Volunteering to Help Child Learn to Read in Traverse City Michigan
2007 Governor's Service Awards to be Presented June 20th in Detroit
First Gentleman Mulhern Announces 41 Finalists from Across Michigan
First Gentleman Daniel G. Mulhern today announced the finalists for the 2007 Governor'due south Service Awards who will be honored next month during ceremonies at the Fox Theatre in Detroit. The 40 finalists have been selected from most 180 individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations from beyond the state who were nominated for their commitment to volunteer service.
"Volunteers are heroes who give of themselves without thought of praise or recognition," said Commencement Gentleman Daniel G. Mulhern, chair of the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC), which hosts the annual recognition. "The value of volunteers and their impact on local communities is highlighted past the willingness of Michigan'south corporate leaders to footstep frontwards and sponsor this event. We are grateful for the volunteers and the support of our sponsors."
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm will honor the finalists during an awards ceremony entitled, "The Miracle of Volunteering," on Wednesday, June 20, at the Fob Theatre in Detroit. The 2007 Governor'due south Service Awards volition be a theatre-style event with The Miracles every bit the featured performers. Other local musical artists and performers will besides pay tribute to the honorees.
In addition to recognizing the Governor's Service Award recipients in viii categories, Governor Granholm will besides present the Carter Partnership Laurels, the Russell G. Mawby Award for Philanthropy, and the Community Foundation Laurels for Philanthropy.
The Governor's Service Awards are an almanac statewide recognition acknowledging the contributions made by Michigan volunteers. This commemoration is made possible only through the generous contributions of its sponsors. To date, the Platinum Sponsor is State Farm Insurance. The Gold Sponsors are Ford Motor Company Fund and Lear Corporation. The Premier Sponsors are Comcast, DaimlerChrysler, DTE Energy Foundation, EDS, Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, MASCO Corporation Foundation, and Meijer. The Governor'southward Champions are Comer Holdings, ConnectMichigan Alliance, CMS Energy/Consumers Energy, Delta Dental, Greektown Casino, and Pfizer. The Governor's Heroes are the Wellness Brotherhood Programme, Mawby Family Fund/Battle Creek Community Foundation, and Michigan Nonprofit Association.
The Michigan Community Service Commission is committed to building a civilisation of volunteer service to strengthen communities. The MCSC is part of the Michigan Department of Homo Services.
To purchase tickets to attend the event or for more data about the Governor's Service Awards, visit www.michigan.gov/mcsc or call (517) 373-4200.
The laurels finalists are:
Governor George Romney Lifetime Achievement Award
This honor, the most prestigious of the Governor's Service Awards, honors an individual who has taken his or her volunteer service to the highest level-twelvemonth afterward year. It honors an individual, normally a senior citizen, who has demonstrated a lifelong delivery to customs involvement and volunteer service. Individuals nominated in this category have made service a way of life for many, many years. The finalists are:
Fred Bentz of Ann Arbor has been serving the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System for more than 46 years in numerous capacities and has accumulated more than than 19,300 hours of service. He has done everything from bugle performances at the VAAAHS groundbreaking anniversary to providing guidance for outpatients. Fred has volunteered at the Graf-O'Hara Veterans of Foreign Wars Mail 423 where serving other veterans is his greatest pleasure. He was the administrator of a special fund to provide emergency services to indigent veterans and their families. He has also been involved with funeral details past playing taps and ensuring veterans receive a proper and dignified burial. He is a self-taught musician and helped organize the Ambassadors of Good Volition, a sixteen-slice band that played at VA hospital functions. He has too been involved with the Music Makers, a 5-member band that performs at nursing homes, hospitals, and senior centers.
Lenore Croudy of Flint moved to the community in 1966 and immediately began 39 years of service as an educator and customs volunteer. Her deep customs involvement stems from a determination to make life meliorate for all and to ensure minority youth are exposed to the activities that enable them to live an engaged, active life. Early in her career, she took her students on field trips during her complimentary time, using her ain coin. She organized block clubs and neighborhood associations, developed diversity workshops for teachers, and got involved with political campaigns for area schoolhouse board candidates. She created the Youth Leadership Establish, which teaches African-American students customs leadership. She has served on multiple boards including the Mott Customs Higher, YWCA, Eye for the Visually Dumb, Michigan Customs Higher Clan, Conservancy Army, and Voluntary Activity Eye. She has been involved in many more community endeavors all designed to enhance life in the Flint area.
Margaret Demant of Huntington Woods was built-in in Germany in 1926. She volunteered with Jewish Family Service'due south New American Immigrants plan in the 1970's considering of her childhood experience with KinderTransport-a organisation that transported children out of Federal republic of germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Poland. She helped develop programs to help others access financial assistance, navigate through the immigration system, and receive services such every bit homecare and transportation. She was an active board member and too tutored immigrants in the English language language and American culture. She is also well known in the art world. After witnessing the riots in Detroit in 1967, Margaret wanted to gain a better agreement of the rage felt by the African American community. She looked to the art world and learned that there is not an African discussion for fine art, because in Africa art is not almost hanging pieces for display information technology is near human role. She has used this appreciation equally an active lath member and trustee of the Detroit Institute of Art for more than 30 years. She has also helped ease bigotry confronting women in the business world of interior design. She was involved with the International Furnishing and Design Association and has served in many leadership roles.
James R. C. Hazel, Jr. of Boxing Creek began volunteering as a male child watch when his troop leader modeled the practise of doing one good human action daily. He is all the same agile with scouting today as council board chair and coordinator for troop #322. In 1990, the cancer death of his 28-twelvemonth-old daughter led him to the Battle Creek Customs Foundation where he and his wife established a legacy in her honor. Since then, Jim has been one of the foundation's most agile volunteer leaders and is now trustee emeritus of the foundation. Through the years, Jim has helped create the Kellogg Youth Development Seminars, served on the Calhoun Technical Center Advisory Lath, and expanded the Battle Creek Leadership Academy. He has served the United Fashion, Chamber of Commerce, Shriners, Rotary Club, and the Nutrient Banking concern.
Billy J. Joseph of Kentwood has demonstrated a commitment to service in every customs he has lived for the past 62 years. He has lived in Kentwood for 35 years, where he spends 15 to twenty hours a calendar week in the Kentwood schools coming together with students one-on-one or in modest groups to motivate and back up them. He is an ideal part model, and he created a mentoring program for at-risk students to be matched with business professionals. He has also served on the Kentwood Lath of Education, G Rapids African American Roundtable, Kentwood Community Church Outreach Committee, Kentwood Rotary, One thousand Rapids City Planning Committee, and more. Bill has successfully beaten two serious bouts with lung and prostate cancer. Rather than have information technology deter him, he uses it every bit an opportunity to support others with cancer and to compel him to amend the earth.
Exemplary Community Service Program Award
This award acknowledges the importance an organization or club makes in community life. The nominees in this category strive to make communities better places to live through a diverseness of activities or by focusing on ane issue of main importance in their community. Schools, faith-based organizations, national service programs, nonprofit organizations, and service clubs are potential nominees. The finalists are:
Brother Dan's Nutrient Pantry of Petoskey is a ministry of St. Francis Xavier church and has been serving nutritional nutrient to the needy since 2003. The plan provides clients with iii total days of balanced meals for breakfast, dejeuner, and dinner. The clients are provided with a planned menu, choose groceries from the pantry shelves, and fix their own meals at dwelling house. The pantry is totally staffed by more than 150 volunteers who keep things running smoothly. They stock and clean the pantry, pick up gleaned food from local merchants, grocery shop, fund raise, deliver food to the homebound, plan menus, counterbalance and measure ingredients, and serve pantry clients. In 2006, the pantry served more 79,600 meals. The $3,000 per month needed to operate the pantry is raised from contributions received from St. Francis Xavier parishioners and customs donations.
Kids Food Basket of Chiliad Rapids makes sure that children have a nutritious and tasty meal every weekday year round. Founded in 2001, Kids Food Handbasket (KFB) provides more than than 1,000 children with a succulent sack supper daily. When combined with the school breakfast and lunch programme, the children are receiving proper amounts of calories and the daily-recommended nutrition. With simply ii paid staff members, KFB relies on its more than 75 daily volunteers to get together, pack, and deliver the meals to eleven locations throughout Grand Rapids. Each twelvemonth, more than 800 volunteers-ranging in age from iv to 104-serve KFB. Approximately 40 percent of the volunteers are under the age of xviii. These immature volunteers facilitate food drives, assemble meals, hold "coins for kids" drives, decorate the food numberless. The developed volunteers come from all groundwork, ethnicities, vocations, and walk of life. There are currently five vocational programs volunteering with KFB. Together these volunteers gave more than than 13,500 hours and served more than 154,000 meals.
Michigan Habitat's AmeriCorps Program, based in Lansing, has members serving in local Habitat offices in 15 counties. The AmeriCorps plan has enabled many Habitat affiliates to increment the number of houses they build each year. AmeriCorps and VISTA members serve as construction liaisons, volunteer recruiters, family support members, and VISION 2022 coordinators-a project focused on eliminating substandard housing in targeted areas past 2020. Many are also able to assist with fund raising, grant writing, "ReStore" evolution. Each member too creates a legacy project, which is designed to leave a system in place that will keep to better the local Habitat'due south chapters after the fellow member's term of service is complete. Since 2000, members have provided more than 160,000 hours of service, built 500 homes, and recruited more than 28,000 volunteers who served more than 164,000 hours. Since 2003, Habitat's AmeriCorps has hosted the Russ Mawby Signature Service Project (SSP), which brings together hundreds of AmeriCorps members from throughout Michigan for a rush build. Through the SSP, AmeriCorps members have worked on more than 20 houses in Battle Creek, Benton Harbor, Port Huron, and Grand Rapids.
Tuesday Toolmen of Kalamazoo is an energetic group of sixteen dedicated volunteers who utilise their skills to address abode safety problems and provide barrier free renovations for senior citizens and individuals with disabilities. These RSVP volunteers do electric, plumbing, and covering work, replace doors and windows, and install deadbolts, fume and carbon monoxide detectors, grab confined, and wheelchair ramps. Their skills allow many depression-income seniors to remain safely in their own homes and prevent premature placement in assisted living facilities and nursing homes. Last year these civic-minded gentlemen volunteered 1,700 hours past repairing 128 homes, making xi bulwark free modifications, and completing ten home safety evaluations. This model programme is now being replicated in other communities. Tuesday Toolmen have been serving their community for xi years.
Wigs iv Kids of St. Clair Shores reaches out to children and young adults with hair loss. The plan focuses mainly on cancer patients and includes other advent-related challenges such as alopecia, hydrocephalus, lupus, and trichotillomania. Wigs four Kids, founded in 2003, helps children who struggle with social acceptance based on their concrete appearances past providing customized wigs and services at no price. Children are also educated in the care and maintenance of their wigs. Volunteers are the backbone of Wigs 4 Kids by keeping administrative costs down, helping with community involvement and sensation, and increment the services provided. Each calendar week, the volunteers provide thirty-40 hours of service.
Exemplary Volunteer Service Award
This honour is reserved for an private who strives to better the lives of neighbors, friends, community, or congregation. Individuals nominated for this award could be adults, national service members, educators, and more than. The finalists are:
Mollie Barrett of Mt. Clemens has been caring for her neighborhood, church, and community for more than 37 years. "Miss B" has helped hundreds of families in the metro Detroit area by collecting and distributing clothes, hygiene items, and food. It is estimated that last twelvemonth lonely she gave more 6,000 pieces of article of clothing and more than 400 pairs of shoes from a giveaway site on her front backyard. To encourage people to recycle their gently used items, her favorite saying is, "It's easier to clean your cupboard than your wallet." She has volunteers to help her with her work, and many who one time came to her for assistance are at present volunteering. Despite crippling rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis, Miss B uses a cane, walker, and occasionally a wheelchair, in order to continue helping others. She as well assists her church with the Soup, Sandwich, and Shower on Sundays program, which cares for the homeless with a hot repast, shower, and fresh clothes.
Amy Butler of Eaton Rapids has been changing lives past volunteering since she moved back to her community after college graduation. She has been a member of the Eaton Rapids Brotherhood for Substance Abuse Elimination, provided expertise and assistance to convert all schoolhouse buses and municipal equipment to biodiesel fuel, and coached AYSO soccer and swim teams. She has been a fellow member of the Social club of Eastern Star for more 30 years, has been actively involved with Relay for Life, served on the planning committees for several community festivals, and helped the community create a program to bring arts and cultural to the customs. She has taught community members how to install rain gardens and to do things that will protect the river. The students she works with have enhanced their self-esteem and improved their self-conviction. Her leadership and vision have congenital relationships, provided support and resource, and inspired others to give of themselves. It is estimated that her more than than three,000 hours of volunteer service take impacted eight,500 people and raised more $300,000 for the community.
Kevin Fite of Southfield began a lunchtime chess program when he began teaching at Duffield Unproblematic School in 2002. Beginning with simply two students, "chess fever" shortly spread through the school and grew into an afterward school program. The Duffield Chess Team has amassed numerous awards including iv Urban center Chess Championships, iii Country Championships, and two National Championships. Two of his students have earned the title of #i in the U.S. and more than than 20 of his students accept earned meridian national rankings. His students have traveled to competitions in California, Colorado, Kentucky, and Illinois and in 2007 volition be traveling to Tennessee to defend their national championship. Kevin's philosophy of tough love and encouragement has garnered the respect and financial support of the community. "You can't aid just come to his assist," says one financial supporter. "All you take to do is spotter those kids and you're hooked." Kevin also spends his Sat'southward instruction chess to the children of metro Detroit. He organized the Detroit City Chess Club to reach children outside of Duffield Elementary. His success has prompted a proposal to Detroit Public Schools for a K-12 Curriculum for Critical and Creative Thinking using chess every bit its foundation.
Doug Heslip of Marquette has been a sports volunteer for xv years and has been coaching the Marquette County Youth Football League for the past vi years. His approach to coaching is more about edifice solid citizens than about winning games. He believes it is his responsibility to help each young human develop into a customs leader and athlete. Each yr, he helps 25 young men build their character, ethics, teamwork, integrity, and self-esteem-indeed their whole life. Doug emphasizes citizenship, respect for others, being apprehensive in the face of victory, and winning or losing with class and compassion. He expects his players to display these qualities on and off the field. Doug sets the same high standards for his assistant coaches, and the parents of Doug'south players sense the higher standard and reply accordingly. In addition to the lives of boys he coaches, he is a true community change agent. He is impacting the whole area through his loftier standards of coaching. Last year his team went undefeated in the youth evolution accomplished and in the win/loss column.
Amyre Makupson of Southfield is a woman of many interests and talents. During her 27-twelvemonth broadcasting career she hosted the Children'southward Miracle Network Telethon, United Negro College Fund Telethon, March of Dimes Telethon, and the Michigan Humane Society Telethon. During her dissemination career she won numerous awards including six Emmy Awards, Michiganian of the Year, 2002 Distinguished Woman of the Yr, and more than. Non i to residue on her award, she pours her centre and soul into her volunteer piece of work and nowhere is this more apparent than in her service to the Alzheimer'due south Association. Amyre has served on their board of directors and chaired Chocolate Jubilee, their major fundraising upshot, for nearly 20 years. In that time, the event has grown from raising $25,000 to close to $1 meg. She is an agile Alzheimer'southward advocate and her interest has raised tremendous awareness and back up for the Alzheimer'south Clan'southward network of services. She is bachelor to give love and care to those who take family members with Alzheimer's and understands the importance of giving caregivers a respite interruption. Amyre also volunteers with other civic and charitable events such as the Sickle Cell Association, March of Dimes, The Skillman Foundation, Covenant House of Michigan, and Providence Hospital Foundation.
Kim Viazanko of Clarkston has a passionate need to help others, which was instilled by her parents at an early age. When her daughter expressed interest in volunteering, she developed a project involving all of the children in her daughter's elementary schoolhouse. Serving Our Community Kids in Style (SOCKS) helps children of all abilities come across the needs of others. It includes an age-appropriate community service project for each grade level that connects to the land's school curriculum benchmarks. For example, outset graders make cat and canis familiaris toys for the animals at the Michigan Humane Society and quaternary graders made fleece blankets and delivered them to Beaumont Infirmary for patients in the Neo-natal and Oncology Units. More than than ii,349 students and teachers and more than 230 community volunteers have been involved in the SOCKS program during the past four years. More than $1,200 was raised through pop can drives benefiting Paws with a Cause and seven cargo vans were filled with food clothing, and household items for those in need. In add-on, Kim volunteers in her children's classrooms and has chaired many other schoolhouse district events.
Innovative Mentoring Program Accolade
This award is presented to a mentoring program or organisation that has found a unique and constructive approach to mentoring children. This progressive organization maximizes express resources and recognizes that with volunteers, anything is possible. The finalists are:
The Henry Ford Youth Mentorship Plan in Westland is a 17-year partnership between The Henry Ford and Wayne Westland Community Schools. The organizations are fifty/50 partners on this project that began with grants from DeWitt Wallace Readers Digest and the Land of Michigan. The program is at present a sustained partnership that has served more than than 200 at-chance high school students and affected the lives of more than than 100 mentors. While most programs at The Henry Ford are open to the general public, the Youth Mentorship Program is offered each yr to xiv high school students who are at-take chances of dropping out. These students earn credit by spending the second one-half of each school solar day, Monday through Thursday, working side by side with a full-time employee at The Henry Ford who has volunteered to serve as a mentor. On Fridays, the students mentor first graders by using a four-step service-learning model to develop projects that address the needs of the first graders.
Kids Hope Usa of Holland creates self-sustaining mentoring partnerships betwixt church building congregations and neighborhood public elementary schools. Funded, staffed, and operated by the congregation, each of the 186 partnerships in Michigan recruit, screen, train, friction match and supervise their more than three,300 relationships with unproblematic-age children. A unique interactive grooming feel prepares the mentors to address the emotional, social, and academic needs of the children. Information technology focuses on five interrelated sections in their weekly ane-hour sessions-connecting, planning, learning, artistic play, and fun. Mentors too have the opportunity to enhance their relationships by participating in church-sponsored activities. Nationwide, research shows that 96 pct of the Kids Hope USA children that are mentored prove improvement in attitude, behavior, and motivation to acquire. Mentors are besides happy with Kids Hope Usa-99 percent reported that the mentoring experience met or exceeded their expectations.
Motherly Intercession of Flintstone serves children in Genesee County who have a parent who was or is currently incarcerated in a local, country, or federal corrections facility. There are a variety of programs offered that are designed to provide support and stability. Reading and Counting to Success provides students with academic mentoring and tutoring in reading, math, and estimator applied science. Arts and Culture Education provides free dance, music, singing, and art classes. The Bonding From a Altitude Children's Visitation Program preserves the family structure during the menses of separation. The Love and Literacy Book Club donated a mobile library of children's books for the mothers and their children to read together while visiting. In 2006 more than 500 children and families participated in Motherly Intercession programs.
Winning Futures - Mentoring Solutions of Warren inspires and prepares young people to succeed. Winning Futures serves students in Highland Park, Oak Park, Warren, Detroit, and Pontiac and is defended to empowering youth to accept control of their lives and overcome their obstacles. The program is customized for threerd through 12th graders so all activities are age advisable. Students, along with their mentors, participate in structured sessions during the schoolhouse day or later on school. Each week, a topic from the workbook such as leadership, piece of work values, or career assessment is presented to the mentors and mentees. Then each mentoring team has grouping discussions, written exercises, cocky-assessments, or hands-on projects facilitated by their mentors. The mentors work with a grouping of three students throughout the school year and mentoring relationships typically last one to v years. Pupil scholarships are also a key component of the plan and scholarships totaling $1.iv one thousand thousand have been presented to students since the program's inception.
Yellow Ribbon Kids of Negaunee is a program of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Marquette and Alger Counties. The program was developed to encounter the needs of adolescents in families with one or both parents deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. Youth are matched with veterans of war, retired National Guard, or regular service members. The unique lucifer allows youth who are struggling with the difficult dynamics caused past the deployment to develop a friendship with someone who has been in a similar state of affairs. Mentors assistance the youth understand the need for deployment, comprehend what their parents may exist experiencing, develop healthy coping skills, process media messages, and merely hang out. This program besides provides respite for the family and kid by having the child out in the community participating in activities such as fishing, basketball game, cooking, and movies.
Outstanding Corporate Citizenship Laurels
Corporations and businesses that excel in community involvement are honored with this award. The commitment to serve is made by employees, both hourly and salaried, and can take many forms including, merely not express to, corporate volunteer programs, budgetary contributions, in-kind gifts, and employee-driven volunteer service. The finalists are:
Comcast Communications, Inc. of Detroit is committed to leveraging their advanced applied science and resources to making a difference in the communities they serve. In 2006, Michigan Comcast employees rendered more than than 27,000 volunteer hours in back up of organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit, United Way Community Services, City Twelvemonth, and many more. Terminal year, Comcast's Michigan Region provided approximately $10 meg in in-kind promotional support for local nonprofit organizations. Additionally, they currently invest up to $iv one thousand thousand annually by offering services that support our schools and life long learning via free cable and high speed Cyberspace to 2,300 schools K-12 and libraries. Their artistic involvement has also led to the development of a homework hotline, a weekly call-in programme to help Detroit students with math bug. Comcast has awarded more than $7.five meg in college aid to more than seven,500 loftier school students through their Leaders and Achievers program, which began in 2001. The Comcast Foundation, established in 1999, has donated more than $thirty one thousand thousand nationwide since its inception, including $325,000 to Michigan nonprofits in 2006 alone.
Grand Traverse Stamping of Traverse City has been partnering with the Traverse City Area Public Schools since 2000. They began by supporting East Bay Uncomplicated School's 240 students and when East Bay closed, the Cherry Knoll Elementary students benefited from their support. Ane projection promotes Castilian educational activity and the other provides a Reading/Literacy Coach to encourage family reading and writing projects. In add-on, M Traverse Stamping provides all fourth graders with nonfiction reading materials from the schoolhouse's book off-white. Grand Traverse Stamping employees also back up the school by attending functions such equally concerts, Read Beyond America, and Cherry Knoll's 50thursday altogether celebration. Employee interest begins at the acme with the constitute managing director. He communicates regularly with the schoolhouse principal and librarian to stay informed about ways Chiliad Traverse Stamping tin back up the schools.
Kellogg Company of Battle Creek is not only the world's leading producer of cereal and convenience foods, they are an icon in philanthropy with their community involvement dating back to their founder, W.K. Kellogg. Employees and retirees are encouraged to volunteer and nonprofits in Battle Creek, throughout Michigan, and worldwide do good financially as well. In 2005 the Kellogg Company began the Kellogg Cares plan, which donates $250 to nonprofit organizations where employees and retirees volunteer 25 hours annually. In improver, each year the Kellogg Visitor gives $7 million greenbacks and $21 million in production to various charitable organizations around the world. In Michigan, Kellogg'south significant philanthropic contributions are seen in the food banks statewide, where more than 680,000 pounds of product was distributed in 2006, and in their commitment to the Battle Creek community.
Medallion Direction, Inc. of Kalamazoo was instrumental in bringing the Art of Leadership program to the Kalamazoo community. Art of Leadership is a youth mentoring program that inspires vision and leadership in young people. In the three years since the program began, fifty students take been directly impacted and numerous other students have been touched indirectly. This grassroots plan requires community back up in club to be successful. In addition to Medallion Management's in-kind and financial support, they brought other customs partners to the table. Employees at Medallion Direction are too involved. Five employees are trained coaches working direct with the immature people. Employees who practise not jitney notice many means to be involved by attending events, advocating for the program, being substitute coaches, and volunteering for community service projects.
United Bancorp, Inc. of Tecumseh has been an integral fellow member of the community since its inception in 1933. Volunteering is a corporate and personal responsibility all United employees take seriously. They are involved with United Manner, service clubs, faith-based organizations, schools, and many other nonprofit organizations. Annually, more than than 40 percent of United's workforce volunteers nearly 13,000 hours with 170 community organizations. In addition, each year the banking concern contributes approximately $300,000 to support local organizations and events. Employees are also serious about their financial contributions. During the 2005-06 Lenawee United Way Campaign, 100 percent of the co-workers made contributions that were matched 100 percent by United Bancorp.
Outstanding Mentor Award
This accolade honors an individual who has fabricated a significant divergence in a child's life over fourth dimension through mentoring. For the purpose of this award, mentoring is divers as a structured and trusting relationship that brings a immature person together with a caring individual who offers guidance, back up, and encouragement aimed at developing the competence and character of the mentee. The finalists are:
Tim Davis of Cadillac has a long history of volunteering and got involved with mentoring more than than seven years ago. Tim had been mentoring the 10-year-old boy he was matched with for well-nigh viii months when he was asked to consider mentoring a 2nd boy. Tim said yes and has been involved in both boys lives ever since. The highlights of the mentoring experiences include camping, canoeing, target shooting, hunting, and biking. He made sure ane of the boys attended hunting safe classes and helped him learn to bulldoze. The other swain happened to attend Tim's church building, and so Tim helped him go more involved and was present at his baptism. While some of the issues in the boys' lives have been serious and complex, Tim has never wavered in his commitment and support. The boys' mothers are united in their praise of Tim, thanking him for setting such a good case and for teaching them to respect others and themselves.
Jim Harkes of Allendale has been Steve's mentor since June of 2005 through the Barnabas Ministries' Mentoring Program. As captain of the City of Kentwood Fire Department, his 24-hour shifts sometimes make mentoring a claiming. Yet he has made his relationship with Steve a priority. Since being mentored by Jim, Steve has non returned to the juvenile detention center and is now off probation. Besides helping with school improvements, Jim has helped Steve find jobs and has exposed him to a diversity of interesting activities. Jim has shown Steve how to snowmobile and, for his birthday, arranged a ride with a professional person NASCAR driver at the Michigan International Speedway. Together they've learned how proficient it feels to give back to the community. They accept collected Toys for Tots, painted a mobile home for a family in their community, and volunteered at church. "Information technology's cool that he's there for me," says Steve. "I can inquire him annihilation and he's at that place. He'd be one of the first people I'd talk to if I demand anything."
Willie Irby, Jr. of Troy began mentoring in 1996 when he got involved with Don Bosco Hall's Developed Mentor Program. He has had ii mentees during his more than 10 years with this program that helps foster intendance youth transition into adulthood. Volition has spent a lot of time with his mentees focusing on career development, academic achievement, and educational back up. They have also made fourth dimension for fun past attending baseball, football, and basketball games. Will also serves on the advisory board for the Adult Mentor Program. When asked what motivated him to go involved with mentoring, Will told this story. "I was on my second tour of duty in Viet Nam and I was continuing in my foxhole with rain pouring down and mud everywhere. We got hit pretty hard past the enemy that day. I remember praying to God during the shelling that if he would go on to watch over me, I would dedicate my life to helping and mentoring others. I have been giving dorsum ever since."
Carlas Quinney, Jr. of Lansing is a senior at Michigan State University and has been mentoring since he was in 9th course at Sexton High School. He began in the PALS program where he helped other students with classes, homework, and social bug. CJ has besides been a Big Brother to a beau from Lansing for 6 years. He has helped Marton grow from an viii-year-one-time with mediocre academic performance into a well-mannered eighth grader with a iii.five GPA. Marton was recently awarded a Promise Scholarship, which volition aid back up his post-secondary instruction. When not working on their studies, the ii can exist institute at the movies, Sexton and MSU football game games, and going out to dinner. By and large, though, they just hang out as friends doing everyday things. In addition to being a Big Brother, CJ recognizes the great demand for male mentors and is committed to raising awareness and recruiting men to fill up this void. He is involved with Break the Cycle, a national organization that works with at-run a risk youth to help them break the bike of poverty, gang involvement, drug habit, hopelessness, and despair. Upon his graduation from MSU, CJ plans to continue his work with BTC to bring the programme to more states and schools throughout the U.S.
Michele Ripka of Grand Haven has been a mentor with the Journey 4-H Youth Mentoring program for vi years. During this time she has been matched with three young women who had differing needs, and Michele adjusted her mentoring fashion to assistance each ane. Jamie is her current friction match and together they have successfully traveled crude and adventurous roads. A contempo accomplishment was their training and participation in the Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Run. The two novice runners supported each other every bit they trained and slowly made lifestyle changes to sustain their new healthy focus. Jamie faced some family and friends who gave her excuses not to run and encouraged her to make unhealthy food choices. Michele faced an injury but earlier the big consequence. Together they prevailed and lost more than forty pounds between them and Michele lowered her cholesterol by 44 points. With love, care, and persistence, Michele has changed the lives of iii young women by showing them the variety of options they accept for their futures. Michele has also helped mentoring programs with projects and fundraising, encouraged and supported mentors, and recruited new mentors in Ottawa County.
Senior Volunteer Award of Excellence
This category honors individuals who are historic period 65 or older. These nominees may be involved with many activities or given significant time to 1 particular cause. The finalists are:
Herman Dooha of Detroit is a champion in the motility for peace, stands upwards in the fight for racial justice, and strives to improve the quality of life and care for seniors. Hy has been on numerous boards and fought ardently for the people often abhorred or neglected by gild. At the age of 84, merely months after losing his beloved wife, he accepted the presidency of the board for the Citizens for Better Intendance. At that place he established a fund in her name that is used for advancement and education. When volunteering with the American Legion, he secured housing for disadvantaged seniors. He worked on a multifariousness of causes with the NAACP, participated in peace marches, and co-founded what is believed to exist the first racially integrated law firm in the U.South. In the 1970'due south, he helped form New Detroit to address the social problems in Detroit. He has also volunteered with the Children'southward Orthogenic School, serving children with special needs.
Jai B. Jaglan of Okemos is a volunteer hero with the Greater Lansing Nutrient Bank. As secretary of the India Cultural Society of Greater Lansing (ICS), he promoted the idea of helping to feed the hungry and homeless to the Indian community. The donations from the ICS have grown over the years from $4,500 to $22,000 in 2006. The funds raised have helped feed the ane,660 families the Nutrient Bank serves each month. Jai has likewise arranged claret drives at the Bharatiya Temple for the American Red Cross and has volunteered his time to deliver Meals on Wheels. Each Jan 1st he hosts a earth peace prayer at his Temple and was instrumental in helping Advent House Ministries start serving a monthly vegetarian meal.
Roger F. Roty of Jackson has been a special friend to Catholic Charities of Jackson for many years. He served on the lath of directors for 15 years and has been instrumental in fundraising past planning and rolling up his sleeves and getting to work. His favorite projection is the Personal Needs/Linen Cupboard, which provides items to those in need. The staff believes he considers his volunteer service with Catholic Charities a full-time job because he volunteers approximately 40 hours each week. He has also been involved with the Partnership Park Program, Boy Scout Troop #424, the McDonald's Sidekick Soccer programme, and the Rotary Social club. He is active in his church building and has been a soccer and t-ball jitney for years.
Rita Van Boven of Fremont is an agile volunteer at Gerber Memorial Health Services, a 77-bed nonprofit rural infirmary. She developed the Administrator Volunteer Program to let nurses and staff in the emergency area to focus their skills on healing, while an Ambassador provides updates to families in the emergency waiting room. She developed the Navigator Volunteer Program, which has volunteers escorting visitors to patient rooms, transporting materials from one department to some other, and providing other services around the hospital. She also helped develop Valet Parking for hospital guests. She has served on the GMHS board of trustees for 10 years, has provided customer service seminars and training, and founded a Teddy Bear bulldoze. She as well volunteers with her church, the Newaygo County Customs Services, the library, the museum, and more.
Peg Yake of Lexington began taking children into her home in the 1940's, and thus began a long career of helping others. The first 4 children were from the Children's Aid Society, and within a year she took in four more children. During her life, she has opened her home to xx-six foster children. Her house was also a home for her four grandchildren, ii of whom she and her married man adopted. Peg's home has been a second dwelling house to endless teens over the years who felt they were safe and loved there. Peg was a Girl Sentinel leader for many years and knows that she could still "set up military camp" if needed, and laughs at the thought of doing and then now at age ninety. Peg helped start Project Blessing, which collects nutrient and clothing for those in need.
Youth Volunteer Award of Excellence
This category honors individuals who are age 21 or younger. These nominees may exist involved with many activities or given significant time to i particular cause.
Bridget Gaitor of Taylor is a senior at Harry S. Truman Loftier School. She began volunteering in the eightth grade through school-sponsored service activities. She has spent countless hours volunteering at the Oakwood Heritage Infirmary where her service touches immature and quondam alike, including her classmates and peers. She has volunteered with the Penrickton Heart for blind children, served as a Teens Against Tobacco Use facilitator, and been involved with Natural Helpers facilitating peer counseling. Bridget is president of the African American Teen Leadership Council, junior volunteer staff at the Boys and Girls Club, a member of the Taylor Youth Council, and the driving strength behind the Prom Pledge entrada to promote safety and salubrious prom experiences. She is a member of the Taylor Substance Corruption Job Force and has helped program the Drug-Free Taylor Day and Turn Off the Violence projects.
Lorie Petersen of Ionia is a senior at Ionia Loftier Schoolhouse. She is a talented musician and uses her astonishing skills on the harp to serve others. As a freshman, she undertook fund raising projects to earn $xv,000 to purchase a concert harp, which she now plays freely for others. She is a favorite entertainer for the residents at Ionia County Memorial Hospital, Hospice of Michigan, Green Acres Retirement Village, Heartlands Health Care Facility, and more. She is also a guest musician at Lord's day services at Ionia area churches of all denominations. She is involved with the Blue Crew Mentors and the Invisible Children Organization. Lorie serves as an educational intern and mentor for seventh form ring students at Ionia Center School. She is a mentor for SS. Peter and Paul Youth Program, Eucharistic minister, and server at the Ionia Expanse Soup Kitchen.
Laura Salani of Marquette is a senior at Marquette Senior High School. In Oct of 2005, 2 of Laura'south friends were defenseless in a strong cross current and drown in an surface area called Picnic Rocks just off the Marquette shoreline. Laura began talking with friends and customs members and became aware that 13 deaths past drowning had occurred in this area since 1961-and at that place had been ane more drowning since her friends' deaths. Laura started a entrada to take alarm signage erected at the beach. Her efforts caught the attention of customs members and students at Northern Michigan University, who joined her in her piece of work. The City of Marquette has installed ii large signs at the beach and posted approximately 30 warning signs on the trash containers in the expanse. Laura is now raising funds to cock a memorial at the site.
Jocelyn Sample of Detroit is a senior at Cass Technical High School. In 6th grade she was selected by her teachers to participate in the Art of Leadership programme and has been involved ever since. She uses much of her costless fourth dimension to nourish Fine art of Leadership classes and participate in customs service projects. Along with other ART of Leadership participants, Jocelyn helped pigment 12 homes in inner city Detroit and improved the outside of 14 additional homes with paint, landscaping, and full general yard clean up. She helped organize a customs health fair, a Mind, Body, & Spirit Field Day, planned and modeled in a fashion show for elementary school children to showcase appropriate, yet cool, attire, and more.
Sandeep Singh of Battle Creek is a senior at Harper Creek Loftier School. He volunteers at the VA Medical Heart where he has served in a variety of settings such as the Summertime Serves Program, Medical Service, Community and Volunteer Service, and Nursing Home Care Unit. He is also a member of the VA Youth Quango where he serves with other high school students to plan and host special events for the patients. He has volunteered with the American Red Cantankerous and SAFE Identify. He has helped his school's Add together Committee raise funds for Heifer International and is raising funds for HIV/AIDS orphans in Africa. Last summer he helped two Guru Nanak Projects enhance $two,500 to build a school in India to help educate the homeless.
Source: https://www.michigan.gov/leo/0,5863,7-336-94421_95498_6118_11733-167572--m_2007_5,00.html
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