Natalie Mohn
Natalie Mohn has been helping the elderly in her neighborhood and community since she was very young. When Natalie was in fifth grade she began helping the physically and mentally challenged children in her school, which led her to helping at Camp Seymour as a teen leadership trainee during her senior year of high school. Natalie received several awards for her volunteer work, which ultimately led to her making a life decision to become a special education teacher of pre-school aged children. In addition to her work with children, she also helped at local food banks ad senior centers. The past four years, Natalie has put in approximately 1,000 hours a year volunteering.
Natalie was recognized as the high school student who volunteered more hours than anyone in Pierce County, Wash. Her a gift for special needs is so important since one in 38 children are on the autism spectrum and need all the love they can find. In case her heart was enough, Natalie herself is learning disabled, she is Aspergers autistic. Her daily challenges are immeasurable. Knowing firsthand how it feels to need extra help because of a disability puts Natalie in a truly special light. Overcoming bullying, being left out by groups and being made fun of are just a few of the circumstances Natalie can identify with. The high school staff, camp staff and most people who know Natalie are in total awe of her amazing effect on the world.
Natalie is an amazing person with an exceptional heart who has a magical ability to make change. This is why Natalie is a Daily Point of Light.
Alva Williams
Rowland & Fiona Matthews-2
Rowland Matthews and his 15-year-old daughter Fiona didn’t let an earthquake three weeks before they were to leave for Japan with an educational tour stop them. When the trip was cancelled they decided to turn it into a humanitarian trip, add an additional week and go help aid agencies in Japan.
Rowland and Fiona felt compelled to change the nature of their trip to Japan because they feel the whole world is their community and if they see a need and can fill it, they should do so. Not only did they help those affected by the earthquake in Japan, but Rowland and Fiona also inspired others in their community to do the same. Peace Boat and Second Harvest Japan got a lot of help and a lot of interest in their organizations from others who may aspire to do the same thing as Rowland and Fiona.
The father and daughter duo continued to go back until Japan was back on its feet. Before their second trip, they worked to become emergency aid certified so they could be more versatile and help more people. That is why Rowland and Fiona are Daily Points of Light.
Janet Mellon
Janet Mellon’s sense of urgency and drive to succeed extends far beyond her official Monday through Friday, nine to five work schedule. When called by the local fire or police departments, churches or the Travel Centers of America Truck Stop, Janet responds off the clock to assist fire victims as well as homeless and stranded individuals. Much of Janet’s time away from her role as Southington’s Community Service Director is spent continuing her humanitarian efforts in far-away places with The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services Program. Among her most memorable volunteer efforts was her two-week stay in the pit of Ground Zero in September of 2001 where she provided food, water and supplies to rescue workers. In 2004, Janet traveled to Pensacola, Florida to live, eat and sleep in a homeless shelter while assisting hurricane victims in a section of the city that was without power for two weeks. She also traveled to Biloxi, Mississippi in 2005 to provide necessities and intake counseling to displaced victims of Hurricane Katrina. Janet has driven a Salvation Army EDS canteen to Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania to prepare and serve meals to flood victims in 2006 and she also traveled to Lexington, Kentucky for three days that same year to provide meals and support to investigators and family members following a commuter jet crash that killed 49 passengers.
Janet is known as a great collaborator of community service groups. She serves as a bridge between need and resource and coordinates service delivery with many local agencies. Amongst her efforts, Janet works to raise money each year for Salvation Army Senior’s Camp. She raises funds for the tuition for 30 – 40 senior citizens to enjoy a summer week at Camp CONNRI Lodge in Ashford, Connecticut. She also works with the American Legion Auxiliary which funds the tuition for 30 local kids who attend a one week session at Camp CONNRI.
Salvation Army Field Representative Irene Mosher said, “Janet Mellon works tirelessly to better the lives of the people in her community who find themselves facing difficult circumstances with no regard for what brought them to this point in their lives. Janet’s passion to be of service to her community has been an inspiration to me and countless others. She is valued volunteer and advocate for The Salvation Army and its mission.”
Cynthia Rudick
Cynthia Rudick is a licensed therapist and Give an Hour provider who works with veterans from all military branches and the National Guard in and around Canton, Ohio. Give an Hour is a nonprofit that provides free mental health services to those affected by the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Cynthia’s experiences working with both Vietnam and Iraq war veterans have enriched her compassion for military clients. Because Cynthia’s parents were originally from Poland and she lost half her family in the Holocaust, she understands the existence of horror and is looking to help.
The first Give an Hour client Cynthia counseled was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a mental health issue and was dismissed from basic training. The woman volunteered in hopes of eventually getting money to go to college and was desperate for some structure in her life. Cynthia, who has run Welfare to Work programs and mental health centers, referred her to all the free services in the Canton community and at the Cleveland Hospital.
Cynthia’s second Give an Hour client was a woman whose son and only child, had recently returned from his second deployment in Iraq and would not talk to her. The son was all the woman lived for. She worked hard to support the two of them when he was growing up.
“She told me, ‘I’m a mental case because he is so withdrawn,’” Cynthia says. “I told her that she could come anytime to talk with me.”
Because of her compassion and service to our military and veterans, Cynthia is a Daily Point of Light.
Andree Harris
Andrée Harris
“I decided to join forces with others to offer specialized, therapeutic and fun-filled activities and events to children with special needs families. One summer, I organized an event using my own money. When I saw the smiles, joy, and laughter on the faces of not only the children but the parents as well, I knew I had found my calling.” -Andrée Harris
When Andrée Harris struggled to find afterschool, weekend and summer events and activities for her children, she decided to do something about it.
She is the mother of three adopted special needs children, she has a 31-year-old spina bifida male that she has cared for since he was 18, and fosters at-risk youth. Andrée’s love and compassion for all children has afforded her the ability to serve as an advocate. Her whole life she has opened her home, heart and pockets to children of all needs.
Because of her passion for helping youth, Andrée established the Just 4 Us Foundation in 2009 to provide free and affordable events that are accessible for children with special needs, catering to at-risk youth and foster family involvement. The organizations vision is to encourage, enlighten, empower, inspire, improve and impact the quality of life for children with special needs, at-risk youth and families.
She strongly believes every child, no matter their ability should be given opportunities to participate in life. She started with a vision and works hard to uphold opportunities for everyone. She organizes indoor carnivals and events for children of all abilities and life experiences to participate in. She doesn’t complain when a rental space is more than she can afford. She believes that for the right reason, things will work out somehow, fighting hard to pursue her dreams and hopes for youth.
Andrée is filled with compassion and care for others, she always finds ways to bring joy to the lives of children regardless of their need as well as joy and hope to their parents. She is truly a selfless person and has brightened many families’ lives in her community.
Krystal Muccioli
Ever since Krystal Muccioli was 4 years old she wanted to help others. At 6 years of age while walking in NYC she saw a homeless lady sitting in the rain and wanted to help her. Krystal insisted on going to the grocery store and buying the homeless lady plastic bags to keep her dry.
Today Krystal volunteers for various different organizations. She doesn’t just limit herself to one cause, but is passionate about many. She writes Christmas cards for military service members, she has helped in disasters, packing three planes of supplies for Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake, and volunteers for the Children’s Miracle Network.
Through her Crock Pot Cook-Offs she has raised more than $8,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network. She succeeded not only in fundraising a large amount of money, but mobilizing a whole community of people to get involved! Her uniqueness comes from the fact that she really wants to make the world a better place. She lives her life by Gandhi’s philosophy, “be the change you wish to see in the world” and is an amazing role model who lives her life for others while encouraging everyone to volunteer and help others.
Her nominator says, “Krystal is a HUGE Point of Light in our community. If there is a way to make a difference- Krystal will. Whether it be singing or running or baking, or collecting supplies; she does what it takes to make this world a better place to live in.”
Tim Jones
The Savannah area struggles with an unusually low high school graduation rate as well as high rates of juvenile delinquency. The Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Coastal Empire organization works hard to combat these issues by supplying positive role models for youth in the community. This organization is a donor and volunteer supported mentoring program for youth, providing needed support to fostering growth. Through professionally supported one-to-one relationships youth ages 6-16 are paired with community mentors. The volunteer mentors make positive differences in the lives of children by promoting their self-esteem, expanding their awareness of life’s opportunities, and providing them with guidance and support through long-term, one-to-one support. Many of these mentors report moments where they get back as much as they give.
Tim Jones is one of these extraordinary mentors who is a role model to a fifteen year-old young man named Tyler. Since May of 2010 Tim has helped Tyler in his struggle with academics and social skills. They meet at least twice a month and Tim has positively impacted Tyler’s social skills and Tyler’s grades have improved to C’s and B’s. They enjoy activities such as tennis, swimming, visiting local attractions and eating meals together.
Tim is an exceptional person who can always be counted upon to go above and beyond what is expected of him as a Big Brother. Tyler’s mother had difficulty understanding the school officials language when she attended a parent-teacher conference to discuss Tyler’s academics and invited Tim to join her for the next time. Tim was able to not only serve as an advocate for his mentee, but also strengthen his own work with Tyler.
Tim is one of the many who are giving themselves for the better of their community and for the better of others. Because of mentors like Tim, Savannah youth are given the attention and support they need for positive growth.
Donneth Wedderburn
Donneth Wedderburn is a special person because of her selflessness. Even though she has her own family struggles, she continues to look out for the welfare of the disadvantaged and underserved men, women and children who reach out for help on a daily basis. Throughout all the difficulties and setbacks that her family has faced, she remains a steadfast advocate of everyone who is hurting and needing help.
Donneth founded Family & Friends Connection, Inc in 2006. She was concerned about the needs of marginalized families and wanted to provide a way for them to get much needed services to help enhance their lives. As an ordained Minister she is very dedicated, humble and spiritual and is passionate about doing good.
The Family & Friends Connection is a community outreach organization to step in where governmental and county services fall short. Community professionals in all disciplines volunteer to provide information and service to support social, physical, spiritual, mental health, educational aspirations, quest for happiness and fulfillment, hopes and dreams for self and families. Family & Friends Connection is an all volunteer organization. Every staff member voluntarily gives their time to make the organization a success and be able to meet the needs of all who call for assistance.
The members of the organization and the officers in particular help to energize and provide hope to many who were hopeless. More depressed people are revamping their attitudes and sharing more openly their struggles and finding solutions from the partnerships that FFC has with the different community partners. Many people have become empowered to go out to find jobs. A number of hopeless callers have been encouraged back from the brink of suicide. People know that there is an organization that cares and does not judge their due to their unfortunate circumstances.
One major undertaking that Donneth did was to start a local radio program to help dissiminate more information to the various communities. This radio program broadcasts live on wavs1170am on Thursdays from 10pm-11pm. This medium allows community professionals, who volunteer to share their professional expertise with the community and the rest of the via the internet at www.wavs1170.com.
Under the guidance of Donneth, the Family & Friends Connection now address the the need for housing through collaboration with different non-profit and governmental housing agencies, employment through workforce empowerment especially with Workforce one, after school care and tutoring and providing information to the disadvantaged and the underserved through conferences, radio programs, workshops and seminars. Donneth is fulfilling her mission because she refuses to be selfish. She has assembled a great team of unselfish professionals who are also passionate about helping to make community life better for everyone who asks for help.
