Tina Frundt
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Tina Frundt. Read her story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or organization as a Point of Light.
Tina FrundtIt’s Tina Frundt’s job to know these horrifying numbers: More than 2 million children run away from home each year. About a tenth of them – some 200,000 – become tools in sex trafficking. Their average age: around 12 for girls, even younger for boys.
“People hear the term ‘sex trafficking’ and they think of girls overseas being traded,” says Frundt, executive director of Courtney’s House, an organization that works to get children on the streets out of danger. “They don’t realize that it’s just a legal term for forced prostitution and that it’s happening every day here in America.”
As a confused and troubled 14-year-old, Frundt herself was one of those thousands. Befriended by an older man on the streets of Chicago, encouraged to trust him and eventually convinced that she loved him, she left her family and moved with him to Cleveland.
There, the man introduced her to a different family: a group of teenage girls he had seduced and put to work on the streets. Frundt would remain tangled up in his scheme until she was in her late 20s.
Once she escaped, she found a job with Polaris Project, an anti-trafficking organization in Washington, D.C., then moved on to start Courtney’s House, in 2008.
Operating out of a donated D.C. row house, the drop-in center has helped more than 500 survivors and currently accepts two or three new cases – from walk-ins, lawyers and social workers – each week.
Frundt says she pursues a holistic approach. “We do everything from go out on the streets and rescue sex slaves to help them get scholarships once they exit that world,” she says.
At Courtney’s House – named after one of Frundt’s daughters – survivors receive counseling services, play games and enjoy social activities. They’re steered toward moving on with their lives.
“It’s about establishing a new mindset,” Frundt says. “These teenagers have a deep distrust of people. They’ve been traumatized. They can feel judged.”
The organization trains government officials to see things differently, too, helping them to identify survivors, and encouraging judges and police officers to view kids charged with prostitution as victims, not criminals.
Frundt’s become a passionate spokesperson on the issue and received the Free the Slaves Frederick Douglass Award, given to those who have survived slavery and go on to devote their freedom to helping others.
“I’m in a good place now,” she says, “and I don’t actually regret what I went through. It gave me what I needed to work with those faced with the same situation. I can say, ‘You don’t have to explain anything to me. I get it, I understand it and I’m not ashamed of it.’”
David A. Mbiad
Getting ready to welcome his first child, David Mbiad wasn’t prepared for what was to come. Instead of being angry and frustrated when he found out his baby girl was born deaf, Mbiad decided to embrace the challenge and provide his daughter with the love and affection she not only needs, but deserves.
While most people will be devastated to find out their child has a disability, Mbiad used the news as motivation. When his daughter Avery was born in 2008, Mbiad realized that getting upset about her situation didn’t help matters; so instead, he decided to immerse himself in the deaf community. Mbiad went from knowing nothing about the deaf community to being an advocate and spokesperson on their behalf.
“David doesn’t know it, and he’s very humble, but he is a walking inspiration for any parent, child or any individual who thinks a disability is the end of a normal, successful life,” said Carolyn Fray, Mbiad’s Aunt.
As a full time barber and part-time musician, Mbiad was forced to make the quick transition into an entirely new career. Instead of seeking some special tutelage, Mbiad taught himself sign language and became as proficient as they come. As a volunteer, with no formal schooling or degree in the field, Mbiad gives back his time by teaching deaf or hearing impaired children and their parents better ways to communicate and express themselves. His self-taught abilities are skilled enough to not only teach sign language to your average consumer, but at times, called on by several top educators to assist or teach their class.
Every day, whether small or large, there are challenges we all face. The determined nature and fervor in which David attacks his issues should serve as motivation for us all.
Ken Baker
There are many communities all around the world that lack necessary social structure, creating harsh realities for their citizens. While many parts of the world are flourishing, there are many people, everyday, who have no access to running water or sufficient healthcare. For such challenges in underserviced communities, there are dedicated outlets to turn to that foster change.
Ken Baker Glasswing International is one of those change agents looking to transform the world. In 2008, Ken Baker, along with his wife and brother-in-law, co-founded Glasswing International. As an independent, non-profit organization based in San Salvador, El Salvador, Glasswing International aims to renovate communities throughout Central America. By leveraging and mobilizing human, financial, and material resources, from companies, government, and beneficiaries, Glasswing has had a direct and lasting impact in every community they’ve come across.
Baker is fully aware of the insufficient conditions and hardships these countries face. For countries like El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala, who have alarming homicide rates and high incidences of natural disaster, there is an urgent need for emergency response units.
Baker and company, for the past three years, have trained first aid providers and first response hospital staff. They also provide necessary equipment to assist hospitals and law enforcement to respond to such emergencies. Thanks to Glasswing International, more than 3,500 doctors, nurses and first responders have been certified in basic life support, with over 100 mobile units now equipped with appropriate resources for emergency response.
Central America, though very beautiful with their share of resources, needs all the help they can get. The efforts of Baker and Glasswing International have greatly impacted present day lives, but it doesn’t stop there. Their dedication and hard work will continue to create a societal transformation that will benefit the people of Central America for generations to come.
Marsh Uebler
The American Academy of Pediatrics has proven that family presence during a child’s hospital stay has a positive effect on that child’s recovery. Marsh Uebler may not be family to any of the patients she frequently visits, but that doesn’t minimize the impact she has in any of their lives.
For the past 17 years, Uebler has volunteered for the Ronald McDonald Family Room in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware. While patients have come and gone, Uebler has consistently been on-hand to provide children with the love and care they need to recover.
The Ronald McDonald Family Room provides all sorts of resources for patients and their families. Many times, dealing with premature or ill babies, parents are housed for weeks, or even months with their children. Uebler does not only assist with all of the Family Room operations, she is very social and an active listener. For most families, just having someone there to listen is a form of treatment all of its own.
On the first Tuesday of every month, Uebler helps the Ronald McDonald House prepare a large meal for the families. Far away from their own kitchens, these families are appreciative of the full-course meal, and just as thankful for the bonding time it brings.
With over 2,100 hours served as a Family Room volunteer, the passion Uebler has for the patients and families is inspiring. Through her actions she uplifts those who need it most. While Marsh Uebler may not be a blood relative, to each patient she encounters she is definitely family.
Capt. Alisa Sieber-Johnson & LT Shawn Johnson
With so many troops often deployed to far and foreign lands, have you ever taken the time to ponder what happens to their pets when they leave? For those active in the military, their tour of duty is usually so long and requires so much travel that they are forced to give their pet dogs away. With the help of Dogs on Deployment, there is now hope that these brave men and women will be reunited with their furry friends.
Started in 2011 by pet lovers Capt. Alisa Seiber-Johnson and her husband LT. Shawn Johnson, DoD was created out of necessity. DoD connects members of the military with individuals who are willing to care for their pet until they return from active duty serving their country.
Seiber-Johnson and her furry friend Alisa and Shawn have experienced firsthand the difficulties of finding care for their pet under tough career obligations. Being so dedicated to their careers, Alisa a Lieutenant in the Marine Corps, and Shawn a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, it became near impossible to care for their Australian Shepherds as they were stationed on opposite coasts. This dilemma sparked DoD.
“DoD is an organization which brings the best of America’s community together; animal lovers and troop supporters,” says Seiber-Johnson, “It doesn’t get much better than that.”
The love for animals and the support of troops seems to be the perfect combination, resulting into much success. DoD, according to the numbers, has proven to be meaningful and effective. Since its inception, the Johnsons helped raise close to $100,000 to help pet owners care for their beloved pets during difficult financial times. To this day, DoD has placed nearly 800 military pets in foster care, hoping to eventually rekindle that precious bond between pet and owner.
Grant Mercer
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Grant Mercer. Read his story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or organization as a Point of Light.
Grant MercerEvery week for months now, 17-year-old Grant Mercer has visited a Marietta, Georgia, homeless shelter – not with food or clothing, but with Legos for the kids.
“You can make anything you want out of them,” he says of the colorful building blocks. “They give young kids the chance to let their imaginations run wild.”
Grant says he came up with the idea for his program, Building Buddies, when he remembered how much he enjoyed Legos as young boy.
“I thought everyone should be able to play with them,” he recalls. “When I tried to find a way to make that happen, I thought of the shelter where I had volunteered in the soup kitchen a few times.”
Sometimes, only one or two kids are around when he arrives; at others, there are as many as eight. He estimates that he’s brought the blocks to some 500 kids. Each visit is different, Grant says, and they often lead to spontaneous lessons.
“I usually stay about an hour and just watch what happens,” he says. “Recently, the kids built a castle and so I tried to teach them a little about the history of castles, where they’re located and how they’re built.”
Another time, Grant used one child’s constructions as a jumping off point to discuss the solar system.
“Legos can also enhance their math skills,” he adds, “because the blocks are geometric and you have to figure out how they all fit together.”
Lately, Grant has been preparing to expand his efforts. He started by soliciting donations from his friends and neighbors at school and church and received about $6,000 worth of Legos. He plans to assemble and distribute hundreds of building block kits to the Marietta shelter, so kids will be able to have their own once they leave.
Meanwhile, he’s sent a few kits to a shelter where his brother volunteers in Nashville. And, as he prepares to choose a college, he’s been scouting homeless shelters in the cities where he may end up so he can introduce the program to points still further afield.
“I’d like to help as many children as possible,” says Grant. “Living is a homeless shelter is tough, and I just want to help brighten their day a little bit.”
Kimberly Felshaw
The life-changing event of ‘expecting a child’ can be a very tiring and worrisome process. While it is definitely a time of joy and blessings, at the same time it is a period of non-stop doctor visits, financial obligations and just countless concerns. For military personnel and their families, this beautiful struggle is no different.
Kimberly Felshaw is a staunch supporter of all military and first response services. As Founder and CEO of Operation Showers of Appreciation (OASMIL) Felshaw has dedicated much of her time giving back to those in need. Understanding the difficulties that come along with a child birth, OASMIL provides support to military and their families by offering baby showers to new and expectant mothers.
This idea for OSAMIL came to Felshaw almost 10 years ago. After losing her child to a terminal illness, Felshaw was overwhelmed by the tremendous amount of support in her time of need. Faced with the toughest obstacle of her life, Felshaw used her personal tragedy as a tool to inspire.
Since 2006, OASMIL has assisted over 7,200 military and first responder families. The program is in place to help these families with the array of issues that come along with child expectancy. For instance, the Got You Covered Diaper Program has been a success, limiting the expenditures of families by providing diapers. For issues in which OASMIL can’t provide immediate assistance, they do provide an outlet of resources geared to helping these families.
Felshaw and the efforts of OASMIL is providing a serious need for those whose job it is to serve and give back. OASMIL is just a small token of appreciation and a great way to say ‘thank you’ for all that they do.
Austin Atteberry
Music’s sole purpose is not limited to just entertainment; the power of song can actually inspire the spirit. Nashville songwriter, Austin Atteberry, has seen that inspiration first-hand.
After a random but humbled visit to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, Atteberry walked away with a new found appreciation for life, and a new calling. Equipped with just a guitar and his voice, Atteberry was able to bring joy to these young patients through musical expression. While he has always loved to compose music, this particular experience was life-changing.
Austin Atteberry with his wife,Sara Doschadis. In 2011, sparked by that visit to the Children’s Hospital, Atteberry, along with his wife, Sara Doschadis, started the Sing Me a Story Foundation.
“I created Sing Me a Story to bring a voice to the voiceless children throughout the world,” says Atteberry.
The premise of the program is to reach out to children’s homes, hospitals and hospice organizations, to get kids all around the world to write and illustrate any story they can possibly imagine. The stories are then distributed amongst a team of songwriters, who turn them into songs, record them and then send them back for the children and their families to enjoy.
Fans, friends and family are able to listen to these child-inspired tunes, and even purchase them on the foundation’s website, with all proceeds going to operational costs and partnering organizations.
“The imagination of children who have fallen victim to circumstance has the power to capture what is common and pure in us all,” adds Atteberry.
Atteberry helps children express themselves through song and in doing so brings immese much joy to them and their families.
In less than five years, Sing Me a Story has built an extensive network of more than 1,500 songwriters working with 50 organizations. Atteberry and company continues to uplift the spirits of all, bringing happiness to those children less fortunate.
Linda Fawkes
For many students, the difference between success and failure in the classroom relies heavily on the amount of extra attention they are given. Just an extra hour of tutoring alone can produce positive results. While there is always a concern and a need to improve adolescent education, simply spending a little more time with a student can make a world of the difference.
Linda Fawkes, a volunteer savant, is fully aware that being there for a child can have a lasting and beneficial effect. Whether it is tutoring for a particular subject or just overall mentoring and guidance, Fawkes knows first-hand the impact it brings.
When the San Francisco Education Fund launched its new Literacy Program, specifically aimed at low-scoring elementary schools, Fawkes was among the first to sign up. Though the program requires its volunteers to commit just a minimum of one hour per week for two students, such limitations does not exist for Fawkes. She is consistently available throughout the entire week, helping students and teachers with any and everything.
“Let’s just say Linda is a bit of an overachiever,” said Thomas Laursen, the Senior Volunteer Engagement Coordinator at the San Francisco Education Fund.
Laursen knows all too well the commitment and dedication Fawkes has for her students. Beyond just tutoring, Fawkes seems to adopt a matriarchal role for many of her less fortunate students. When she is not busy helping a child with their reading, she may be found chaperoning field trips or even taking the time to wash students’ uniforms.
Fawkes volunteers her time for no other reason than to truly make a difference. While it is difficult to prove her direct impact, it’s no surprise that those who participate in the Literacy Program have shown improvements in their reading and writing skills.
Mary Blankenship Pointer
Proper leadership can truly change an entire culture. Mary Blankenship Pointer, of Oklahoma City, OK, exemplifies that notion. With what seems to be an endless resume, Pointer has been involved in just about everything.
Remarkably, Pointer is currently serving on more than two dozen local, state, national and international boards. What is even more remarkable is the fact that she is an active and willing participant for each of those committees. Pointer’s involvement is authentic. She doesn’t do it because of name recognition; she does it because she truly cares.
Known as a “network maven,” Pointer has forged relationships and used her connections to better her community. One of her many and most recent contributions is her involvement with the Council of International Neonatal Nurses, Inc. COINN is an organization that represents nurses internationally, who specializes in the care of new born infants and their families. Pointer serves as volunteer Chief Financial Officer and her previous work with women and her knowledge of fundraising are a tremendous asset to COINN.
“I have known Ms. Pointer for almost a decade,” said Dr. Carole Kenner, founder of COINN. “Her professional network is extensive because she works tirelessly to make Oklahoma a better place for all citizens, especially women and children.”
Kenner knows firsthand the work ethic and dedication Pointer pours into her all her projects. When she is not assisting COINN, Pointer is at the forefront of a multitude of social, political and economic issues.
Whether it is her work with organizations such as Prevent Blindness and the Urban Library Council or her efforts to feed over 5,000 people and provide toys to children during the holidays, Pointer is always helping improve the quality of life for those in Oklahoma and beyond.
