First Gentleman Mulhern Announces 41 Finalists from Across Michigan
First Gentleman Daniel G. Mulhern today announced the finalists for the 2007 Governor's Service Awards who will be honored next month during ceremonies at the Fox Theatre in Detroit. The 40 finalists have been selected from nearly 180 individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations from across 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 First 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 by the willingness of Michigan's corporate leaders to step forward 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 Fox Theatre in Detroit. The 2007 Governor's Service Awards will be a theatre-style event with The Miracles as the featured performers. Other local musical artists and performers will also pay tribute to the honorees.
In addition to recognizing the Governor's Service Award recipients in eight categories, Governor Granholm will also present the Carter Partnership Award, the Russell G. Mawby Award for Philanthropy, and the Community Foundation Award for Philanthropy.
The Governor's Service Awards are an annual statewide recognition acknowledging the contributions made by Michigan volunteers. This celebration 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's Champions are Comer Holdings, ConnectMichigan Alliance, CMS Energy/Consumers Energy, Delta Dental, Greektown Casino, and Pfizer. The Governor's Heroes are the Health Alliance Plan, Mawby Family Fund/Battle Creek Community Foundation, and Michigan Nonprofit Association.
The Michigan Community Service Commission is committed to building a culture of volunteer service to strengthen communities. The MCSC is part of the Michigan Department of Human Services.
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.
The award finalists are:
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:
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 19,300 hours of service. He has done everything from bugle performances at the VAAAHS groundbreaking ceremony to providing guidance for outpatients. Fred has volunteered at the Graf-O'Hara Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 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 by playing taps and ensuring veterans receive a proper and dignified burial. He is a self-taught musician and helped organize the Ambassadors of Good Will, a sixteen-piece band that played at VA hospital functions. He has also been involved with the Music Makers, a five-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 community volunteer. Her deep community involvement stems from a determination to make life better 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 free time, using her own money. She organized block clubs and neighborhood associations, developed diversity workshops for teachers, and got involved with political campaigns for area school board candidates. She created the Youth Leadership Institute, which teaches African-American students community leadership. She has served on multiple boards including the Mott Community College, YWCA, Center for the Visually Impaired, Michigan Community College Association, Salvation Army, and Voluntary Action Center. She has been involved in many more community endeavors all designed to enhance life in the Flint area.
Margaret Demant of Huntington Woods was born in Germany in 1926. She volunteered with Jewish Family Service's New American Immigrants program in the 1970's because of her childhood experience with KinderTransport-a system that transported children out 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 as homecare and transportation. She was an active board member and also tutored immigrants in the English 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 understanding of the rage felt by the African American community. She looked to the art world and learned that there is not an African word for art, because in Africa art is not about hanging pieces for display it is about human function. She has used this appreciation as an active board member and trustee of the Detroit Institute of Art for more than 30 years. She has also helped ease discrimination against 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 Battle Creek began volunteering as a boy scout when his troop leader modeled the practice of doing one good deed daily. He is still active with scouting today as council board chair and coordinator for troop #322. In 1990, the cancer death of his 28-year-old daughter led him to the Battle Creek Community Foundation where he and his wife established a legacy in her honor. Since then, Jim has been one of the foundation's most active 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 Board, and expanded the Battle Creek Leadership Academy. He has served the United Way, Chamber of Commerce, Shriners, Rotary Club, and the Food Bank.
Billy J. Joseph of Kentwood has demonstrated a commitment to service in every community he has lived for the past 62 years. He has lived in Kentwood for 35 years, where he spends 15 to 20 hours a week in the Kentwood schools meeting with students one-on-one or in small groups to motivate and support them. He is an ideal role model, and he created a mentoring program for at-risk students to be matched with business professionals. He has also served on the Kentwood Board of Education, Grand Rapids African American Roundtable, Kentwood Community Church Outreach Committee, Kentwood Rotary, Grand Rapids City Planning Committee, and more. Bill has successfully beaten two serious bouts with lung and prostate cancer. Rather than have it deter him, he uses it as an opportunity to support others with cancer and to compel him to improve the world.
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 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:
Brother Dan's Food Pantry of Petoskey is a ministry of St. Francis Xavier church and has been serving nutritional food to the needy since 2003. The program provides clients with three full days of balanced meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The clients are provided with a planned menu, choose groceries from the pantry shelves, and prepare their own meals at home. 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, weigh and measure ingredients, and serve pantry clients. In 2006, the pantry served more than 79,600 meals. The $3,000 per month needed to operate the pantry is raised from contributions received from St. Francis Xavier parishioners and community donations.
Kids Food Basket of Grand Rapids makes sure that children have a nutritious and tasty meal every weekday year round. Founded in 2001, Kids Food Basket (KFB) provides more than 1,000 children with a delicious sack supper daily. When combined with the school breakfast and lunch program, the children are receiving proper amounts of calories and the daily-recommended nutrition. With only two paid staff members, KFB relies on its more than 75 daily volunteers to assemble, pack, and deliver the meals to eleven locations throughout Grand Rapids. Each year, more than 800 volunteers-ranging in age from 4 to 104-serve KFB. Approximately 40 percent of the volunteers are under the age of 18. These young volunteers facilitate food drives, assemble meals, hold "coins for kids" drives, decorate the food bags. The adult volunteers come from all background, ethnicities, vocations, and walk of life. There are currently five vocational programs volunteering with KFB. Together these volunteers gave more 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 program has enabled many Habitat affiliates to increase the number of houses they build each year. AmeriCorps and VISTA members serve as construction liaisons, volunteer recruiters, family support members, and VISION 2020 coordinators-a project focused on eliminating substandard housing in targeted areas by 2020. Many are also able to assist with fund raising, grant writing, "ReStore" development. Each member also creates a legacy project, which is designed to leave a system in place that will continue to improve the local Habitat's capacity after the 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 blitz 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 16 dedicated volunteers who use their skills to address home safety issues and provide barrier free renovations for senior citizens and individuals with disabilities. These RSVP volunteers do electrical, plumbing, and roofing work, replace doors and windows, and install deadbolts, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, grab bars, and wheelchair ramps. Their skills allow many low-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 by repairing 128 homes, making 11 barrier free modifications, and completing 10 home safety evaluations. This model program is now being replicated in other communities. Tuesday Toolmen have been serving their community for 11 years.
Wigs 4 Kids of St. Clair Shores reaches out to children and young adults with hair loss. The program focuses mainly on cancer patients and includes other appearance-related challenges such as alopecia, hydrocephalus, lupus, and trichotillomania. Wigs 4 Kids, founded in 2003, helps children who struggle with social acceptance based on their physical appearances by providing customized wigs and services at no cost. 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 awareness, and increase the services provided. Each week, the volunteers provide 30-40 hours of service.
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:
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 year alone she gave more than 6,000 pieces of clothing and more than 400 pairs of shoes from a giveaway site on her front lawn. To encourage people to recycle their gently used items, her favorite saying is, "It's easier to clean your closet than your wallet." She has volunteers to help her with her work, and many who once came to her for assistance are now volunteering. Despite crippling rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis, Miss B uses a cane, walker, and occasionally a wheelchair, in order to continue helping others. She also assists her church with the Soup, Sandwich, and Shower on Sundays program, which cares for the homeless with a hot meal, shower, and fresh clothes.
Amy Butler of Eaton Rapids has been changing lives by volunteering since she moved back to her community after college graduation. She has been a member of the Eaton Rapids Alliance for Substance Abuse Elimination, provided expertise and assistance to convert all school buses and municipal equipment to biodiesel fuel, and coached AYSO soccer and swim teams. She has been a member of the Order of Eastern Star for more than 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 plan to bring arts and cultural to the community. 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-confidence. Her leadership and vision have built relationships, provided support and resources, and inspired others to give of themselves. It is estimated that her more than 3,000 hours of volunteer service have impacted 8,500 people and raised more than $300,000 for the community.
Kevin Fite of Southfield began a lunchtime chess program when he began teaching at Duffield Elementary School in 2002. Beginning with just two students, "chess fever" soon spread through the school and grew into an after school program. The Duffield Chess Team has amassed numerous awards including four City Chess Championships, three State Championships, and two National Championships. Two of his students have earned the title of #1 in the U.S. and more than 20 of his students have earned top national rankings. His students have traveled to competitions in California, Colorado, Kentucky, and Illinois and in 2007 will be traveling to Tennessee to defend their national title. Kevin's philosophy of tough love and encouragement has garnered the respect and financial support of the community. "You can't help but come to his aid," says one financial supporter. "All you have to do is watch those kids and you're hooked." Kevin also spends his Saturday's teaching 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 as its foundation.
Doug Heslip of Marquette has been a sports volunteer for 15 years and has been coaching the Marquette County Youth Football League for the past six years. His approach to coaching is more about building solid citizens than about winning games. He believes it is his responsibility to help each young man develop into a community leader and athlete. Each year, 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 humble 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's players sense the higher standard and respond 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 high standards of coaching. Last year his team went undefeated in the youth development achieved and in the win/loss column.
Amyre Makupson of Southfield is a woman of many interests and talents. During her 27-year broadcasting career she hosted the Children's Miracle Network Telethon, United Negro College Fund Telethon, March of Dimes Telethon, and the Michigan Humane Society Telethon. During her broadcasting career she won numerous awards including six Emmy Awards, Michiganian of the Year, 2002 Distinguished Woman of the Year, and more. Not one to rest on her laurels, she pours her heart and soul into her volunteer work and nowhere is this more apparent than in her service to the Alzheimer's Association. Amyre has served on their board of directors and chaired Chocolate Jubilee, their major fundraising event, for nearly 20 years. In that time, the event has grown from raising $25,000 to close to $1 million. She is an active Alzheimer's advocate and her involvement has raised tremendous awareness and support for the Alzheimer's Association's network of services. She is available to give love and care to those who have family members with Alzheimer's and understands the importance of giving caregivers a respite break. 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 school. Serving Our Community Kids in Style (SOCKS) helps children of all abilities meet the needs of others. It includes an age-appropriate community service project for each grade level that connects to the state's school curriculum benchmarks. For example, first graders make cat and dog toys for the animals at the Michigan Humane Society and fourth graders made fleece blankets and delivered them to Beaumont Hospital for patients in the Neo-natal and Oncology Units. More than 2,349 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 addition, Kim volunteers in her children's classrooms and has chaired many other school district events.
This award is presented to a mentoring program or organization that has found a unique and effective approach to mentoring children. This progressive organization maximizes limited resources and recognizes that with volunteers, anything is possible. The finalists are:
The Henry Ford Youth Mentorship Program in Westland is a 17-year partnership between The Henry Ford and Wayne Westland Community Schools. The organizations are 50/50 partners on this project that began with grants from DeWitt Wallace Readers Digest and the State of Michigan. The program is now a sustained partnership that has served more than 200 at-risk high school students and affected the lives of more than 100 mentors. While most programs at The Henry Ford are open to the general public, the Youth Mentorship Program is offered each year to 14 high school students who are at-risk of dropping out. These students earn credit by spending the second half of each school 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 between church congregations and neighborhood public elementary schools. Funded, staffed, and operated by the congregation, each of the 186 partnerships in Michigan recruit, screen, train, match and supervise their more than 3,300 relationships with elementary-age children. A unique interactive training experience prepares the mentors to address the emotional, social, and academic needs of the children. It focuses on five interrelated sections in their weekly one-hour sessions-connecting, planning, learning, creative play, and fun. Mentors also have the opportunity to enhance their relationships by participating in church-sponsored activities. Nationwide, research shows that 96 percent of the Kids Hope USA children that are mentored show improvement in attitude, behavior, and motivation to learn. Mentors are also happy with Kids Hope USA-99 percent reported that the mentoring experience met or exceeded their expectations.
Motherly Intercession of Flint serves children in Genesee County who have a parent who was or is currently incarcerated in a local, state, 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 computer technology. Arts and Culture Education provides free dance, music, singing, and art classes. The Bonding From a Distance Children's Visitation Program preserves the family structure during the period 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 dedicated to empowering youth to take control of their lives and overcome their obstacles. The program is customized for 3rd through 12th graders so all activities are age appropriate. Students, along with their mentors, participate in structured sessions during the school day or after school. Each week, a topic from the workbook such as leadership, work values, or career assessment is presented to the mentors and mentees. Then each mentoring team has group discussions, written exercises, self-assessments, or hands-on projects facilitated by their mentors. The mentors work with a group of three students throughout the school year and mentoring relationships typically last one to five years. Student scholarships are also a key component of the program and scholarships totaling $1.4 million 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 meet 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 match allows youth who are struggling with the difficult dynamics caused by the deployment to develop a friendship with someone who has been in a similar situation. Mentors help the youth understand the need for deployment, comprehend what their parents may be experiencing, develop healthy coping skills, process media messages, and simply hang out. This program also provides respite for the family and child by having the child out in the community participating in activities such as fishing, basketball, cooking, and movies.
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, but not limited to, corporate volunteer programs, monetary contributions, in-kind gifts, and employee-driven volunteer service. The finalists are:
Comcast Communications, Inc. of Detroit is committed to leveraging their advanced technology and resources to making a difference in the communities they serve. In 2006, Michigan Comcast employees rendered more than 27,000 volunteer hours in support of organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit, United Way Community Services, City Year, and many more. Last year, Comcast's Michigan Region provided approximately $10 million in in-kind promotional support for local nonprofit organizations. Additionally, they currently invest up to $4 million annually by offering services that support our schools and life long learning via free cable and high speed Internet to 2,300 schools K-12 and libraries. Their creative involvement has also led to the development of a homework hotline, a weekly call-in program to help Detroit students with math problems. Comcast has awarded more than $7.5 million in college aid to more than 7,500 high school students through their Leaders and Achievers program, which began in 2001. The Comcast Foundation, established in 1999, has donated more than $30 million 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 Elementary School's 240 students and when East Bay closed, the Cherry Knoll Elementary students benefited from their support. One project promotes Spanish instruction and the other provides a Reading/Literacy Coach to encourage family reading and writing projects. In addition, Grand Traverse Stamping provides all fourth graders with nonfiction reading materials from the school's book fair. Grand Traverse Stamping employees also support the school by attending functions such as concerts, Read Across America, and Cherry Knoll's 50th birthday celebration. Employee involvement begins at the top with the plant manager. He communicates regularly with the school principal and librarian to stay informed about ways Grand Traverse Stamping can support 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 benefit financially as well. In 2005 the Kellogg Company began the Kellogg Cares program, which donates $250 to nonprofit organizations where employees and retirees volunteer 25 hours annually. In addition, each year the Kellogg Company gives $7 million cash and $21 million in product to various charitable organizations around the world. In Michigan, Kellogg's 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 Management, 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, 50 students have been directly impacted and numerous other students have been touched indirectly. This grassroots program requires community support in order to be successful. In addition to Medallion Management's in-kind and financial support, they brought other community partners to the table. Employees at Medallion Management are also involved. Five employees are trained coaches working directly with the young people. Employees who do not coach find many ways 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 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 Way, service clubs, faith-based organizations, schools, and many other nonprofit organizations. Annually, more than 40 percent of United's workforce volunteers nearly 13,000 hours with 170 community organizations. In addition, each year the bank 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.
This award honors an individual who has made a significant difference in a child's life over time 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 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 seven years ago. Tim had been mentoring the 10-year-old boy he was matched with for about eight months when he was asked to consider mentoring a second 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 one of the boys attended hunting safety classes and helped him learn to drive. The other young man happened to attend Tim's church, so Tim helped him get 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 example 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 challenge. Yet he has made his relationship with Steve a priority. Since being mentored by Jim, Steve has not 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 variety of interesting activities. Jim has shown Steve how to snowmobile and, for his birthday, arranged a ride with a professional NASCAR driver at the Michigan International Speedway. Together they've learned how good it feels to give back to the community. They have collected Toys for Tots, painted a mobile home for a family in their community, and volunteered at church. "It's cool that he's there for me," says Steve. "I can ask him anything and he's there. He'd be one of the first people I'd talk to if I need anything."
Willie Irby, Jr. of Troy began mentoring in 1996 when he got involved with Don Bosco Hall's Adult Mentor Program. He has had two mentees during his more than 10 years with this program that helps foster care youth transition into adulthood. Will has spent a lot of time with his mentees focusing on career development, academic achievement, and educational support. They have also made time for fun by attending baseball, football, and basketball games. Will also serves on the advisory board for the Adult Mentor Program. When asked what motivated him to get involved with mentoring, Will told this story. "I was on my second tour of duty in Viet Nam and I was standing in my foxhole with rain pouring down and mud everywhere. We got hit pretty hard by the enemy that day. I remember praying to God during the shelling that if he would continue to watch over me, I would dedicate my life to helping and mentoring others. I have been giving back ever since."
Carlas Quinney, Jr. of Lansing is a senior at Michigan State University and has been mentoring since he was in 9th grade at Sexton High School. He began in the PALS program where he helped other students with classes, homework, and social issues. CJ has also been a Big Brother to a young man from Lansing for six years. He has helped Marton grow from an eight-year-old with mediocre academic performance into a well-mannered eighth grader with a 3.5 GPA. Marton was recently awarded a Hope Scholarship, which will help support his post-secondary education. When not working on their studies, the two can be found at the movies, Sexton and MSU football games, and going out to dinner. Mostly, though, they just hang out as friends doing everyday things. In addition to being a Big Brother, CJ recognizes the great need for male mentors and is committed to raising awareness and recruiting men to fill this void. He is involved with Break the Cycle, a national organization that works with at-risk youth to help them break the cycle of poverty, gang involvement, drug addiction, hopelessness, and despair. Upon his graduation from MSU, CJ plans to continue his work with BTC to bring the program 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 six years. During this time she has been matched with three young women who had differing needs, and Michele adjusted her mentoring style to help each one. Jamie is her current match and together they have successfully traveled rough and adventurous roads. A recent accomplishment was their training and participation in the Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Run. The two novice runners supported each other as 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 just before the big event. Together they prevailed and lost more than 40 pounds between them and Michele lowered her cholesterol by 44 points. With love, care, and persistence, Michele has changed the lives of three young women by showing them the variety of options they have for their futures. Michele has also helped mentoring programs with projects and fundraising, encouraged and supported mentors, and recruited new mentors in Ottawa County.
This category honors individuals who are age 65 or older. These nominees may be involved with many activities or given significant time to one particular cause. The finalists are:
Herman Dooha of Detroit is a champion in the movement for peace, stands up 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 society. At the age of 84, just months after losing his beloved wife, he accepted the presidency of the board for the Citizens for Better Care. There he established a fund in her name that is used for advocacy and education. When volunteering with the American Legion, he secured housing for disadvantaged seniors. He worked on a variety of causes with the NAACP, participated in peace marches, and co-founded what is believed to be the first racially integrated law firm in the U.S. In the 1970's, he helped form New Detroit to address the social problems in Detroit. He has also volunteered with the Children's Orthogenic School, serving children with special needs.
Jai B. Jaglan of Okemos is a volunteer hero with the Greater Lansing Food 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 1,660 families the Food Bank serves each month. Jai has also arranged blood drives at the Bharatiya Temple for the American Red Cross and has volunteered his time to deliver Meals on Wheels. Each January 1st he hosts a world 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 board of directors for 15 years and has been instrumental in fundraising by planning and rolling up his sleeves and getting to work. His favorite project is the Personal Needs/Linen Closet, 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 program, and the Rotary Club. He is active in his church and has been a soccer and t-ball coach for years.
Rita Van Boven of Fremont is an active volunteer at Gerber Memorial Health Services, a 77-bed nonprofit rural hospital. She developed the Ambassador Volunteer Program to allow 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 another, 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 drive. She also volunteers with her church, the Newaygo County Community 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 four 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 twenty-six foster children. Her house was also a home for her four grandchildren, two of whom she and her husband adopted. Peg's home has been a second home to countless teens over the years who felt they were safe and loved there. Peg was a Girl Scout leader for many years and knows that she could still "set up camp" if needed, and laughs at the thought of doing so now at age 90. Peg helped start Project Blessing, which collects food and clothing for those in need.
This category honors individuals who are age 21 or younger. These nominees may be involved with many activities or given significant time to one particular cause.
Bridget Gaitor of Taylor is a senior at Harry S. Truman High School. She began volunteering in the 8th grade through school-sponsored service activities. She has spent countless hours volunteering at the Oakwood Heritage Hospital where her service touches young and old alike, including her classmates and peers. She has volunteered with the Penrickton Center 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 force behind the Prom Pledge campaign to promote safe and healthy prom experiences. She is a member of the Taylor Substance Abuse Task Force and has helped plan the Drug-Free Taylor Day and Turn Off the Violence projects.
Lorie Petersen of Ionia is a senior at Ionia High School. She is a talented musician and uses her amazing skills on the harp to serve others. As a freshman, she undertook fund raising projects to earn $15,000 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 Sunday 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 7th grade band students at Ionia Middle School. She is a mentor for SS. Peter and Paul Youth Program, Eucharistic minister, and server at the Ionia Area Soup Kitchen.
Laura Salani of Marquette is a senior at Marquette Senior High School. In October of 2005, two of Laura's friends were caught in a strong cross current and drown in an area called Picnic Rocks just off the Marquette shoreline. Laura began talking with friends and community members and became aware that 13 deaths by drowning had occurred in this area since 1961-and there had been one more drowning since her friends' deaths. Laura started a campaign to have warning signage erected at the beach. Her efforts caught the attention of community members and students at Northern Michigan University, who joined her in her work. The City of Marquette has installed two large signs at the beach and posted approximately 30 warning signs on the trash containers in the area. Laura is now raising funds to erect 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 program and has been involved ever since. She uses much of her free time to attend ART of Leadership classes and participate in community service projects. Along with other ART of Leadership participants, Jocelyn helped paint 12 homes in inner city Detroit and improved the exterior of 14 additional homes with paint, landscaping, and general yard clean up. She helped organize a community 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 High School. He volunteers at the VA Medical Center where he has served in a variety of settings such as the Summer Serves Program, Medical Service, Community and Volunteer Service, and Nursing Home Care Unit. He is also a member of the VA Youth Council where he serves with other high school students to plan and host special events for the patients. He has volunteered with the American Red Cross and SAFE Place. He has helped his school's ADD Committee raise funds for Heifer International and is raising funds for HIV/AIDS orphans in Africa. Last summer he helped two Guru Nanak Projects raise $2,500 to build a school in India to help educate the homeless.
