Lansing, Michigan, June 6, 2005 - Today First Gentleman Daniel G. Mulhern announced the 2005 Governor’s Service Awards finalists. The finalists were selected from more than 260 individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations from across the state nominated for their commitment to volunteer service. Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, First Gentleman Daniel G. Mulhern, and Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter will honor them at the Governor’s Service Awards / Carter Partnership Award dinner, being held on Saturday, June 18, 2005 at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn, Michigan.
"Volunteers are a treasure and a great resource that deserve recognition and support from the highest levels," said First Gentleman Mulhern, chair of the Michigan Community Service Commission, the organization sponsoring the event. "The compassion and generosity of volunteers creates positive change in the life of one person, one family, one community; indeed, the world."
The Governor’s Service Awards are an annual statewide recognition program acknowledging the contributions made by Michigan’s volunteers. There are eight award categories and five finalists, whose service is exemplary, are selected in each category. Award winners, selected from the five finalists, will receive an award from Governor Granholm and First Gentleman Mulhern during the evening’s program. All finalists receive a Special Tribute from Governor Granholm.
The celebration of volunteer service is made possible through the generous contributions of the Premier Sponsors – DTE Energy Foundation, Ford Motor Company Fund, General Motors Corporation, GMAC Financial Services, and Lear Corporation. The Pacesetter sponsors are Health Alliance Plan, Meijer, Pfizer, UAW-DaimlerChrysler National Training Center, UAW-Ford National Programs Center, UAW-GM Center for Learning, and W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The Campus Hero sponsors are Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network, Community Foundations of Michigan, Consumers Energy, Delphi Corporation, Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, MGM Grand Detroit Casino, Standard Federal, and State Farm Insurance Company.
The Michigan Community Service Commission, a state agency that builds a culture of service to strengthen communities, issued nomination applications for this year's awards. After a rigorous review by individuals representing nonprofit, volunteer, business, and education organizations, 40 finalists were selected in the eight award categories.
To purchase tickets to attend the event or for more information about the Governor's Service Awards, visit www.michigan.gov/mcsc or call (517) 373-4200.
Finalists for the Governor George Romney Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteerism:
Leslie Algren of Grand Ledge is a cancer survivor who is helping others battling the disease. She volunteers with the American Cancer Society where she has worked on Camp Catch a Rainbow, the Cancer Control Advocacy Team, Reach to Recovery, Relay for Life, and Tell a Friend. She serves on the Department of Defense Scientific Breast Committee and the Michigan Cancer Consortium Breast Cancer Advisory Committee. She volunteers with the Sparrow Regional Cancer Center where she speaks at health fairs and helps host an annual cancer survivor celebration.
Rosemarie Herbert of Jackson has lived her life as an advocate for the less fortunate and has worked tirelessly as a community leader and developer. Never content just to help out, Rosemarie built new programs and then shared her expertise with others so they could carry on. Her activities include support for democracy, fairness for persons in poverty, and assistance to people in crisis. She has been a strong advocate for victims of assault and violence, women’s and minority rights, and restorative justice. She began volunteering in 1950 and has volunteered countless hours with numerous organizations in the Jackson community.
Marjorie Kool of Battle Creek has devoted her life to family, faith, and community. Marjorie and her family have hosted a Christmas celebration for the SAFE Place, a shelter for domestic violence victims, for 18 years. She was an active board member for the Good Samaritan Hospice and the Volunteer Center of Battle Creek. She served as a deacon at the Battle Creek Christian Reformed Church, helped launch the North Pointe Woods senior retirement center, and volunteers with the Burnham Brook senior activities center. She guides the Wheels for the World program, which has collected and refurbished more than 1,500 used wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches for prisons and third world countries.
Fred Mathews of Dowagiac has given 53 years of dedicated service to his community. He helped establish Southwestern Michigan Community College in 1964 and serves as chair of the Board of Trustees today. He is a co-founder of the Michigan Community College Association and assisted the funding efforts to establish Lee Memorial Hospital. He has served on the Cass County Planning Commission, helped found the Dowagiac Area Industrial Development Corporation, and chaired the Rotary Villa Senior Housing project. He also helped establish volunteer vision clinics in Head Start centers in Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren Counties.
Jacqueline Taylor of Grand Rapids is vice president for development at Davenport University where she has been instrumental in supporting community service, volunteerism, and service-learning. She has been involved with Habitat for Humanity of Michigan, the Michigan Women’s Foundation, the Heritage Hill Board, The World Affairs Council of Western Michigan, the Athena Foundation, and the American Council of Education – Michigan Women’s Network. She is an active member of the Rotary Club, served on the Business Action Diversity Committee for The Summit on Healing Racism, and is a founding member of Michigan Campus Compact, where she currently serves on the Executive Committee.
Finalists for the Exemplary Volunteer Service Award:
Mary Becker-Witt of Wellston began volunteering with the Girl Scouts when she was a teenager and has been volunteering ever since. Her volunteer work has demonstrated her commitment to children. She has been a Girl Scout troop leader, service area manager, product sales committee member, and council-wide event director. She is a founding board member of CHOICES, a support organization for victims of domestic violence. She helped start Manistee County Family Advocates, Inc. and has been a school board member at the Kaleva Norman Dickson School District and the Manistee County Intermediate School District.
Colleen Brothers of Pinckney has been a Livingston County American Red Cross volunteer for 12 years. As Disaster Chair, Colleen is available 24/7 to respond to disaster service calls. She has personally responded to hundreds of disasters in the Livingston County area as well as national disasters. She has been personally credited for saving two people’s lives—one while she was on vacation. Already this year, she has responded to more than 40 fires, three of which were on the same day. She has also been involved with fund raising that has raised more than $70,000.
Robert Cedar of Hamtramck focuses his volunteer efforts on peace, environmental issues, and the needs of the less fortunate. His environmental work has resulted in the clean up of a deserted paint factory, saved a local park from being razed, and founded the Hamtramck Environmental Action Team. After 10 years of self-education on medical waste incinerators, he is a grassroots expert and is helping 11 Midwest and Southern states educate local communities. As a result of Robert’s efforts the level of childhood lead poisoning in Hamtramck was reduced from one in four to one in 25.
Timothy Jelenek of Clare founded the Wheels for Wishes (WFW) campaign, a nonprofit that raises funds to support the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Currently in its fifth year, WFW started with a motorcycle ride by Department of Corrections (DOC) employees, families, and friends who solicited pledges for the ride. Tim also started The Dollar Club where DOC prison and field office employees are asked to contribute $1 and their signature. The money helps and the signatures demonstrate love and support for the children and their families. Since the initial ride more than $20,000 has been raised and distributed.
Timothy Sullivan of Livonia gets up at 6:00 a.m. every Saturday morning to lead the PB&J efforts in Detroit’s Cass Corridor. The project has grown from feeding approximately 35 homeless people to more than 250 every Saturday. Tim does his best to fill special requests for bedding, furniture, bicycles, and other needs by seeking donations of church members and other volunteers. He also provides spiritual and job counseling as well as referrals for drug and alcohol rehabilitation, homeless shelters, and medical needs.
Finalists for the Exemplary Community Service Program Award:
Girl Scout Troop #379 of Petoskey engages 13 and 14-year-olds in 8th grade at Petoskey Middle School. Troop members have been volunteering since 1998 when they were in first grade, logging, to date, more than 2,000 hours as a troop. Their most significant project involved the purchase and placement of six automatic external defibrillator (AED) systems in the Petoskey Public Schools. They are responsible for providing AED educational opportunities for students, faculty, staff, the school board, and community members. They funded the project by writing grants raising $14,500.
Earth Works Garden of Detroit is a community-based urban farming program that raises fruits and vegetables for people in need. This flourishing farm spans three quarters of an acre that was once covered with commercial structures. In 2004, more than 1,000 volunteers tended to more than 9,200 pounds of produce, 460 pounds of honey, and 440 flats of plant seedlings. Earth Works Garden not only serves the basic need of feeding hungry people nutritious food, it serves as a model for living in harmony with the environment.
Eaton Community Hospice of Charlotte provides in home care and operates the Hospice House to ensure that the final stages of life for the terminally ill are peaceful. The organization provides, at no cost, physical, emotional, and spiritual care for the terminally ill, their families, and significant others, enabling the terminally ill to die with dignity in their home environment. They run solely on donations and receive no compensation from insurance companies, Medicaid, Medicare, or the State and Federal Government. The Eaton Community Hospice has 147 round the clock volunteers who serve ten hours a day, one to three days a week.
Michigan Habitat’s AmeriCorps Program of Lansing has members serving in local Habitat offices in 13 counties. AmeriCorps members, similar to Peace Corps workers, serve as construction liaisons, volunteer recruiters, and family support members. Since 2000, members have provided more than 75,000 hours of service, built 326 homes, and recruited 17,000 volunteers. For the past three years, this program also hosted the Russ Mawby Signature Service Project, which brings together AmeriCorps members from various programs throughout Michigan for a day of service.
Tuesday Toolmen of Kalamazoo is a group of 11 dedicated volunteers who use their skills to address home safety issues for senior citizens and individuals with disabilities. They do electrical, plumbing, and roofing work, replace doors and windows, and install deadbolts and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Their skills allow many low-income seniors to remain safely in their own homes and prevent premature placement in nursing homes. Last year they repaired 127 homes and made 20 barrier free modifications. Already this year they have worked on 102 projects.
Finalists for the Youth Volunteer Award of Excellence:
Katherine Burns of Grand Rapids is a senior at Catholic Central High School in Grand Rapids. Katie is an active member of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation’s Youth Grant Committee and the Board of Trustees. She was on Student Congress for three years and is currently serving as the student body president. She has volunteered with the Grand Rapids City-Wide Student Council, the Principal’s Advisory Council, and Helping Out People Everywhere. Katie is also a scholar, honor roll student, and athlete with the hockey and softball teams.
Katharine Foster of Sandusky is a senior at Sandusky High School. At the age of 4 ½ she became a registered volunteer with Michigan’s Department of Human Services where she has been an active volunteer for 14 years. Most recently, Katharine worked with the Sandusky Fair Community Tent Committee to help solve their challenge of accessibility for individuals with disabilities. She has also been an active Girl Scout for 13 years where she is currently earning the Senior Girl Scout Gold Award. She has been a member of the Mackinaw Island Honor Scouts Governor’s Honor Guard and has served at Colonial Fort Michilimackinac and the Sanilac County Historic Museum.
Hamilton Harris of Southfield is a 17-year-old senior at University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy. He began volunteering as a Cub Scout at age seven and has been an active Boy Scout for ten years. He has earned 25 merit badges and achieved the Eagle Scout Award at age 14. Through his own hard work and the work of other volunteers he recruited, a three-mile nature trail in a Southfield public park was restored. He has also volunteered for New Mount Prospect Baptist Church, Gleaners Food Bank, Operation Can Do, and Providence Hospital. He has a 3.6 GPA, is the co-captain of the varsity tennis team, and is a member of the National Honor Society.
Amber Kassuba of Vanderbilt is an eighth grader in the Gaylord Community Schools. Several years ago she created We Are Proud of You Cards, which are given to nursing home residents and others. She recruited family and friends to help her make more than 3,000 cards that have been delivered to Michigan residents in 14 counties. Since 2001, Amber has volunteered more than 600 hours with more than 30 organizations in Otsego County including the Otsego County 4-H Club, Girl Scouts of Mitten Bay, and GIS Runners Club.
Jessica Selweski of Clinton Township is a junior at Chippewa Valley High School. In junior high she was a member of Volunteens and volunteered with many organizations including Clinton-Aire Nursing Home, Haynes Road Clean Up, and Clinton County Fire Fighters. She has been an active member of her church youth group where she has delivered meals on wheels and prepared duffle bags for children who are removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. She has tutored students in Math, Spanish, and English and completed the Juvenile Diabetes Walkathon. Jessica maintains a 3.93 GPA and is a state champion in gymnastics.
Finalists for the Senior Volunteer Award of Excellence:
Rasma Kalnins of St. Joseph began volunteering at the Children of Blossomland Learning Center in 1969, where she is known as Grandma Rasma. She volunteers four days a week serving the special needs of severely mentally and physically disabled children. She assists children throughout the day and shares her love by singing and talking with them. Grandma Rasma has volunteered more than 23,000 hours over the past 27 years serving more than 200 disabled students.
Frances Newby of Grand Rapids retired and became an active volunteer with the American Red Cross and Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel. She began volunteering with the Red Cross in 1991 to honor being cancer-free for five years. She has volunteered with mental health services, disaster response, and aviation disaster. She and another disaster worker have implemented a long-term disaster-response program to help families who experience a tragic loss due to disaster.
Jane Schwyn of Dearborn Heights is an active volunteer with the Oakwood Healthcare Center and Wayne-Westland Community Schools. The Center, in a neighborhood where 70 percent of the families live below the poverty level, provides immunizations, medical evaluation and treatment, infant and well-child exams, vision screening, laboratory testing, health counseling, and chronic disease management. Jane worked together with the Oakwood Healthcare Systems, school officials, and the community to help develop and launch the Center and is an active member of the Center’s Community Advisory Board.
Suzanne Stock of Gaylord has been an active volunteer throughout her life serving mentally challenged children and working with the Daughters of the American Revolution. She manages the Clothing Closet, which provides free clothing to low-income families and individuals, where she has volunteered more than 6,000 hours since 1995 and has raised $85,000 in the last five years. Suzanne also volunteers with the Otsego County Habitat for Humanity, Friendship Shelter, New Life Pregnancy Resource Center, and more.
Mary Walker of Mancelona is a 70-year-old retired social worker. She serves with Hospice as a patient volunteer, board member, in-service coordinator, and trainer. She is a standards visitor with the American Camping Association, which helps maintain the quality of camping for kids and develops best practices for the camping industry. She has put her passion for gardening to work with Hospice, the Kalkaska Chamber of Commerce, and the Village of Kalkaska.
Finalists for the Outstanding Corporate Citizenship Award:
Baker College of Owosso has been a partner of the Shiawassee County community since its inception in 1984. They actively encourage employees to volunteer their professional and personal time with local nonprofit organizations. The 200+ employees volunteer with more than 50 nonprofit organizations including the American Heart Association, Humane Society, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and local sports programs. The college also encourages volunteer service for students in their curriculum and co-curricular activities.
Citizens National Bank of Cheboygan has always taken to heart the bank’s original charter of serving the convenience and needs of the community. Beginning in 1945, the bank’s CEO was a well-known community supporter. In 1968, the bank’s philanthropic work helped build the north wing of Cheboygan Memorial Hospital. In 2004, the work continued with the bank’s 83 employees volunteering with nearly 40 nonprofit organizations. The bank and its employees contributed more than $85,000 to 97 local nonprofit organizations and employees donated more than $174,000 during the past eight years to Relay for Life.
Fairfield Broadcasting Company of Kalamazoo has been committed to promoting and supporting the community since they opened their doors in 1972. Their Tsunami Relief Radiothon raised $58,000 for the local chapter of the American Red Cross. They have sponsored an annual benefit dinner for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kalamazoo, raised more than $107,000 for Loaves and Fishes, produced public service announcements for arts organizations, and supported the Kalamazoo Public Schools WKDS-FM—one of only nine student operated radio stations in Michigan.
General Motors Corporation of Detroit recognizes the importance of supporting the many communities in Michigan and around the world where they do business. In 2004, more than $35 million was granted to nonprofit organizations worldwide including more than $14 million in Michigan. Through the Volunteer Plus program, when a GM employee volunteers 50 or more hours with a nonprofit, the GM Foundation contributes $250 to the organization on behalf of the employee. Since 1999, this program has provided more than $1.1 million to Michigan nonprofits. Each year GM also makes in-kind donations of products from vehicles to office equipment, and in 2004 they donated more than $1 million in Michigan and $13 million worldwide.
The Kalamazoo Kings Baseball Club is built upon the foundation of giving back to the community. No child is ever turned away from a Kings game, and annually more than 30,000 tickets are donated to economically challenged neighborhoods in Kalamazoo. All proceeds from ticket sales are given back to the community resulting in more than $1 million in donations to 357 nonprofit organizations since 2001. Kings’ players adhere to strict personal guidelines that include community service, mentoring, and the behavior of a positive role model—in the ballpark and in the community. The Kings players and staff volunteered in more than 250 classrooms, visited area hospitals, and gave time to many local nonprofits.
Finalists for the Outstanding Mentor Award:
Bill Davis of Marquette has been mentoring since 1975. His current mentee, Skylar, moved 40 miles away shortly after they were matched. This did not stop Bill, who has been making the 80 mile round trip at least once a week for the past six years. They like to fish, golf, cross-country ski, and volunteer together. Skylar’s self-esteem and school attendance have improved greatly since he was matched. Skylar’s mother said, “I have watched my son go from a timid boy who could not leave the house to a young man who is starting to test himself. Through the match I have seen wonderful changes in my son”
Cecile Chilton of Grand Rapids is 78 years young and is affectionately known by all as Grandma Cecile. She has been informally mentoring girls at Park School for five years. She guides, nurtures, and lends support to many girls who are at risk of falling through the cracks of society. Grandma Cecile has a strong belief in a good education, and through her influence, many girls graduate from high school and enroll in neighboring community colleges. Before coming to Park School, she worked with pregnant girls and teen moms.
Ron French of Michigamme has mentored three young men during his 14 years as a mentor. With Ron’s love, support, and guidance, all three boys are growing in to well-rounded young men. He keeps in touch with his first two mentee’s even though the match is officially closed. He and his current mentee do a variety of things including fishing, playing ball, going to movies, and camping. They’ve also participated in a variety of fund raising events. Ron’s example has taught all three boys what it really means to be a man. Ron’s first Little Brother wrote, “You let me know what it was to have a dad. Because of the time you spent with me, I am a better father to my kids.”
Helen Hiscoe of East Lansing was a professor at Michigan State University for more than 30 years helping countless students make the most of their college years. When she retired, she began volunteering with the Literacy Coalition. She met Akim, a Sudanese refugee, in 2000 when he, his mother, and sisters arrived in East Lansing. She became a summer tutor for him and when he started at East Lansing High School, Akim called her for help. She tutored and mentored him throughout his high school years. He graduated in 2004 with a 3.4 GPA and is now working part-time and attending Lansing Community College.
Carrie Karnes of Wyoming is 78 years young and is warmly called Grandma Carrie by those who know her. She has volunteered with the Foster Grandparent Program since 1986 where she worked with severely cognitive and multiply impaired children at the Ken-O-Sha Pre-School and Diagnostic Center. She also played a key role in a label project, which allows Ken-O-Sha to obtain equipment and funds for their programs. Grandma Carrie retired a few years ago, but within a few months decided to “unretire” and returned to the Ken-O-Sha Center.
Finalists for the Innovative Mentoring Program Award:
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity of Flint utilized the old fashioned values of their parents and grandparents when they created the Esquire Leadership and Mentoring Program (Esquires). The fraternity members manage the program and serve as role models and mentors. Esquires began in 1997 with five young men and currently serves 39 young men in grades nine through 12. Participants are expected to excel academically, set and achieve goals, be responsible for their actions, and perform monthly community service projects. The young men are encouraged to pursue post secondary education—85 percent have gone on to college, with a graduation rate of approximately 90 percent.
Chase Leadership Academy of Belleville is a corporate mentoring program designed to help area high school seniors gain marketable life and job skills. The program, which is held at JPMorgan Chase offices, focuses on students who are not in the top of their class, but maintain at least a C average. Three students and one mentor work together in a simulated work environment. By earning points for participation, attendance, dress, and performance, students are awarded scholarships up to $1,500. Currently in its second year, 61 students have participated with an 80 percent graduation rate. In addition, $20,500 in scholarships have been awarded.
It’s Great to be a Girl of Ann Arbor matches undergraduate women with middle school girls. During the 10-week program, the girls participate in activities focusing on body image, teasing and harassment, dream building, and making and maintaining friendships. More than 500 girls have been reach by the 250 program volunteers. It’s Great to be a Girl is a partnership of Raising Strong and Confident Daughters, area middle schools, Girls Scouts of the Huron Valley Council, and the University of Michigan's Women's Studies Program, Center for Community Service Learning, and Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives.
Traveling Grannies and Grandpas Program of Grand Rapids pairs at risk youth with patient and loving mentors ages 60 and older. These adults have many years of life’s experience and are trained extensively in topics facing today’s youth. The mentors support the youth in their schoolwork, help them address behavioral issues, promote their self-esteem, encourage them to make positive lifestyle choices, and teach them how to approach conflict in a positive and productive manner.
Winning Futures of Warren combines mentoring, goal setting, and scholarships to help young people succeed. Created by a local entrepreneur, Winning Futures helps students set short and long term goals in all areas of their life including career, education, relationships, and personal values. Volunteer mentors work in a group setting with three students throughout the school year. The mentor-mentee teams participate in group discussions, written exercises, self-assessments, and hands-on projects. To date more than 13,000 students have benefited from this program. Scholarships totaling $1.4 million have been presented to 1,325 students since 1994.
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Background:
The Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC), chaired by First Gentleman Daniel Mulhern, builds a culture of service by providing vision and resources to strengthen communities through volunteerism. In 2004-05, the MCSC is granting more than $6.9 million in federal funds to local communities for volunteer programs and activities. The MCSC supports and manages programs such as Mentor Michigan, AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve, Michigan Volunteer Investment Grants, Michigan Citizen Corps, and Governor’s Service Awards.
To view the press release with photos of the finalists, click here.
