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Volunteer of the Year - Wendy Jo Morrison
Wendy Jo Morrison is a survivor and has dedicated her life to helping victims become fellow survivors. In 1993, an assailant kidnapped Wendy at gunpoint. The perpetrator attacked her for hours before she managed to escape. Wendy survived, and followed her dream of becoming a Peace Corps volunteer. When Wendy returned to the United States after serving, she continued her education, and achieved success in the corporate world. Despite addressing the emotional components of her attack, Wendy developed devastating physical symptoms years later and was diagnosed with a terminal disease called a Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) in 2010. She left the country for a while in search of holistic healing methods not offered in the United States. In Greece, Wendy discovered Biodynamic Breath and Trauma Release. Wendy became certified in the modality – the only person with this certification in the United States – uses it to help other victims of trauma. Wendy then put all her strength into starting UBU Today, a nonprofit organization focused on helping trauma victims. She serves as an advocate, a leader and an inspiration to survivors. Wendy feels strongly that the assault, combined with the MSA diagnosis, pointed the way to her life’s purpose. “Wendy was there for me all the way, shining her light, guiding the way,” said Rachel Basham, one of UBU Today’s volunteers. “She believed in me before I believed in myself.”