The Family that Gives Together: Teaching Service as a Family Value

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honorees the Winklers. Read their story and nominate an outstanding volunteer, family or organization as a Point of Light.

Cianna, Wayne, Beverly and Zachary Winkler preparing for a Sunday Supper.

“We’ve always tried to instill in our kids that you need to be involved in the community you live in and give back in some way,” said Beverly Winkler.

It’s this very way of thinking that is at the core of the Winkler family’s giving spirit. For Beverly, her husband Wayne, 17-year-old daughter Cianna and 21-year-old son Zachary, giving back is a family affair that is a constant part of their very busy lives.

In fact, because finding ways to improve the lives of others is often on their minds, it becomes a frequent topic of conversation. One of those conversations involved the Winklers and a family friend, Eileen Kuhn. Discussing the topic of elderly people who depend on food delivery from nonprofit organizations in their area, Eileen and the Winklers were concerned that many of these people do not receive deliveries on the weekends. Especially with the economic downturn, they realized their neighbors had a need – and they could help. With a little seed money from their church and money from their own pockets, Sunday Suppers were born.

“We decided to try the first Sunday of the month because we looked at when folks would get their checks from the state or welfare,” said Beverly. “It seemed that the first weekend was typically a harder weekend, according to our social services contact.”

The First Presbyterian Church of Verona, in New Jersey, provides Eileen and the Winklers access to its industrial kitchen each month, as they bring in an army of volunteers to cook and deliver food to those who need it most.

Recipients are identified through Verona Social Services and they are then asked to fill out an application, which gives Beverly and her crew an idea of food allergies or special needs. Knowing that this may be the most nutritional meal these folks have received in a while, the team works hard to plan the menu carefully. Each meal contains one or two vegetables, a carbohydrate, a protein, a roll and a dessert. They also want the meal to be something special, something close to a traditional after-church meal that the patrons would like to have with their own families, if they could.

“We’ve never repeated a meal. The main courses have never been repeated,” Beverly said, proudly.

“Eileen and I are always looking for new recipes on Facebook and elsewhere, and then we’ll price it out.”

They make an effort to use seasonal ingredients and prepare meals that match the time of year.

“For the Fourth of July, we try to make it fun with hamburgers and corn on the cob and things like that,” Wayne added.

Once they know the number of meals needed for the month, Beverly and Eileen scope out grocery and wholesale stores, to see what’s on sale, what’s in season and what will make the most nutritious and delicious meals within their budget. They keep meals priced around $3 apiece, including the packing containers used for delivery. While Beverly admitted that she and Eileen still pitch in a little money each month, they are able to continue to serve the community through donations from individuals and local businesses.

After the food is purchased, cooking and prep become an all-hands on deck affair. The cooking begins on Saturday when most of the meal is prepared. Sundays, they reheat and deliver, aiming to deliver all meals by noon. The whole family gets to work, as well as several volunteers.

Cianna Winkler with Sunday Supper co-founder Eileen Kuhn.

“Cianna likes to clean and cut up the vegetables,” Beverly said. “[She] has recruited several of her friends to come most Saturdays to help us cook and bake desserts. Because we aren’t just baking a dozen cupcakes; We’re baking and frosting 60, 70, 80 cupcakes!”

Wayne pointed out that many high schools in Verona require students to earn a certain amount of volunteer hours in order to graduate. While the initial motive for the teens to join may be out of an interest in meeting those hours, he said that isn’t why they return every month.

“When I asked [my friends] to do this, they said, ‘Yes!’ because we were together and it didn’t matter what we were doing. We were having fun,” said Cianna, echoing her father’s sentiment. “It’s community service, but no one thinks about it that way. We are having fun and helping others. It’s not a chore.”

Big brother Zachary, himself an Eagle Scout, also pitches in with packaging and delivery. He too has made it an activity to do with friends. Delivering the food is a special experience for Cianna, Zachary and their friends.

“Most of the time, these people only ever see us. Their family and friends don’t visit. We know this one lady who asked to take a picture with us and she framed it,” said Cianna.

“A lot of them are just standing around indoors, waiting for them,” Wayne added.

But this monthly endeavor isn’t the only way the Winklers are giving back.

Each year Zachary and Cianna are teen sponsors for their church’s toy and coat drive, bringing more comfort to families in need. For the past two years, they have gone beyond the traditional toy drive and visited schools in some of the poorest areas of Newark, New Jersey, to throw a holiday party.

“It was really sweet because [for] some of these kids, this will be the only toy they got this Christmas,” said Cianna. “It was really nice to see them really excited about this. We might take getting a gift for Christmas for granted and this is the only thing that they will get.”

Through a program called Cardboard City, organized by her church, Cianna has learned first-hand about the struggles that people in the community go through. The program simulates the environment of living on the street by creating a cardboard city outside the church. The teens spend the weekend living in their cardboard boxes without cell phones or basic necessities. They must rely on the kindness of strangers. Though it is done under adult supervision, the program provides an interesting experiential learning opportunity.

Cianna’s experience with the Cardboard City led her to start an ongoing drive at church to collect items for Blessing Bags – bags packed with necessities such as Band-Aids and socks, which are delivered to the homeless shelters near Verona and in Newark.

It’s clear the Winkler children are on a mission to continue making the world a better place for others to live in. While the Beverly and Wayne say, “this is just how we always were,” teaching their children to give back has been a priority in their family

“I have said to them, if you can just help one person with something little to help them be better, then that’s all that matters, “ Beverly said.

Do you want to make a difference in your community? Find local volunteer opportunities.

This post was written by Rebecca Angel Baer.

Beth Kaback

For more than fifteen years, Beth Kaback has visited Swanton Health Care and Retirement Center to read to its residents from Jan Karon’s New York Times bestselling Mitford series. Beth first began going to the retirement facility to visit with her mother, who she regularly read to from the Mitford books. After her mother passed away, Beth made a commitment to continue visiting the seniors at Swanton, and she arrives every Tuesday to read to a rapt audience.

“[Beth] has such a commitment and deep compassion for our residents,” said Terry Shear, enrichment and activity director for Swanton Health Care and Retirement Center. “She brings a bit of joy to each person, and helps those who can no longer read themselves.”

Do you want to make a difference in your community? Find local volunteer opportunities.

Healing on Horseback: How One Woman Helps Others Find Physical and Emotional Relief Through Equine-Assisted Therapy

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Sara Foszcz, who was a Top 30 finalist for the L’Oreal Paris Women of Worth Award in 2016. Each year L’Oreal Paris and Points of Light recognize and celebrate Women of Worth who make a beautiful difference in their communities. Ten honorees each receive a $10,000 grant to support their most cherished cause, and an online vote determines one honoree who will receive an additional $25,000 grant. Nominations for 2017 are now open! If you know a woman who works to create lasting and significant change in her community, nominate her to be one of the 2017 Women of Worth.

“A horse’s walk exactly duplicates a human walk that’s not impaired. For somebody with a physical disability, just sitting on the horse and allowing the horse to move the pelvis in a natural rhythm changes everything,” said Sara Foszcz. “At the same time, it’s impacting the neurological system. Every single muscle in the body, including the heart, including the brain, sending blood up and down the system. It’s such a hard physical workout, but they just see it as fun!”

Sara was still in her teens when, as a budding equestrian, she fell from a horse and was injured. While recovering, she read an article in a magazine about a new field called therapeutic horseback riding, which uses riding and other equine-assisted activities to help people with disabilities.

“I thought, ‘I love horses and I love people. This sounds like the best of both worlds,’” said Sara, who went on to become certified in the practice. She didn’t use her certification right away, instead spending several years showing horses and running a horse stable on a 40-acre property in semi-rural McHenry County in Illinois.

In 1984, she met a physical therapist in the local school district, who suggested bringing over one of her students. After a few years, Sara closed her business of boarding and training for the able-bodied and devoted herself full time to clients with special needs. For the first decade, it was truly a “one-man pony show,” said Sara. “I was the only employee, and I was actually a volunteer.” Now, nearly 30 years later, Main Stay Therapeutic Farm, has expanded to serve six counties spanning Illinois and Wisconsin. It has six paid staff, three of whom are full time, assisted by 150 volunteers each week. Sara has also developed relationships with other nonprofits, including Head Start, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Family Alliance adult daycare, and more.

Main Stay serves an average of 120 individuals each week; it’s clients range in age from 3 to 93, including physically and developmentally disabled children and adults, at-risk teens, individuals in the autism spectrum, and older adults with memory loss, stroke, or head injuries. The organization keeps 14 horses, and has recently acquired a bevy of therapeutic small animals, including sheep, goats, and miniature horses.

“We can accomplish as much or more in the barn as we can in a clinical setting,” said Jean Maraist, Main Stay’s program director and an occupational therapist who has worked in schools, clinics and hospitals. “We can work on balance and range of motion and strength. We can also work on the social skills of being kind to your horse, saying hello to your volunteer and thanking them, as well as all the cognitive pieces, such as following directions or sequencing items from one to four. We’ve had riders who’ve said their first words here or taken their first steps. A lot of that is because they’re more engaged. What’s more fun? Riding a horse or sitting on a therapy ball?”

There’s no shortage of groups and individuals who could benefit from equine therapy, and Sara has brought them all together. Several school districts regularly schedule time at the farm for special-needs students, as have alternative schools. Sara uses creative ways to ensure a safe, productive riding experience, no matter how severe the disability. She has a special ramp and lift, so that people using wheelchairs can mount the horses. If need be, a team of volunteers will lead, follow, and walk along each side of the horse. For elderly people who cannot ride, Sara engages them in brushing and talking to the horses. According to Jean, the experience of getting outside and being on a farm – a familiar environment for many seniors in the area – can stir memories and emotions for those with dementia.

Sara says her secret is to emphasize quality over quantity. “We’re not just ‘Here’s your 20 minutes around the track, goodbye,’” she said. Many riders have stayed for years, to continue improvement and maintain the progress they’ve made.

Michael Deibel, who was left paralyzed on one side following a car crash 15 years ago, has been coming to Main Stay since 2007. “The benefits are fantastic,” said Michael, who went from total reliance on a wheelchair to walking with a cane. “This brain injury took all my muscles and made them like spaghetti. I had to build them up again.” Deibel was a high school athlete, but had never ridden horses. He marveled, “Over time, you and the horse become a team.”

Sara continuously looks for other populations to serve, and has had success with disadvantaged Chicago teens, most of whom have never seen horses up close, much less ridden them. “Horseback riding is something special and it’s normally expensive,” she said. “A lot of kids play soccer and things, but how many, even in more affluent families, get to ride?”

Volunteers at Main Stay – many of whom also return year after year – can’t say enough about what they call the farm’s “magical” environment and the programs’ results. Amy Racette, who has volunteered with Main Stay since its founding, says Sara’s humble demeanor and dedication are so inspiring that even people like herself – who has never been a horse person – keep coming back, “to be part of something good.” Last year, volunteers provided more than 11,000 hours of service with the organization.

Over the last three decades, Sara has shown an endless devotion to improving lives through therapeutic horseback riding. Reluctant to talk about herself, she teared up as she praised her volunteers: “My volunteers are amazing people and they serve amazing people, people that we are honored to work with and for. It’s completely shifted my world.”

Do you know an incredible woman like Sara who’s making a difference in your community? Nominate her for a 2017 Women of Worth Award!

Jared Cohen

Jared Cohen believes that teens have the power to change the world. The Davie, Fla, resident founded Communiteens in 2015 to make community service more accessible to his peers after realizing that many of them saw it as a tedious chore required to graduate high school. “I began Communiteens to make community service meaningful and fun, hoping that participants will gain something valuable from the experience of volunteering,” Jared said.

Communiteens has more than twenty volunteers spread across four chapters, including groups located in Weston and Fort Lauderdale. Some activities they’ve been involved in include: gathering more than a thousand toiletry items in Fort Lauderdale and South Carolina that were sorted and distributed to homeless shelters; decorating more than 100 medals for cancer patients in collaboration with We Live Together; and sorting more than 700 stuffed animals in partnership with SAFE, Inc., which distributes the toys to opportunity youth.

Communiteens empowers teens to take on leadership roles, encouraging its chapter presidents to create a board, utilize social media for promotion, and use a customized toolkit that shows them how to identify and reach out to local community resources. “…teenagers can lead and add value to any area of the community,” Jared said. “I think teenagers are ready to be given larger roles and use current technology (i.e. social media and texting) to create campaigns to gather other teenagers [to volunteer].”

Tamara O’Hearn-Amman

When Tamara O’Hearn-Amman walked the halls of nursing homes and long-term care facilities in the Wabash, Ind., area as a volunteer, she had a furry companion trotting along by her side. The sight of Gamsby, a happy-go-lucky golden retriever, brought an instant smile to the faces of senior citizens and long-term care patients who rarely received visitors.

Gamsby’s Project began in 2007, with Tamara—a lifelong animal lover—and Gamsby, a trained service dog, offering free visits to local hospitals, hospices and children’s homes. Tamara was inspired to start the organization after experiencing an extended hospital stay following the birth of her twin daughters. “I began to think about people who were in long-term care and what they were going through,” she said. “I had some experience working with a nursing home long-term with a patient who had Parkinson’s, and I thought you know these people need company and they need people to visit them.”

Tamara raised the money to purchase Gamsby through a fundraiser at the high school where she taught English. Immediately, she saw a major difference in how patients interacted with her when she did her service work solo, as opposed to when she brought him along. “One of the things I saw right away…was the dog could get to places that I couldn’t,” she said. “It was interesting especially with Alzheimer’s patients or children who were severely mentally disabled…. They might not remember me, but they would remember [Gamsby].”

One of Tamara’s most stand-out memories of working with Gamsby was connecting with a stroke patient who at first waved away a visit with the dog. “The second time he saw Gamsby, [he] motioned for us to come in,” she recalled. “All he could do was move his hand, and he was petting him.”

Gamsby and Tamara kept visiting the patient, until one day they arrived to find an empty bed. “He’d passed away,” she said. “I talked to his wife and she told me that that [spending time with Gamsby] was his biggest joy. That he often got really stressed out after the stroke, and just hanging out with Gamsby and petting him – it really helped him to feel happier in those last months that he had.”

Tamara and Gamsby visit with a patient./Courtesy Tamara O'Hearn-Amman

Though Gamsby himself has passed away, Tamara has kept Gamsby’s Project—and his memory—alive with the adoption of a rescue dog named Iris. Once she completes her service dog training, Tamara hopes to start visiting nursing homes later this summer with Iris in her new city of Jacksonville, Fla. In the interim, Tamara is connecting with local facilities to visit with older patients solo and prep for Iris’s summertime visits. The assistant professor of English at MacMurray College also hopes to expand the work of Gamsby’s Project by enrolling students to assist local service dog agencies with socializing dogs during their training.

NFL Safety Jonathan Meeks Inspires Hope, Creating Opportunities for Youth

During National Volunteer Week, we celebrate volunteers who lend their time, talent, voice and support to causes they care about. Their stories inspire others to take action and discover their collective power to unite in making a difference. Points of Light is recognizing five NFL players with Daily Point of Light Awards; Competitors on the field, these players unite for a common cause as volunteers with the Van Duzer Foundation’s First Step program – acting as mentors and ambassadors of change. Meet honoree Jonathan Meeks, read his story and nominate an outstanding volunteer, family or organization as a Daily Point of Light.

“I volunteer because I want to impact change, not only in my community but in the world,” said Jonathan Meeks, NFL safety – an unrestricted free agent who previously played four seasons with the Buffalo Bills. Jonathan uses his platform to give back, locally and around the world. In his hometown of Rock Hill, South Carolina, he recently launched the J. Meeks Athletic Scholarship program for high school seniors and volunteers to speak and engage with students at local schools. He gives motivational speeches to students and athletes, participates in NFL’s Play 60 campaign, and has volunteered with Buffalo’s Thanksgiving Blitz, distributing meals to families in need. He participates in the annual Buffalo Bills Children’s Holiday Party, helping to fulfill and distribute the wish lists of children from nine different local agencies. Jonathan is also a recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

Along with fellow NFL players and Daily Point of Light Award honorees Coty Sensabaugh and Michael Thomas, Jonathan has also partnered with Food for the Hungry, an organization that strives to end human poverty and world hunger around the world, to help provide fresh water systems to communities in Haiti. Through this partnership, he has discovered his power to make an immediate and profound difference in the country, and he is working on several projects that will help create sustainable communities.

Jonathan Meeks (left) traveled to Haiti with Food for the Hungry, along with fellow NFL player Coty Sensabaugh and Michael Thomas (right).

Jonathan recently joined the First Step Program, and will soon host an event in his hometown. The initiative, led by Daily Point of Light Award honoree Scott Van Duzer, gives kids and teens the opportunity to engage with community leaders on a regular basis, coming together for casual pick-up games, mentoring and small group discussions on community issues.

“Having mentors made a difference in my life because they inspired hope, when I didn’t see that in myself,” Jonathan said.

Meet the other NFL players honored this week for their commitment to volunteerism and the First Step program: Sam Barrington, Jared Cook, Coty Sensabaugh and Michael Thomas.

You can help these Daily Point of Light honorees increase the impact of their work! The First Step program has pitched its creative solution to solving community needs to A Community Thrives, part of the USA Today network. Cast your vote to help First Step win a $100,000 grant to expand the program to neighborhoods across the United States. Vote today!

NFL Cornerback Coty Sensabaugh Pays it Forward, Serving Communities in Need

During National Volunteer Week, we celebrate volunteers who lend their time, talent, voice and support to causes they care about. Their stories inspire others to take action and discover their collective power to unite in making a difference. Points of Light is recognizing five NFL players with Daily Point of Light Awards; Competitors on the field, these players unite for a common cause as volunteers with the Van Duzer Foundation’s First Step program – acting as mentors and ambassadors of change. Meet honoree Coty Sensabaugh, read his story and nominate an outstanding volunteer, family or organization as a Daily Point of Light.

“I volunteer because I enjoy putting smiles on other people’s faces,” said Coty Sensabaugh, cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Coty finds every excuse to help others – even at his own wedding, where in lieu of gifts, he and his wife, Dominique, asked guests to donate shoes or money to Soles4Souls. Accompanied by friends and family, the newlyweds traveled to the Dominican Republic and distributed more than 500 pairs of shoes to adults and children in need. Through his involvement with the group, Coty has helped collect more than 11,000 pairs of shoes.

Along with fellow NFL players and Daily Point of Light Award honorees Jonathan Meeks and Michael Thomas, Coty has partnered with Food for the Hungry, an organization that strives to end human poverty and world hunger around the world, to help provide fresh water systems to communities in Haiti. He also runs an annual free youth football camp, now in its fifth year, has served more than 2,000 children in his home community of Kingsport, Tennessee.

Working with Soles4Souls, Coty Sensabaugh distributes shoes in the Dominican Republic.

Committed to serving others, Coty now participates in the First Step Program – an initiative led by Daily Point of Light Award honoree Scott Van Duzer that gives kids and teens the opportunity to engage with community leaders on a regular basis, coming together for casual pick-up games, mentoring and small group discussions on community issues.

While playing with the Tennessee Titans, Coty helped raise more than $50,000 for a research grant for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through a dinner called “Dine with the Titans.” In 2012, he was the runner-up for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Man of the Year award in Nashville, and in 2013 he received the Boy Scouts Distinguished Citizenship Award. Coty is also a recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

“I always told myself that if I was fortunate enough to make it to the NFL, I would come back and give back to the community,” Coty said.

Meet the other NFL players honored this week for their commitment to volunteerism and the First Step program: Sam Barrington, Jared Cook, Jonathan Meeks and Michael Thomas.

NFL Tight End Jared Cook Gives Back to Empower Youth and Change Lives

During National Volunteer Week, we celebrate volunteers who lend their time, talent, voice and support to causes they care about. Their stories inspire others to take action and discover their collective power to unite in making a difference. Points of Light is recognizing five NFL players with Daily Point of Light Awards; Competitors on the field, these players unite for a common cause as volunteers with the Van Duzer Foundation’s First Step program – acting as mentors and ambassadors of change. Meet honoree Jared Cook, read his story and nominate an outstanding volunteer, family or organization as a Daily Point of Light.

“I volunteer because of the young men who look like us, who are in the same situations as us, who need mentors,” said Jared Cook, tight end for the Oakland Raiders. Off the field, Jared can often be found giving back – whether it be helping out through fundraising events or volunteering to help provide food to people in need. The importance of service was instilled in him early on, by parents who encouraged him to “count your blessings.”

“Our parents used to take us to soup kitchens and donation drives just so that we understood how blessed we were to be in the position that we were in,” Jared said.

He was first NFL player to join the First Step Program – an initiative led by Daily Point of Light Award honoree Scott Van Duzer that gives kids and teens the opportunity to engage with community leaders on a regular basis, coming together for casual pick-up games, mentoring and small group discussions on community issues. He is also the recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

Jared Cook was recognized by Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Fla.) for his dedication to community service, and for his work with First Step and the Restoring the Village initiative.

When Michael Brown was shot in Ferguson, Missouri, Jared – who previously played for the St. Louis Rams – knew he wanted to do something to help the community. Working with First Step, he helped advance the Boy Scouts’ “Restoring the Village” initiative, providing leadership in the community and exposing at-risk youth to new opportunities and a positive path forward. Jared also traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with representatives for My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, which seeks to expand opportunities for boys and young men of color.

In addition to his work with First Step, Jared gives his time in other meaningful ways. Through the Dreambuilders Foundation, he partners with grassroots children’s charities to provide access to funding and support they would not otherwise receive. He received the 2012 Walter Payton Man of the Year nomination for the Tennessee Titans, has been active as ambassador and spokesperson for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, and volunteered with the KidSmart “Push for Pencils” program. As an ambassador for Little Patriots Embraced, Jared helped enhance the lives of military families and children while loved ones were deployed. He is also a recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

“You want to wake up every day excited to do what you are called to do,” Jared told a group of children at a First Step event at King Middle School in Atlanta. “Giving back gives me the opportunity to change lives and see the smiles on kids’ faces, to help them benefit and grow into amazing adults.”

Meet the other NFL players honored this week for their commitment to volunteerism and the First Step program: Sam Barrington, Jonathan Meeks, Coty Sensabaugh and Michael Thomas.

NFL Linebacker Sam Barrington Models Leadership and Volunteerism for Youth

During National Volunteer Week, we celebrate volunteers who lend their time, talent, voice and support to causes they care about. Their stories inspire others to take action and discover their collective power to unite in making a difference. Points of Light is recognizing five NFL players with Daily Point of Light Awards; Competitors on the field, these players unite for a common cause as volunteers with the Van Duzer Foundation’s First Step program – acting as mentors and ambassadors of change. Meet honoree Sam Barrington, read his story and nominate an outstanding volunteer, family or organization as a Daily Point of Light.

“I volunteer because I care for future change. In 20 years I want to look back and see how much this world has changed, and know that I was a part of changing it,” said Sam Barrington, NFL linebacker – an unrestricted free agent who previously played three seasons with the Green Bay Packers.

Throughout his career, Sam has made time to give back to the community, receiving honors from the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce for his work with the NFL’s Play 60 program as well as the local Salvation Army, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and PALS chapters. He runs a free youth football camp in the summer, and in partnership with the Dreambuilders Foundation, he helps raise money and awareness for programs that benefit youth. He received the 2015 Walter Payton Man of the Year nomination for the Green Bay Packers, and in 2016 received the Pop Warner Humanitarian Award and a President’s Volunteer Service Award.

Sam Barrington volunteers at a First Step event in Jacksonville, Fla.

Most recently, Sam has become involved with the First Step Program – an initiative led by Daily Point of Light Award honoree Scott Van Duzer that gives kids and teens the opportunity to engage with community leaders on a regular basis, coming together for casual pick-up games, mentoring and small group discussions on community issues. Returning to his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, Sam hosted a First Step event at Justina Road Elementary School Park. With 350 inner-city kids in attendance, he spoke to them about the importance of giving back to the community and reinforced the idea that anyone can volunteer.

“Leaders come in all shapes, forms, sizes, colors,” Sam told a group of children at a First Step event at King Middle School in Atlanta. “Anybody can be a leader, you just have to understand that it’s about doing things right – all of the time, not some of the time. And, you know, if you mess up one day, that’s okay. Do better tomorrow.”

Meet the other NFL players honored this week for their commitment to volunteerism and the First Step program: Jared Cook, Jonathan Meeks, Coty Sensabaugh and Michael Thomas.

NFL Safety Michael Thomas Follows Lifelong Commitment to Give Back and Create Change

During National Volunteer Week, we celebrate volunteers who lend their time, talent, voice and support to causes they care about. Their stories inspire others to take action and discover their collective power to unite in making a difference. Points of Light is recognizing five NFL players with Daily Point of Light Awards; Competitors on the field, these players unite for a common cause as volunteers with the Van Duzer Foundation’s First Step program – acting as mentors and ambassadors of change. Meet honoree Michael Thomas, read his story and nominate an outstanding volunteer, family or organization as a Daily Point of Light.

“I volunteer because I want to see real change in our communities,” said Michael Thomas, safety for the Miami Dolphins. Dedicated to giving back, he was one of the first NFL players to participate in the First Step Program – an initiative led by Daily Point of Light Award honoree Scott Van Duzer that gives kids and teens the opportunity to engage with community leaders on a regular basis, coming together for casual pick-up games, mentoring and small group discussions on community issues.

Michael has attended First Step events in the Fort Pierce community in Florida, playing touch football with local kids and speaking to them about relevant social issues, such as communication with law enforcement. “The best thing you can give to these kids in these communities is time,” he said. “To show that you actually care.”

Michael Thomas volunteers with local children through the Boys and Girls Club.

In addition to his work with First Step, Michael is actively involved in several other initiatives that allow him to make a difference. He volunteers with the Boys & Girls Club and, in partnership with the Dreambuilders Foundation, supports mentoring programs in South Florida. Over the last three years, his Dreambuilders program has provided more than $35,000 of funding to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami, which pairs at-risk youth with positive mentors. Michael is heavily involved in the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality, or RISE, and also runs a free youth football camp, which provides an entire day of SAT, ACT and college application prep. Along with fellow NFL players and Daily Point of Light Award honorees Jonathan Meeks and Coty Sensabaugh, he has also partnered with Food for the Hungry, an organization that strives to end human poverty and world hunger around the world, to help provide fresh water systems to communities in Haiti. He is also a recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

“I always said that if I ever made it, I would give back,” Michael told a group of children at a First Step event at King Middle School in Atlanta. “The importance of giving back to your community is just showing those who come after you that I care about this community, I care about you, I want to give my time.”

Meet the other NFL players honored this week for their commitment to volunteerism and the First Step program: Sam Barrington, Jared Cook, Jonathan Meeks and Coty Sensabaugh.