Governor Snyder Announces Finalists for 2014 Governor's Service Awards

Gov. Rick Snyder today announced the 40 finalists for the 2014 Governor's Service Awards. The finalists have been selected from more than 160 individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations statewide for their commitment to volunteer service.

“Michigan’s comeback relies on volunteers across the state making a difference in their communities and I’m pleased to honor those who have gone above and beyond in this effort,” said Snyder. “These 40 finalists exemplify what it means to get involved, do something and have a positive impact on our great state. I want to commend and thank them for their service.”

The Governor’s Service Awards recipients will be honored during a special ceremony titled "An Evening with the Stars" Monday, June 30 at the Gem Theatre in Detroit. During the ceremony, one overall winner in each category will be announced. The event will also feature musical entertainment by Toppermost, a Beatles Tribute Band.

The 40 outstanding volunteer finalists are being honored in one of eight different award categories that reflect the diverse nature of volunteers throughout Michigan. The award categories are: Governor George Romney Lifetime Achievement Award; Corporate Community Leader Award; Mentor of the Year Award; Volunteer of the Year Award; Senior Volunteer of the Year Award; Youth Volunteer of the Year Award; Outstanding National Service Program Award; and Outstanding Volunteer Program Award.

The Governor's Service Awards ceremony is an annual statewide recognition event acknowledging the contributions made by Michigan volunteers. This celebration is made possible only through the generous contributions of its sponsors. To date those sponsors include: Ford Motor Company Fund, DTE Energy Foundation, Meijer, Comcast, Comer Holdings, Lear, Acheson Ventures, Consumers Energy, Council of Michigan Foundations, Jackson National, Michigan Nonprofit Association, Greenstone Farm Credit Services, MASCO and Quicken Loans/Rock Ventures.

The event is coordinated by the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC), the state’s lead agency on volunteerism. The MCSC strives to engage all Michigan residents in volunteerism to address critical community challenges. It is part of the Michigan Department of Human Services.

The 2014 award finalists are:

Governor George Romney Lifetime Achievement Award  This award, the most prestigious of the Governor's Service Awards, honors an individual who has taken his or her volunteer service to the highest level - year after year. It honors an individual, usually a senior citizen, who has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to community involvement and volunteer service. Individuals nominated in this category have made service a way of life for many, many years. The finalists are:

• Wayne Brusate of Port Huron began volunteering in the sixth grade as a Safety Patrol and Service Squad member, a rewarding role that eventually led him to lifelong volunteering. Growing up around the water, Wayne saw the need to teach people water safety, becoming a Water Safety Instructor, certified SCUBA Instructor and licensed EMT. Over the years he has volunteered his time and instructor services to local football games, hospitals, Boy Scout events, the YMCA and charitable events. He also taught water safety, canoe handling and CPR to various groups, as well as training for Ice Rescue and Swiftwater Rescue. Wayne has been a volunteer firefighter with multiple fire departments, is a 43-year volunteer with the St. Clair County Dive Team, and participates with the St. Clair County Hazardous Operations Team. He logs more than 1,200 hours a year working on community projects, dive and HAZMAT team operations, training and fundraising efforts. In addition, Wayne has been instrumental in raising more than $1 million for dive teams in southeast Michigan.

• Phillip Wm. Fisher of Bloomfield Hills has spent more than 25,000 hours, the equivalent of 13 years of full-time work, as a volunteer since he first started serving in his early 20s. Phillip’s volunteer activities have directly aided more than 10,000 individuals and have raised around $100 million for more than 20 community and state organizations. He was raised with the understanding that giving back is a lifelong obligation and began his service in the 1970s with the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. In the years following, Phillip has given his time to Starfish Family Services, Family Service Alliance, Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan, United Jewish Charities, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, United Way, Children’s Leadership Council of Michigan, The Henry Ford and the Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation. Phillip’s philanthropic activities eventually led him to found Mission Throttle, an organization devoted to developing tools and creative ways to accelerate the evolution of philanthropy.

• Mary K. Hoodhood of Grand Rapids has never let adversity stand in her way, especially when it comes to giving back to the community. An auto accident in 1980 left Mary K confined to a wheelchair, but that accident put her on a path to volunteering, beginning as a volunteer for the Meals on Wheels program at God’s Kitchen in 1981. Mary K’s passion, however, is Kids’ Food Basket (KFB), which she founded in 2001 to combat childhood hunger. Originally created to provide an evening meal to 125 children at three Grand Rapids’ public schools, today KFB feeds 5,700 children at 32 schools in greater Grand Rapids and 600 kids at two Muskegon schools. KFB recently launched Kids’ Supper Club, a nationwide program that allows organizations to use the KFB model to attack childhood hunger in their communities. In addition to the thousands of hours Mary K has dedicated to KFB, she also has volunteered many hours of time to community groups such as Indian Trails Camp, Kent County Juvenile Court, Kent County Chapter of the American Red Cross, Michigan Quality Community Care Council, Americans with Disabilities Act Advisory Committee and many more. In 2010, Mary K received the Presidential Citizen’s Medal from President Barack Obama for her efforts with Kids’ Food Basket.

• Diane Imredy of Ann Arbor has spent more than 20 years volunteering at Arbor Hospice, providing support in numerous ways and making a substantial impact to the organization and its patients. She witnessed hospice carefirsthand with a family member and saw how impactful and important hospice care is for families. Since 1990, Diane has provided more than 9,000 hours of administrative support, caregiver relief and patient companionship. When she worked as a part-time employee for Arbor Hospice, she donated one-quarter of her wages back to the organization. Additionally, Diane has volunteered since 2002 with the Washtenaw-Lenawee Chapter of the American Red Cross where she spends one day a week providing administrative support. In 13 years she has logged nearly 2,000 volunteer hours with the Chapter.

• Diana Langshaw of Augusta has been volunteering for more than 50 years, providing assistance to youth and families, adults and senior citizens, along with local and state government through more than 46 different organizations. An avid 4-H supporter, Diana gives much of her time and talents to developing youth and improving the community. She has volunteered an impressive 53,000 hours, given more than $16,000 from her own pocket, and donated $5,000 worth of animals from her family farm to the 4-H program. Diana also has been leading a major fundraising effort to support the Barry County Fair, especially the animal facilities. In addition to 4-H, Diana spent 10 years as a foster parent for 27 teens and hosted 25 international students, has served four terms as a Ross Township Trustee, makes in-home visits and runs errands for senior citizens, and is involved in a variety of agriculture and horticulture committees.

Senior Volunteer of the Year
Seniors have a wealth of experience to share with their community. That is why an older adult who is taking action to make his or her community a better place is honored with this award. Nominees in this category are ages 65 or older. They may be involved with many activities or given significant time to one particular cause. The finalists are: 

• Archibald “Arch” W. Dettman of East Jordan started volunteering with the Grandvue Medical Care Facility in 2012 after he “needed something to do.” However, Dettman quickly turned that simple “something to do” into becoming one of the favorite volunteers at the facility. Arch can often be found shooting pool with the guys at Friday’s Men’s Club, playing cards with the ladies or making sure all the bird feeders are full. He has served 467 hours with the facility since 2012 and has long held a personal philosophy that helping others leads to happiness. Grandvue officials try to help patients overcome the loneliness, helplessness and boredom that can plague residents of long term care and help them create a life worth living. Associates say that Dettman’s approach with patients fits perfectly with their mission. He doesn’t shy away from those patients with severe dementia or Alzheimer’s, instead he finds common ground and connects with them. Arch has even been called the “Mary Poppins” of the facility for all the smiles and joy he brings others. 

• Harold “Bud” L. Irving of Escanaba has a unique way of serving veterans in his Upper Peninsula community. For 25 years, his dogs have accompanied Bud as he serves as a registered volunteer driver for the Delta County Department of Human Services and the Upper Peninsula Health Plan, helping veterans travel to doctor appointments. His first dog, Chubbers, became part of Bud’s unique volunteer driving service with a touch of pet therapy. In addition to driving, Bud and Chubbers also spent long hours with patients recovering from chemotherapy or dialysis. Word spread and soon patients were requesting the “guy with the dog.” When Chubbers passed away, Bud trained Choppers so they could continue visiting patients for pet therapy visits. Bud has volunteered 14,263 hours for the Delta County DHS and logged more than 375,000 miles. In 2013, he contributed 534 hours and 1,037 miles. Bud and his dogs have served as many ailing veterans’ best friends during some of their toughest moments.

•  Geri Kimbro of Port Huron has been known as “Grandma Geri” to local children for many years. She has served as a foster grandparent through the Council on Aging in St. Clair County since 1996, volunteering nearly 17,000 hours and inspiring hundreds of children to learn to read through the program. Geri has also been involved with a faith-based initiative, Save Our Neighborhood and Streets (S.O.N.S.), mentoring several at-risk youth and helping them develop the skills to become successful adults. In 1998, she helped create a local program in celebration of Martin Luther King and has helped lead the event for the past 15 years. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Council on Aging. Geri has received many awards for her service, including the Council on Aging’s “Special Volunteer of the Year” in 1999, the “Heart of Gold” award from the United Way of St. Clair County in 2007, and the Blue Water Community Action Agency’s “Beacon of Light” award. In 2013, the NAACP honored her for her lifetime of service by creating “The Geri Kimbro Humanitarian Award.” 

• Dennis Sparks of Ann Arbor has not only helped hospice patients and their families create memories, he put together a volunteer service that allows them to actually watch the memories. Dennis founded the Arbor Hospice Treasured Memories program, a volunteer service that provides a DVD of patients and family conversations, moments and memories for precious keepsakes. He has created DVDs for more than 50 families since the inception. He said the videos give patients and families the opportunity to say important messages to each other and also to children and grandchildren not yet born. Dennis also has volunteered for Arbor Hospice providing caregiver relief, direct patient care, administrative support, as well as serving as a support group facilitator. He also helped create the Arbor Hospice blog and helps with communications. Since 2009, Dennis has contributed more than 737 hours for Arbor Hospice. 

• Joan Elizabeth Zbacnik of Marquette isn’t a storm chaser, but she always winds up on the scene of disasters to help those in need. She documented more than 3,000 hours with the American Red Cross in 2013 and for the last 11 years has been a Disaster Action Team leader and been on-call to assist fire victims in Marquette County. Joan has responded to 22 disaster-stricken areas across the country to help victims, including the disasters of Hurricane Katrina, Superstorm Sandy, the 2013 Oklahoma tornados and the 2013 Colorado flooding. As a volunteer with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Joan has logged more than 14,853 hours, donating 18 hours a week for the last 16 years to drive seniors to doctor appointments, help fundraise and assist with events. Other volunteer projects have included LifeTracker, which allows Alzheimer’s and Autistic clients to be located when lost, serving as a trolley tour guide for the Marquette County Transit Authority, helping with her community’s annual park clean-up and participating in Project Gift Wrap. Whether it’s been a disaster or a simple project, Joan has always been the “calm within the storm” while helping those around her.

Volunteer of the Year
When it comes to solving community problems, individuals really make things happen. These everyday citizens are very special people who go the extra mile for their community. This award is reserved for an individual who strives to improve the lives of neighbors, friends, community, or congregation.  Individuals nominated for this award could be adults, national service members, educators, and more. The finalists are:

• Howard Boulis of Farwell has logged hundreds of thousands of miles since 1991 after retiring early. Those miles haven’t been for sight-seeing, however, they have been for helping children. Harold has been transporting foster children for more than 22 years, working long hours on nights and weekends and rarely turning down an opportunity to transport children because he understands how important his role can be. While the transition between families may be difficult for the children, Harold tries to connect with the children to make them smile and feel safe. Many look up to him as “grandpa” and he is a highly requested driver for many children. He has even purchased vehicles with DVD players because he knows how much the children love them. Harold’s vehicles racked up an impressive 77,748 miles in 2012 and 60,977 miles in 2013. He also has volunteered more than 33,000 hours in addition to the extensive mileage.

• Diane Isleib of Munising has dedicated 31 years to the Alger County 4-H Club and to improving the lives of the children in the club. A positive mentoring experience with a 4-H club leader when she was young prompted her to want to make sure other students had the same opportunities. Under her leadership, Diana’s Munising 4-H Club has been one of the largest and most popular in the area, averaging more than 30 members. She has taught sewing, quilting and craft classes to her club members, making a positive impact on countless young lives. She has exceeded 16,000 volunteer hours with the club and through her leadership roles she has helped the club raise more than $100,000. She regularly volunteers with the Great Strides Walk-a-Thon for Cystic Fibrosis, Make-a-Difference Day and the Alger County Fair. For 18 years, she also made an impression on hundreds of youth by serving as youth director at Calvary Church of Negaunee, where she still continues to teach Sunday school and help with youth activities. 

• Gloria Mireles of Marshall has experienced the fight to keep her own home. Now she is helping others stay off the streets. Gloria labored as a migrant worker until the age of 17 and had to overcome much adversity in her life, but that only strengthened her desire to help others. Through the Homeless Angels program, Gloria helped nine homeless people get off the streets and she continues to help the homeless with job search assistance, housing and rehabilitation. She serves as an inspiration to others, especially when it comes to her devotion to the American Red Cross. Since age 18, Gloria has given blood every 56 days and is nearing her ninth gallon in donations. Gloria’s volunteering hasn’t stopped there, having donated 500 hours to multiple organizations in 2013. She has been involved with local cultural festivals, Relay for Life, after school programs, Hispanic soccer leagues and even helped organize an event to raise more than $7,500 for a comatose young man to help with medical expenses.

• Monica Slagh of Zeeland began volunteering as a high school senior after receiving a strong suggestion from her mother to start serving others to straighten out her problems; but volunteerism soon took hold and became a big part of her life. Now at age 23, Monica has spent 6,830 hours in the past four years connecting with 1,500 children at the Bridge Youth Ministry Center, specializing in helping at-risk youth reach their potential. Monica often works with students that have been suspended, students who have had a low priority on academic achievement, or others who have had a tough time organizing or focusing on schoolwork. She has actively engaged with these students and helped encourage many to great heights. In addition, Monica has served as an AmeriCorps member, taught Sunday school, served as a summer activities director and helped raise $4,000 in food donations to a local food bank.

• Gary Sweet of Carson City simply loves his community and would do anything to help it. Recognizing a need and wanting to make a difference in children’s lives, he created the Carson City Youth Baseball League and served as a volunteer coach, teaching many youth not only how to play, but also sportsmanship and teamwork. Over the years, Gary has remained active in youth sports by recording stats at high school football games and cross country meets, and even giving the scoreboard a fresh coat of paint when needed. His love of community, school and sports reached a new level after his father died in 1988. He created the William Sweet Foundation, in honor of his father, which provides scholarships for five senior student-athletes from Carson City-Crystal area schools. Gary helps out the community youth in the classroom as well, mentoring students and recruiting other volunteers to help give extra attention to students. But it isn’t just youth that get Gary’s attention; he takes pride in the entire community and the people that live there. He demonstrates this by leading an annual Memorial Day service in Carson City to honor those who have fought for our country, as well as keeping his community informed by attending nearly every school board and city council meeting and reporting on them in the local newspaper.  

Mentor of the Year
Mentors change lives. They give of themselves personally to a child month after month, year after year. This award honors an individual who has made a significant difference in a child's life through mentoring. For the purpose of this award, mentoring is defined as a structured and trusting relationship that brings a young person together with a caring individual who offers guidance, support, and encouragement. As a result, the mentee experiences improvements in grades, behaviors, social interactions, etc. The finalists are: 

• Don Gellish of Clarkston served as a devoted mentor to Steven from 2009 right up until Don’s death in February. Matched through the Mentors Plus Program of Oakland County Youth Assistance, Don and Steven regularly participated in many activities together including attending Mentors Plus group events, playing chess, visiting museums and science centers, swimming, rock climbing and watching sporting events such as Lions and Pistons games. Don dedicated more than 25 hours each month to helping Steven become a better person by serving as a liaison between Steven’s school and his grandmother, assisting him with homework and supporting him to get extra help at school when needed. Don built a desk for Steven to use for his homework, but more importantly, built Steven’s self-esteem and confidence by involving him in activities, community service projects and family gatherings. After Don’s passing, Steven wrote the following about his mentor, “I would like to take the time to say thank you for being there for me when I needed you most. I really appreciate everything that you’ve done for me and for being the best mentor ever.”

•  Jon Jepson of Flushing first saw Trevor on a television program about unmatched youth and, after being matched through Big Brothers Big Sisters in 2010, Jon has become a regular part of Trevor’s life. The two spend 6-8 hours a month together participating in sporting activities, going out to dinner and attending BBBS activities such as the Kid’s Bowl-A-Mania. Jon makes sure to attend Trevor’s baseball games and helps him with his homework to show him the importance of education. Trevor’s grades have improved and he has even signed up at his school to be a mentor himself. Trevor’s mother has noticed positive changes in her son, and credits Jon for the improvements: “I have never seen one volunteer have such a positive impact on my child as Jon has.” 

• John McElheron of Grand Rapids met his first official mentee, Efren, in 2011 when he began volunteering with Bethany Christian Services, a program that helps refugees who face additional challenges than a typical youth. John has faced those challenges and helped his mentees overcome them to become socially and academically successful. During the past three years, John has devoted more than 1,000 hours to providing stable relationships for six different youth from Central America. John includes the youth in his interests and activities (music, art, camping, skiing, history), as well as providing regular meals for them, attending parent-teacher conferences, accompanying them to church, helping with legal affairs, and introducing them to other youth and members of the community. Of his six mentees, five are graduating from high school this year, and three plan to attend college in the fall. John’s dedication is evident when hearing directly from his mentees: “John picked me up and drove me to boxing twice a week, a 90 minute drive. He then bought me boxing gloves. To me, this meant he believed in me.”

• Jaci Richards of Jenison and Laisha’s relationship got off to a rocky start, but perseverance won out. After the Mars Hill Mentorship Program in Grand Rapids matched the two three years ago, Jaci thought about ending the match after a number of challenges arose. However, she stuck with it to see what would happen. Through one-on-one time, Jaci coaxed Laisha out of her shell, introduced her to new activities and helped her learn new things. Weekly school-based mentoring sessions evolved into weekly community outings where Jaci takes Laisha to the library, out to dinner and to community events. As a result of Jaci’s constant mentoring and encouragement, Laisha’s reading and math skills have improved, she always has her homework done, and most importantly she learned honesty and how to trust. Laisha summed up her learning best by saying: “She’s taught me how to be a friend. We became friends forever.”

• Jason Wilson of Detroit knows firsthand the need for young men to have a strong father figure in their lives, having been fatherless himself. He eventually realized his job as a secular DJ didn’t allow him to make a positive impact on local youth. He gave up that lifestyle to found The Yuinon, a faith-based youth development organization in Detroit that has reached more than 7,500 youth since 2003. Jason personally has mentored more than 500 youth through group and one-on-one sessions, incorporating unique approaches such as music and martial arts programs, to provide life skills and prevention training. Participants in those programs have shown improvements in academics, social skills, self-esteem and self-awareness. One parent noted that after her daughter, Destiny, completed the Keys 2 Life music program “her self-esteem has really improved…she is much more vocal and confident and has taken her singing talent to a new level.” 

Youth Volunteer of the Year
Volunteer service that begins at an early age is often carried forward throughout life. That is why a young person who is taking action to make his or her community a better place is honored with this award. Nominees in this category are ages 21 and younger. They may be involved with many activities or give significant time to one particular cause. The finalists are:

•  Carley Dole of Shelbyville, a junior at Thornapple Kellogg High School, hasn’t let a serious horse accident stand between her and the community she loves. After suffering a traumatic brain injury in 2012, she channeled her perseverance and positive attitude into becoming a community ambassador for overcoming challenges. Carley has served on the Barry County Youth Advisory Council since seventh grade and is currently the president. She also serves as a classroom mentor, educating fifth graders about philanthropy through the Circle of Giving program. One of Carley’s favorite activities is being a Big Sister for an elementary student because “one hour mentoring them a week helps them know they are important.” Whether it’s assisting with the United Way’s Day of Caring Projects, volunteering with the Therapeutic Horse Riding Camp for disabled children, or being involved with the Barry County Substance Abuse Task Force, Carley continues to put the needs of others first and is an inspiration for her community, proving that it’s important to never give up. 

• Mike Funkhouser of Jackson, a senior at Jackson High School, made a very adult decision a year ago that changed his life. Originally focused solely on football and the chance to play at a Division 1 university, Mike decided after his junior year to quit football and focus on being a better person, not a better player. Since then he has served as the president of his school’s National Honor Society, started his own photography business, volunteered more than 100 hours to the local humane society and has spent more than 30 hours with the Youth Advisory Council at the Jackson Community Foundation. Mike also founded a mentoring program at his high school that matches seniors with freshmen to help them adjust to high school. He also organized a leaf pickup drive for the city that raised $2,000 for the high school’s annual food drive. Mike’s most compassionate act though was when he befriended a special-needs student. When the school crowned Mike Homecoming King, he gave his crown to Cody knowing that it was his wish to be king someday. 

• Demitrius Heard of Bloomfield Hills has often felt the pangs of hunger from not having enough food to eat. However, the Loyola High School senior turned that pain into a positive by volunteering once a week at a soup kitchen to make sure others don’t have to feel that pain too. Growing up without a positive male role model, Demetrius is determined to be that role model for others – spending his weekends and school breaks volunteering and fundraising to make his community and the world a better place. He helped build a church in Belize, bunk beds for children on an Indian reservation and repaired homes in Tennessee. He bakes cookies for the homeless in Detroit, created comfort packages for veterans, organized a sock drive and raised funds for Kids Against Hunger. In addition, Demetrius recognized how being on the debate team had a positive influence on himself, and was successful in getting a debate club funded in three Detroit middle schools to provide mentoring opportunities for the students. His positive spirit and constant offerings of support have earned him many accolades and respect from his peers, teachers and community. 

• Evan Kennard of Vassar can be counted on to put a smile on the faces of those around him through his contagious positive attitude. At age 14, Evan, now a senior at Vassar High School, lost two close family members to cancer and decided to channel his emotions into raising money to fight the disease by organizing a team for Relay for Life. Since that first team in 2010, Evan has led a team each year, raising more than $300,000 for the American Cancer Society. For the past three years, Evan has participated in mission trips through Reach Work Camps, helping build and improve homes in Indiana, New York and Tennessee. He also volunteers as a camp counselor, is a regular blood donor for the American Red Cross, mentors children with learning disabilities, sings in his church choir and helps out weekly in the church nursery. Evan’s devotion to making a difference has led him to log more than 2,000 hours of service. 

• Emily Torrance of Chelsea is only in sixth grade, but already she has begun to make an impact on the world. Having witnessed the homeless living outside during the winter, she sprang into action to make a difference in their lives by helping them be more comfortable during the cold winter months. In the fall of 2013, Emily started Scarves for the Homeless, making and selling scarves at her school, local businesses and events and through online orders. The money raised goes toward buying high performance outdoor clothing and gear for the homeless population in Ann Arbor through MISSION A2 and Camp Take Notice. So far she has raised nearly $1,000 and purchased multiple sleeping bags, duffle bags, winter boots and socks. Emily’s compassion and generous acts of kindness proves that anyone at any age can make a difference. 

Outstanding National Service Program Award
National service programs commit themselves to making a difference in the communities they serve. These include programs such as AmeriCorps*State, AmeriCorps*VISTA, AmeriCorps*National, Senior Companions, Foster Grandparents, and RSVP. This award honors an extraordinary program or organization that provides a high-quality national service program that yields a significant impact on their Michigan community. The finalists are: 

• Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids has been providing employment assistance since 1966 to individuals with significant employment barriers in eight Michigan counties. Goodwill supports those with disabilities, returning citizens, newly returning and homeless veterans, at-risk youth and others with disadvantaged conditions. In 2010, the Michigan Community Service Commission awarded Goodwill Industries an AmeriCorps grant. AmeriCorps members play an essential role in providing quality employment services to meet the needs of the vulnerable population. They provide intensive services that enhance participants’ abilities to prepare for, find, and keep a job, including a GED program, income support services, mock interviews and services through Goodwill’s Career Center. As a result of AmeriCorps members’ service in 2012-2013, 3,892 economically disadvantaged individuals received job training or other skill development services, 2,704 individuals received job placement services and 810 individuals were placed in employment. AmeriCorps members also recruited 102 volunteers who served 1,356 hours. 

• Power of We Consortium is a health-based AmeriCorps program sponsored by the Ingham County Health Department. In 2009, officials decided that healthier food systems, greenways, and non-motorized forms of transportation were priorities in reducing the alarming rates of obesity in Ingham County. The program serves low-opportunity neighborhoods of Ingham County and focuses on three goals to reduce chronic diseases: education about healthy lifestyles, reducing obesity and promoting affordable exercise options. The program has 22 AmeriCorps members serving at 15 different sites throughout Lansing. In 2013, AmeriCorps members recruited 992 volunteers that served 11,844 hours. The program engaged 647 children and 3,115 adults in nutrition education. AmeriCorps members served 4,838 individuals through salvaged food distribution. A total of 1,040 people participated in physical education programs. The program also engaged 4,365 residents in community gardening programs.

• The Marquette-Alger Regional Education Service Agency (MARESA) “Get Ready, Get Reading” AmeriCorps program focuses on providing one-on-one or small group tutoring specifically targeted to the most salient area of reading need by grade level. AmeriCorps members work with students just under the reading standards who are the least likely student population to receive support through other programs. The goal of the “Get Ready, Get Reading” program is not only to improve academic performance, but also to create engagement in the community. AmeriCorps members help the community by participating in service events, such as highway and school building clean-ups, Salvation Army food drives and Make a Difference Day. 

• The Michigan Foreclosure Prevention Corps (MFPC) assists homeowners who are on the verge of or in mortgage or tax foreclosure. The statewide program is focused around foreclosure prevention and intervention activities including foreclosure intake and triage, marketing and outreach, education and tracking, and mitigating neighborhood impacts of foreclosure. MFPC is completely integrated within the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM) and is included in board reports and trainings. CEDAM has highlighted MFPC AmeriCorps members and their positive impact on its Bright Side television show, which reaches 300,000 Michigan residents. During the 2012-2013 program year, MFPC members served 6,461 new, at-risk homeowners. They also reached 23,815 individuals in outreach efforts through the foreclosure prevention programs. Those helped by the program say its greatest contribution is simple, non-judgmental discussions and advice.

• RSVP – Your Invitation to Volunteer of Kalamazoo is a national service program that engages people ages 55 and older in volunteer service to not only meet community needs, but also enrich the lives of the volunteers. The program began as the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) in 1973 with volunteers serving non-profits, health care organizations, and schools - a mission that continues today. In 2013, RSVP celebrated its 40th anniversary. The group helps give senior volunteers personal guidance, support, and reassurance in finding just the right service opportunity while expanding an older adult’s support network for volunteer engagement. Last year, 458 volunteers donated 75,443 hours to 84 different entities at a value of $1,702,776 worth of service. Volunteers donated time to Helping Hands Happy People, Peer Prevention Players, Volunteers 4 Seniors, Meals on Wheels, Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes, Kalamazoo Literacy Council, and more. 

Outstanding Volunteer Program Award
The extraordinary work volunteers accomplish in communities is often driven by an organization or club. This award acknowledges the importance this support can make in community life. The nominees in this category strive to make communities better places to live through a variety of activities or by focusing on one issue of primary importance in their community. Schools, faith-based organizations, national service programs, nonprofit organizations, and service clubs are potential nominees. The finalists are: 

• The Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan’s Operation School Bell helped distribute clothing to 2,276 students last year. Operation School Bell is the signature program for the National Assistance League’s 120 chapters across the nation that provides clothing to disadvantaged children so they can attend school. Individual chapters assess specific needs in their local communities, then develop, fund and implement the program. The Southeastern Michigan chapter serving Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties has 330 members dedicated to giving children new school clothing and supplies. Since 1995, the Michigan group has distributed clothing and supplies to 19,850 public school children. The Operation School Bell program began in the 1950s as a one-woman effort, and has grown to 120 chapters nationwide. Since 1958, more than 3.5 million children have benefitted from Ruth Ann Montgomery’s vision of making a difference in her community.

• The Community Dispute Resolution Program (CDRP) has been providing conflict resolution for 25 years through dedicated and well-trained volunteers. Eighteen CDRP Centers provide a non-adversarial option for disagreeing parties for whom formal litigation may be unnecessary, inappropriate or unaffordable. The program is based on voluntary participation with an emphasis on finding solutions where nobody loses. It results in resolutions of landlord-tenant disputes, neighbor arguments, small claims and personal disagreements. Since 1998, trained volunteer mediators have guided parties through the process to find win-win solutions. Mediators do not give advice, make suggestions or decide who is right and wrong. They simply help participants express themselves and work toward a solution. In 2012, more than 800 CDRP volunteers provided 17,641 hours of service to 36,715 individuals saving a total market value of $2,477,090.

• The Forgotten Harvest Volunteer Program is one of the largest food rescue organizations in the nation. The program rescued more than 45 million pounds of nutritious food last year. The group saves food that would otherwise go to waste from 455 retail grocers, farms, wholesale distributors, entertainment venues and others. The group then re-packs and re-distributes the food to 260 emergency food providers, homeless shelters and soup kitchens. A total of 16,000 volunteers donated 92,434 hours in 2013. Forgotten Harvest serves more than 715,000 people living in poverty in Metro Detroit. Last year, volunteers harvested 850,000 pounds of vegetables on 103 acres of farmland in Fenton. Forgotten Harvest also provided 134,369 sack lunches through its Summer School Feeding Program. The group also provides programs such as Holiday Meal Assembly, Food Pantry Assistance and other special events and activities.

• The Hospice of the Eastern Upper Peninsula (EUP) is dedicated to providing community support to individuals and families touched by life-threatening illness, grief and loss. The hospice movement stresses human values, which include physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs. The Hospice of EUP addresses each of these areas through its programs and is one of the state’s only voluntary hospice programs still in operation. Community volunteers helped raise funds for the Robert and Helen Ball Hospice House through a Dancing with the Stars event and other local fundraisers. The community raised nearly $1.5 million in just two years to build and pay for the facility. The Hospice of the EUP believes that everyone should be able to live his or her final days in comfort, connected to the people they love, with a sense of completion and peace about their lives and the loved ones they leave behind. In 2012-2013, 163 volunteers donated 9,508 volunteer hours and 2,622 patient care hours to help accomplish this task.

• The Rosedale Grandmont Little League (RGLL) is a non-profit organization that provides an opportunity for the children of northwest Detroit to play baseball and softball in an atmosphere of good sportsmanship, safety and fun. The league is dependent on volunteer efforts. Since the city of Detroit does not operate any youth baseball programs, and surrounding leagues can require a lot of travel and expenses, the RGLL was founded in 1990 to fill a need. It serves between 400 and 800 youth annually. Participants come from 51 surrounding zip codes and around 90 percent of the youth are African American. In 2013, there were 45 teams with an average of 12 players per team. The organization does not officially keep track of volunteer hours, but with three volunteer coaches per team, that amounts to 10,800 hours per year just in coaching. In addition, parent and board volunteers donate at least 3,000 hours to operate the league. 

Corporate Community Leader Award
Corporations and businesses that excel in community involvement are honored with this award. This kind of commitment is made by all employees, both hourly and salaried, and can take many forms including, but not limited to, corporate volunteer programs, monetary contributions, in-kind gifts, and employee-driven volunteer service. The finalists are: 

• American 1 Credit Union in Jackson has been serving Michigan communities for 64 years, growing from serving hundreds in one county, to serving more than 50,000 members in eight counties across southern Michigan. American 1 is not just a financial institution, it is passionate about giving back to its membership and the communities it serves through both financial contributions and employee volunteer efforts. In 2013, donations and sponsorships to the community totaled more than $100,000 between corporate donations and employee fundraising contributions. American 1 hosts 12 annual events for the public, with the income from booth fees and concessions going to local nonprofits. Employees get involved by organizing monthly fundraising events such as bake sales, dress down days, coin wars and more; in 2013 they raised $10,000. During the holidays, American 1 employees collect items and money to send to soldiers serving oversees and local families in the community, to ensure everyone has a wonderful holiday. Employees also played Santa at gas stations, pumping free gas for customers. Aside from these programs, American 1 offers a scholarship program for high school seniors where credit union members donate $25 to the program to skip one month’s loan payment; in 2013, 15 $1,000 scholarships were awarded to local students.

• Ford Motor Company/Ford Motor Company Fund in Dearborn has been improving lives for 110 years through its automotive products and investment in its communities. The company’s founder, Henry Ford, understood his company was only as strong as the community in which it did business. The Ford Motor Company Fund was founded in 1949 so Ford could use company profits to support programs in the communities where Ford employees are located. Focusing on the areas of education, community life and safe driving, Ford has donated more than $60 million to southeast Michigan in the past five years alone. The Ford Fund also provides 500 scholarships each year for students to pursue educational goals. The Ford Volunteer Corps was created in 2005 to get Ford employees engaged in community service. In 2013, volunteers contributed 33,892 hours to Michigan nonprofits. Ford also is concerned with automobile safety, and formed the Ford Driving Skills for Life to teach young drivers safe driving skills. During 2013, more than 9,000 students had hands-on instruction by professionally trained drivers. 

• Jackson National Life Insurance in Lansing is a retirement savings company with more than 4,500 employees across the United States. Commitment to community is one of Jackson National’s corporate values, through giving both time and money to the areas they serve. Since 2007, the company has awarded more than $14 million in grants, $8 million of that to Michigan programs focused on the youth and elderly. Since the inception of the Jackson in Action volunteer program, total employee volunteer hours have exceeded 38,000 hours, with Lansing associates giving more than 6,000 hours in 2013 to local nonprofits. Volunteer activities to highlight include employees forming teams and fundraising for Junior Achievement’s Rock-N-Bowl, helping backstage at All-of-Us Express Children’s Theatre, hosting a 5K race at their headquarters for Ele’s Place, adopting a Meals-on-Wheels route, and attending a service day with the Boys and Girls Club of Lansing. The company also is committed to the environment through recycling programs, carpooling and promoting energy reduction through its building designs. 

• PNC Bank in Troy is a full-service financial institution that takes corporate social responsibility seriously, serving as the primary funder of the PNC Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the institution. The Foundation provides grants to nonprofits that focus on arts and culture programs that impact young children. In 2013, the group donated more than $2.6 million to the community. Additionally, every PNC employee is granted 40 hours per year of paid time off to volunteer in the community; since 2010, 1,200 employees have donated 9,335 hours of their time. In 2010, PNC Bank created Grow Up Great, a structured early-childhood education program in Detroit Public Schools. Funding and employee volunteers allow for classroom projects, parental engagement and educational field trips for the students that otherwise wouldn’t be possible. During 2013, more than 4,300 students benefited from the program. 

• United Auto Workers in Detroit is a business union with members from various businesses and organizations. UAW volunteers provide support to Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and clinics in Michigan to help the Department meet its mission to provide exceptional healthcare to veterans. Members participate by assisting with special events, summer picnics, carnivals, and holiday gift-wrapping. Volunteers also mentor veterans who need to enhance transitional work skills. In 2013, UAW members coordinated with General Motors to donate wheelchair-accessible vans to the VA facilities that allow staff to take patients on medical and recreational outings. Last year, UAW members donated 3,000 hours at the medical facilities to enhance care for veterans; this does not include any time spent coordinating the events or collecting donations. In addition to volunteer time, the UAW also provided Michigan facilities with $7,000 in direct donations and $25,000 in item donations such as televisions, personal care products and gifts.