Sharing Service Stories » Human Services

Samuel Maugans: Providing Breathing Room For Families Living With Cancer

fordrm — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:07:57 +0000

Delaware's First Lady Carla Markell, Tricia Lyons, Senator Tom Carper, Samuel Maugans

For the past six years, Sam Maugans has devoted himself to the fight against cancer through his volunteer work with The Breathing Room Foundation, a nonprofit organization that strives to provide families living with cancer with a “bit of breathing room” from their daily struggles, with the hope that they can concentrate on regaining health. On average, Sam volunteers more than 60 hours per month, relieving the burdens of families living with cancer. In 2008 alone, Sam impacted the lives of 523 families. He was also elected President of the foundation for his many, hands-on efforts. Additionally, Sam leaves no stone unturned in fundraising or helping to expand the foundation’s capacity for service.

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Susan Maxam: Passing on the Tradition of Public Service

fordrm — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:24:56 +0000

Susan Maxam’s commitment to helping the underprivileged and trying to safeguard our
environment began during her college years when she spent time in Latin America working in refugee camps, orphanages, prisons and shantytowns. She has since been engaged in innumerable activities to benefit many causes, both local and global, and has involved her family, students, and colleagues. At Pace University she introduced a mandatory service component into the curriculum, participated in ongoing projects benefiting the Westchester Women’s Shelter, led Earth Month activities, and co-founded the Peace and Justice Committee. She also volunteers for Jua, a nonprofit organization providing solar lighting to rural Kenyan schools. This summer, she’ll travel to Kenya with her family to work with Orphans International and Jua.

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Liz Pascual: Providing Medical Supplies and Support Overseas

Inglis Leslie — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:16:22 +0000

Liz Pascual is an operating room nurse whose core values and sense of being revolve around helping others. Liz is dedicated and committed to the Faith and Practice ministry. Their medical mission trips to Guatemala provide needed medical supplies and support to those who would not otherwise have such access. Since 2002, Liz has taken a mission trip each year, including two separate trips in 2008. Liz also volunteers 3 to 4 evenings per month at the Good Samaritan Health Clinic, a free medical clinic in Garden City that provides volunteer medicine to the working poor. Liz is also extremely involved with the music ministry at St. Francis Cabrini Catholic Church and Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

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Gino Rinaldi: A Burn Survivor Helping Others Recover

Inglis Leslie — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:01:04 +0000

As an apprentice lineman, Gino received a burn injury in 1982. As a result of this injury, he learned of the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation (AARBF), which enhances the quality of life for burn survivors and promotes burn prevention education. Gino became a donor to AARBF. He also began to volunteer with AARBF’s Ambassador Program, which helps raise funds through speaking engagements at companies. Gino then became a peer resource counselor for others who have gone through similar injuries, helping them in their recovery process. He serves as Vice President of AARBF’s Executive Board and in this role, is responsible for oversight of the foundation’s policies and plays a critical role in the financial health of AARBF.

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Robert and Kathryn Zufall: Extending Affordable Health Care to the Uninsured

Inglis Leslie — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:15:46 +0000

Nearly 20 years ago, Dr. Robert Zufall and his wife, Kathryn, wanted more from retirement. The Zufalls decided to open the Dover Free Clinic. The medical clinic became a major provider of affordable health care. Operating one night a week Dr. Zufall, a retired urologist, treated patients while his wife provided administrative support. Almost instantly, the clinic attracted a growing patient base of mostly immigrant Latino and Asian families. Its popularity necessitated moves to larger quarters and expanded hours. Their tenacity for enlisting volunteers generated a core team of physicians, dentists, and support staff. Ultimate success came in 2004 when the clinic’s financial survival was assured by designation as a Federally Qualified Health Center. Renamed Zufall Health Center to honor the couple, it is now a full-time operation that last year received 22,000 visits by 8,200 patients. Most were uninsured.

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Lynn Falanga: Bringing Her Energy to Ending Hunger

Inglis Leslie — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:30:39 +0000

Lynn Falanga manages the daily operations of the National Grid Community Volunteers (Community Volunteers) and is the main contact between the agencies they serve, the community, and the volunteer group. In 2005, the Community Volunteers began a partnership with Island Harvest, the third largest food rescue organization in the U.S., to assist them in their mission to end hunger on Long Island. With an initial group of 10 employees, the Community Volunteers served as the bridge between those who have surplus food and those that need it. Today, 150+ Community Volunteers give up their lunch hours Monday – Friday to pick up surplus food and deliver to a network of community-based non-profit organizations that distribute the food to the needy.

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Diane Dobitz: A Teacher Reaches Out to Immigrants

fordrm — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:29:35 +0000

Diane Dobitz grew up in a large family where she learned the values of sharing, caring, hard work, and giving to those in need. After earning a degree in education she became a teacher. From there her teaching grew to large for one classroom. During her summers she volunteered in Appalachia, on an Indian Reservation, for people mentally and physically-challenged, and from 1986-1992 she lived and taught as a volunteer, in Kenya, East Africa. There she helped build and staff a primary girls’school that continues to operate today. When she returned to the U.S., she taught English as a second language to members of the community. She then taught children from refugee and immigrant families in Minnesota. Diane’s cross-cultural experience of life and work in Kenya allows her to reach out beyond the children at school to their newcomer families in our community.

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