Marie Alfano

Marie Alfano, a Registered Nurse, realizes the value of helping children and as a volunteer, she has been dedicating time to serving children and their families for over 30 years.

She spends most of her free time, volunteering with Joining Hands, a non-profit organization that helps terminally ill and permanently handicapped children and their families. These children have either serious or life threatening illnesses and/or their medical bills have reached a point where their families need to reach out for assistance. This assistance can be a “special wish” for a child or financial support towards an exorbitant medical bill that has accumulated.

Marie believes “the most valuable impact is having children’s dreams come through. To see the face of a child receive an expected gesture, toy, food or an article of clothing is such a terrific feeling that it always encourages me and those around me to continue our giving efforts.”

She continues to work closely with the Municipal government as well as hospitals, shelters in Middlesex and Ocean counties and surrounding communities. During the holidays, Joining Hands assists as many families as possible, especially focusing on those with children, to ensure that their wishes are met – dispensing toys, clothing, gift certificates, food or financial aid.

Marie continually demonstrates her commitment and leadership in civil service through her volunteerism and activities that have included hundreds of hours each year to improve the lives of children. That’s why Marie is a shining example of a Daily Point of Light.

Rich Mullins

Jennifer Miller

Jennifer Miller is connected to the mission of HandsOn Greater Richmond and Central Virginia Foodbank. Miller volunteers because she wants “to help others who haven’t been as lucky” as she has in life.

At the Foodbank, Miller recruited volunteers for weekly shifts. She began networking with recently laid off employees from LandAmerica to Genworth to Suntrust. In eight weeks, her team helped feed 16,800 people. She also organized the organization’s food drive last winter.

With HandsOn Greater Richmond, Miller served as Chair for the second annual Richmond HandsOn Day. She built relationships with new sponsors, including Starbucks and Lowe's, resulting in donated materials as well as volunteer hours. She appeared on both live television and radio interviews to promote HandsOn Day and volunteerism. HandsOn Day 2009 connected nearly 1,100 volunteers with more than 40 local non-profits to provide over 5,400 hours of community service to the Richmond community in one day.

She currently serves on several committees, including the HandsOn Day 2010 Steering Committee, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Team Relations Committee, and the Impact 100 Richmond Health and Wellness Committee.

Miller says, “Volunteering is like being in love, without the possibility of heartbreak. I know that I made a difference that day—that I helped someone and it matters.”

Virgil Sanford-2

Virgil Sanford is a volunteer’s volunteer because he serves his community in several ways. He volunteers four to five days a week at the Victory Baptist Church. The church pastor says Virgil is "one awesome volunteer” because Virgil volunteers about 900 hours a year at the Church. He takes care of everything from plumbing repairs and building projects to classroom painting.

Virgil also volunteers at Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Kalamazoo Youth For Christ, as a big brother to a young man named Jeff. Virgil has been a huge encouragment for Jeff in school and faith, working through many issues and challenges. He has been a dedicated part of Jeff's life for more than two years. Jeff's grades have even improved significantly with Virgil’s assistance.

His commitment and leadership has helped to create a more positive environment for his Church.

Virgil says he volunteers “because the youth are our future leaders.” Through Virgil's efforts in teaching the youth of his Church about community service, the children have begun to volunteer in their neighborhoods.

Virgil has served the Church community through his volunteer efforts. The Church youth have led by his example, helping to serve their community. Virgil continues to bring positive change in his volunteerism.

Jessica Padgett

Jessica is the co-founder and president of the Rotaract Club of Metro Detroit (RCMD). She also is an AmeriCorps member serving as a Volunteer Services Coordinator for The Guidance Center. Jessica volunteers because she believes that one individual can make a difference.

Under Jessica’s leadership, the Rotaract Club of Metro Detroit has had a major impact on clean drinking water safety. Partnering with “A Vision for Clean Water," the organization has raised more than $3,000 for ceramic filters to be made and supplied to Nepalese villages.

The RCMD also collaborates with other non-profit organizations in order to make a difference. The “Hats for Homeless Drive” campaign collected and delivered more than 2,500 baseball caps to the homeless in the Detroit area with the help of the Salvation Army’s trucks.

The Guidance Center is a non-profit organization that provides more than 40 programs to low-income children, families, and adults that focus on treatment, prevention, education, and growth. As an AmeriCorps member for the Center, Jessica's creation of a volunteer program has brought more awareness to the community in an organized manner and has helped others make a difference in their community.

Jessica considers herself a "humanitarian in training.” She inspires individuals everyday to make a difference and encourages others to do what they can, no matter how small the gesture.

Jim Mackie

Jim Mackie is a volunteer who serves as the Chapter Director for HOPE Worldwide-Jacksonville. Under Jim’s direction, the organization’s Saturday Academy has improved students’ grades and citizenship awareness.

Students living in high-risk neighborhoods are eagerly returning to the program each year and positively contributing back to their community. Parents and educators have praised the program and the influence of its positive role models. Jim also has assumed the role of fundraiser for the HOPE.

He has written several successful grants and has built lasting partnerships with local agencies and businesses. The organization has benefited as a grant recipient from The Players Championship Charities, The Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation, and Home Depot.

In addition, Jim developed a partnership with the American Red Cross, and for two years, HOPE volunteers visited more than 3,000 households to distribute fire prevention materials in high-risk fire neighborhoods. He has led hundreds of volunteers in a variety of programs over the past ten years. He develops leaders for tomorrow and shapes the organization by leveraging its resources.

Maryella Morley

Maryella Morley is a volunteer who assists women in transition. She helps women achieve goals in various fields, including higher education, career advancement, financial self-sufficiency, and small business ownership.

She addresses a very important community need. By assisting women with decreased life and social skills, lack of education, and underemployed circumstances, she has helped them achieve their own goals to provide not only for themselves but also for their families.

Maryella meets with two women per month and communicates with them via phone and email, too. She serves as their accountability coach and supportive partner. She mentors in both individual and group settings.

By helping women access and finish educational programs, she changed and improved their job environments, thus ultimately helping them gain financial self-sufficiency. The women credit their success to Maryella's encouragement, assistance, and accountablity coaching.

Maryella continues her volunteer work with Fresh Start. She has shared her story with other women in the community. By doing so, she has helped advertise the mentoring program and obtain more volunteers to help the women. She plans to increase the number of public presentations for this cause.

Karen Benson

Karen Benson is a key member in the Missouri State Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. She also is a case advocate with the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Not only does Karen have a passion for helping populations at their greatest time of need, after disaster strikes, she also helps the state of Missouri develop a strong disaster case management training platform, which aids individuals to serve disaster areas efficiently and effectively.

She has volunteered to implement a $12 million Social Service Block grant program. This program will help families affected by tornadoes, flooding, and severe weather. The initiative includes home and foundation repairs and rebuilds, debris cleanup, and other expenses caused by disasters. Along with Karen’s leadership, local committees will decide which projects will receive the funds.

As conference coordinator for United Methodist Disaster Relief, she leads a team of district coordinators in carrying out the Methodist Church’s committment to the disaster response community. In addition, Karen was instrumental in forming the Special Needs Population Task Force in Missouri.

She is no stranger to volunteerism, and her leadership in the State has a long track record. Karen's leadership has touched hundreds of volunteers in the state and has been a multiplier of good. Karen continues to serve others as the chair of the Government, Faith-based & Community Partnership.

Pat Peddie

Pat Peddie has been a volunteer at Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County for more than two years. While serving the organization, she has become very passionate about the ReStore, a retail operation that recycles used and surplus construction supplies for sale to the general public at a fraction of their worth.

Pat’s dedication has inspired her team at Habitat for Humanity and has truly motivated them to work together. She has been a key factor in recruiting, maintaining, and expanding a crew of regular volunteers for the ReStore. Pat has worked directly with more than 100 volunteers, ranging from college students to senior citizens.

She volunteers at the ReStore because of its positive environmental impact to society and the sustainability it brings to Habitat for Humanity. Under her leadership, the organization’s $42,000 in sales have kept more than 40,000 pounds of waste out of the stream.

Pat's work with the ReStore is creating many new and expanded opportunities for the organization. Service in the ReStore caters to a new demographic—high school students. Most high school students are not old enough to volunteer on construction sites; however, the ReStore provides a hands-on service activity for students 14 years old or older to be involved with Habitat for Humanity’s mission of providing safe, decent, affordable housing for families in need.

Pat continues to significantly impact Habitat for Humanity by helping the organization become more self-sufficient for the greater community of Montgomery County.

Lawrence Ragland