Airman Relentlessly Brings Homes Back to Life for his Community
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree David Fick. Read his story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
After a career in construction, David Fick discovered Dyess We Care in 2019 after the organization’s director spoke at his U.S. Air Force base. It was a moment where his construction and practical skills matched the organization’s needs to fix homes for the elderly and people with disabilities, and he just said yes.
David now serves as the DWCT project manager and has helped with 45 community service projects, 13 of which he led. He relentlessly volunteers his time to restore homes in his community in addition to helping raise thousands of dollars.
Describe your volunteer role with Dyess We Care.
I got to my Air Force base with Dustin Brooks at the same time, and we both went to what they call a first team airman class where we’re taught about what we should expect about our start at base. One of the things that we do there is hear from volunteer organizations about what they do and when they have volunteer opportunities. The director of the Dyess We Care team spoke to our class and both Dustin and I thought that this kind of service was something that we could do.
I used to be in construction, so I thought that I had the primary skills they were looking for to help fix up homes for the elderly, people with disabilities, veterans and other people who can’t really do that stuff on their own. Whatever the situation may be, there’s always something that prevents someone from being able to help themselves. So when I heard the director’s pitch, it sounded excellent and I knew I could do it. I messaged him right away and said that I’d love an opportunity to lead a project — which was what I found myself doing a couple of months later. Projects can take a couple of days to months, it really just depends on the need.
David Fick fixes homes for the elderly and people with disabilities alongside Dyess We Care./Courtesy David Fick
All of this was three and a half years ago now, and since then I’ve led several projects and I’m usually volunteering every weekend. Now I’m the project manager for DWCT. I track all of the incoming projects, organize them and then try to put together a package of viable options and people.
How has your volunteerism grown at DWCT?
It started out simple, just showing up and helping with projects. I got my hands dirty going out there and doing work. Then I became a project leader for more projects, and over time, I asked myself what else I could do. So I became inventory manager and eventually took on this role after the former person who held my position moved to New York. She was a great mentor and friend, so there’s no greater privilege that I could have had then to take over that position and carry the torch. My role has grown significantly from being the guy who just kind of showed up. It’s been a journey for sure.
Do you have a favorite memory as a DWCT volunteer?
The first project I led was a special case where we had a lot to do. We poured into it and worked on it for nearly two months. We nearly renovated the entire home and it was really, really special. The homeowner was a medically retired worker for the state after 36 years and she lived in that home for 62 years. She was born and raised in that home, so to be able to bring it back to life for her was special; knowing that she would never have to leave.
What inspires you to volunteer?
When I joined the Air Force, I already had a good career, house and everything else. I traveled with my friends before to India, Cambodia and Thailand, and I saw people who didn’t choose the course of life that they were on. And one of the greatest privileges that we have in the United States is that we can truly choose what we want to do. You can stop what you’re doing any day, and pick up something different. Not everybody has that opportunity, but I did at the time and I wanted to do something different. I was in construction, my life just brought me there, and I dedicated my time to the Air Force. I had a “yes-man” attitude and I wanted to help, so that’s what I did that day when the DWCT director came in — I said yes.
I really don’t know of another organization like this. We’re one of a kind, and if I can take it with me somewhere, then that would be fantastic. We can spread this to some other part of the world.
David Fick said that he had a “yes-man” attitude when entering the Air Force, and said yes to helping Dyess We Care when the director visited the base./Courtesy David Fick
What have you learned through your experience as a volunteer?
I’ve learned that most everybody that comes out is here to help and that maybe they’re helping because somebody has helped them in the past. So we’re all just trying to return that favor into the world. I traveled a bit before the Air Force, and I’ve seen that a lot of people don’t have much. So it’s been nice to be able to make change and do something for people who just can’t do it themselves. The gratitude that most people express when you’re there is so rewarding. At the end of the day, I’m happy that we help others find a little more happiness and it’s always better to give.
Why is it important for others to get involved?
If people are thinking about volunteering, just do it, there’s not a reason not to. Most of the time, these volunteer projects are just a few hours of your time. It’s a great way to start your day. Not only do this for yourself, but do it for other people. Plus, it’ll make you grow as a person and leader. If you carry that volunteerism energy, more people will join in.
Teens Come Together for Education, Coding and STEM Skill-Building
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Lalitha Gunturi. Read her story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Teens coming together to help foster a love of learning: that’s the basis for CREATE Tutoring, an educational organization founded by 16-year-old Lalitha Gunturi from Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
Lalitha grew up in a family that valued education. During the pandemic, she noticed that motivation and interest in learning — including her own — dropped significantly because everything was online.
Students were struggling without a teacher’s hands-on classroom approach. Some families hired tutors, but tutoring was financially inaccessible for many students. Lalitha felt that a new approach was needed to keep kids engaged with education. In March of 2021, Lalitha and a childhood friend launched CREATE Tutoring, an innovative free virtual tutoring program for K-5 students. The program is staffed entirely by high school student volunteers.
As of May, CREATE has offered 2,000 hours of tutoring, taught 1,300 lessons, run three workshops and organized numerous events. The tutoring network ranges from 50 to 100 active high school volunteers.
The CREATE mission is to help students create a brighter academic future for themselves by fostering healthy study habits, learning accelerated educational content, exploring personal interests through workshops and finding an engaging relationship with education. The organization’s objective is to make kids feel confident and supported in their educational journey.
What inspires you to volunteer?
There are a plethora of reasons as to why I enjoy volunteering. First off, volunteering gives me the opportunity to contribute to my community and make a difference for the people around me. Seeing kids at our workshop and events with big smiles and laughter makes me so happy and motivates me to continue doing what I do.
Additionally, volunteering allows me to build on my current experiences and learn many new skills. Volunteering also connects me to new people all the time that impact my perspective and leave an impact on me.
Inspired by her own passion for learning, Lalitha Gunturi founded CREATE Tutoring, an education organization for elementary students./Courtesy Lalitha Gunturi
Describe your volunteer role with CREATE.
I co-founded CREATE Tutoring in March 2021, with a childhood friend. Since then, I have taken a leadership position in the organization. Along with my friend, I lead and manage CREATE Tutoring. My work deals with a lot of admin work, along with leading meetings with our board of officers, running our social media pages and communicating with anyone who wants to work with CREATE.
Through my role, I feel like I have a lot of creativity and freedom. I get to put a hint of my own personality into everything, from our social media posts to our workshop curriculum. Furthermore, I work to develop a majority of the content for our technology/STEM-related workshops and advocate for an increase in female diversity in the tech/STEM fields.
We also strive to help make sure all students have equal access to our program and would love to help close education gaps in our communities.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
The most rewarding part is to see the kids see themselves start doing better in school, seeing their enthusiasm to learn new things grow and overall be excited to attend our events. One particular memory that really makes me feel like I am making a difference is when a girl came up to me after our workshop and said, “OMG, I didn’t even know you could do that. I am going to go home and build another website!” This really made me feel like I was making an impact since now this girl has her eyes opened to a whole new world of opportunity.
Getting comments like this inspires me to continue doing what I do. This shows that what we are doing is making a direct impact. We’ve also had many parents contact us with positive feedback explaining how their children love their experiences through CREATE.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
I have learned so much from founding CREATE. As a founder and leader, I have gained crucial leadership skills. Through working with a board of officers and hosting multiple workshops, I have strengthened my communication and collaboration skills. Furthermore, to take a more innovative approach, CREATE builds its own curriculum for each workshop so that the content is developed specifically for its audience/age group. Through doing this, I have learned what education styles tend to work better for younger students, what methods of presenting information are the most effective and how to create lesson plans and educational activities.
I could not be happier about how much of a success this organization has become. What started off as just a simple idea has now grown into a full-blown organization! I have put so much time and effort into CREATE and am happy to see what it’s become and where it’s going to go in the future.
Lalitha, second from left, helping workshop attendees develop their very own websites using HTML, CSS and JavaScript./Courtesy Lalitha Gunturi
Are there any future partnerships, programs, or events that you are excited about?
I am super excited for our next workshop called “Introduction to Block Coding Workshop.” This workshop really resonates with me because my love for coding started with block coding on Code.org. I cannot wait to host this workshop and see the reactions from all the participants. The curriculum for this workshop is still in the works but we plan to host it sometime in early September.
Why do you think it’s important for others to get involved?
I believe that getting involved in your community can be a very rewarding activity. It also connects you with a variety of people that you can learn from and be inspired from as well. It opens up a multitude of new experiences and activities. Lots of times volunteering and contributing to your community makes those who are impacted happy. I’ll be the first to say that happiness and laughter are contagious and volunteering helps put smiles on everyone’s faces. I like to think that more smiles means a stronger community!
What do you want people to learn from your story?
I want people to learn that you are never too young to get involved with your community. There is always a way to volunteer and if there isn’t, then you create an opportunity. Speaking from experience, creating your own way of giving back to your community is incredibly rewarding and something you will never regret. I always thought I couldn’t make an impact because I was only 14 at the time, but it is never too early to start. On the other end of the spectrum, it is also never too late to start with volunteering. The beauty behind volunteering is that it can be done at any time, by anyone, about anything. The possibilities are endless!
Former Hospital Administrator Fills in the Gaps by Supporting Local Seniors
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Jud Knox. Read his story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Jud Knox, a 73-year-old New York native and former CEO of Maine’s York Hospital, spent decades in hospital administration before his retirement in 2020. His interest in the field began with a fascination with leadership and group behavior. Looking for the close-knit feel of a community like the one he grew up in, he found small hospitals to be a great venue to connect with people.
During the last several years of his tenure, he found an interest in geriatric medicine and rehabilitation. He noticed that, in many ways, medical services geared towards seniors could use some refining. By the time he stepped back, York was recognized as one of the most age-friendly hospitals in the southern part of the state.
So, in the midst of a global pandemic, Jud found himself without the daily responsibilities of work to keep him occupied and was, like millions of others, sitting around at home with his wife thinking of ways he could engage next. Jud’s wife, Laurie, is a retired physical therapist with a long history of working with older adults. They both have experienced caring for aging parents and were keenly aware of those who were struggling the most under the circumstances.
“I was sensitive to the fact that the impact of the pandemic on older adults is disproportionately negative,” Jud says.
Despite being a self-described nature-loving “car nut,” his true passion lies with helping others. Having always enjoyed the feeling of serving people at the hospital, even without the clinical knowledge of the people seeing patients, he knew he wanted to continue. The world was presenting him with a clear opportunity, and in January 2021, Jud and Laurie started Heart to Heart.
Jud Knox, founder and director of Heart to Heart./Courtesy Jud Knox
Heart to Heart began with the simple goal of helping older adults with whatever needs they stated. He put up a website and a phone number and waited for requests. If he and Laurie could help personally, they would. If they could refer them to other, more specialized organizations, they would do that, too.
As they started talking to people in the community, they quickly realized that transportation was the biggest unmet need and changed their focus. That’s when requests began pouring in. Some people needed to get to medical appointments, which made up about 80% of the rides. Others needed to go to the grocery store or a hair appointment. They don’t judge what is considered an important trip for someone and will drive people anywhere. What may start out as a drive home from a physical therapy appointment will often times turns into a “quick stop at the bank” or a grocery run “just to grab bread and milk.”
“I think in the first month, Heart to Heart had seven requests, and right now, we’re doing 30-40 rides a week,” Jud conveys with pride.
They started recruiting more volunteers and offering technology consultations, phone chats and general assistance to people. Jud likes taking the calls and enjoys building relationships with people in the community. He carries the company cell phone at all times, ready to be there when needed. Laurie is also on call. Judd jokingly calls her the “rescue driver” for those times when rides get scheduled too tightly.
“I often say to folks, this is not about transportation, it is about people. And it is about people sharing lives and sharing life experiences. And it’s about learning every day.”
Sometimes, it’s simply about listening. Jud recounts times when people have really opened up to him on their rides. The seniors he helps often comment about how much of a role his services and companionship play in their lives.
Sue Peterson, a retired teacher and volunteer driver, met the Knox’s through her husband who worked at the hospital with Jud. They’ve known each other for years and she was happy to join the cause as a board member as well.
“[Jud] has just a wonderful way of welcoming people when they call. I don’t think it’s always easy to make that call to say, ‘I need some help.’ And he makes it very accessible to people,” Sue says. “He’s very good at what he’s doing.”
What does the future of Heart to Heart look like? Jud would like to bring another 10-15 drivers onboard so he doesn’t have to turn anyone away due to a lack of resources. With the receipt of a recent grant, he plans to provide modest stipends for mileage in hopes of attracting more volunteers.
In the long term, Jud hopes to create infrastructure that will last well into the future. There will always be a need for the services Heart to Heart provides, and he hopes there will always be people to fill it.
“Volunteering, to me, is a form of love. When I think of providing transportation and listening to people, it’s understanding, and understanding is fundamental to love.”
Texas Teen Inspires Youth to Help Their Communities Prosper and Thrive
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Anagha Natarajan. Read her story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Anagha Natarajan wasn’t an expert on bone marrow registries or volunteerism when she joined Unite & Inspire in Sugar Land, Texas. Instead of just being a volunteer for a day, Anagha quickly became a volunteer for life and plans to take the organization’s mission of uniting and inspiring children, youth and adults to give back when she goes to college.
Anagha has helped with food banks, gardening centers, bone marrow booths and beyond, but her favorite part of her volunteerism and service is advocacy, and she hopes to inspire youth around her to leave positive marks on their communities.
Describe your volunteer role with Unite & Inspire.
I first heard about Unite & Inspire through a friend who knew the organization’s founder. I’ve been volunteering with the organization since its founding in 2018. As a Unite & Inspire volunteer, I’m actively involved in a variety of service activities, mainly related to bone marrow donor registry and working with children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I also help with gardening activities, clothes drives and food collections. However, my main role as a volunteer now is advocacy and inspiring others, especially youth, to make a difference in their lives.
I’ve had the opportunity to talk about the importance of volunteering and recently led a project to estimate our organization’s total contribution to the Sugar Land community in 2021. I found out which counties and demographic groups benefited from our volunteerism and presented these findings, which not only showed our volunteers their reach but it also inspired them to continue doing their work and challenge them to beat last year’s numbers. I’ve really seen the organization grow.
Anagha Natarajan (left) helps with food banks, gardening centers, bone marrow booths and beyond at Unite & Inspire, but her favorite part of her volunteerism and service is advocacy./Courtesy Anagha Natarajan
How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect your volunteerism?
We were really good at adapting to the circumstances and still continued our volunteering duties during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, we used to visit senior homes and talk to seniors, but adapted to making cards and sending them to the seniors and we even made senior activity kits. With the food pantry, we also had to face the 2021 winter storm here in Texas. We decided to create a contactless way of delivering food without risk of exposure.
I reached out to local organizations for donations along with my school, and I advertised the food drive on social media. So I just led a drive where people could drop off food outside of my house, and we donated it along with United & Inspire food items to our local food pantry. We raised about $600 worth of supplies.
Describe the significance of the bone marrow registry and how it saves lives.
I didn’t know much about bone marrow donation before Unite & Inspire, but I remember how much I learned about it from the organization in just a few hours at the registry booth. So the way bone marrow donation works is that there’s something called Human Leukocyte Antigens which determines bone marrow matches for donors. At the bone marrow registration booth, my duty is to educate and encourage others to join the registry because they could potentially save a life.
I still remember that feeling of wanting to learn more and that inspiration kept me coming. We’re really looking to diversify our registry so we can find different people from different ethnicities and minority groups who aren’t as represented, and match them more easily.
What inspires you to volunteer?
Seeing people’s grateful faces and knowing that I made an impact in their lives keeps me inspired to volunteer. It’s one of the most touching things ever. I was volunteering with children with disabilities once and my job was just to play games with them and interact with them. Just seeing their smiling faces and how they considered me as a friend encouraged me to keep volunteering. Only a few hours of my Friday evening made such an impact in their lives.
Anagha Natarajan and Unite & Inspire volunteers collect and distribute food donations to community members in need during the COVID-19 pandemic./Courtesy Anagha Natarajan
What have you learned through your experience as a volunteer?
Empathy is a big lesson that I learned along with the responsibility of communication. As a volunteer, you come across so many different people from different backgrounds, not only volunteers but underprivileged people and the less fortunate. I’ve learned to be grateful for what I have. Volunteering helps you grow as a person and prepares you for the real world.
Why is it important for others to get involved, especially young people and students?
Cultivating the habit of service at a young age is so important to have when you get older. It’s important to get involved because it brings us one step closer to achieving equity, and equity is a very important thing. It’s more important than equality because people start from different areas in life.
In your community, if you’re helping these people out, you’re lifting them up. You’re also elevating the community as a whole, and I think it’s important to be involved in something that is greater and larger than just yourself through volunteering. Your community will begin to prosper and thrive.
Are there any partnerships, programs or events that you are excited about?
Nothing really out of the ordinary volunteering at Unite & Inspire. I look forward to more volunteerism, especially when I go to college in the fall at the University of Texas. We’re mainly centered in Houston and Sugar Land, but I’d like to possibly extend our organization to Austin as well.
Teen Empowers Youth to Serve Cancer Patients Around the World
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Varshini Vijay. Read her story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
As a child, Varshini Vijay witnessed the struggle of a family member diagnosed with cancer, and the extreme toll the disease took. Varshini says at the time she wondered about the financial and emotional burden, the biggest question of all in her mind — would the relative survive?
Fortunately, her family had enough money for treatment in India, but that is not the case for many, says Varshini, a 16-year-old Dublin, California student. She explained that there are more than 18 million cancer cases worldwide, but many face economic burdens, and one in three patients have a debt of $10,000 or more. Founding Teens for Cancer Patients (TCP) in 2021 to leverage global youth service to combat cancer, Varshini today counts more than 600 volunteers across 15 countries who have joined together to fight cancer and spread kindness to patients in need.
Why do you think it’s important for others to get involved with causes they care about?
Kindness is one of the important values that keeps our society together. Volunteering is a beautiful method to express that kindness and make a change. It’s very hard to believe at a young age that your words and actions matter but they do. I believe so many could start nonprofits if they wanted to; it’s not about being capable, it’s about being kind and wanting to pursue that kindness.
What inspires you to volunteer?
When I hear the words “thank you.” We are giving a life-changing opportunity to people. Regardless of background, everybody can make a change in this world, and we empower people based upon the work they’re willing to put in.
TCP counts more than 600 volunteers across 15 countries who have joined together to fight cancer and spread kindness to patients in need./Courtesy Varshini Vijay
Describe your volunteerism with TCP.
Our organization makes an impact through fundraising and awareness. As founder and president, I lead the officer team. I conduct meetings with our global chapters to ensure fundraising is being met. I spearhead and create materials for our initiatives, including teaching more than 2,000 children around the world about tobacco harms and co-chairing the “Impact of COVID-19 On Cancer Prevention” event. I also play a big role in our marketing efforts.
Share one personal story with me from your volunteerism.
We launched a cervical cancer awareness campaign and distributed more than 10,000 pads, primarily across India, because poor genital hygiene has been found to be an important factor for the development of dysplasia and cervical cancer. I saw the smiles of these girls when they received basic healthcare, and it made me realize the importance of the work I am doing. I have never looked at a sanitary pad and thought how fortunate I am; I’ve always looked at pads and gotten annoyed. This organization made me realize how privileged I am, and I can sit here in my privilege, or I can take action.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your service?
My officer team and I are very close, we’re practically like a second family. We talk about life, the impact we are making and the lives we are touching. It’s a wonderful community of people who have come together and are ready to change pain into power.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
There are a million opportunities out there, but you need to find the one that resonates with you. There are going to be difficulties that you face in volunteerism. Get back to your passion and the stories that matter to you, and based on that, choose how you want to serve.
In one word, what does volunteering mean to you?
Humanity.
When you’re not busy in school or volunteering, what do you do for fun?
I love stand-up comedy. I’m either watching, writing or doing stand-up comedy skits.
How can readers help?
50% of patients in India stop chemotherapy due to the high cost of treatment. TPC supports the Cachar Cancer Hospital, which provides free cancer treatment. Donations ensure patients have a right to fight for their life. Please visit our website to learn more about how you can get involved.
Volunteer Boosts Literacy with 5,000 Home Libraries for Kids
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Rina Madhani. Read her story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
As an elementary school teacher in New York City, Rina Madhani noticed a pervasive literacy gap across all grade levels, the problem only worsening amid the COVID-19 pandemic because of widespread school and library closures.
Volunteering to provide multicultural and culturally responsive reading materials and resources, Rina founded the Start Lighthouse (SL) in March 2020. Increasing access to books and narrowing the literacy gap through a social justice lens, SL has distributed more than 21,000 new books and kickstarted more than 5,100 first-time home libraries.
What inspires you to volunteer?
In the Bronx, 70% of students are not reading proficiently and studies have shown in low-income areas there is only one age-appropriate book per 300 children. Ultimately, if students aren’t reading proficiently by 4th grade, they are more likely to drop out of high school, end up in jail or remain on welfare. I know how high the stakes are, especially for children that live in underserved communities like the Bronx. I’m inspired to volunteer because every child deserves a chance to have an equitable education.
Describe your volunteerism with Start Lighthouse.
As co-founder and executive director, there are quite a few responsibilities. My primary responsibilities include engaging students and families in our programming and community partners including Macmillan Publishers, Communitas America, and Edwin Gould Foundation. I seek out new talent, publishers and artists that we can highlight in our programming, and also lead fundraising to support our missions. Among our programs, two initiatives include Literacy Adventures and Woke Activists. I want to be able to reach as many children as possible in the community.
Rina Madhani founded Start Lighthouse to narrow the literacy gap through a social justice lens./Courtesy Rina Madhani
What’s been the most rewarding part of your service?
It’s rewarding to see students engage with literature, authors and artists who look like themselves. Oftentimes I hear students remark that this is the first time they’ve owned a book or that they’ve never received something brand new before.
Share one personal story with me from your volunteerism.
During the pandemic, the mother of a student called me and said her son needed more help than ever. As a single mother, she was working two jobs and struggling to secure tech devices for her children as they transitioned to remote learning. The family didn’t have any books at home, and all she could think about was how behind her child would become when it came to his reading.
SL began to build out this student’s home library, and he’d light up every time he’d receive brand new books. The student was so eager to start reading with his mother immediately. We worked with his mother through our community workshops so she could continue to support him at home with his literacy, and today, the student is reading at grade level and is much more confident because he’s reading stories that uplift and celebrate who he is. He’s emerged as a leader in his classroom. This inspires me to keep going because I’m able to remind these children that their voice and perspective on the world matters.
Why do you think it’s important for others to give back?
Service is how we uplift and center the voices and stories of the groups that have continued to be marginalized in our society. This is how ultimately, we’re going to disrupt the status quo that continues to prevail.
SL has distributed more than 21,000 new, culturally responsive books and kickstarted more than 5,100 first-time home libraries./Courtesy Rina Madhani
What’s in the future for your volunteerism?
We are now embarking on the next phase of our efforts, reviving defunct and unused library spaces in public schools across the community and converting them into SL literacy homes. These spaces will serve as permanent homes for our literacy programming. I’ve left my job as a teacher to dedicate my efforts to the organization.
In one word, what does volunteering mean to you?
Community.
How can readers help?
Please visit the Start Lighthouse website for more information on how you can help.
High School Students Combine Talents to Empower Underserved Kids
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honorees Kelly Tou and Edward Jung. Read their story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Rising high school seniors Kelly Tou and Edward Jung started volunteering at KidWorks where they developed a passion for sharing their interests with others. Discovering the difficulty many kids face participating in extracurricular activities because of cost and accessibility, the two have teamed up to work with underserved youth.
Launching TalentShare in 2021, Kelly and Edward, both 17-year-olds from Irvine, California, are offering positive environments and free extracurricular activities for kids where they can thrive. These uplifting experiences, says Kelly, are where kids can be kids, and not worry about the challenges in life. Thus far, more than 100 student volunteers have connected with more than 100 kids in the Santa Ana area.
What inspires you to volunteer?
Kelly: I’m inspired being with the kids and learning about their hobbies, family and aspirations. I wish to give them the resources and opportunities they need to succeed, and make a difference in underresourced communities.
Describe your volunteerism with TalentShare.
Edward: TalentShare volunteers have completed over 500 volunteer hours thus far. We host monthly events at KidWorks that provide youth in underresourced communities with quality extracurricular education. We also hold drives and fundraisers and have partnered with clubs on our school campus and across the school district. Our first event was a huge success, it was a back to school drive where we received enough items to fill more than 40 backpacks with school supplies for kids. We have introduced high school students including our own classmates to volunteerism, to help them realize they can make an impact too.
Share one personal story with me from your volunteerism.
Kelly: We held a model rocketry event and partnered with a model rocket club at school. At the end of the event, we launched paper rockets outside with the help of volunteers. One boy put a lot of effort into assembling and decorating, and he was the last one to launch his rocket and it went up the highest. He yelled out in celebration after his hard work came to life and you could see the increase in his self-esteem and confidence. Contributing to causes you care about is empowering; not only does it make you feel good but it also encourages others to get involved as well. It makes me feel like I’ve found my purpose in life.
Why do you think it’s important for others to volunteer?
Edward: Volunteering is about gratitude. Seeing how much the world has given to you and trying to reciprocate. For me personally, the world has given so much to me, I need to contribute something back. Service helps you realize you’re effectively carrying on the cycle so that you can inspire others to get involved; it’s a positive feedback loop.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your service?
Kelly: It’s rewarding allowing kids to find their passion and providing them with resources to pursue that passion. Our events cover diverse topics to expose kids to as many hobbies, careers options and skills as possible. It’s empowering when they’re able to find a passion at our events.
In one word, what does volunteering mean to you?
Kelly: Opportunity. Volunteering not only gives others the opportunity to build a better life but also gives volunteers the opportunity to gain new perspectives and strengthen their community.
Edward: Kindness. You are giving your time and energy for other people and for a great cause. Volunteering is not motivated by money and other things; you’re doing it because you want to. You have a spirit and a passion for it.
When you’re not busy with school or volunteering, what do you do for fun?
Edward: I love playing basketball, watching sunsets and also writing poetry.
Kelly: I love to play lacrosse, work on any coding projects, spend time with my twin brother and watch mystery shows and movies.
How can readers help?
Please visit TalentShare’s website for more information about how you can help.
Georgia Dog Trainer Starts Nonprofit to Help Those with Disabilities Lead More Independent Lives
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Kimberly Brenowitz. During International Assistance Dog Week, August 7-13, 2022, Points of Light will be amplifying the work of service dogs, training and rescue organizations and other related groups that are helping individuals in their own communities and abroad. Do you know a volunteer doing good things with dogs? Nominate them as a Daily Point of Light.
As a leukemia survivor who sustained a brain hemorrhage and stroke due to cancer treatment, Kevin Biacsi suffers from debilitating seizures on average three times a week. Only able to go outside accompanied by a friend, Kevin’s seizures and other neurological issues confined him to his home for many years.
But in 2019, a chocolate lab puppy named Charlie entered Kevin’s life and changed it forever. See, Charlie isn’t a regular dog. He was matched with Kevin through an organization called Paws for Life USA, a nonprofit founded by Kimberly Brenowitz of Marietta, Georgia. After finding Kevin’s perfect match, Kimberly trained Charlie and Kevin at the same time to become a strongly bonded service dog and handler duo so that when Kevin was about to have a seizure, Charlie could help him.
“Charlie alerts me 20 minutes before I have a seizure. When he does, I take my medication, drop onto the floor, and Charlie stays on top of me to make sure I don’t hurt myself during the seizure,” Kevin said.
“Now I can go places and if I start acting up, people will see that I have my dog to help me. He’s made my life so much easier and there’s also that bond we’ve created. We’ve never been apart,” he added.
Kimberly Brenowitz, founder of Paws for Life USA, presenting a certificate of completion to a service dog and it’s handler./ Courtesy Kimberly Brenowitz
Kevin is just one of the hundreds of people with disabilities Kimberly has helped lead more independent lives by providing them with a service dog that best suits their lifestyle and physical needs. Through Paws for Life USA, Kimberly has matched between 20-30 service dog teams each year since 2010, mainly for those with disabilities that are not immediately apparent such as autism, diabetes, PTSD, seizures and psychiatric disorders.
“I like to work with ‘unseen’ disabilities because when most people think of a service dog, they think of someone who is blind,” Kimberly said. “But for someone who has seizures or diabetes, dogs are an ultimate choice because they can smell and sense everything that’s going on with them. It’s fascinating and I am thrilled to be able to volunteer to train these dogs to make these people’s lives better.”
Unlike most service dog programs that match a person with a service or therapy dog that’s already been trained and ready to go, Kimberly matches people with an untrained puppy. Once the match is made, the handler and puppy will train with Kimberly together, starting at basic obedience lessons all the way up to learning skills needed for that specific disability and testing them out in public spaces such as the mall and airport. By having the handler raise the puppy and train together, Kimberly says it creates an unbreakable bond that often creates miraculous results.
“A story that will stay with me for the rest of my life is when I met this young National Guard, 19 or 20-years-old at the time, who had been in a motorcycle accident. 80% of his body had been covered in burns and the doctors thought he was going to have to lose his legs,” Kimberly recalled.
With the prognosis that he would be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, Kimberly matched him with a Native American Indian dog, a highly intelligent breed that can be trained to pull wheelchairs and open doors, among other tasks.
Kimberly and the dog went to the hospital and worked with the young man through his therapies. Soon enough, the man was able to pull himself out of bed and he became determined to walk again.
“Within a short amount of time, he actually ended up walking out of the hospital with his service dog by his side,” Kimberly said. “Now he can run up and down Stone Mountain. He’s 22 years old and his whole life has been changed with the intervention of having a service animal.”
Kimberly takes service dogs and their handlers to the mall, airport and other public spaces to train them in a variety of environments and situations./ Courtesy Kimberly Brenowitz
What Kimberly does is no doubt exhausting work. She trains handlers and their dogs every day in both group and one-on-one settings. She makes herself available 24/7 for any questions or emergencies that arise. She works with dog breeders to find puppies that have the temperament to become good service dogs. It’s never-ending work, but Kimberly says it’s all worth it.
“It’s a wonderful ability to be able to help so many and to see the end result of people living their lives, going to work and being able to have all these achievements,” Kimberly said. “It’s a hard road to get them there, but I love volunteering with the dogs to help people gain that independence.”
First-Generation American Leads 5k+ Hours Effort to Virtually Tutor Kids Around U.S.
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Gabriela Nguena Jones. Read her story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
College student Gabriela Nguena Jones says her two grandmothers were products of their environments in their native Cameroon, unable to obtain high school diplomas because of a lack of access to education. In honor of her grandmothers, Elise and Veronique, Gabriela founded Elise Veronique Helping Hands: Teens Tutor Teens (TTT).
Identifying limiting factors to academic success, Gabriela realized she could break down similar barriers for students closer to home. Since 2018, more than 60 TTT volunteers have logged over 5,500 hours tutoring K-12 students, primarily in the United States.
What inspires you to volunteer?
I’m first-generation American. My parents defied all odds to pursue all opportunities, up to earning doctorates. Seeing my parents navigate free resources, from the library to learning English, learning how to do taxes to food banks, I’m inspired knowing I can be one of the instrumental parts of helping Americans navigate society today, similar to how those free resources helped my parents.
Describe your volunteerism with Teens Tutor Teens.
As founder and CEO, I offer mentorship and motivation. We help students for free with homework, testing and studying for the GED, plus other tutor work. I recently taught our volunteers through a Diversity and Inclusion workshop, and I work with our board of executives. TTT chapters also conduct their own charitable pursuits.
Share one personal story with me from your volunteerism.
One day I was helping to set up a TTT chapter in Georgia, and the phone rang. This lady called asking about tutoring for her son, and she was questioning if our services were really free. I told her yes, and that her son could receive tutoring almost every day. She said she’d never heard of a service like ours before.
When people are given something really valuable, they question why you’re giving it away for free. People put a high value on education, it has a value that’s almost limitless because of what it can bring other people in the future. This (volunteerism) is something I’m expected to do because I just know it’s the right thing to do. I never feel fully satisfied from (my service) because I always know there’s something more that can be done, and if it’s not with TTT, it’ll be other sectors in my life.
Since 2018, TTT volunteers have logged more than 5,500 hours tutoring K-12 students for free. A tutoring session hosted by Gabriela in 2019./Courtesy Gabriela Nguena Jones
Why do you think it’s important for others to get involved?
My dad likes (deceased American rapper) Tupac a lot. I watched an MTV interview from 1996 featuring Tupac, and he was talking about people who are rich, people who hit the lottery for millions, and the unhoused people sleeping on the floor. If you’re gifted and you know there are people out there with fewer material resources, how can you be satisfied with not contributing to help others before it’s too late? We have to move away from individual success to, “How can I help a collective group succeed?”
What’s your message to parents who have children interested in volunteering?
My dad has had one of the biggest influences on my organization. I know my dream sounded really dumb when I was 14; I was just talking about a plan. But I encourage parents to just listen to a kid and help them access information, whether it’s reviewing necessary tax documents for a nonprofit, or board information.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your service?
I work for the tutors. They come back excited, saying they nailed a partnership, or I’ll read the tutors’ stories about the children and what they learned today. Also, in their personal lives, some of the tutors are getting into great colleges and I was able to help read their college essays and write some recommendation letters.
How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact your organization?
More students came on board who needed help and more tutors signed up with TTT.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
Building TTT was a team effort, not just a me effort. Look inside and use your skillset to assemble a team and tackle possible foreseeable interests that aren’t working properly. Use teamwork and your resources to help fix those issues.
In one word, what does volunteering mean to you?
Privilege. Because volunteering is not something you’re paid to do, but you’re able to make an actual impact on people’s lives.
How can readers help?
Please visit the Teens Tutor Teens website for more information about how you can help, or connect with us on our Instagram and LinkedIn pages.
Texas Airman Spreads the Ripple Effect of Kindness Through Volunteer Service
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Dustin Brooks. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Content Warning: Points of Light is proud to share the following uplifting and inspiring story. However, we acknowledge that a small portion mentionssuicide and may be difficult for some readers. We encourage you to please care for your own well-being above all.
Dustin Brooks grew up in Germany in a military family, and it was here that he was first exposed to the plight of refugees. At the time, displaced Albanians were flooding Germany to escape the horrors of war. Dustin and his elementary school class held a fair to raise money, which Dustin and a few of his classmates took to the refugee camp. He was struck by how happy the kids were playing with their new toys, even amid the uncertainty in their lives and the hard living conditions.
As a child, Dustin noticed that people who have nothing seem to give the most.
Now, as an adult, he realizes that homelessness is a stigma often associated with drug abuse, when in reality anyone could, through no fault of their own, find themselves without a place to call home and no idea how to escape their plight.
Dustin, 32, has been actively volunteering for over eight years. Since 2019, he has been volunteering with the Dyess We Care Team organization based at the Dyess Air Force Base in Texas. Before that time, he spent five years as a volunteer with Aramark/Sodexo creating free meals for people who were underserved.
Dustin Brooks and his son William helped with home repairs, house painting and landscaping for a grandmother who had to adopt her three grandchildren after their parents were incarcerated./Courtesy Dustin Brooks
Dustin balances family, military and community service in a way that inspires others to follow suit. He often devotes his weekends to working on community volunteer projects. Aside from acting as project leader, Dustin’s current duties as inventory manager ensure the organization has all the supplies on hand to paint houses and provide minor repairs. Next year, he will act as president of the Dyess We Care Team.
What’s most remarkable about Dustin is that he understands the incredible ripple effect that individual projects can have. There’s the immediate reward of seeing the joy in recipients’ eyes; but more importantly, Dustin is inspired by impact the Team’s efforts have on the recipients’ families, the community and the volunteers themselves.
One family received a granny-flat addition which enabled the family to adopt another foster child. Not only did this positively affect the family, but forever altered the life of the new foster child.
Dustin’s most cherished memory involves a young boy of just five who had already undergone four heart surgeries and was scheduled for another. His family had received an incredible donation from the Make-a-Wish Foundation — a backyard playground. However, this gift came just at the start of the pandemic, and Make-a-Wish couldn’t send anyone to assemble the playground. The Dyess We Care Team sent 26 people to assemble the playground while the boy visited his grandparents. When the boy returned home, he was in for the surprise of his life: his very own playground, and a rousing welcome from three local fire departments and several police vehicles, his favorite superhero Spiderman, and even military aircraft flying overhead. This was one of the organization’s smallest projects in terms of scope but the most heartwarming for Dustin.
Throughout his volunteer career, Dustin has noted two major effects of volunteering.
The first is the connections fostered among the volunteers. Lifelong friendships have been forged through volunteering among people who may have otherwise never crossed paths.
The second is the realization that he first came to as a child in Germany: those with the least to give often give the most. One limited-mobility recipient needed extensive repairs done on his home, including a carport to prevent his car from literally melting in the hot Texas sun, a wheelchair ramp and toilet repair. During this two-weekend project, the man was so grateful that he made sandwiches and lemonade for all 50 volunteers.
Dustin Brooks working on the Soulfire Café renovation project, a ministry-run activity center for young adults. This extensive $100,000 restoration project provided local students a space to hang out, study and connect./Courtesy Dustin Brooks
Dustin is excited about a project that actually started before the COVID-19 pandemic and is finally coming to fruition. This major home and landscape renovation for a hard-working disabled elderly woman will be another surprise reveal from the Dyess We Care Team , with 60-80 people joining forces to spruce up her home in one weekend.
Currently, the organization takes on approximately 30 projects each year, including 15 buildings that are completely repainted.
Dustin believes that it’s important to give back for the simple reason that anyone could, at any time, need help.
Even volunteers have challenges in their lives that can be eased through volunteering. One former Dyess We Care Team volunteer sent the organization a letter after she was transferred to another base. In the letter, she confided that she had been severely depressed before volunteering. She was young, far from home, without friends, depressed and contemplating suicide. During her volunteer experience, she made new friends; and so, her act of kindness toward others made a big difference in her own life.
Dustin hopes to open a homeless shelter once he retires from the military, but rather than only providing shelter, he plans to empower people with life skills that help them get back on their feet including cooking, interview skills, shopping and more.
Dustin believes that any act of volunteerism can have a ripple effect not just on the life of a recipient but their family, the community and the volunteer. Even his five-year-old son has been helping out on painting projects since he was three. Theirs is a family legacy that makes a difference.
If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988, or text HOME to 741741 to talk to a trained crisis counselor through Crisis Text Line. Both resources are anonymous, free and available 24/7.
