Spirit of Giving Awards

Our winner is the only volunteer agency in Memphis and Shelby County to offer citizens who have a desire to reach broken, hurt and sometimes dangerous juvenile delinquents an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children who come in contact with the juvenile justice system.

In 2006 and 2007, approximately 800 individuals and organizations donated more than 1000 hours of volunteer services and other contributions to assist children and families referred to Juvenile Court. Volunteers assist in several programs: More than 160 active sworn Auxiliary Probation Officers (APO) provide supervised probation for 800 cases and they often assist the parent and become mentors to other siblings. The Ambassador Program makes the Court a friendlier place with volunteers ready to help and always willing to share a smile with visitors. GOAL Program (Greater Opportunity for Additional Learning) volunteers offer classes to young people in detention, and The Chaplaincy Program coordinates weekly visits by faith-based organizations to minister directly to young people.

The Volunteer Services Bureau is the heart and soul of Juvenile Court, always trying to shine a bright light to direct our youth on the right path.

2^nd place: United Way of the Mid-South Loaned Executive Program

3^rd place: Sheriff’s Department Special Services

Adult Volunteer of the Year

Chief J.B. Shye Jr., supporting Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County

After 26 years in the United States Army, serving in Alaska , Germany , two tours of Viet Nam , assignment to West Point and the White House, and earning the Army Achievement Metal, Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart, it would seem that our winner would be a perfect candidate for rest, relaxation and retirement. But, oh no…not this officer! He is actually heading a new campaign to encourage and educate parents to become more responsible for their children.

Since 1998, he has been an Auxiliary Probation Officer and has personally mentored more than 50 children. Now he carries the new title of Chief Auxiliary Probation Officer for Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County - Auxiliary Probation Service, handling an average of 400 children each month who are on probation within the six divisions.

Our winner believes if parents become more active in every aspect of their child’s life, we would see a decline in juvenile delinquency. He travels throughout Shelby County meeting with officers, mentoring troubled youth and inspiring others to give their time to help the children who come in contact with Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County . He also oversees all phases of training to ensure that new recruits are ready to perform their sworn duties prior to being issued their first case, and he is so dedicated to reducing teen crime that he takes time from his own busy schedule to visit and speak with children in Detention at Juvenile Court to encourage positive behavior.

2^nd place: Deke Iglehart, supporting the Memphis Academy of Health Sciences

3^rd place: Darlene Winters, supporting Down Syndrome Association of the Mid-South

Lenore S. Creson Board Volunteer of the Year

Ben T. Duke for Friends for Life

Our winner exhibits the kind of charismatic leadership required to lead a successful organization. He not only has the spirit of giving, but he spreads it as well in support of an agency with a tough mission fighting the discrimination and stigma that come with the issue. He was a volunteer before joining the board and held a variety of positions including Board chair. Because of his tireless hands-on participation with the many ongoing activities, he came to be on a first-name basis with many of the clients participating in volunteer-driven dinners and other events. Whether he’s contributing his professional expertise, serving a Feast for Friends, hosting a Place at the Table party, or putting on a volunteer appreciation party at his own home, he champions the cause of Friends for Life and the services they provide to our fellow citizens living with HIV/AIDS.

2^nd place: Martha Perine-Beard, supporting United Way of the Mid-South

3^rd place: Jim Byrd, supporting Ronald McDonald House

Senior Volunteer of the Year

Nancy Crosby, supporting The Salvation Army

Imagine walking out of a local Kroger store in December and hearing the ringing of a bell nearby. There is a lady bundled up, with the nicest smile, ringing the bell at a donation stand. As your money falls into the bucket, she smiles and says thank you, Merry Christmas! You may think that she is volunteering for just one shift. Instead, you have probably met the coordinator of one of the largest programs of this agency in the greater Memphis Area.

Our winner was a founding member of a support group providing assistance in raising public awareness, facilitating services to the needy, and strengthening the financial base of the Memphis branch of The Salvation Army. This support group is now more than 600 members strong.

She also served as the chairman of the Advisory Board from 1995-1997 when a shelter needed to be relocated. Her leadership skills were put to the test as she helped identify a temporary location and lead the beginning stages of a capital campaign resulting in the construction of a shelter that currently houses 122 women and children each night.

2^nd place: Ed Sharrow, supporting Pink Palace Family of Museums

3^rd place: R.G. Goodfellow, supporting Lewis Center for Senior Citizens

Youth Volunteer of the Year

Feenalie Patel supporting LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center

Those of us who attend this event regularly are humbled by the level of creativity, motivation, and organization demonstrated by our young people, and this year’s winner is no exception.

Our winner began volunteering during the summer of 2006. At the end of the summer, she asked if there was anything more she could do. Because the crayon supply was running low, our youth winner decided this was a project for her fellow students. In two weeks, students and staff donated 2,500 crayons for the young patients.

After a second summer of volunteering, our honoree noticed young people in the clinic area with few activities to fill their waiting time. She suggested providing age-appropriate books for young readers and took the project back to school. After publicizing the book drive, her fellow students donated more than 400 books, making it one of the largest drives in the history of the hospital.

2^nd place winner: Olivia Eanes for Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home

3^rd place winner: Brandon Ray Bumgarner nominated by Boy Scouts of America

Small Group Volunteers of the Year

Arlington Foster Grandparents, supporting Porter-Leath Children’s Center

Our winning small group provides care to some of Memphis ’ highest-risk children and families, offering a rewarding outlet to the often-neglected senior population of volunteers.

The volunteers bring positive attitudes and lots of love to the mentally and physically challenged residents of the Arlington Developmental Center . These volunteers have all changed lives for the better, but there is one special man who stands out. Mr. Eddie Williams served as a Foster Grandparent at ADC for thirty years before retiring from the program at the age of 95. “Mr. Bill,” as he was affectionately known, thrived on the time spent with “his boys.” He enjoyed taking them to their daily activities and making them laugh and he encouraged them to try to do as much for themselves as they could.

Mr. Bill offered an incredible 31,000 hours of service, becoming like family to these four individuals and giving them a reason to embrace every day. Mr. Bill has since passed away, but his dedication and spirit represent the love offered to the community by our small group winner.

2^nd place: St. John’s Community Services, supporting United Way of the Mid-South

3^rd place: Elmwood Cemetery Volunteers, supporting Elmwood Cemetery

Large Group Volunteers of the Year

Friends of the Pink Palace , supporting the Pink Palace Family of Museums

Our large group winner serves one of the five largest museums in the South, the most visited in the state of Tennessee , and one that always wins a vote as a favorite local museum. These volunteers have been involved in every aspect of the mission, serving as docents, sponsoring entertaining exhibits, acting as hostesses for receptions, and raising funds to provide educational experiences for 300,000 school children and visitors each year.

The biggest impact was the creation of a special annual event in 1973 to raise funds for a major expansion. Every year this Fair has grown, now hosting 30,000-40,000 visitors annually. Three hundred volunteers are involved each year from the community with more than 50 group members taking leadership roles. The most important role of our honorees, however, will always be that of goodwill ambassadors for one of the nation’s finest museums.

2^nd Place : Subsidium, Inc., supporting the Memphis Oral School for the Deaf

3^rd Place : American Red Cross Disaster Action Team, supporting the American Red Cross

Media of the Year

WHBQ-TV Fox 13 supporting The Food Bank

It is not unusual for a media outlet to sponsor a special event, but our winner has taken the mission of the agency they serve to heart, becoming the driving force behind a mini-documentary and other PSAs to demonstrate their passion for fighting hunger in the Mid-South. This story is just one example.

For the first Good Morning Memphis “On the Road” broadcast featuring a Food Bank food drive, people were asked to bring food in order to get into the Zoo for free before regular hours. At 6am , there was a line of visitors carrying bags of canned goods from the entrance to the parking lot waiting to get in. By the end of the drive, more than 11 collection barrels were filled.

The entire staff has been involved in raising awareness and they have been involved in fighting hunger through participation in Operation Feed. For efforts in support of The Food Bank, our winner was recognized with a Regional Emmy Award for Community Service by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

2^nd place: Jim Jaggers supporting LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center

3^rd place: Rock 103 supporting Ronald McDonald House

Sponsors

Benefactor Sponsor

_____________

International Paper

United Way of the Mid-South

Chandler Ehrlich

Junior League of Memphis

National Council of Jewish Women - Memphis Section

Nike

Skirt! Magazine

Volunteer Memphis

22 North Front Street, Suite 780

Memphis, TN 38103

Phone: (901) 523-2425 Fax: (901) 523-7107

info@volunteermemphis.org