Two Georgia Youth Honored for Volunteerism at National Award Ceremony in Washington, D.C.

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Two Georgia students, Mackenzie Bearup, 16, of Alpharetta and Andrew Vassil, 14, of Woodstock, were honored in the nation’s capital last night for their outstanding volunteer work during the presentation of The 2010 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. The two young people – along with 100 other top youth volunteers from across the country – received $1,000 awards as well as personal congratulations from former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Olympic snowboarding champion Seth Wescott at the 15th annual award ceremony and gala dinner reception, held at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

“The only way I could get my mind off the pain was to escape into a great book”

Mackenzie and Andrew were named the top high school and middle level youth volunteers in Georgia last February. In addition to their cash awards, they received engraved silver medallions and an all-expense-paid trip with their parents to Washington, D.C., for this week’s recognition events.

“The Prudential Spirit of Community honorees give us great hope for the future,” said Dr. Rice. “Their compassion and commitment are already making a real difference in so many lives, and I have no doubt that their leadership will continue to positively impact the world for many years to come.”

Mackenzie, a home-schooled eleventh-grader, has collected more than 30,000 children’s books over the past three years to establish libraries or reading rooms for 27 homeless shelters in four states. Mackenzie was diagnosed with a painful neurological condition several years ago and spent many months in bed. “The only way I could get my mind off the pain was to escape into a great book,” she explained. When her doctor told her about a homeless shelter in need of a children’s library, Mackenzie decided to help. “I thought about how reading helped me get my mind off my pain and hoped it would do the same for these children.”

Mackenzie gathered books she no longer needed and asked friends and neighbors if they had books to donate. Then she dropped fliers in mailboxes throughout her subdivision, and began distributing them at garage sales. When a local newspaper published a story on Mackenzie’s efforts, donations began to pour in. With help from her family, Mackenzie sorted, boxed, and delivered 10,000 books to the shelter. Soon other shelters learned of her work and asked her to help them as well. Now, Mackenzie goes to garage sales every Friday and Saturday to look for donations, contacts homeless shelters to ask if they need books, and uses pet- and babysitting earnings to help pay for expenses. To date, she has donated more than 30,000 books to homeless shelters in Georgia, Kentucky, Illinois, and Missouri, and recently set up a nonprofit organization, Sheltering Books Inc., to expand nationwide. “I have learned that, in spite of my pain, I can feel better by helping others,” said Mackenzie.

Andrew, an eighth-grader at Queen of Angels Catholic School in Roswell, has been raising money and giving speeches for the past six years to support childhood cancer research and patient care, in appreciation for the treatment he received at age 6 for an inoperable brain tumor. “The hospital I went to, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, saved my life,” said Andrew. “I feel I owe something to St. Jude.” He shares his story on behalf of the hospital at golf tournaments, schools, country club dinners, auctions, radio station “phone-a-thons,” corporate events, major galas, and in television commercials. He also participates in the annual St. Jude Memphis Marathon on a team formed in his honor, which has raised more than $100,000 over the last three years.

Two years ago, Andrew expanded his fund-raising activities to benefit the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research as well. He spends hours writing and rehearsing speeches, tailoring his remarks to the ages and backgrounds of his audiences. With as many as five events per month, Andrew has spoken directly to thousands of people about the importance of cancer research. In addition, he spends time supporting and comforting other kids who have been diagnosed with cancer. “I know so many people who have been through the horrors of childhood cancer,” said Andrew. “I want to help find cures so other kids don’t have to experience what I did.”

“Mackenzie and Andrew are wonderful examples of young Americans who care about the world around them and have taken the initiative to improve that world,” said John R. Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc. “We salute their effort, their achievements, and their spirit of community.”

More than 21,000 young people submitted applications for the 2010 awards program last fall through schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of the Points of Light Institute’s HandsOn Network. The top middle level and high school applicants in each state were selected in February and flown to Washington this week with their parents for four days of special recognition events.

Conducted in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards were created 15 years ago by Prudential Financial to encourage youth volunteerism and to identify and reward young role models. Since then, the program has honored nearly 100,000 young volunteers at the local, state and national level.

“The young women and men in America’s schools are nothing short of amazing, and nowhere is this more evident than amongst this year’s award recipients,” said NASSP President Steven Pophal. “They possess a keen intellect, servant hearts, capable leadership skills, and are filled with energy and ambition. NASSP and Prudential are honored to recognize them.”

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards are supported by the American Association of School Administrators, the National Middle School Association, the National School Boards Association, the Council of the Great City Schools, Girl Scouts of the USA, National 4-H Council, the American Red Cross, YMCA of the USA, the Points of Light Institute, and other national education and service organizations.

More information about The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and this year’s honorees can be found at http://spirit.prudential.com or www.principals.org/spirit.

In existence since 1916, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the preeminent organization of and national voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and aspiring school leaders from across the United States and more than 45 countries around the world. NASSP’s mission is to promote excellence in school leadership. The National Honor Society®, National Junior Honor Society®, National Elementary Honor Society™, and National Association of Student Councils® are all NASSP programs. For more information about NASSP, located in Reston, Va., visit www.principals.org or call 703-860-0200.

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Free Health Care for the Uninsured Is Coming to Atlanta This Month

/PRNewswire/ -- Georgians struggling with the lack of health insurance will soon get much-needed help when the National Association of Free Clinics (NAFC) in conjunction with the Georgia Free Clinic Network (GFCN) holds its next C.A.R.E. Clinic at the Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta on March 27 from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

This will be the sixth in a series of large, mostly one-day C.A.R.E. (Communities Are Responding Everyday) Clinics held around the country to bring together physicians and other health care professionals, as well as non-medical volunteers, to serve the needs of thousands of people who might otherwise go without medical care. Since last September, more than 7,000 uninsured patients received treatment at C.A.R.E. Clinics in Houston, New Orleans, Little Rock, Kansas City and Hartford.

"As long as affordable health insurance is not available for everyone, there will be a great need for the work that more than 1,200 free clinics across the country do every day," NAFC Executive Director Nicole Lamoureux said.

In Georgia, almost 18 percent of the non-elderly residents do not have health insurance.

"We are excited to be able to hold a C.A.R.E. Clinic in Georgia, where the work of free clinics is very much needed," Donna Looper, executive director of the Georgia Free Clinic Network, said. "A strong network of clinics and other safety-net providers exists throughout the state. Not only will patients receive immediate care at this event, but they also will be connected to this network that can offer them care on an ongoing basis."

In 2008, free clinics across the nation provided care to about 4 million uninsured people, including 175,000 in Georgia. In 2009, that doubled to about 8 million people, despite a decline in donations. A $1 donation to free clinics typically provides $5 worth of services.

"It is important to note that being uninsured is not the same as being unemployed," Lamoureux said. "About 83 percent of uninsured people have jobs. At past C.A.R.E. Clinics, we found that many of the patients worked at two or more jobs but did not receive health insurance benefits. Some even worked as nurses or for insurance companies but still did not have insurance themselves."

Volunteers can register now for shifts between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on March 26, when the clinic will be set up, and between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on March 27.

Medical volunteers needed for the Atlanta clinic include doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathy, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, emergency medical technicians, medical administrators, licensed clinical social workers and more. Non-medical volunteers are needed to help with documentation, logistical support, patient intake and translation, as well as to be patient greeters and escorts. Help also is needed for setting up the clinic, as well as breaking it down.

Information for volunteers is available online at http://www.regonline.com/Atlanta_CARE_Clinic, as well as at http://freeclinics.us/ or http://www.gfcn.org/. Those interested in appointments for patients at the clinic may call 1-277-233-5159 to sign up now.

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President Obama Calls on Americans to Serve

/PRNewswire/ -- President Obama called on all Americans to help in our nation's recovery by volunteering in their communities this summer in a video message released today by the White House and the Corporation for National and Community Service.

The President's call to summer service launches United We Serve, a sustained effort to expand the size and impact of volunteer efforts in addressing tough challenges facing the nation. The United We Serve initiative kicks off on June 22, and runs for 81 days through a new National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11.

"This summer, I'm calling on all of you to make volunteerism and community service part of your daily life and the life of this nation," said President Obama in the video. "And when I say 'all,' I mean everyone - young and old, from every background, all across this country. We need individuals, community organizations, corporations, foundations, and our government to be part of this effort."

To make it easy for Americans to get involved, the President is urging Americans to visit Serve.gov, a website managed by the Corporation for National and Community Service. Visitors to Serve.gov can type in their zip code to find local volunteer opportunities, recruit volunteers by posting their organization's projects, or get ideas for creating their own projects with friends, families and neighbors.

"The President has made a bold call to service at a time of great need and Americans are ready to respond," said Nicola Goren, the Corporation's Acting CEO. "Through United We Serve and Serve.gov, we hope to engage millions of Americans in service this summer and beyond."

The initiative officially kicks off on June 22 at the National Conference on Volunteering and Service in San Francisco, where 4,000 service and volunteer leaders are meeting to map out strategies to increase the impact of service in solving community problems.

The United We Serve initiative was conceived as a way to directly involve Americans in tackling problems in their communities. While any kind of volunteer service is encouraged, the effort focuses on four key areas education, health, energy and the environment, and community renewal.

"The challenges we face are unprecedented in their size and scope, and we cannot rely on quick fixes or easy answers to put us on the road to recovery," said President Obama. "Economic recovery is as much about what you're doing in your communities as what we're doing in Washington - and it's going to take all of us, working together."

The effort comes at a time of strong need and momentum for service, as the economic downturn puts more Americans at risk and increases the demand for social services. At the same time, many nonprofit groups are experiencing a 'compassion boom' of increasing volunteers as Americans reach out to help their neighbors. United We Serve aims to tap this growing interest and focus it on addressing specific community needs.

The initiative builds on recent bipartisan efforts to expand service opportunities and invest in the civic infrastructure including the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act signed by President Obama on April 21. This landmark legislation reauthorizes and expands national service programs and strengthens social innovation and volunteer management in the nonprofit sector.

Recognizing that some organizations are stretched in their capacity to take on new volunteers, United We Serve also encourages individuals to organize their friends, families and neighbors to develop their own service projects to meet pressing local needs. The Serve.gov website includes easy-to-use toolkits on projects such as organizing a book drive, creating a community garden, or conducting a home energy audit.

The initiative will culminate on September 11 in a National Day of Service and Remembrance. This will mark the first time the nation has observed 9/11 as a national day of service, an effort started several years ago by 9/11 family members that was included in the Serve America Act. The day will be marked by volunteer service, remembrance activities, and pledges to make service an ongoing commitment throughout the year.

To encourage participation in service this summer and beyond, the Serve.gov website features a new All for Good volunteer matching platform that allows people to search for volunteer opportunities based on location and interests. The site allows users to sign in with their primary social network and includes social media applications to share volunteer opportunities with friends and see what activities they are participating in.

Corporation for National and Community Service outreach for United We Serve is supported by a grant from Target.

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Senate Passes Needed National Service Legislation

/PRNewswire/ -- AARP yesterday applauded the Senate for passing the Serve America Act-a bill that will strengthen and expand civic engagement and volunteer opportunities for people of all ages. Designated as a "key vote" by AARP on behalf of its 40 million members, each senator's vote is posted on AARP's Government Watch site (www.aarp.org/governmentwatch) so individuals across the nation can see how their legislators voted on this important bill.

Brian Posey, Associate State Director for Advocacy for AARP Delaware released the following statement today:

"AARP members stand ready to give, and offer a lifetime of acquired skills to meet a range of community needs. The Serve America Act will help provide the additional service opportunities people age 50+ are looking for."

He also noted that Delaware holds a volunteer rate of more than 25 percent. Also, the number of boomers and older Americans who express a desire to volunteer is growing both locally and nationally.

A recent letter from AARP CEO Bill Novelli to Senate leadership outlines the most important issues for older Americans in this legislation:

-- This legislation will strengthen and expand civic engagement and
volunteer opportunities to include social services, environment,
health, caregiving, nurturing, mentoring, intergenerational solutions,
education, economic development and community development.

-- AARP is pleased that the bill will improve service opportunities for
persons age 50+ so that they can apply a lifetime of acquired skills
to help remedy a range of identified service needs. AARP encourages
expanding volunteer service for older persons by allowing older
volunteers to occupy important decision-making roles.

-- We are also supportive of the provisions that improve the capacity of
non-profit, service and philanthropic organizations to recruit, manage
and apply volunteer skills to identified service needs in this period
of economic recession and lower charitable giving.

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Volunteers With Ear, Heart For Frogs Sought For Survey

The frogs are calling. The question is, will Georgians who know what they’re hearing answer?

The second year of a calling frog survey in Georgia starts Jan. 15. There are 78 survey routes but only about 30 volunteers lined up to cover them. John Jensen, a senior wildlife biologist with the state Department of Natural Resources, needs some 50 more listeners who can decipher the croaks, trills and peeps of Georgia’s 31 frog species.

It’s not as hard as it sounds. “They’re a lot easier to learn than birds,” Jensen said, explaining that the season, place and call patterns trim the list of frogs that might be sounding off.

The effort is important. The North American Amphibian Monitoring Program survey developed by the U.S. Geological Survey is aimed at tracking regional and national trends in frog distribution and abundance. Given the sensitivity of amphibians to air and water quality changes, those trends can signal environmental problems and shape conservation priorities.

But in Georgia, baseline data is needed first. “You’ve got to know what you’ve got before you know where it’s going,” Jensen said. Which means more survey volunteers with an ear and even a heart for frogs.

Before being assigned one of the pre-set routes scattered across the state, participants must pass an online quiz testing their ability to audibly identify frog species. Helpful resources include http://www.ugapress.org/AmphibsandReptiles.html, which features recordings and photographs as a supplement to the new reference “Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia.” The DNR Wildlife Resources Division also has available the compact disk "Calls of the Wild – Vocalizations of Georgia's Frogs.” The “public” quiz at http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/frogquiz/ allows would-be monitors to test drive their skills.

Volunteers are asked to commit to the survey for at least three years, underscoring the need for consistency in citizen-science projects. Routes are run three nights a year, once each in three call periods: Jan. 15-Feb. 28, March 15-April 30 and May 15-June 30.

To sign up or find out more, contact Jensen at Wildlife Resources’ Nongame Conservation Section in Forsyth, (478) 994-1438 or john.jensen@gadnr.org. Details on the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program are available at http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/naamp/.

Copies of “Calls of the Wild” are $15.36 each, including sales tax and shipping. Mail a check payable to Wildlife Conservation Fund to GA DNR/WRD, Nongame Conservation Section, 116 Rum Creek Drive, Forsyth, GA 31029, ATTN: Frogs of Georgia CD.

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The Time to Volunteer in Your Community is Now

By U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson

BUSINESS WIRE --The State of Georgia has done an exceptional job of growing through economic development, and it is widely regarded as the capital of the New South. Now it’s time to show off our compassionate side by getting out and volunteering in our communities.

According to Volunteering in America: 2008 State and City Trends & Rankings, Georgia is ranked 43rd in the United States. The report, which ranks cities and states according to their performance from 2005 through 2007, states that just 24.2 percent of Georgians – not even one in four – volunteer their time to help their community. The average national volunteer rate is 27.2 percent per year. We can do better, Georgia.

Today, Governor Sonny Perdue is calling on all Georgians to become more involved in their local communities by volunteering during Hands On Georgia Week, which will take place this year from Saturday, September 27, through Saturday, October 4.

I echo Governor Perdue’s call to service and urge each of you to take just a few hours during this week to make a difference in your community.

There are some shining examples in our state, which we can all look to for inspiration. Augusta is one of our state’s leading communities in this regard. Almost 30 percent of its residents volunteer.

And on Saturday, October 4, Georgia will seek to achieve the largest single day of volunteerism in the country. In fact, Hands On Atlanta and Hands On Thomas County alone are expecting to have an estimated 16,200 volunteers devote their day to helping others on that date. This is the kind of outstanding performance that we, as Georgians, are capable of producing.

But we need to do more than show up just one day a year. We all need to commit to support our communities throughout the year. The four most popular ways that Georgians volunteer are fundraising, collecting and distributing food for the needy, tutoring and general labor. All of these tasks can be done during the upcoming Hands On Georgia Week and throughout the year.

Hands On Georgia and its affiliates are located throughout the state, and they are ready to put you in touch with local organizations that need your help. Whatever type of service you choose, there are dozens of organizations that will immediately benefit from your support.

In Congress, we’re also working to assist volunteers. I am proud to be a co-sponsor of legislation that will help volunteers deal with rising gas prices by increasing the mileage deduction rate allowed for charity work. Updating the tax code to reflect today’s costs not only makes sense, but will allow volunteers to continue providing essential services such as driving seniors to doctor’s appointments or delivering meals to homebound individuals in their communities.

Volunteering in your community is easy. It’s rewarding. And it’s needed. Volunteer your time today.

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Health Promotion Volunteer Training Program August 23

The Spalding Regional & Henry Medical Centers in collaboration with District 4 Public Health are sponsoring a Health Promotion Volunteer Training Program all day August 23, 2008 at Spalding Regional Medical Center in Griffin.

This workshop will prepare and equip individuals to help others at risk of high blood pressure and diabetes and to be a resource for your church and/or community organization.

This training is a serious endeavor that takes time and commitment. While it takes a dedicated person to be trained to screen individuals and keep a record of this data, it is also a very rewarding task when you realize you are making a positive impact on those around you.

Class size is limited. Registration closes August 1, 2008.

For more information, call Liz at 770-233-2001.

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Harvey Honored for "Doing The Best You Can"

On June 3, 2008, Miss Edith Harvey received the Daily Point of Light award at the 2008 National Conference on Volunteering and Service in Atlanta. The award ceremony was the conclusion to a three-day conference. Miss Edith, as she is fondly referred to, received this award due to the goodness of her heart. She fulfills a community need and serves those who are disconnected from the larger community – seniors. She has been volunteering at the Lawrenceville Senior Center since 1978 by preparing meals for the seniors. Miss Edith simply states, “When you volunteer, you think about others needing help and forget about yourself. By helping others, you are helping yourself.”

Just her presence is quite humbling. To see someone give of herself selflessly, after raising 19 children, 11 of her own, six stepchildren, two foster children, and surviving two marriages during her lifetime. Somehow, she has found time to help prepare meals, rock babies to sleep at Gwinnett Medical Center in Duluth, serve on the choir at New Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church and mentor inmates assigned to work in the kitchen at the Lawrenceville Senior Center.

Her tireless and countless hours of volunteering have also been recognized by other organizations, including the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, the Met Life Foundation, 11 Alive, Bank of America, Hands on Georgia and 100 Black Women. At 94 years old, she is absolutely astounding and a true inspiration. Her advice to all, “Do the best, when you can, even if it’s for an hour and mean it from the heart.”