Angelo Adams is a member of the Mt. Hope Corps at Mt. Hope Learning Center, which provides a safe environment for children and adults to learn skills that will give them more productive futures. Angelo is one of seven children born to a single mom who was incarcerated, leaving him and his siblings in foster care. Angelo mentors youth, works with gang members to help them change their lives, and mediates neighborhood conflicts.
(www.mthopelearningcenter.org)
Denise Aiken and Liz Segovis work with Rhode Island Legal Services, the state's major law firm for low-income people with civil legal problems. They seek to ensure that low-income people have food, shelter, income, medical care, and freedom from domestic violence.
(www.rils.org)
Afshan Ajmiri and Philip Buffum are Americorps members who help low-income seniors in high school prepare for college. As a College Guide, Afshan helps students and their families navigate the financial aid process and provides academic advising and support. Philip teaches SAT prep classes and FAFSA workshops on nights and weekends.
(www.americorps.gov)
Roy Alexander and Chris Weske are CEO and Board of Directors member, respectively of Sacramento Children's Home, an organization that has provided a host of programs and services to help abused or at-risk children, as well as families in crisis, for over 140 years.
(www.kidshome.org)
Brooke Allen and Matt Migliore are self-proclaimed "volunteer-aholics." They are both project leaders for Greater Philadelphia Cares initiatives that involve tutoring children, leading arts and crafts enrichment classes, and coordinating activities for kids at a transitional housing facility. In 2008, they started Building Blox, a community clean-up program, and they are also working with Friends of Triangle Park on a beautification project. Brooke also volunteers with Associated Services for the Blind to assist clients on their shopping trips.
(www.philacares.com)
As of 2009, Herb Anderson had served on the Board of Directors of United Way Allen County for 12 years. He is a leader on labor issues, and he helped raise $4.5 million for the workplace campaign. Because of his leadership, 60-70% of the workers at BF Goodrich tire plant where he works were involved in some capacity with United Way Allen County.
(www.unitedwayallencounty.org)
Leo "Mr. Diggs" Andreas teaches the members of Boys and Girls Club Greater Sacramento how to harvest vegetables as part of the Club Garden program. Since Mr. Diggs started volunteering, the club has seen an increase in youth participation, and the kids use the products of the garden in nutrition and cooking classes.
(www.bgcsac.org)
Pamela Atkinson works with Volunteers of America, Utah, spending much of her time moving between legislative hearings, community boards, and public speaking duties, and she has worked tirelessly toward policy changes that help the homeless. She also rides on the Homeless Street Outreach van every week.
(www.voaut.org)
Diane Auger was a "barn rat" working the horse stalls in high school. She heard a 12-year-old disabled boy who had never communicated with words whisper "thank you" to a horse after riding. That experience caused her to start Friends for Tomorrow, a therapeutic horse riding program for children and adults with disabilities.
(www.friendsfortomorrow.org)
Gary Bagley is the Executive Director of New York Cares, and played a part in growing their volunteer base by 60% - from 27,000 to 43,000 volunteers.
(www.newyorkcares.org)
Mitch Ball is a remarkable young man who was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) at the age of four. Although he is bound to a wheelchair and uses a ventilator to breathe, he keeps a positive attitude and creates video blogs to open people's eyes to what it's like living with a disability.
(www.mitchballsworld.blogspot.com)
Tom Baxter is the Executive Director of Friends of the Riverfront, which was started in 1992 to reclaim Pittsburgh's riverfronts for public access and greenway/recreational use. Tom's work helps protect and restore the city's rivers and expand water and land trails. Friends of the Riverfront has been involved in creating nearly all of the trails along Pittsburgh's shores.
(www.friendsoftheriverfront.org)
Dotti Bechtol is the Executive Director of Health Hope Network, which runs the Stroke Survivor Connection program. This program provides free, weekly therapy support groups for stroke survivors and their caregivers. As a caretaker and breast cancer survivor herself, Dotti is deeply sensitive to the plight of stroke victims and their families.
(www.healthhopenetwork.org)
Christina Beckwith and Nicole Bailey are the Executive Director and Arts and Crafts Leader, respectively, of Camp Hobe, a summer camp geared to creating a fun and positive environment for children with cancer and their siblings. It allows the kids the chance to just be kids away from the confines of a hospital.
(www.camphobekids.org)
Monique Bourdage is the Project Director of Girls Rock Denver, a summer camp that empowers girls by giving them music instruction, encouraging self-expression and self-esteem, and providing a nonjudgmental space that promotes creativity. Monique also teaches basic skills at a nonprofit that helps low-income single parents obtain employment and self-sufficiency.
(www.girlsrockdenver.org)
Joyce Bourgalt is the Executive Director of Helping Hands Health & Wellness Center, a faith-based, free clinic that serves adult, low-income individuals in the greater Columbus, Ohio area who do not have health insurance. The free clinic provides health care, health education, medical referrals, social service, and spiritual guidance.
(www.ascension-columbus.org)
Sean Brady is the Assistant Executive Director of Venture Outdoors, an organization that encourages Pittsburgh residents to participate in outdoor recreational activities and promotes Pittsburgh's unique natural amenities. Venture Outdoors also seeks to foster a greater appreciation for the environment and inspire people to live an active lifestyle.
(www.ventureoutdoors.org)
Charles H. Britt is the Founder and Chairman of the Center for Minority Achievement in Science and Technology (CMAST). He was compelled to create the organization in response to ongoing reports and statistics citing the poor academic achievement of minority students. CMAST expands educational opportunities to increase minority enrollment, retention, and graduation rates.
(www.cmast.org)
Nichole Brown volunteers at Willow House, an organization that is dedicated to helping children and families who are grieving. Willow House began in 1998, when a small group of bereavement professional began meeting with those in need in the founder's living room. Nichole helps provide a safe place of hope where it is okay to feel sad and talk about it, and memories of loved ones are invited and respected.
(www.willowhouse.org)
Tracey Brummett and Kinga Misiarz work for Challenge Denver, which aims to improve the climate at middle and high schools by eliminating teasing and violence, and inspiring students to become positive forces in their communities. Challenge Day is a day-long workshop that promotes self-acceptance and respect for others, and is followed by Youth Engagement Sessions to instill these values.
(www.challengedenver.org)
Pat Burritt, the volunteer manager of the Sacramento Fire Department Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), schedules all CERT trainings, drills, classes, and community service events. She also spent many weeks volunteering with the Red Cross to assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
(www.sacramentocert.net)
Thom Cassidy is a logistics associate at Veterans Green Jobs, an organization that provides green jobs education and career opportunities for veterans. Thom served in the Army from 2001-2005, graduated from Veterans Green Jobs Academy, and now focuses his efforts on community organizing and social justice.
(www.veteransgreenjobs.org)
Angie Champion founded H.O.P.E., INC. (Healing Others by Promoting Enrichment), an organization that provides community-based mentoring by matching families that practice positive, spiritually based parenting with at-risk youth and single parent families in need of a support system. Angie hopes to not only provide assistance to families, but also to break down the barriers and stereotypes that exist in diverse communities.
(www.hopeincorporated.org)
Stephanie Clark founded My Daughter's Keeper, which provides support and resources to mothers/caregivers and their daughters to help strengthen their relationships. Through her organization, mothers and daughters come together to identify solutions to problems such as communication, peer pressure, and teen pregnancy.
(www.mydaughterskeeper.org)
Ted Cochran received the "gift of life" by way of a kidney transplant. At age 28, his mother donated one of her kidneys so that he could have a healthier life after being diagnosed with chronic renal failure. A year later, he founded My Angel Foundation to honor his mother's gift, help other transplant patients and their families, and advocate for the very thing that saved his life - organ donation.
(www.myangelfoundation.org)
Jodi Cooper is the Community Coordinator of inCommon Community Development, a faith-based organization that fights poverty by cultivating community networks. InCommon holistically develops vulnerable neighborhoods and populations, such as the impoverished in downtown Omaha, the Park Avenue neighborhood, and the Burundian refugee population. Their goal is to transform communities through community.
(www.incommoncd.org)
When Anita Croce was diagnosed with Benign Essential Blepharospasm (BEB), a condition that caused her to be blinded by her eyelids, she decided to help others who are suffering from the same condition. In 1986, she formed a support group for residents of Ohio; in 2009, she presided over 11 states as the North Central District Director of the BEB Research Foundation. She holds support meetings and international conferences in Columbus, and provides support and referrals for others with BEB.
(www.blepharospasm.org)
Natasha Cross is the President and CEO of EYE (Engaging Youth Entrepreneurs) for Change, an organization that empowers and prepares youth to become competitive in a global economy through entrepreneurial skill building, financial literacy, and leadership. Natasha hopes to teach young people that entrepreneurship is just as viable a career option as any other.
(www.eyeforchange.org)
Jennifer Daly, John Valenti, and Lisa Russell started The Matthews Foundation to provide financial assistance to families of children diagnosed with leukemia. The foundation is named after Jennifer's son, Matthew, who was diagnosed with leukemia in 2006 and John's son, also named Matthew, who was given the same diagnosis a few months later. Lisa also witnessed her father-in-law battle leukemia, and all three came together to make a difference.
(www.matthewsfoundation.org)
Christopher Darby, at 24 years old, was the youngest person on the Mosaic Project's Board of Directors in 2009. The Mosaic Project brings together children of diverse backgrounds through outdoor school and youth leadership programs, while teaching them to appreciate diversity and empowering them to work toward peace.
(www.mosaicproject.org)
Frank Darling is the president of the California chapter of Guitars Not Guns, an organization that aims to reduce violence and self-destructive behavior among at-risk children by providing them with guitars and music lessons.
(www.guitarsnotguns.org)
Brian Dean is the Executive Director of Jersey Cares, which in 2009 had a volunteer database of over 10,000 individuals. Jersey Cares has monthly calendar projects, such as Hunger Helpers, Stepping with Seniors, and Caring Closet, as well as a corporate service program and leadership opportunities.
(www.jerseycares.org)
Aisha Desince and Dee Johnson provide villages in Sierra Leone with basic potable water supply systems through their organization Khadarlis for Sierra Leone. They also implement solar electricity, health education and infection control programs. By implementing programs that encourage agricultural efficiency, Aisha and Dee help villagers become self-reliant.
(www.khadarlis.org)
Ivy Devlin works for Project Homeless Connect through the Sprint Corporation, connecting individuals with their family and friends at phone call tables, looking up phone numbers with scant remembered information, and doing whatever it takes to have a connection take place.
(www.projecthomelessconnect.com)
Jon Dewey is in charge of the Salt Lake City Police Department's Operation Safe Passage for Bonneville Elementary School. Operation Safe Passage volunteers ensure the safety of children walking to and from school by deterring criminal activity and protecting children from potential dangers like abductions, drug dealers, and bullies.
(www.slcpd.com)
Al and Germaine Dietsch are a husband and wife team who founded Spellbinders, an organization that is restoring the art of oral storytelling to enhance literacy and create connections between elders and youth. Al and Germaine have trained over 1,000 volunteers nationally, and in 2008 alone, volunteers attended over 2,000 classrooms.
(www.spellbinders.org)
Rebecca Drobnick is the Coordinator of Operation Home Front Ohio, an organization that provides emergency assistance and morale to U.S. troops, their families, and wounded veterans. They also help children and spouses stay in touch with their loved ones and offer financial assistance during family crises.
(www.operationhomefront.net/ohio)
Marne Dunn, a volunteer at Women's Empowerment, built a computer-training program so that homeless women can learn the technology skills needed to return to the workplace. She has developed the organization's computer lab and organized the all-volunteer teaching crew of Intel staff members.
(www.womens-empowerment.org)
Judy Eakin is the Executive Director of HEARTH, which provides transitional housing to homeless women with children and permanent supportive housing for women with a mental health or physical disability. Judy's work equips women with skills in communication, problem-solving, and decision making, and helps them reconnect to their community.
(www.hearth-bp.org)
Teresa Elder is the Chief Flight Nurse for Flight For Life Colorado, the first hospital-based medical helicopter program in the nation. Teresa jumps on board the helicopter to provide critical care life support.
(www.flightforlifecolorado.org)
Murat Eskicioglu and his team at SMG Corporation provide Project Homeless Connect with a venue, tables and chairs, audio/visual equipment, Internet connectivity, set-up and tear-down labor, and sandwiches for 3,000 people.
(www.projecthomelessconnect.com)
Paul Falkowski is the Executive Director of Desert Ministries, a volunteer organization that arranges weekly visits to the elderly in nursing homes. Desert Ministries values the life and wisdom of the elderly and seeks to bring "hope through love" to nursing home residents.
(www.desertministries.org)
Al Finnical is a multi-faceted volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Greater Columbus. In the span of one year, he volunteered as a crew lead, construction support volunteer, photographer, speaker's bureau volunteer, and budget mentor. He also leads workshops on how to improve credit scores for homeowners who were rejected from the program due to poor credit history.
(www.habitatcolumbus.org)
Ellen Firestone is the Senior Finance & Communications Executive of Greater Philadelphia Cares. Ellen oversees the organization's Finance, Communications, and Involvement divisions, and was instrumental in improving the organization's Reading STARS program - a literacy program for children.
(www.philacares.com)
Dr. Jeffrey Fishberger is on the Board of Directors of The Trevor Project, a nonprofit established to promote the acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth, and to aid in suicide prevention among that group. Dr. Fishberger has trained helpline counselors and facilitated workshops for homeless LGBT youth and young people living with HIV/AIDS.
(www.thetrevorproject.org)
As of 2009, Arthur Fisher had been a volunteer at New York Cares for 15 years, serving more than 800 hours. He leads projects and has also been a speaker, having oriented thousands of people since he started.
(www.newyorkcares.org)
Shannon Foley is the Executive Director of Love Hope Strength Foundation, a music-centered cancer charity dedicated to providing support for cancer centers around the world. Shannon has organized concerts on Mount Everest and the Empire State Building to raise funds for medical equipment and mobile cancer units in places like Nepal, Peru, and sub-saharan Africa.
(www.lovehopestrength.org)
Suaz Forsythe started working for Animal Friends, a full-service community resource center committed to nurturing the human-animal bond, in 1996. She helped create a program to support and sustain rabbit adoptions. Animal Friends started during World War II, when a group of Pittsburgh citizens came together in an effort to find homes for soldiers' pets when they left for war.
(www.thinkingoutsidethecage.org)
William Fuellenbach is the Executive Director of Northern Nevada HOPES, an outpatient program that is dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by HIV/AIDS. HOPES provides a variety of services including counseling, clinical services, housing assistance, and education.
(www.nnhopes.org)
Shirley Fuertes and Marlon Cifuentes work for English for Action, which serves Latino families through English language and childcare programs that link language, learning, leadership development, and community-building. English for Action uses innovative learning tools, such as the visual arts, theater of the oppressed, and action projects to engage learners.
(www.englishforaction.org)
Rod Gardner is the Sales and Marketing Associate at The Douglas Center, a day program that offers a wide variety of services for individuals with severe developmental disabilities. The Douglas Center provides a work program, developmental rehabilitation, vocational skills training, and a seniors program. Their mission is to help individuals manage their disabilities, build self-esteem, and improve independent living skills.
(www.thedouglascenter.com)
Mary Gebhard is a volunteer Airport Ambassador at Fort Wayne International Airport. She greets visitors with a warm welcome upon their arrival, and has stayed long after her volunteer shift to assist travelers who had transportation problems.
Jon Gelleta is an Americorps member in the Corporate Service Department of Jersey Cares. He is also a volunteer EMT with the South Orange Rescue Squad, where he works 12-hour shifts. He leads other volunteers in serving meals to the homeless every month and sketches murals that brighten shelters, schools, and community centers.
(www.jerseycares.org)
Jenn Gibbons is the Founder and Coach of Recovery on Water, a rowing team that gives breast cancer survivors the opportunity to become active in their recovery and gain support from fellow survivors. Jenn rowed at Michigan State University and is a U.S. Rowing Level II Certified Coach.
(www.recoveryonwater.org)
Tim Gibson has volunteered more than 1,000 hours with New York Cares from 2007 to 2009. He is a team leader for projects ranging from Meal Service to serving people with disabilities.
(www.newyorkcares.org)
Shannon Gillespie is the Director of U.S. Operations at Tostan, which empowers African communities to bring about sustainable development and positive social transformation based on respect for human rights. Since 1991, Tostan has brought holistic 30-month education programs to 10 African countries. These programs promote community empowerment and demoncracy, enhance economic opportunities, and protect maternal and child health.
(www.tostan.org)
Kevin Good is the Founder and Director of Acts 4 Youth (A4Y), which motivates at-risk boys toward character, competence, and career development. A4Y places adult male role models with boys in a small-group setting to teaching critical thinking, communication, conflict resolution, goal setting, and business planning.
(www.acts4youth.com)
Susan Gross founded One Village at a Time after taking a trip to Ethiopia in 2002. Her organization strives to create small, sustainable programs for AIDS orphans and their villages in Africa. Susan focuses on feeding, educating, and nurturing the children, while empowering the local leadership, church leadership, and local businesses to support the community.
(www.onevillageatatime.org)
Willie Grove serves on the Board of Directors of the Columbus Zoological Park Association and the Board of Trustees of Opera Columbus. He brought the two organizations together when he suggested a summer concert event: Go Wild! For Opera at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. As of 2009, the event had raised $200,000 for the two organizations and Willie has dedicated 1,300 hours of service.
(www.operacolumbus.org/productions)
Peter Hanink is a member of the Board of the Disaster Accountability Project, which monitors the public accountability of the U.S. disaster prevention and response systems and engages stakeholders in tracking recommendations for their improvement. The project was inspired by frustration over the botched response after Hurricane Katrina, and now demands accountability.
(www.disasteraccountability.com)
Mike Hannigan is the Co-Founder of Give Something Back Business Products, an independent office supply company that, as of 2009, had given away 82% of its profits to charity. Over a period of 18 years, Give Something Back contributed $4 million to impact local communities.
(www.givesomethingback.com)
Rachel Harvey volunteers for Book 'Em, a project that sends hundreds of packages of books and resource guides to prisoners. Book 'Em aims to reduce prisoners' feelings of isolation, assist them in their self-education, and counteract the dehumanizing effects of the prison system.
(www.thomasmertoncenter.org/bookem)
Tom Heinz is the Founder and Executive Director of East Bay Innovations, which provides support to enable individuals with developmental disabilities to live on their own, work in a job they enjoy, and participate fully in community life. In 2005, Tom won The Bill Rosenberg Memorial Award from Cal-TASH, which is presented to individuals who exhibit leadership in promoting the inclusion of persons with severe disabilities.
(www.eastbayinnovations.com)
Liz Henderson is the Volunteer Coordinator at Seniors Helping Others, which helps senior citizen volunteers give back through programs such as Meals on Wheels, Visitation to the Homebound, and Mobile Library Delivery Services.
(www.southernrivol.org)
Dr. Madye Henson is the Executive Director of Greater D.C. Cares, and was formerly the Vice President of Community Impact at United Way of America. As of 2009, her organization was capable of mobilizing 13,000 D.C. volunteers to assist over 750 local and area non-profits.
(www.greaterdccares.org)
Tracy Henson participates in Volunteers of America, Utah through the Marriott Vacation Club Team. Tracy organizes her team members for food donation drives and has rallied the support of the senior managers of her corporate team.
(www.voaut.org)
Joan Hicks has dedicated thousands of hours of volunteer service in her lifetime. She first started volunteering in 1998 at Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children, and in 2009, she volunteered in 8 different departments at the hospital. She also serves on the board of Sojourner's Place, a homeless shelter where she runs meetings for the women. In addition, she has adopted a highway and picks up trash four times a week.
(www.nemours.org)
George Hill is a volunteer dactylographer (a fingerprint expert), recording and submitting data for the Fort Wayne Police Department and Allen County Sheriff Department. He was one of 8 volunteers to successfully complete the 40-hour FBI training when the program first started in 1994.
(www.fwpd.org)
Andrew Hoffman is the Executive Director of NeighborLink Fort Wayne, a grassroots, web-based organization that connects volunteers with homeowners who need assistance with home maintenance and repairs. Anyone can seek free assistance by posting a project on the NeighborLink website, and volunteers can register to help out with a project of their choice.
(www.neighborlinkfortwayne.org)
Christie Holderegger is the VP & Chief Development & Communications Officer at Volunteers of America Greater Sacramento & Northern Nevada. VOA is the home of Operation Backpack, a program that provides backpacks, school supplies, and other services to homeless children and families.
(www.voa-sac.org)
Herb and Jan Hoover are a retired couple who have volunteered with UC Davis Health System for over a decade. They install medical devices in phones that allow a person in distress to easily call 9-1-1 and reach emergency personnel.
(www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu)
Regina Jackson is the Executive Director of the East Oakland Youth Development Center, an organization that encourages youth to become self-sufficient, responsible members of their community and offers a variety of services and activities. Regina has received the Fannie Lou Hamer Emerging Leader Award from UC Berkeley and The Jefferson Award for Community Service.
(www.eoydc.org)
John Jerger served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand, where he worked on Information and Communications Technology and taught computer skills to rural elementary school students. He volunteers at Chicago Cares to write a computer curriculum resource, at Lakeview Pantry to assist in planning a fundraiser, and with the Northside Anti-Hunger Network to help submit a grant for a fellowship.
(www.chicagocares.org)
Kelly and Jim Jolkowski started Project Jason after their son disappeared without a trace from their driveway. They now dedicate themselves fully to providing resources and support to other families who have experienced a family member disappearing.
(www.projectjason.org)
Claire Jones is the Program Manger for the Health Federation of Philadelphia's smoking cessation program. HFP's Smoking Cessation Counselors offer group smoking cessation programs and individuals follow-up for patients who are ready to stop or reduce their use of tobacco products.
(www.healthfederation.org)
Renae Jones is the Happy Bear Program Coordinator at Blank Children's Hospital. The program teaches young children how to recognize and resist sexual abuse, thereby protecting them from such experiences. The program is run and managed entirely by Renae, and incredible volunteers bring Happy Bear to life.
(www.blankchildrens.org)
Jo Kaufman and Jennifer Emmert bring the love and companionship of animals to people in healthcare facilities, libraries, and schools through the Animal Assisted Therapy Program of the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SFSPCA).
(www.sfspca.org)
Lori Keys is the Executive Director of Aboite New Trails, the area's leader in advocacy, fundraising, and building of pedestrian and bicycle facilities. As of 2009, Lori's organization had built 14.5 miles of new trails over 4 years.
(www.aboitenewtrails.org)
Emily Lampert is a volunteer tutor and mentor for Let's Get Ready at Columbia University, in Harlem and in White Plains, New York. Let's Get Ready expands access to college in America by mobilizing and equipping a movement of college students to help high school students get into college. Emily provides underprivileged students with intensive SAT preparation, college advising, and a role model.
(www.letsgetready.org)
Isaac Langford is the Executive Director of the National Homeless Protection Agency, which assists the homeless through drug treatment programs, domestic abuse counseling, housing application services, and shelter referrals. Isaac's goal is to protect the rights of the homeless within the U.S., and his organization reports anyone who mistreats the homeless.
(www.homelessprotection.webs.com)
Carylynn Larson was inspired to start Rock Recovery, an organization that helps individuals overcome food and exercise addiction, after struggling with these issues herself throughout her life. Rock Recovery provides faith-based therapy and support, while allowing residents to remain engaged in their daily activities, such as work and school.
(www.rockrecovery.net)
Effie Marie Lascarides is the Founder and President of Alzheimer's CURE Foundation, an organization that is raising $20 million to be awarded to the scientist(s) who find a cure for Alzheimer's. The foundation provides scholarships and creates awareness through community outreach programs, informational sessions, and health fairs. Through her work, Effie is helping to accelerate a cure for Alzheimer's.
(www.alzcure.org)
Ray Lian is an Organizer for Stop Modern Slavery, which educates the D.C.-area community about human trafficking and fosters grassroots movements to combat modern slavery. Ray participates in Stop Modern Slavery's 3-person action teams to collaborate with NGOs, government, business, and the community.
(www.stopmodernslavery.org)
Matthew Linzer is the Ecology Instructor for Oakland Leaf's "Love Cultivating Schoolyards" program, which promotes nutrition, sustainability, and creative education for Oakland's youth. The long-term goal of this project is to facilitate secure food sources and micro-enterprises based on the products yielded from urban gardens.
(www.oaklandleaf.org)
Megan Low and Tiela Chalmers work for the San Francisco Bar Association's Volunteer Legal Services Program. In addition to maintaining and motivating volunteer lawyers from the city's top law firms, they have collaborated with the California DMV to provide homeless individuals with the state identification cards they need to apply for many benefits and services.
(http://preview.sfbar.org/volunteer)
Nancy Lublin is the "Chief Old Person" of Do Something, an organization that inspires young people to believe that change is possible, and trains, funds, and mobilizes them to be leaders in their communities. Nancy has led the effort to award grant money to young people who want to make a difference, and also founded the organization Dress for Success, which provides women with career development training.
(www.dosomething.org)
Vicky Luckett is the Program Director at Magnolia Women's Recovery Program, Inc., an organization that assists pregnant women and new mothers in recovering from substance abuse addictions, while healing them emotionally and spiritually as well. Vicky provides case management support services for an average of 45 clients a month.
(www.magnoliarecovery.org)
Becky Mack is a volunteer at St. John's Shelter and Project Leader of Project Birthday, which provides birthday parties for children living in homeless shelters and transitional housing facilities. Though she is a single mom with a full-time job, as of 2009 she had logged in over 3,000 volunteer hours.
(www.projectbirthday.org)
Roger Macker, a retired math teacher with decades of teaching experience, volunteers his time as a tutor at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. He contributed over 600 volunteer hours within 2 years.
(www.sfbs.org)
Kendall Massett and Carolyn Kohn are the President and Founder, respectively, of The Brady Kohn Foundation, an organization whose dual mission is to educate the public about the potential of stem cells from umbilical cord blood and to fund non-embryonic stem cell research. The organization honors Brady Kohn, Carolyn's son, who passed away at 3 years old from complications from aplastic anemia.
(www.thebradykohnfoundation.org)
Marget Maurer is the Executive Director of Project Create, an organization that brings professionally-led arts experiences to children living in emergency, transitional, and long-term affordable housing programs. Marget's organization empowers kids to reach their potential by fostering critical thinking skill, creative expression, self-esteem, and social skills.
(www.projectcreatedc.org)
Jonathan Mawhinney is an 18-year-old race car driver who raised money for The Wall Youth Foundation through his Pennies From Heaven Penny Drive. The drive benefited The Wall Youth Center, which provides afterschool services for students in 6th through 12th grade.
(http://jmr17.com)
Gene Mayhew was the original Chairman of the National MS Society Delaware Chapter's Bike to the Bay event from 1982 to 1997. He expanded the event, which raises money for research and assistance for individuals with multiple sclerosis, from 22 riders to over 1,300 riders. As of 2009, the Delaware Chapter has raised over $1.3 million for research and programs.
(www.nationalmssociety.org/ded)
Bill Maynard oversees the Fremont Community Garden in Sacramento and has worked on a wide variety of volunteer projects related to gardening, food access, community building, and beautification. He has turned blighted lots into "urban green spaces," organized free farmers markets for low-income community members, and helped Hmong families who were gardening in toxic drainage canals find a safe location to garden.
(www.cadanet.org/fcg)
Thomas McCaugherty, the V.P. of CTCI Wiring, started volunteering with Jersey Cares in 2007. He spearheaded Stepping Stones in East Orange, a male mentoring program that teaches job and life skills to young men. He also founded Angel Initiatives Incorporated to provide financial support to young people striving to become successful. Thomas provided Project Home in Jersey City with a backyard makeover, supplying landscape professionals and brand new equipment and toys for the residents.
(www.jerseycares.org)
Andrew McKnight is the Executive Director of The Challenge Program, an organization that offers a Construction Training Program for out-of-school youth ages 18-21. Trainees enrolled in the program complete 700 hours of site-based construction training and educational work while working toward their GED, thereby providing educational opportunities to students with barriers to employability.
(www.challengeprogram.org)
Candice Metzler volunteers on the Homeless Youth Street Outreach Team of Volunteers of America, Utah. She has led her own team of volunteers and organized an 8-campus food and donation drive. She advocates for the homeless by speaking at town hall meetings and hosting presentations at the public library.
(www.voaut.org)
Alan Michel is the Director and Co-Founder of HOME, Inc. (Here-in Our Motives Evolve), which teaches video production and media analysis to educators and youth to foster confident, creative individuals. Alan's work allows students to develop creative media projects while teaching them to effectively evaluate media messages.
(www.homeinc.org)
Parker Mills is and Americorps service member at Hands On Hartford and weekly volunteer at MANNA House soup kitchen. He also participated in a project where volunteers painted murals and sports silhouettes in school gymnasiums and auditoriums, added hop-scotch and four square elements to the playground, and built bookcases, benches, and chalkboards.
(www.handsonhartford.org)
Sarah Miretti is the Assistant Director of Development at New Jersey SEEDS, an academic enrichment and leadership development program for high-achieving, low-income youth. NJ SEEDS seeks to prepare qualified students for placement at top schools and empower students to live lives of leadership, professional accomplishment, and service to the community.
(www.njseeds.org)
Dr. Mark Mitchell is the President and Founder of Connecticut Coalition for Environment Justice, an organization that protects urban environments by promoting individual, corporate, and governmental responsibility for the environment. Mark's work is focused on eliminating discriminatory policies for production or storage of environmental toxins and preventing and reducing environmentally associated harmful health effects.
(www.environmental-justice.org)
Jena Munson is the Therapeutic Recreation Lead at Alegent Health Immanuel Rehabilitation Center's Sports and Leisure Program. The program sponsors golf, soccer, volleyball, bowling and softball for individuals with disabilities, thereby improving their self-confidence and sense of belonging.
(www.alegent.com/rehab)
Anne Murr is the Coordinator of Drake University's Adult Literacy Center, which provides one-on-one tutoring sessions for adult learners. The majority of the center's students are employed in jobs that require only basic reading skills, but they are eager to learn - and Anne's work helps them fulfill their job, school, and home responsibilities.
(www.drake.edu/soe/projects/adult_lit_center.php)
Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist, has teamed up with AllForGood.org to encourage people to respond to President Obama's call to service by seeking out volunteer opportunities in their area.
(www.allforgood.org)
Stephanie Nilva is the Executive Director of Day One, an organization that partners with New York City youth to end dating abuse and domestic violence through community education, support services, legal advocacy, and leadership development. Since 2003, Day One has educated thousands of youth about how to identify and maintain healthy relationships, obtain legal protection when necessary, and assist others experiencing abuse.
(www.dayoneny.org)
Ije Obilo is the Director of Volunteer Programs at Jersey Cares and has been volunteering since the age of 11, when she attended a medical mission trip to Nigeria with her family. She volunteers countless hours with the Nigerian Healthcare Foundation based in New Jersey, whose mission is to conduct free medical services, combat the spread of disease, and improve healthcare conditions within the Nigerian population. She also works with the Youth Advocate Programs of Essex County to ensure that young people who have been incarcerated have positive alternatives.
(www.jerseycares.org)
Emily Orologio was a finalist for the Comcast SportsNet 2009 All-Star Teacher Award for her excellent work as a first-year teacher. She went the extra mile for her students by providing free notebooks to those who could not afford them, and by giving out her personal cell phone number so that her students could call for homework help.
Brighid O'Shaughnessy is the Founder of Erasing the Distance, a group of artists and mental health advocates who create professional theatrical productions based on true stories about mental illness. Their goal is to create awareness of mental illness, disarm stigma, and provide a safe forum for discussions about mental health. Brighid received DePaul University's David O. Justice Award for her use of theatre to educate about mental illness.
(www.erasingthedistance.org)
Lisa Osmond is a leading spokesperson for Yes Utah!, an organ donor registry program. Her son Adam came home from school one day after learning about organ donation, and said, "Mom, if something happens to me, will you make sure my organs are donated?" A few weeks later, Adam died. Lisa honored his request and turned it into a life-changing mission.
(www.yesutah.org)
Bob and Pat Parks have informally adopted the Volunteers of America, Utah's Center for Women and Children, a residential detoxification center for homeless women and children. They lead a weekly spiritual group that is a powerful part of the women's recovery from substance abuse, and they bring in a large group every weekend to sing to the women at the center. They have organized many drives at their church and hold barbecues for the women in the warmer months.
(www.voaut.org)
Ami Patel is a site supervisor for the Reading STARS program at Greater Philadelphia Cares. Reading STARS is a literacy program where volunteers work one-on-one with students to boost their reading abilities. Ami coordinated 200 city employees who volunteered as coaches in hopes of increasing literacy rates in Philadelphia's public school system.
(www.phila.com/stars.htm)
Tom Patrick is the Volunteer Manager at Moveable Feast, a meal delivery program for homebound people living with AIDS and women undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Moveable Feast recognizes that people with AIDS and other life-challenging conditions cannot always provide adequate meals for themselves, so they provide meals and nutritional counseling to those in need.
(www.mfeast.org)
Fred Patterson started the Partners and Learners (PALS) tutoring program at one of the Denver Public Schools' highest-need schools. PALS volunteers meet with a student for weekly tutoring sessions to teach them that high expectations, sacrifice, hard work, and believing in yourself will create success.
(http://cpc.dpsk12.org)
Kursten Pickup is the Coordinator of Refugee Youth Project, an afterschool program run by Baltimore City Community College in conjunction with local refugee resettlement agencies. Refugee Youth Project seeks to improve the lives of Baltimore's youngest refugees by supporting their academic needs, and making their acculturation simple and meaningful.
(www.refugeeyouthproject.org)
Bill and Marlou Pieper are volunteers at Mentor Iowa, an organization that trains mentors to work with abused, neglected, and delinquent children who are under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court. Bill and Marlou mentor two young African refugees, going above and beyond by spending much more than the average amount of time (which is usually 6 hours per month) with their mentees.
(www.mentoriowa.org)
Sally Pitts-Rakes is the Program Coordinator of Students Overseeing Students (SOS), a peer mentoring and tutoring program for students who are held back in 8th grade due to low scores on the Delaware Student Testing Program test. As of 2009, Sally has recruited and trained High School Preparation Assistants who have mentored and tutored over 100 students.
(http://sos-peermentoring-tutoring-ai.webs.com)
April Raczka is the Sexual Assault Crisis Services Director at YWCA of New Britain. SACS offer free, confidential service for victims of sexual assault, including crisis counseling, prevention education programs, confidential hotlines, and support groups. April's work is critical in helping victims and their families regain feelings of independence, optimism, and hope.
(www.ywcanewbritain.org)
Joe Ramos volunteers his photography skills with Project Homeless Connect, taking individual black & white portraits of the clients. Joe's work treats the clients with dignity and humanity. He prints the photographs and mails them to every individual with a mailing address.
(www.projecthomelessconnect.com)
Lynne Robinson and Rich Philips are the Executive Director and Community Relations Coordinator, respectively, of PAWS for People, an organization with hundreds of volunteers who take their own pets to facilities within the community to provide affection, cheer, and comfort. PAWS visits facilities such as those for disabled children, seniors living with Alzheimer's, and chemotherapy patients.
(www.pawsforpeople.org)
Adam Rosenberg is the Executive Director of the Baltimore Child Abuse Center, an organization that exists to prevent children who have been sexually abused from being re-victimized by a lengthy investigate process. In addition to providing treatment and counseling, BCAC has developed a coordinated response with local authorities that has resulted in timely, child-sensitive investigations of child sexual abuse.
(www.baltimorechildabusecenter.org)
Marilyn Rossetti is the Executive Director of Hartford Areas Rally Together (HART), which uses community organizing as a means of increasing citizen empowerment and participation in events affecting their lives. HART holds public officials accountable to the citizens they represent, and has campaigns focused on immigrant rights and quality of life in Hartford neighborhoods.
(www.hartofhartford.org)
Bill Roth is the Chief Advancement Officer of Mount St. Vincent Home, which provides services and programs for residents up to the eighth grade who are coping with emotional and behavioral problems. Roth, known as "Coach" to many of the residents, has created numerous athletic programs and ensured that every child who comes to Mount St. Vincent receives their very own bicycle.
(www.msvhome.org)
Jody Ruggiero is the Founder and President of Tune In To Kids, an organization that promotes media literacy, reading, and parent-child involvement. Jody's organization put on an amazing free family support day that was attended by 10,000 people in Reno, Nevada.
(www.tuneintokids.org)
Barbara Salisbury is the CEO of MAB Community Services, the oldest social service agency in the country providing services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. In the 1970s, MAB created some of Massachusetts' first community-based residential and vocational programs for adults with developmental disabilities.
(www.mabcommunity.org)
David Schenirer and Julian Nagler, two high school students, are members of Sacramento's Youth Commission who helped found the VIBE Urban Youth Lounge and Career Center, a peer-to-peer resource center that will provide tutoring, job skills training, and opportunities for service projects.
(www.thevibefoundation.org)
Jerusha Schulze is a program coordinator for NJLEEP (New Jersey Law and Education Empowerment Project), tutoring and mentoring local high school students with a pre-law curriculum program. She also coordinates a project at Goodwill Rescue Mission, serving meals to over 100 local residents in need. She organizes and distributes donations for women and children at Caring Closets and coordinates fundraising efforts for American Cancer Society.
(www.njleep.org)
Martin Schwartz is the President of Vehicles for Change, a community initiative that accepts donated cars and provides them for low-income families. Seventy-three percent of car donation recipients obtained better jobs within a year, and 94% were able to take their children to afterschool, athletic, and community activities never before possible. Martin's organization has awarded over 3,000 cars as of 2009, enabling recipients to get on the road to self-sufficiency.
(www.vehiclesforchange.org)
Jennifer Shimkus is the Executive Director of Rhode Islanders Sponsoring Education, which provides scholarships and mentoring to children of incarcerated parents in order to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty, crime, and addiction.
(www.riseonline.org)
Kayleen Simmons is the Founder and Executive Director of People Helping People, a group that helps low-income women and single mothers secure better-paying jobs and break the cycle of poverty. With the help of People Helping People, one woman was able to double her salary, triple her 401(k) contribution, and buy a home.
(www.mentors4women.org)
Carol Singer and Syd Singer are the Director and President Emeritus of the Board, respectively, of Veterans Place, a transitional housing center that was established by a group of veterans to help fellow veterans in need. Veterans Place provides a residence for formerly homeless veterans, and job training and psychological support as they are reintegrated into the community.
(www.veteransplace.org)
Beth Smith is the Executive Director of Winners Circle, an organization that encourages and rewards student achievement through a program of goal-setting and celebrating accomplishments. Volunteer "Goal Buddies" visit classrooms to support and motivate students, as well as reward them with medals during Winners Circle celebrations.
(www.winners-circle.org)
Wally Smith volunteers for the Allen County Citizens Emergency Response Team (CERT). When the St. Mary's River flooded in 2003, Wally was instrumental in mobilizing over 600 volunteers and leading them in the flood fighting efforts at the water line. He is also a nationally certified CERT trainer.
(www.fwachomeland.org)
Heather Soener is the Executive Director of Young Women's Resource Center, which utilizes a gender-specific curriculum to support and educate young women ages 11-21 as they grow and experience life's challenges. Heather's organization offers parenting and childbirth education for young pregnant women and promotes positive relationships and self-esteem.
(www.ywrc.org)
Nevzer Stacey is the President and Founder of HasNa, which promotes cross-cultural understanding and economic empowerment in culturally divided areas of the world, and encourages individuals and communities to work together toward advancement and peaceful coexistence.
(www.hasna.org)
Tammy Stalzer, Sabrina Schalley, and Jeanette Obal serve patients and families affected by ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), or Lou Gehrig's disease, through ALS in the Heartland. This organization provides equipment such as wheelchairs and walkers at no charge, respite care, and support groups for patients, families, and friends.
(www.alsintheheartland.org)
Mark Stanzilis is an Americorps Volunteer Coordinator and Historic Educator serving the Delaware State Parks. He educates the public about the natural, historical, and cultural resources of Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes, and his passion is creating awareness through education.
(www.americorps.org)
Ian Storrar is the Chief Operating Officer of Mobilize.org, an all-partisan network dedicated to educating, empowering, and energizing young people to increase their civic engagement and political participation. The organization started with a group of UC Berkeley students traveling to Sacramento to lobby on issues affecting students in California, and later expanded to the D.C. area.
(www.mobilize.org)
Doug Sudell is the CEO of Hands On Hartford, and he is breaking the mold on how nonprofits raise money. Instead of relying on grants and donations, he facilitated the purchase of a Huntington Learning Center franchise to not only serve the community better, but also help financially support their other projects.
(www.handsonhartford.org)
Bailey T. Susic is the Program Outreach Coordinator at Pro Bono Counseling Project, which provides uninsured or low-income individuals and families with mental health care provided by volunteer, licensed mental health professionals. This organization particularly helps those who earn too much to qualify for state mental health benefits, but cannot afford to pay for counseling on their own.
(www.probonocounseling.org)
Yvette Sutton, a businesswoman and mother of seven, helped start Culture Inc., an afterschool arts program that includes music production, graphic design, art, dance, photography, filmmaking, poetry, and drama. Culture Inc. supports creative expression, teamwork, and acceptance of cultural diversity, and supplements school systems that are experiencing budget cuts in fine arts programs.
(www.cultureincorporated.org)
Donna Taglianetti is the Executive Director of Co-opportunity, which empowers low-income people to become self-sufficient community stakeholders through housing and economic development programs. Through Co-opportunity, Donna helps community members achieve long-term economic well-being and stability.
(www.co-opportunity.org)
Linda Thibodeau is the President of the Board of Directors of Leave Out Violence (LOVE), which empowers young people to discuss alternatives to violence with their peers. Linda's stepmother started LOVE after Linda's father was fatally stabbed by a 14-year-old boy in search of drug money. LOVE's photography and writing programs help teens who have been affected by violence to express themselves.
(www.leaveoutviolence-us.org)
Donald Thornton led creative efforts to establish bowling events for the blind through the local chapter of Friends of the Blind and Disabled. His group picks up sight-impaired individuals and takes them out for a fun evening of bowling. Don also distributes food and household supplies at the local food bank and serves on the board of the local Kiwanis Club volunteer center.
Julie Trell works for Salesforce.com, a San Francisco company that received the 2009 Corporate Engagement Award from the Points of Light Institute for its outstanding employee volunteer program. From 2000 to 2009, 85% of Salesforce.com employees have collectively donated over 140,000 hours of their time in community service.
(www.salesforce.com)
Karen Van Dyke is the President and Treasurer of Educate Uganda, which consists of a sponsorship program and a school improvement program. Through sponsorships, Karen's organization pays the school fees of children who have lost one or both of their parents. The school improvement program identifies and implements much-needed changes, such as the construction of classrooms and latrines.
(www.educateuganda.org)
Sina Ward and Clinton Smith are volunteer manager and volunteer, respectively, for the Senior Outreach Services program at University of Nevada Reno's Sanford Center for Aging. This program helps frail seniors live independently by matching them with senior volunteers who provide assistance and companionship.
(www.unr.edu/hcs/scag/volunteer/sos.html)
Dr. Hattie Washington is the Founder and President of Aunt Hattie's Place, which provides a safe, stable, nurturing and long-term home for abused, abandoned, or neglected children in foster care. In 2009, Aunt Hattie's Place housed 18 young boys who entered with psychological and behavioral problems. Thanks to Aunt Hattie's Place, the boys have made significant progress in their academics, behavior, and self-esteem.
(www.aunthattie.homestead.com)
Linda Watson-Patterson is a project leader for the Greater Philadelphia Cares Discovery program, a science enrichment program at a local elementary school. She also volunteers with Jazz Bridge, an organization that assists jazz musicians in times of crisis, and Opportunities, PA, which helps homeless young adults become self-sufficient.
(www.philacares.com)
Melvina Weaver is the Afterschool Program Operations Manager at EducationWorks, which provides educational programs and services in communities confronting high rates of poverty and other barriers to educational achievement. Melvina's work strengthens and reinforces the academics, recreational and interpersonal skill of K-12 students.
(www.educationworks-online.com)
Karen Webb volunteers at Utah Hospice Specialists, where she provides respite care and helps patients and their families compile their stories and pictures into a hardbound "Memory Book." When a patient passes away, the volunteer's involvement usually ceases, but Karen continues to assist a former patient's widow by running errands and helping around the house.
(www.hospicespecialists.com)
Tyler Weig and Melissa Simmermaker are Executive Director and Volunteer, respectively, at Everybody Wins! Iowa, an organization that matches elementary school students with volunteers for one-on-one sessions in which the volunteers read aloud to the students. Their goal is to instill within children a love of reading and improved reading skills, while boosting the morale of employees that participate.
(www.everybodywinsiowa.org)
Brian Woods is the Founder and Executive Director of the Metropolitan Community Services T.O.U.C.H. inmate mentoring program. Brian's organization assists prisoners with reintegration into society through mentoring, life skills training, and employment opportunities. The purpose of T.O.U.C.H. is to lower recidivism rates and develop law-abiding, responsible men and women.
(www.touchimp.org)
Linda Wuestenberg co-founded Parent Grief and MyEmergencyContactInfo.org after losing her son, Steve, in a car accident. Linda and her husband were not notified until seven hours after the accident, because emergency responders did not have access to Steve's emergency contacts. Parent Grief worked with Ohio lawmakers to establish the Ohio Next of Kin Database, so that individuals can enter emergency contact information into the system.
(www.myemergencycontactinfo.org)
As of 2009, Penn Yee had volunteered with the Sacramento Police Department for 12 years, with the Neighborhood Resource Center and Volunteer in Patrol (VIP) program. Penn has contributed nearly 3,000 volunteer hours and is dedicated to supporting the patrol activities of the police department.
(www.sacpd.org)