Florence Phillips

Florence G. Phillips, a former Peace Corps and VISTA volunteer, is the founder/director of the ESL (English as a Second Language) In-Home Program of Northern Nevada. Her innovated efforts in education over the last five years have positively impacted a great number of people living in five Northwest Nevada counties. Florence saw that many immigrants cannot speak English and desperately want to learn, but for a variety of reasons are unable to attend formal classes.

In February 2004, Florence started volunteering her time by tutoring students one-on-one in English in their homes at no cost. However, she soon realized that there was a much greater need than she could handle alone. She then started mobilizing unpaid community volunteer tutors, training them and matching them with other students. Tutors meet twice a week in the students’ homes since many do not have transportation.

Today, she coordinates activities of 85 tutors and 151 students. Florence works tirelessly recruiting, training, inspiring tutors and then matching them with students from her ever-growing waiting list. She receives 2-3 calls a day from people who want to learn English. She also works raising funds to cover the cost of instructional material which keeps the program at no-cost-to-student. The curriculum used is the highly regarded “Laubach Way to English/Reading” series of books in which she was trained as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

Her ongoing efforts have yielded tremendous returns in that these students become more productive members in their community. They are more engaged in their children’s educational life. The role model that the parents and grandparents are providing to better themselves educationally will inspire their children to also achieve educational goals, making this program intergenerational. Although most students are Latino, others come from Asia, Europe and elsewhere. Since the program’s inception, it has helped students pass the U.S. Citizenship exam, obtain GEDs, find jobs or get promoted, encouraged parents to help their children with homework and communicate with teachers and given students the ability to shop in English speaking stores and communicate with medical personnel.

The program has been so successful that word has spread among the immigrant community and there is now a waiting list of 105 people who want to learn English and need tutors. Through her selfless efforts and determination over the past five years, Florence is making a positive and lasting contribution to our community. Her goal is for the program to continue to address the unmet needs that exist in the five counties currently being served, and intends to expand into two additional rural counties so that non-English speaking adults there can learn English and become more productive in their communities.

Jack Beach

Jack Beach is a very accomplished runner. But by addressing high rates of cancer and Alzheimer’s disease through running, his impact on the world around him has been so much greater.

He was involved with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training® (TNT) Program for many years, more recently with the Alzheimer Association’s Team Unforgettable. Both of these programs provide training to people to run or walk a whole or half marathon. Jack has participated in, mentored for and coached in numerous running events.

As a coach, Jack has provided personalized fitness training for a period of four to five months for each event, numerous training clinics and lots of motivation! He’s made us all realize that we are better than we think and stronger than we imagine.

Today, Jack continues to coach and continues to receive nothing but amazing feedback from his teams. He supports people from start to finish and believes that everyone can do a marathon and half marathon, especially for a very worthy cause. With his encouragement and support, the participants on his teams have benefited the community by raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for cancer and Alzheimer’s disease research and patient services.

A famous author once wrote that “the key is to keep company with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.” Jack is one of those people. As a mentor and coach, he’s a caring adult in many lives—he helps all us remember every day that you can do whatever you put your mind to, especially when it comes to changing lives.

Jennifer Ogburn

For Jennifer Ogburn, convincing others to get involved in their communities is almost as much fun as getting involved herself.

“My friends and co-workers tell me that I have a contagious enthusiasm for volunteering—an energy that encourages them to become active in the community as well,” Jennifer said.

Finding time to volunteer and helping others to get involved has long been a priority for Jennifer, a senior engineering manager in Harris Corporation’s Government Communications Systems Division in Palm Bay, FL and a mother of two young sons. Jennifer was bitten by the volunteerism bug as a child, watching her parents’ involvement in her family’s hometown of Fairfax, VA. Her own community involvement began in high school, as part of the Kiwanis Key Club. She continued organized volunteering through the Junior League when she moved to Florida.

Today, as a busy professional and mother, Jennifer has sought volunteer opportunities that provide her with an opportunity to engage her children in community activism and to make a real, lasting impact for children, families and seniors in Brevard County, FL. As a result of her efforts, homebound seniors have received critical meals, local organizations have expanded their educational offerings and women and girls have been exposed to the opportunities available in the field of engineering.

One of the organizations Jennifer is heavily involved in is Meal on Wheels. Every month 50 Harris employees, family members and friends help deliver meals to the homebound elderly. During the holiday season, Jennifer organizes a cookie drive where volunteers baked thousands of cookies to be included in the delivered meals.

Jennifer is particularly passionate about her volunteer work with the Brevard Zoo where she currently coordinates Harris volunteers for community construction days in support of the zoo’s Paws On Exhibit, a new children’s area sponsored by Harris. Jennifer coordinated several Harris days, overseeing employees and their family members as they worked to finalize the exhibit’s attractions. “I was proud to help my colleagues better understand the extent to which both their support and Harris’ support plays a role in the zoo’s ability to thrive as a community resource,” Jennifer said.

Jennifer has also been a strong supporter of Harris’ involvement with Habitat for Humanity. During recent Habitat home builds, Jennifer helped organize the participation of a 36-member team. She has also coordinated volunteer meals and helped purchase a washer and dryer for the home’s new residents.

Jennifer’s efforts have also led to improvements at two important centers for at-risk children. For girls across Brevard County, the Hacienda Girls Ranch in Melbourne, FL is a critical resource. The Ranch provides shelter to girls who have lost parents, been abandoned or are homeless due to abuse, neglect or emotional or behavioral problems. Jennifer acted as a team leader for Make a Difference Day at the Ranch, leading an effort to clean and refurbish one of the campus’ buildings. Jennifer and her team painted pantries, closets and doors and replaced shelving materials.

Jennifer also made an impact at the Space Coast Early Intervention Center, a therapeutic preschool designed to support young children challenged by disabilities, by participating in the construction of more than 1,000 feet of fencing for the Center.

Jennifer has been an active member of the Space Coast chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), which promotes engineering opportunities for women and empowers women to succeed and advance. She has led “Introducing Girls to Engineering” workshops and recently chaired the organization’s annual awards banquet. At the banquet, several high school girls received SWE sponsored scholarships. As a member of the scholarship selection committee, Jennifer helped select recipients. Following the event, one student wrote to the banquet committee, “I really enjoyed being around so many intelligent and inspiring women. I was totally unaware of the supportive community of women involved in the field of engineering.”

Despite her many accomplishments to date and her unique ability to inspire others, Jennifer has no plans to slow down any time soon. Later this year, she will begin serving as a member of the United Way’s Community Impact Volunteer Review Board, which helps the United Way allocate money donated to its Impact Fund. She will also join the Brevard Zoo’s Development Committee to help drive fundraising efforts and plans to help coordinate the addition of a new educational kiosk that will provide live video feeds of gorillas living on an African preserve.

“The more I volunteer, the more I want to instill my passion for volunteering in others,” Jennifer said, “I hope that my efforts have made a true difference across my community.”

Denny Collins

Ashley House primarily functions as a transitional home for children who need a step from acute hospital care to home. They are a nonprofit corporation in good standing with multiple licensures in the state of Washington. Ashley House is licensed as a Children’s Group Home and a Home Health Agency for pediatric private duty nursing care. They manage four sites that are minimally modified family homes providing a very homey atmosphere for both children and their parents.

Ashley house has built a reputation in the community for providing medically intensive care to children in a home setting. Treatment for chronic lung conditions including tracheotomy and ventilator management, central line TPN management as well as dialysis and preparation for organ transplant are some of the areas that they are accomplishing at this time. Several children have been through their program following severe traumatic or anoxic brain injuries as a step from acute hospitalization to inpatient rehabilitation. The program is working with multiple pediatric hospitals and clinics throughout Western Washington.

Denny has been a mentor, teacher, surrogate father and role model for Ashley House children, especially for one child who is a quadriplegic. Denny has consistently been an active participant in this child’s life. Denny has attended school with this child and learned the assistive technology needed for this child to be a productive member of the community. Denny has enabled this child to progress in his schooling, maintain self-esteem and has demonstrated love and encouragement.

Denny addresses the need for inclusion for the disabled. The isolation of disability is great, especially for young children who cannot enjoy the normal physical activities of their peers. These children must depend on others for the majority of activities. Technology replaces physical activity for these youngsters. It provides a way to socialize and acquire skills needed for a productive life. As a small organization and with the shortage of nurses it is difficult to provide the much needed one on one attention these children so desperately need. Denny has played an integral role in filling this need.

Denny’s impact for these children is immense. The ability for these children to complete homework assignments, keep up with studies, advance in socialization skills has been realized due to the time, patience, and diligence Denny has provided. Some of these children are placed at the Ashley House by the state; some of these children see Denny as a surrogate parent. Denny has provided continuity for these children when parents are absent or uninvolved. These children see their caretakers come and go; unfortunately, this is the reality of their lives. Denny is the one constant these children count on.

Denny has inspired all who know him. His commitment has been unwavering. His patience saint like, his energy boundless and his love has been and continues to be unconditional. It is rare for a community to find a volunteer who is tireless and continues to portray the same amount of time, energy, and unwavering love that Denny has displayed for the last nine years. Denny has not sought recognition or thanks, he quietly gives day after day and in fact, would most likely be upset that he has been nominated. The epitome of a volunteer is one who give freely and selflessly never asking for anything in return.

Mary Lowe

Mary Lowe has worked with the Gwendolyn Wilkes Rainbow Center for the past six years. As a volunteer Administrative Assistant for the Center, she is responsible for typing and drafting letters, reports, charts and programs for the Center, ensuring the accuracy of spelling and grammar through written or verbal instructions.

Ms. Lowe is responsible for delivery and pickup of payroll for the employees of the Center on a bi-weekly basis, and monthly and quarterly financial reports for the Director. She also assists with monthly, quarterly and annual expense reports. On a monthly basis, Ms. Lowe is responsible for providing monthly expense reports to the Director, ensuring that all receipts are calculated accurately and copies made for the monthly food expense reports.

Ms. Lowe is responsible for purchasing all food supplies and equipment for the Center. She assists in distribution of hot lunches for the needy on a weekly basis locally as well as pickup and distribution of pastries daily. She assists the Director with the Toys For Tots Program for the city of Columbus. Through this program, the Center is responsible for the distribution of toys to all major organizations.

Ms. Lowe is responsible for assisting the Director with Public Relations by disseminating information regarding the Center or obtaining information from various businesses and individuals, when requested. She also assists the Director with fundraising projects.

Keri Jucha

When Keri Jucha was 10 years old, she was rushed to Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego after of week of what seemed like a cold. However, there was nothing routine about this illness. Eight hours after arriving in the ER, she was having lifesaving brain and sinus surgery as a result of a sinus infection that traveled to her brain. The risk and severity were huge. Her recovery is a miracle and Keri spent nine days in the hospital as opposed to the estimated six weeks. During her recovery, a friend gave her beads to help pass the time. Keri started making necklaces and bracelets. After several dozen, she realized she could sell them to raise money for the hospital. Her parents helped her set up an online auction where she auctioned off over 100 pieces of jewelry she made. Keri raised almost $8,000 from her initial fundraiser.

While spending time in the hospital, Keri also realized she could do other things to help. She had the idea to bring the movies to children that were hospitalized. Keri purchased a home movie system for the hospital playroom. It included a portable big screen, AV cart, DVD player, projector, BOSE sound system and dozens of new DVDs for the children to watch. Keri also purchased beanie babies for the children and donated $1,818 to Liam’s Fund at the hospital. This organization works to raise money for the neurosurgical department at the hospital.

Keri also decorated the playroom, rolled out a red carpet and handed out tickets she designed for her movie premier. The response from the children was fantastic. The staff and children loved it and the room has been used in ways never anticipated. Teachers can plug in their computers for lesson plans and the children can play games.

At age 12, Keri is still volunteering. With her Bat Mitzvah approaching in May, Keri wanted to do another fundraiser (or mitzvah project) for the hospital in the Jewish tradition of tzedakah (charity) and tikkun olam (repairing the world). This time, Keri is raising money to purchase laptop computers, more DVD players and more DVDs. In addition, Kerri wants to do more to help the children’s stay at the hospital a bit more bearable.

The Rady Children’s Foundation advised they have never had a patient turn around and give back like Keri has. She hatched ideas while she was still in the hospital and her beading project turned into so much more.

Priya Sathaye

Priya Sathaye has been volunteering with the Sunday Friends Program since August of 2006. Sunday Friends is a nonprofit organization that runs programs for low-income families in San Jose, CA. She taught piano lessons to children, led art projects and played a key role in the program’s “shopping” operations. Priya was quickly recognized as a star volunteer with leadership qualities and was invited to serve on the Sunday Friends Volunteer Leader Team.

As a Volunteer Leader, Priya has arrived at programs prepared to lead particular projects and to fulfill particular roles. She serves as a role model, not just for the children but also for the other volunteers.

In the spring of 2008, Priya proposed creating a fundraising club, composed of high school students, to support Sunday Friends. After some discussion with the staff, Priya structured her plans as a community service summer internship program, one that would allow its young members to learn about the art of fundraising.

Priya initiated the High School Fund Raisers (HSFR) by working with a graphic designer to design a logo and then creating a promotional flyer, application, joining agreement form and service log form. She collaborated with the Sunday Friends’ webmaster to create the HSFR web page, which provided information plus all of her special forms. Priya lined up guest speakers who were fundraising experts in the community and laid out a well-defined schedule of talks and meetings.

Priya recruited members for HSFR from a variety of California Bay Area high schools. She reached out through school clubs and through Sunday Friends programs. The HSFR group began meeting as soon as school was out for the summer. They interleaved learning sessions, taught by guest speakers, with planning sessions, led by Priya. The group decided to organize and run a restaurant based fundraiser event that was a success.

Priya was motivated to create the High School Fund Raisers by her positive experience with volunteering within the Sunday Friends programs. The group provides a safe place where families come together with volunteers in a secular community setting. Children and their parents are provided with opportunities to earn the things they need to promote self-reliance and a healthy, productive lifestyle.

The groups’ activities foster the growth of developmental assets in children. The parents are included so that the practice of positive life skills will continue throughout the week in their homes. These exercises can help the families break the cycle of poverty.

Priya has definitely made an impact in her community. Once she began her service, Sunday Friends began to receive more donations. Priya tracked the progress through a spreadsheet. Not only did Priya and her group raise money for her programs, but she connected Sunday Friends to new donors. As of today, Priya has contributed more than 70 volunteer hours to HSFR leadership, and HSFR has raised $8,640.

Laura Wysocki

Laura Wysocki broke her elbow playing soccer and while at the doctors, noticed an ad in the paper for volunteers. The program assigns Special Needs students with a “buddy” for one-on-one instruction in the rules of the game of soccer and the spirit of teamwork.

Being a buddy to little Gordon is an eye opener for Laura. Born with Down Syndrome and a weak heart, Gordon has undergone two heart surgeries. Gordon does not know anything about soccer, is reluctant to play and is notorious for running off the field every opportunity he can.

Gordon opened up to the skills Laura has been teaching him and he gave soccer a try. Gordon’s kicks are haphazard and each time another player intercepts the ball, he gets frustrated. However, Gordon came out of his shell.

Laura’s next challenge was to show Gordon teamwork. After weeks of insistent practice, interspersed with hugs and laughter, Gordon becomes a team player. He smiles, laughs, bows and gives high fives to his teammates as the audience, including his mom, praises his accomplishments. It was hard for many to believe the change they saw in Gordon; that shows just how much difference volunteering makes.

While recovering from her soccer injury, Laura learned a lot from Gordon. She developed a new perspective that made her more empathetic to disabled youth. She had a greater understanding of how they feel and the challenges they face to play sports. Her broken arm was temporary; however, their physical disabilities were permanent.

Laura’s initial experience with Gordon and the progress he made inspired her to continue to serve. Now three years later, she is still volunteering. Laura has also encouraged friends to volunteer.

As the children learn new skills and the parents enjoy a respite on the sidelines, Laura feels a personal satisfaction. She and her friends have developed a bond with the children which continue after they leave the soccer field. As a volunteer, she learns about children with disabilities and shares the bond of friendships she has developed with others at her school.

NELLY ARIAS