Ani Hudgens

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Ani Hudgens. Read her story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or organization as a Point of Light.

Ani Hudgens and her passenger safety puppet, Becky Buckle-Up

A distracted driver changed Ani Hudgens’ life in an instant.

Five years ago, she was well into her career in corporate human resources, had two grown children and a tiny grandson, and had just met a new man, Chris. She ran triathlons and half marathons.

But one day while driving to work another driver veered into her lane and clipped her car, causing it to spin out of control and become airborne.

Thanks to her seatbelt, Hudgens, now 47, wasn’t ejected from the vehicle. But she lost a substantial percentage of her hearing, suffered seizures and heart attacks, and struggled with limited mobility for three years.

Worst of all, her zest for life disappeared.

“I was in such a serious funk and I told Chris, `I need me back,’” she recalls. “He said, ‘You have a great story and a voice, sometimes a very loud one, to tell it with. Go do something about it!’”

Hudgens found her calling when she was back on the road and noticed a woman weaving while talking on her cell phone.

“Her little boy was in the back, in a car seat, but he wasn’t strapped in,” Hudgens says. “I was livid. Parents know what they’re supposed to do, but they don’t always do it. I thought if I could reach their children instead, they could become their conscience and I could make a real difference.”

Ani Hudgens (in pink) and her puppet, Becky Buckle-Up, after a presentation to children about passenger safety

Hudgens, of Riverview, Florida, had always had a creative streak and while recuperating in bed had enjoyed watching her favorite characters romp through Muppets movies. Now, she thought, was a chance to bring her two interests together.

“Way before I got derailed in the corporate world, my goal was to be a special education teacher,” she says. “And as an adult, I had really enjoyed volunteering for organizations like the Special Olympics. I thought it was time to get back out into those communities.”

She wrote a few songs and stories about the importance of wearing a seat belt and created a puppet, Becky Buckle-Up, to be their voice.

“I had Becky custom made for me,” she says. “I kind of wanted a mini-me, my alter ego. Every little girl wants to be a princess, so she’s that. She’s very glitzy, I hot-glued rhinestones on her shoes. She’s sassy but sweet.”

Hudgens started by visiting a few local preschools. Word spread, and elementary schools started calling.

Next, she developed a program for middle and high school students. These days, she brings Becky to churches, community centers and safety expos.

Hudgens has left behind more than 10,000 bags, each filled with a coloring book, crayons and a booklet detailing car safety tips.

For now, she and Chris – now her husband – are funding everything themselves, although she often receives in-kind donations and services and is looking to set up a nonprofit.

Hudgens is talking with a publisher about creating a children’s safety book series, and she’s working on new puppets – Henry Harness, who is disabled, and Sofia Seatbelt, who will speak and sing in Spanish.

“My accident was a blessing in disguise,” she says. “What started as a little idea has just exploded.”

Aydin & Hannah Rose Martin

Children with disabilities often struggle in the classroom do to the lack of support that is needed for them to succeed.

Aydin and Hannah Rose Martin are fully aware of the learning curve and disadvantages many of these students face. Combined with a steady growth in classroom sizes, there is undoubtedly a need to provide extra attention to those students with learning disabilities. Created out of necessity, the brother and sister pair cofounded Martin Miracles, Inc.

Martin Miracles, Inc. helps any student that needs extra help outside the classroom.

The goal of Martin Miracles, Inc, which is a non-profit based out of Arizona, is to target students in grades K-12 with learning disabilities, and provide them the extra tutoring they need, through scholarship, to ensure that they reach their full potential. For those students that need the extra attention, Martin Miracles is one of the few, if not only outlets, in which supplemental education is awarded through scholarship.

Martin Miracles – ‘transforming disabilities into abilities one child at a time.’

In business for just a few months, officially launching in April 2015, Martin Miracles has already raised $7,000, and will award its first scholarship on August 1, 2015.

This wasn’t just a spur of the moment idea, in fact, Aydin and Hannah Rose have been working to start Martin Miracles since 2009. Sparked by Aydin’s own hardship, diagnosed with ADHD, the Martin’s realized that tutoring outside the classroom is not only necessary, but very expensive as well.

While Aydin’s personal struggle turned out to be the creation of Martin Miracles, Aydin’s personal triumph is reason to believe Martin Miracles is here to stay. Aydin, along with his sister, are current members of the Honors Society. From early inconsistent learning behavior, to a scholarly standout, Aydin is proof of the impact Martin Miracles can make in a child’s life. 

Atharva Kumthekar

It may seem harmless, an innocent act such as texting, but that split second can be the difference in life or death. Unfortunately, texting while driving goes on everyday.

Atharva Kumthekar, a student at William Mason High School in Mason, Ohio, knows first hand the devastation that texting and driving can cause.

Two years ago, while Kumthekar was prepping for his learners permit, two incidences changed his life forever. Two of his classmates got into serious car accidents, one severely injured and the other fatal, both a result of texting while driving. From that moment on, Kumthekar has pledged to not only avoid texting and driving himself, but become an advocate to help eradicate it all together.

Kumthekar started the “Safe Teen Driver”organization(http://www.safeteendriving.us) The goals of the program is to increase awareness of the dangers of texting and driving, ensure certain regulations are followed to limit distractions on the road, and promote simple technology solutions.

Atharva is pictured with Mayor of Montgomery, Ohio, Todd Steinbrink

“My mission is to make this world a safer place, one driver at a time” says Kumthekar.

With over 15 community awareness events throughout Ohio, Kumthekar has reached out to over 4500 teens, whether in person or through multimedia platforms, and has secured over 400 pledges from teens to not text and drive.

While it may take great efforts to spread awareness and get everyone on board, the pointless act of texting while driving can easily be prevented. The amount of lives effected because of something as simple as a text is staggering.

“Texting and driving makes us 23 times more likely to get into an accident,”says Kumthekar. “This is the leading cause of accidents among teens resulting in eight deaths and over 1150 injuries everyday.”

It’s simple, and I’m sure Kumthekar would agree, texting while driving is not worth a life. 

Caroline Gaver

Although reading and writing is essential to child development, there are many adults who lack these critical life skills

For over 40 years, Caroline Gaver has dedicated her time and energy fighting for literacy. Joining the Literacy Council of Frederick County (LCFC) back in 1975, Gaver has been a volunteer ever since, assisting the Frederick County, MD area, as well other areas in the Maryland and Virginia region. Her lifelong passion of helping other has been evident with her commitment through the years.

Caroline Gaver

Fighting to eliminate illiteracy for over four decades, Gaver has served in almost every capacity for the LCFC. From high leadership positions like board member and President, to small integral roles such as tutor, regardless of the position or the task, Gaver has gotten it done.

Gaver’s handprint has been all throughout the state of Maryland. She cofounded a training program at the MD Correctional Institution in Hagerstown, MD, as well helped create Literacy Councils across county lines. Gaver took leadership positions in forming the Literacy Council in Hancock, MD, Washington County, MD and Garrett County, MD.

Going by the numbers, Gaver has just been remarkable. Since joining the Council, Gaver has helped over 7500 English and non-English speaking adults learn to read, write and speak English. Upwards of 200 students each year are given help with not a penny needed, and each year there are at least 100 tutors, all trained by Gaver herself. In the last four years alone she has helped raise over $50,000 towards improving the program.

 All of these feats were streamlined by a passionate Gaver. For these adults and children who struggle with a very necessary life skill, Gaver has been irreplaceable.

Emma Caroline Prager

Whether it’s the latest Nike or Jordan shoe, these releases are so popular that children will line up outside of retail stores to be the first to get it. While such select footwear is viewed as a luxury or fashion trend, for some, just simply having something to cover their feet is a blessing all within its own.

Emma Prager, though she is just a teenager, realizes this dynamic and understands that every child is not fortunate enough to be able to afford such expensive shoes. Many students at local Wolf Meadow Elementary School – one of the poorest in Cabarrus County, NC, with 83% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch – are lacking adequate and sustainable footwear all together.  

Understanding the demand, Prager stepped up and put her best foot forward www.emma24c.wix.com/bestfootforward. Teaming up with her church and swim team, Prager organized shoe drives for local elementary schools as well as created an educational component about the importance of proper footwear. With a small budget but a ton of hard work, over 200 pairs of shoes have been collected. For these students, just having a decent functioning shoe is very difficult to come by. The Put Your Best Foot Forward project is not just providing shoes, but opportunity as well.

Prager’s ensures that every kid can step into success with the proper footwear

Very few equate shoes to academic success, but Prager is fully aware of the correlation. Many of these students who suffer from subpar shoes are unable to participate in recess or Physical Education class, unable to compete in sports, creating a child that can be socially absent. As a result, these children lack confidence which directly impacts their ability to perform well academically.

 While these young students are faced with new challenges everyday, Prager is sure to be there to remind them to constantly put their best foot forward.

Morgan Keely

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Morgan Keely. Read her story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or organization as a Point of Light.

Morgan Keely

As a scared 4-year-old about to receive her second cochlear implant to help her hear, Morgan Keely was delighted and surprised to receive a basket of toys that had been donated to the hospital by a local corporation.

“I loved it so much that I asked my mom if I could do the same thing,” she says.

Morgan, who was born deaf, has endured numerous surgeries and extensive therapy to be able to hear and speak. Now – as a dynamic 9-year-old whose favorite subjects at school are “gymnastics, violin, spelling, writing, math and science!” – she’s giving back to other kids who need a little extra support.

So far, Morgan and her mom, Jayne Frank, have loaded almost 600 sand buckets full of playthings and sent them to children awaiting surgery at local hospitals. The buckets come with coloring books, crayons, bubble bottles and Woofis — stuffed, brown-and-white, floppy-eared puppies.

Woofi is a central part of the gift because Morgan always brought the puppy — sold by Because We Care Ministries — to her own surgeries.

“I like him because under his ears, it says ‘Jesus Loves You,’” she says. For every puppy Morgan buys from the nonprofit, it gives her one free.

Morgan Keely, center, joined by nurses at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, stands in front of a delivery of treat-filled buckets.

Morgan, who lives in a Philadelphia suburb, raises the rest of the funds necessary to fill the buckets by baking and selling brownies and pies, and by accepting donations of books, crayons and bubbles.

Morgan and Frank wait until they have enough materials to fill 30 buckets – about $560 – and then drop them off at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. They occasionally ship individual buckets across the country in response to requests, or personally deliver buckets to older teens at other area hospitals.

“Most of the buckets don’t go to deaf children,” says Frank, “but to other children we learn about. There was a 17-year-old boy who had a stroke and was at MossRehab in Philadelphia, for example. Now, he takes Woofi with him to his physical therapy sessions.”

Morgan treasures her ability to bring comfort to young people in need.

“It makes my heart feel really, really happy,” she says. “I wish I could give a bucket to every child in the hospital.”

Scituate C.O.R.S.E. Foundation

One of the more underserved populations in our society are those children with special needs. In Scituate, MA, there is a growing contingent looking to make that issue one of the past.

The Scituate C.O.R.S.E. Foundation (Community of Resources for Special Education), a non-profit organization, has truly transformed lives. Driven by dedicated parents and educators, the Foundation’s goal is to help children with special needs meet their full potential. From providing resources to instilling confidence, C.O.R.S.E. has played a prominent and necessary role in children’s lives.

Evolving from just a small, motivated group, to a constituency now boasting over 3,000 participants, C.O.R.S.E. has undoubtedly made an impact. The rapid growth of the Foundation is evidence of how vital their services are to the community.

With fundraising being an integral part of their success, the Foundation has been able to allocate over $620,000 in recent years. These funds provide new equipment and technology, professional development, parent resources, as well as an array of social, academic and recreational student programming.

With 301 programs and counting, C.O.R.S.E. has been able to develop an innovative model of programming that caters to children of all different learning speeds. These progressive and uniquely customized programs, which incorporates community integration, allows all children to come together and learn important life skills.

Lose the Training Wheels helps everyone feel like a kid again

“One of my favorite programs is Lose the Training Wheels, which allows many children to learn how to ride a bike and feel like a regular kid,” said Griffin Mansi, a local resident of Scituate who has seen first-hand the role C.O.R.S.E. has played in his community.

“I wanted to highlight C.O.R.S.E. because the volunteers for its programs see that every child is the same on the inside and there is nothing stopping them from achieving their dreams.”

John Von Hagel

The ability to teach certain life skills is the ability to save lives. While studying subjects like math and science in school are very prevalent, basic emergency medical service skills are far too often ignored. John Von Hagel’s mission is to create a more informed and better prepared community for such emergencies.

The idea of providing people with necessary survivals skills is one that Von Hagel fully embraces. For over six years now, Von Hagel has dedicated his time and efforts to improving and teaching emergency medical services. From CPR to other first aid practices, Von Hagel has had a direct impact on his local emergency response units.

John Von Hagel

As President of the Hanover Rescue Squad Association, Von Hagel’s leadership is constantly on display. For many of the officers and members serving the Rescue Squad, Von Hagel has personally been on hand to teach leadership and management techniques. Under his guidance, hundreds of everyday citizens and volunteers have been able to earn First-Aid and CPR certifications.

Von Hagel served Hanover County and its emergency relief in many capacities. He not only bolstered the Rescue Squads, but he also assisted a local K-9 search and Rescue organization. Von Hagel has been an EMS worker and involved in Hanover since 2002.

The residents of Hanover are fortunate to have a dedicated serviceman like Von Hagel. His ability to teach and pass on vital information to those in leadership roles leads to a transformed community. Without a doubt, the emergency preparedness and ability to adapt to a foreign situation has been strengthened under Von Hagel’s tutelage.

Emily Scarlett Lies

In 2010, while her brother was in the hospital recovering from a massive stroke, Emily Scarlett Lies took a look around and instantly felt down. Sure she was devastated by her brother’s condition, as well as the other sick patients, but what else bothered her was the somber mood of the hospital.

Emily Scarlett Lies delivers a batch of Smile Boxes to a hospital.

Describing the hospital as both boring and sad, at just 10 years old, Emily created Emily’s Smile Boxes. Spending countless days in the hospital with her ailing brother, Emily realized that her brother and other recovering patients could use a break from their day-to-day struggles. Emily’s Smile Boxes offer a fun distraction, with toys and activities.

“She is my daughter and I am more proud of her than I can say,” said Jennifer Ortiz, Emily’s mother. “She created this charity and wanted to help others all on her own. I couldn’t ask for a better child.”

In honor of her brother, Jude, Emily hosts a 5K walk/run each September where children and parents come together to support, as well as teach the benefits of exercise and decreasing stroke risk.

Lies does not just impact her home state of Texas, but her efforts and contributions has impacted those all around the world – creating boxes for people in Jamaica, Canada and Africa. To date she has filled more than 10,000 boxes, raised over $100,000, and most importantly put a smile on an endless number of faces.