered with the Camp Smile Program for Dothan Leisure Services and received a certificate of recognition from Governor Bob Riley for his volunteer work with various organizations. Kevin also donates his time to volunteer with Covenant Hospice and at Landmark Park.

In addition, Kevin has completed mission assignments through his church youth group. He has visited Washington, DC on a youth trip and volunteered at the Salvation Army. He also went to Chicago, IL where he helped with cleaning at the Harbor Light Medical Center and helped to prepare mobile kitchens.

Kevin performed in a concert with his church youth choir that benefited the homeless and other performances benefited an all-boys and an all-girls youth detention facility. Kevin has also donated his time for local mission projects with his youth group where they have visited nursing homes and conducted food drives.

Kevin is serving on the Youth Council for Dothan-Houston County Substance Abuse Partnership to help spread its anti-alcohol, tobacco and drug message. He is a member of First Priority, Youth Build, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and the National Honor Society at his school.

Many young people spend their time in social activities and some even are involved in extra-curricular teams. Kevin has made the decision to make others his priority. He makes the time to volunteer with his church, his school and for other nonprofits in need of volunteers. Kevin is a role model for other youth and is also admired by his teachers and church leaders because of his commitment to service.

John Aquilino

John Aquilino has become the steadfast and loyal volunteer crossing guard for Hyattsville Elementary School and St. Jerome School. Daily, hundreds of teachers, faculty, staff, children and their parents are safely ushered into their schools. In addition, he is a part of the Tenant Association at Friendship Arms and an active coach with the Washington Catholic Youth Organization.

In the spring of 2006, Mr. Aquilino became associated with the Tenants Association at Friendship Arms. Friendship Arms is a 150 unit apartment building of subsidized housing for senior and disabled residents. One of the great challenges facing this group was their ability to complete the necessary documentation required to achieve disabled status. In no time, Mr. Aquilino completed the paperwork. Mr. Aquilino’s commitment to this group did not end there. He coordinated annual community dances and social events, located new & used furniture, computer equipment and continues to serve as a trusted advisor when needed.

Mr. Aquilino serves on the School Advisory Board at St. Jerome School and coaches t-ball, baseball and softball for the Washington Catholic Youth Organization. Mr. Aquilino revived the local chapter of the Knights of Columbus and continues to raise funds for St. Jerome School and Church. Through the Catholic Sportsman Organization, Mr. Aquilino has sought funding opportunities to sponsor Hyattsville Middle School student musicians at national music festivals, collected toys and raised monies for the Sony Frazier Toy Drive. Mr. Aquilino has been a tireless supporter for our community schools by advocating for improved crosswalks, sidewalks and greater signage around all schools in the city. Mr. Aquilino is a champion for the cause of special needs populations, and continues to coordinate community meeting and to spear head volunteer efforts to increase residential participation in our community.

In addition, Mr. Aquilino has had to overcome many obstacles. As a parent of a sixteen year old, quadriplegic at James Duckworth Special Need School, Mr. Aquilino recognized the need to replace the antiquated lift in the therapeutic pool. Needless to say the purchase was necessary and Mr. Aquilino immediately responded in the affirmative! Soon a community wide fundraiser was held and the school now enjoys a safe and accessible entrance into the pool.