lunte e r Network

f Bl o omington Vo
o
The City presents

Buskirk-Chumley Theater
March 27, 2018

Community and Family Resources Department

 A Celebration of Volunteerism
Welcome Master and Mistress of Ceremonies:
Joe Hren, Anchor of WTIU’s “Indiana Newsdesk” and
Bet Savich, Director of the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network

Community Portrait 2018 Honoree Photo Show

Presentation of the 2018 Be More Awards

• Be More Knowledgeable Award
(Education/Literacy)
Presenter: Bryan Price, President
and CEO, IU Credit Union
• Be More Collaborative Award
(Group)
Presenter: Whitney Thomas,
Student and Family Advocate,
Fairview Elementary School
• Be More Healthy Award
(Health/Wellness)
Presenter: Efrat Feferman,
Executive Director, United Way of
Monroe County
• Be More Phenomenal Award
(Board Member/Administrative)
Presenter: Brent Molnar, Station
Operations and Content Director,
WTIU
• Be More Energized Award
(Youth)
Presenter: Josefa Luce,
Latino Outreach Coordinator,
Community and Family Resources
Department, City of Bloomington
• Be More Involved Award
(College student)
Presenter: Dr. Lori Reesor, Vice
Provost for Student Affairs, Indiana
University
• Be More Creative Award
(Arts/Culture)
Presenter: Dexter Griffin, student,
Bloomington High School South;
recipient of 2016 Outstanding
Black Male Leader of Tomorrow
Award
• Be More Peaceful Award
Presenter: Tomilea Allison, former
Mayor of Bloomington
• Be More Sustainable Award
(Environmental Sustainability)
Presenter: Tina Peterson,
President and CEO, Community
Foundation of Bloomington and
Monroe County
• Be More Dedicated Award
(Lifetime of Service)
Presenter: John Hamilton, Mayor,
City of Bloomington

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INTRODUCING the

ers
g Volunte
2018 Celebratin

Nominees
Ellen Bergan
Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard
Ellen Bergan was inspired to create her own community
resource, the Van-Go Mobile Art Studio, when she joined the
Monroe County Youth Council in high school. She applied for and
received a grant her junior year to get this project going. Ellen
uses her passion to bring art to those who need it by bringing
professional grade art supplies to students who had likely never
even seen them. Children have vivid imaginations and can have a hard time processing major and
possibly traumatic life events. Art becomes a necessity as an outlet for dealing with these complex
emotions. Through Van-Go, Ellen has touched the lives of roughly 250 children and adults from
multiple income and ability levels.

Dellsie Boddie
Cry of the Children
Dellsie Boddie serves the community on multiple levels through
Cry of the Children, an organization that gives equal chances
to all children, not only to become functional in society, but to
shine. She works with children, helping them read and working
with them to discover their natural talents, such as singing,
dancing, and step team. She also serves as an advocate for both
children and their parents to make sure they reach their maximum potential. Cry of the Children has
made a difference in countless lives, as each person whose life Dellsie has touched keeps on giving.
She dedicates her time selflessly, never too busy to support others in their extracurricular activities as
they work to better themselves.
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Doris Brineman
IU Health Bloomington Hospital
Doris Brineman worked the information desk at IU Health
Bloomington Hospital for over 35 years, a remarkable feat for
any volunteer. The front desk position serves as the face of the
hospital and requires knowledge of the hospital and a kind, keen
sense of customer service. Doris was responsible for greeting
visitors and patients, providing room numbers and directions,
and being a friendly face for the hospital. As the person in this position is often the first one with
whom visitors interact, it is imperative that one has grace, dignity, and kindness. Doris Brineman
demonstrated all of these wonderful qualities during her lifetime of service. Her service extends to
other areas of the community as well, as she volunteers for her church and for the Meals on Wheels
program.

Jennifer Carlson
Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard
Jennifer Carlson’s kindness and willingness to work where
needed has made her a truly great volunteer for Mother
Hubbard’s Cupboard. Jennifer has given much of her time to
the Hub’s community garden program, where she assists with
planting, weeding, harvesting and more. The Hub’s community
garden program provides gardening education so that people
can grow their own food. It also gives the organization’s patrons - approximately 3,800 people a week
- access to fresh food. Jennifer also stocks shelves, repackages food, and provides excellent customer
service, but her positive attitude is what makes the Hub’s community spaces more enjoyable for staff,
patrons and her co-volunteers.

Lillian Casillas
El Centro Comunal Latino
Lillian Casillas has given 17 years of her life in service to the
Latino community of Bloomington through El Centro Comunal
Latino and as the director of IU’s La Casa Latino Cultural Center
since 2000. El Centro Comunal Latino was formed when El Centro
and La Central Latina merged in 2000. El Centro Comunal Latino
serves to encourage Latino integration into the community
and bridges the gap between Latinos and community service providers. Lillian’s experiences have
crystallized in the form of pragmatism, dedication, excellent communication, and original ideas.
These traits promote El Centro Comunal Latino’s mission of making a transformative impact in the
Latino community through social, cultural, and linguistic integration.

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Cindy Chavez
Pantry 279
Over the past two years, Cindy Chavez has given her time to
Pantry 279, organizing volunteers, running the Thanksgiving
basket program, and launching the Christmas basket program.
Pantry 279 was originally created in November of 2015 and
maintained by ten Girl Scouts from Troop 69-279. Pantry 279
provides education about food needs and food insecurity to any
group that asks. They provide a place where individuals, families, and groups can experience hands-
on community service that really makes a difference. Cindy has affected up to 3,200 people a month,
giving food and toiletries that people need in order to survive.

Mona Clay
Girls Inc. of Monroe County
Mona Clay sets the standard for volunteers at Girls Inc. The
reliability of volunteers mentoring these girls is incredibly
important - for the functionality of the programming and for
the strength of the mentorship relationship. Girls know that
Mona will be there week after week, and they know that she
cares for them. Volunteers who nourish their relationships
with the girls are priceless and Mona understands this. During Mona’s time with Girls Inc., she has
consistently sought ways to contribute more. She views her service from the perspective of what is
needed by Girls Inc., going above and beyond in the quality, quantity, and timing of her service. She
truly shows these girls how to be strong, smart, and bold as she sets an amazing example for other
volunteers.

Priscilla Cuevas
American Red Cross
Priscilla Cuevas volunteers in several positions within the
American Red Cross. She is a lead volunteer for Service to
the Armed Forces, a caseworker, and a disaster preparedness
instructor. Through her instruction, 45 children have learned how
to be prepared in the event of a home fire, and she has impacted
200 lives through the Home Fire Campaign, which entailed
installing home smoke alarms. Priscilla’s volunteer roles are pivotal to the organization’s success in
education, outreach, and casework. Priscilla not only impacts the lives of her community, but impacts
the staff of the American Red Cross by bringing a positive can-do attitude and a bright smile. It is a
pleasure to recognize her as one of the most influential volunteers in Bloomington.

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Susan Cull
Teachers Warehouse
Sue Cull has been a driving force at Teachers Warehouse, a
Bloomington-based nonprofit providing free classroom supplies
to teachers in numerous Indiana counties. Teachers Warehouse
supports equitable and exciting education, creative problem-
solving and student engagement, and offers an opportunity
for local businesses, organizations, and individuals to donate
useful items. As President, Sue is a remarkable visionary, fundraiser, and connector, whose leadership
has transformed Teachers Warehouse into what it is today. She took the organization, whose supply
inventory was dangerously depleted, and built it up through supply drives, successful grant proposals,
and presentations to Rotary Clubs. She also worked to increase the number of teachers using supplies
from Teachers Warehouse and the value of donations brought in.

Viridiana de Santiago
La Sociedad de Amigos, Bloomington North High School
Viridiana de Santiago’s passion for her culture is expressed
through the vitality of the Latino community here in
Bloomington. As a student, Viridiana excels in all that she does.
She organizes different events with her Club de Amigos and
also helps with community events such as La Fiesta del Otoño,
Hispanic Heritage Month, International Family Night at MCCSC,
as well as grupo de amigos. Viridiana’s involvement is contagious, as she shares the wonderful culture
and traditions of Latin American countries, while supporting the Latino community locally. Simply
put, Viridiana makes Bloomington a better place to live for so many people!

Mary DePew
Monroe County Public Library
Mary DePew‘s herculean volunteer efforts at Volunteers In
Tutoring Adult Learners (VITAL) have directly impacted nearly
100 English language learners locally. Those new to the U.S. and
new to English often have little interaction with the community
until they have achieved the ability to communicate. Mary’s many
groups allow her students to work toward their personal literacy
goals, gaining self-sufficiency, and enhancing their English conversation skills, while engaging in arts
and crafts, discussing literature, and learning about U.S. customs. Since 2011, Mary has lead up to
four ‘English as a New Language’ sessions per week. She engages with her learners on Facebook, takes
them on field trips in the community and encourages them to try new experiences.

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Krista Detor
Krista Detor’s Annual Holiday Show
Krista Detor has contributed her musical talent to the
Bloomington community through her annual holiday show for
the past ten years. Every year she chooses a different charity
to receive 100% of ticket sales, food and beverage sales,
and vendor artist booth rental earnings. Krista contributes
the funding to organize the shows. She prepares for several
months to ensure every detail is laid out and performers have the rehearsal time they need. She even
decorates the concert space using her own decorations. She works diligently to create gorgeous,
talent-filled, and popular holiday shows, earnestly giving of herself. Her dedication to this community
is reflected in the beautiful and heartfelt words she speaks at these concerts.

Gavin Everett
City of Bloomington Commission on Hispanic and
Latino Affairs
Gavin Everett spends hours involved in Commission on Hispanic
and Latino Affairs activities, often saying, “just tell me what I
can do to help.” The commission works to identify and research
the issues that impact this population, especially in areas of
health, education, public safety and cultural competency. Gavin
exemplifies the highest commitment to our community through his service. His public volunteer
efforts through the Commission and his private individual efforts serve as a role model for all of
us. Gavin displays a seemingly never-ending compassion and concern for the Hispanic and Latino
members of our community. He represents the true spirit of the caring culture we strive for in the
Bloomington community.

Celestina Garcia
Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard
Celestina Garcia’s passion for food policy that reaches the root
causes of hunger extends from Bloomington’s local issues to
federal policy. Celestina’s moving participation in a Monroe
County Community School Corporation board meeting last
summer helped to convince board members to reverse a school
lunch debt policy that will impact thousands of students in
Monroe County schools. Celestina continues to be a highly valuable member of the Advocacy Working
Group of Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard. For example, she has recently been advocating for a farm bill
that would support both small local farmers and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
recipients.

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Jim Harvey
Shalom Community Center
Jim Harvey’s decade-long history of volunteer service at
Shalom Community Center has encompassed all facets of center
operations - from board governance to fixing leaky toilets. At the
core of his contributions is his concern for those suffering from
the devastating impacts of poverty. Motivated by his desire for
social justice, Jim transferred the skills and abilities that he used
to successfully run the school corporation to assisting in the operations of the Center. Jim served on
the Board of Trustees from 2008 to 2017, during which time he consistently provided leadership on
the Operations Committee. Jim led the fundraising efforts for the new building campaign in 2010 and
coordinated the entire operation - scouting locations, consulting with architects, and overseeing the
contractors throughout the remodel.

Israel Herrera
La Escuelita para Todos
Israel Herrera has been an outstanding and renowned volunteer
in a variety of areas. He has been chair and board member of
the City of Bloomington Commission on Hispanic and Latino
Affairs for seven years. He worked to recognize excellent
academic and service achievements of Latino students by
creating the Outstanding Latino/Hispanic High School Student
award. Social problems among teens or within families can be ameliorated with strong community
models, a sense of pride, and good role models. Israel helps our youth develop their sense of identity
and is a powerful advocate for the Latino community. He is strongly committed to making this town a
better place for everyone, building on the great efforts of so many.

Erica Isaacson
Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard
What does Erica Isaacson bring to Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard
each week? Her work stocking shelves, repackaging food, and
keeping the kitchen and classroom organized are extremely
important to its functionality, but Erica’s brightest contributions
are to the patrons she meets. The Hub sees about 3,800 people a
week. The food pantry needs volunteers like Erica who understand
how to provide a dignified shopping experience for patrons. She’s always willing to help others
and make sure they are having the best shopping experience possible. Erica has a kind soul and
provides an intelligent, caring perspective. She is a wonderful person who cares a lot about the HUB
community. Shopping or working with Erica can really make your day!

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Jerry Jerome
Bloomington Community Band
Jerry Jerome’s love affair with music began as a child, eventually
taking him from the Detroit area to Europe and then, to our
great gain, Bloomington. He put down his horn for 30 years
as he pursued a career in sales, but returned with a passion as
he stepped into a retirement path that led to the Bloomington
Community Band. He is now chair of the Board of Directors. At
an age when many are slowing down, Jerry is gaining steam. He created the Swing Time Big Band in
2015 and the Heritage Hall Ramblers Dixieland Band in 2016, both Bloomington Community Band
affiliates, well-loved at area retirement homes, parks, and the Bloomington Farmers Market. Would
he ever put down his horn again? Not a chance.

Nick Kappas
Environmental Commission, City of Bloomington
Nick Kappas is involved with a variety of community programs.
He serves on the Bloomington Environmental Commission,
and was selected as Chair earlier this year. This commission
actively participates in the city planning process, researches and
reports on environmental topics, develops educational outreach
activities, and coordinates with other municipal boards and
commissions. Last year Nick was appointed by the Mayor to serve on the Planning Commission. Nick
knows that providing clean green space and safe drinking water is something most can agree on.
He knows that if we take care of planet Earth, it will take care of us. As a past Little 500 cyclist, he
also dedicates his time and knowledge to this event that provides scholarships for working students,
coaching both men’s and women’s teams.

John Labban
Volunteers in Medicine
Dr. John Labban has volunteered his services through Volunteers
in Medicine since they opened in 2007, providing prenatal care
for many community women who are not U.S. citizens. Typically,
these women would not receive any care for themselves or their
babies without the compassionate care Dr. Labban and his staff
provide. There are also many women who do not qualify for
health insurance and must use emergency Medicaid for delivery of their babies. However, emergency
Medicaid doesn’t provide any prenatal care. Dr. Labban is the only obstetrics and gynecology specialist
to accept these women as patients. Without him, Volunteers in Medicine would not be able to offer
this essential service and the safety and well being of many women would be compromised.

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Rita Lichtenberg
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
Fifty two years ago, Rita Lichtenberg founded the Southern
Indiana branch of the Women’s International League for Peace
and Freedom, and she is still its most active board member.
She brings in speakers to discuss issues of peace, including
nuclear disarmament and strategies for peace processes, and she
organizes membership drives and fundraising efforts. Just two
years ago, at age 86, she founded Sisters in Peace, an organization designed to foster communication
and understanding among Jewish and Muslim women. Rita never stops advocating, working hard,
supporting others’ work, never taking credit for her accomplishments, and being there for anyone
who needs her advice, her helping hand, or just her ear. She never stops helping, and is a true
inspiration. Perhaps inspiration is her greatest gift to the community.

Pat Martin
Community Kitchen
Pat Martin is a volunteer extraordinaire in the Bloomington
community. She actively volunteers each week at Volunteers in
Medicine, the Opportunity House, and her church, First United
Church. She also volunteers twice monthly at the Community
Kitchen. Pat has years of experience in the pharmacy business,
so she offers and applies her knowledge while volunteering
at Volunteers in Medicine. At Opportunity House, she sorts and prices clothes and oftentimes takes
home more than her share to launder and bring back for sale. At the Community Kitchen, she is a very
dependable and consistent member. She dedicates so much time to community causes because she
loves people and loves to spread the happiness that kindness brings them.

Kazuko Matsusaka
People & Animal Learning Services (PALS)
Kazuko Matsusaka has a dedication to service that is hard to
match but easy to appreciate! People and Animal Learning
Services - PALS - needs volunteers to run all of its programs, but
Kazuko goes far above and beyond what you would normally see
or ask from a volunteer. She volunteers nearly every day! Since
she is trained in a variety of duties and has become so skilled and
knowledgeable, she is able to serve the organization by teaching other volunteers as well. Kazuko’s
dedication is matched by her care and passion for the PALS team - staff, volunteers, clients, and
horses.

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Robert Muldoon
St. Vincent de Paul Society
Bob Muldoon has served the St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVDP)
for over 20 years ago, serving as its president for six years. He
tests and repairs donated washers and dryers given to those in
need. For many years, he met weekly at Shalom Community
Center with up to 15 people needing financial assistance. Then
he’d do dishes! To this day, he visits those in need in their homes.
He also volunteers through Area 10 Agency on Aging, helping seniors in need with household repairs.
He provides special project resources for New Hope for Families weekly, and was instrumental in
organizing the Hope Builder tools and supplies. Hundreds of people who are homeless, elderly or with
low incomes have benefited over the decades Bob has served.

Judith Olmstead
The Nest at New Hope
Judith Olmstead engages students at The Nest at New Hope in
hands on, meaningful learning projects each week. The Nest
at New Hope provides high quality early learning experiences
for children aged birth to five who are experiencing poverty
and homelessness. Many of their students crave consistent and
caring adults in their lives who will guide them with gentleness,
patience and love. Judith does that each and every time she goes through their door. The children
learn from her, love her, and trust her. Her consistent commitment to our community makes her a part
of the family; she is even known as “Grandma Judy.” Whether she is reading books, leading a cooking
activity, or creating physics experiments, the children’s lives are richer each day she is with them.

Allan Paton
South Central Community Action Program
Allan Paton has volunteered with one of the Head Start
preschool classrooms for the last several months. South Central
Community Action Program’s mission is to provide opportunities
for low-income citizens to move toward personal and economic
independence. By sharing his time and talents with a Head Start
classroom, Mr. Allan can change the life of a low-income child
in our community, especially since he always brings an enthusiastic attitude. He interacts with the
children and participates in the daily morning circle-time “Hello” song and in Thursday’s Share Days
by bringing his violin. His consistency, kindness, and enthusiasm are things that every organization
hopes to find in their volunteers. Allan is a huge asset in the classroom and those around him cherish
every morning he is with them.

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Dennis Pence
Endwright Center - Area 10 Agency on Aging
Dennis Pence began volunteering at the Endwright Center
in 2016 as an administrative assistant, greeting members,
communicating information about services, and assisting with
exercise equipment and games. The Endwright Center serves the
age 50+ population in Monroe and Owen counties at affordable
rates. Within this community, he took on a leadership role in
adapting Senior Game events to be more fun and a bit easier, increasing the number of participants
and establishing new programs. Participation in the center’s programs and services grew by 38%
in 2017, primarily due to Dennis’ contribution of 450 hours of his time. He contributes through his
leadership, customer service, knowledge of fitness equipment usage and maintenance, recreational,
wellness and educational activities, all of which seniors enjoy throughout the year.

Tom Rea
Bloomington Animal Shelter
Tom Rea started at the Bloomington Animal Shelter walking
dogs each week, then moved up to being an adoption counselor,
helping patrons find a matching pet. He also transports dogs to
other shelters, working extremely hard and spending long hours
on these life-saving transports. The impact of all these positions
is far-reaching. Each volunteer helps the 22 person staff function
more smoothly, increase adoptions, and feel relieved about giving a long-term shelter dog a chance.
Serving a truly amazing number of 2,345 hours - and at 83 years of age - Tom has proven to be
selfless, tireless, and extremely dedicated. He will do anything asked of him, no matter how he might
feel that day. Best of all? He is a lovely person with a huge heart!

Marianne Ritter
Bloomington Symphony Orchestra
Marianna Ritter currently serves the Bloomington Symphony
Orchestra in five roles: viola section leader, music librarian,
board vice president, chair of the community outreach and
engagement committee, and member of the recruitment and
development committee. Dedicated individuals are needed to
do all of this behind the scenes work. Those around her count on
her to make these valuable contributions to the orchestra, no matter which “hat” she happens to be
wearing at the moment. It’s rare to find someone as dedicated to an organization as Marianne is to
the Bloomington Symphony. It’s even more rare to find someone who does so many different things
for a group, handling them all with grace, maturity, and absolute focus.

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Dulce Ruiz-Lemus
United Way of Monroe County
Dulce Ruiz-Lemus volunteers as a tax preparer for the Free
Community Tax Service each year, recently becoming site
supervisor of the Spanish language tax site at City Hall. The time
it takes to complete the certification process, supervise weekly
site operations, and follow up on each return with the IRS is
staggering. She does this, in addition to working full time and
being a mother to two young children, because she remembers what it was like when her parents
could not speak English well and took her with them everywhere to translate. Her commitment
ensures there is a high quality, reliable, and convenient free tax preparation service for Spanish
speaking residents. Her huge welcoming smile and positive attitude are infectious. .

Phyllis Schwitzer
Bloomington Thrift Shop-Psi Iota Xi Sorority, Zeta Chapter
Phyllis Schwitzer was instrumental in guiding the Psi Iota Xi
Sorority, Zeta Chapter philanthropic sorority as they transformed
the Bloomington Thrift Shop out of a rental location and into
their own building, and from a very part-time operation into
a nearly full-time one. The shop has helped many community
members over the last 80 years by providing low cost, quality
items for sale, then using the profits to support local charitable enterprises. Phyllis created, edited,
and published the organization’s newsletter for over 20 years, compiled and printed their program
book since 1987, created and maintained a member database, and has served on the board for
30 years. She volunteers weekly while carrying the institutional memory for Psi Iota Xi and its
fundraising arm, the Bloomington Thrift Shop.

Barbara Seitz de Martinez (deceased Jan. 1, 2018)

Bloomington-Posoltega Committee,
Sister Cities International
Barbara Seitz de Martinez provided 29 years of leadership to the
Bloomington-Posoltega Committee of Sister Cities International.
This committee provides programs for groups to learn more
about their sister cities. Barbara chaired the organization for 24
years, organizing programs that linked the two cities, such as
the hot lunch program for needy children and college scholarship program. Many members made
their first visit to a developing country on Barbara’s watch. The people of Posoltega trusted her, so
they opened their homes to these visitors. But the greatest impact is the way Barbara changed lives
in Bloomington. With her guidance, support, encouragement, and leadership during those trips,

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volunteers learned about community, giving, poverty, family, language, and most importantly, life
from a totally different perspective and culture.

Marie-Louise Smith
Dance for Parkinson’s
Marie-Louise Smith – “Weezie” - has a long history of service.
When she sees a need, she doesn’t just talk about possibilities,
she acts. This was evident years ago when she initiated local
recorder programs and was evidenced again when, after being
diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, she saw a PBS report on
Dance for Parkinson’s and decided to start a local chapter. Thanks
to Weezie’s tireless efforts coordinating with IU professionals and local agencies, Dance for Parkinson’s
was successfully launched in Bloomington seven years ago and continues to be a vital resource.
This group provides a rare experience of joyous, graceful movement, and an unusual and accessible
opportunity for connecting with others. Spin-off groups have also developed, one for those with
Parkinson’s and their caregivers, another specifically for caregivers.

Molly Wagschal
El Centro Comunal Latino
Molly Wagschal has been volunteering every Monday to tutor
children in a variety of subjects at the Monroe County Public
Library’s ‘El Centro Comunal Latino’ outreach programs. The
parents of these students are non-native English speakers,
who are unfamiliar with the U.S. public school system, and are
grateful for native English speakers who volunteer to help their
kids with literacy and their homework assignments. As a high school student balancing advanced
placement courses and studying violin through IU’s Jacobs School pre-college program, she wants to
support the educational development of Latino children in our community, and help their families
succeed in U.S. society through educational achievement. She has made it a commitment to make her
community a more welcoming place for Latino immigrants.

Daniel Watts
Interfaith Emergency Winter Shelter
After being President of the Interfaith Winter Shelter Board of
Directors for three years, Daniel Watts agreed to a new position,
Immediate Past President, so he could support the Board and
new President as they moved through the transition from
being based in a variety of faith communities to being based at
Wheeler Mission. From November through March, the shelter
provides a hot meal and a safe, warm place to sleep for about 50 men and five to ten women each
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night. Daniel is a clear thinker and a good communicator. Throughout this first year at Wheeler, Dan
has communicated operational changes to site directors and volunteers as they’ve developed, which
has been extremely important and more complicated than it sounds!

Fran Weinberg
WonderLab Museum of Science, Health and Technology
Fran Weinberg has been actively involved with Wonderlab
Museum of Science, Health, and Technology from its start in 1995
as a traveling outreach program, throughout its formative years
in the interim museum, to its permanent home. WonderLab
Museum provides children the opportunity to experience
hands-on science exhibits and programs. In her 20 plus years
volunteering at WonderLab, Fran has done it all. She has volunteered at outreach events, special
programs, scout badge programs, and led animal demonstrations and preschool programs. Fran has
dedicated herself to promoting lifelong learning and to enriching the lives of children by her support
of WonderLab and so many other community organizations. At 89 years young, Fran is proof that
staying active, involved and engaged in the community creates a win-win situation.

Roberta Wysong
Community Justice and Mediation Center (CJAM)
Roberta Wysong spent a lifetime in service to others through
her professional career, and continues that tradition in
her retirement years through her volunteer work with the
Community Justice and Mediation Center. When people are in
conflict, have harmed someone, or been harmed themselves,
the center is there to provide community mediation services,
conflict resolution training and group facilitation. As a founding member of the center, Roberta
has provided exemplary leadership, mentorship, and advocacy to advance and sustain this vibrant
community organization over the past 22 years. She has worked with laser focus to provide safe
spaces and frameworks for community members, to build trust, to connect across differences,
to encourage people to take accountability, and to find solutions that enable them to rebuild
relationships and move forward.

Happy National Volunteer Month!

(April 2018)

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Backpack Buddies Volunteers
Community Kitchen of Monroe County
Backpack Buddies volunteers contribute about two hours each
Thursday afternoon packing the bags and loading the van for
distribution to 17 schools. Over 400 backpacks are packed weekly
to serve children throughout the Monroe County Community
School Corporation’s district who have been identified as food
insecure. Each child is given about eight pounds of food each
Friday during the school year to supplement the groceries they have at home. Helping these families
provide food for themselves and their children means that children have a chance to eat more than
once a day and that their diets will be more varied. The Backpack Buddies are dedicated to the mission
of Community Kitchen; they care about the children and their families who are in need of food.

Bloomington Community Band

Bloomington Community Band
Bloomington is lucky to be the home to many talented
musicians, and the Bloomington Community Band is a
noteworthy recipient of some of this time and talent.
Recreating the atmosphere of days past when community
bands performed in the town square of a community, the
Bloomington Community Band has brought together talented performers who give freely of their
time and talent to bring music to the public. Fifty five band members perform at local retirement and
extended care facilities, and at many events throughout the year, including the Fourth of July parade,
Fourth Street Arts Fair, and the Summer Concert Series in Waldron, Hill and Buskirk Park. This band is
literally a pillar of Bloomington’s music community!

Bloomington Symphony Orchestra

Bloomington Symphony Orchestra
For the past 48 years, the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra
(BSO) has been a musical home for local residents to keep their
love of music alive, providing them performance opportunities
and a sense of community. The all-volunteer BSO performs eight
concerts per season. From holiday pops shows and children’s
concerts to masterpieces of orchestral music, their programs
educate, enlighten, and entertain. To members, music is a gift meant to be shared. The BSO also has
educational outreach programs, including an instrument loan program, side-by-side mentoring
of high school musicians, a youth concerto competition, and an instrument petting zoo. Orchestra
members work hard together to prepare for and perform extraordinary concerts which enrich the lives
of everyone involved. The sum is truly much greater than the parts.

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City of Bloomington Commission on
Hispanic and Latino Affairs
Commission on Hispanic and Latino Affairs
As Bloomington’s Latino population has grown, the City of
Bloomington Commission on Hispanic and Latino Affairs
has completed deep work attending to needs, concerns, and
interests of this community. The Commission’s work has touched
so many lives because of their smart partnering with local
agencies, the police department, the school system, the medical community, and many other groups
serving the public. Bringing Latinos to the forefront is important not only to create understanding and
cultural awareness but also to demonstrate to Latinos that they are recognized, not as visitors, but as
an integral, vibrant and welcome part of the community. Addressing issues and assuring that needs
are being met is a crucial part of the Commission’s work, as is highlighting the richness of Latino
cultures.

Community Service Program - IU

Spanish and Portuguese Department
MCCSC Elementary Dual Language and International
Baccalaureate Programs
Spanish majors and minors, faculty members, and graduate
students in the IU Department of Spanish and Portuguese
volunteer to teach Spanish in Clear Creek, Summit, and Childs
Elementary Schools, and at Redbud Senior Living Center and La
Escuelita para Todos (The Little School for All). This 42 person team supports the school system’s lead
teachers in classes and special activities so all children can have exposure to the Spanish language.
The team also teaches Spanish to teachers in the dual language elementary schools. Many Latino
children have improved their speaking, writing and reading skills through their support. They are
helping a new generation to be bilingual. They are helping an experienced generation to smile and
activate memory functions. They bring the joy of learning wherever they go!

CUBAmistad Volunteers
CUBAmistad
CUBAmistad has nurtured a sister city relationship between
Bloomington and Santa Clara, Cuba since the 1990’s. In the past,
this group has focused on travel between sister cities while
providing some material and technical aid. Since U.S. policy now
prohibits U.S. citizens from travelling to Cuba, CUBAmistad’s focus
now includes advocacy for positive U.S.-Cuban relations. Most
recently, CUBAmistad has formed a partnership with El MeJunje, a Cuban LGBT cultural center in Santa

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Clara, to spread a message of inclusivity through rural theatre utilizing transexual actors to normalize
LGBTQ identities. The intersectionality, adaptability, and persistence of CUBAmistad’s important work
is preserving an important relationship with Santa Clara while opening hearts and minds.

Delta Gamma Theta Chapter at Indiana

University
Visually Impaired Preschool Services (VIPS Indiana)
The women of the Delta Gamma Theta Chapter at Indiana
University are incredibly supportive of Visually Impaired
Preschool Services (VIPS) and the babies and toddlers with
blindness or low vision they serve. Because these kids are a low-
incidence population, they are often overlooked. These women
donate their time, talent, and treasure over the years making tactile items, such as scratch mats and
shaker tubes, hosting a bake sale at ‘Operation: Chili for Children’ and making numerous monetary
contributions. The women change over the years as they graduate, but there has never been a lapse
in the commitment from the chapter. They advocate for these children, spread awareness, raise funds,
and make fun items, clearly embodying their mission to “Do Good.” Their commitment to VIPS is a
cherished community partnership.

Delta Upsilon Fraternity

DU Global Service Initiative
The brothers of IU’s Delta Upsilon fraternity have worked on
seven large philanthropic events this year. They served as
the pilot chapter for the Red Cross Smoke Detector Project,
working with local firefighters to install 100 smoke alarms for
low-income community members. On campus, they hosted a
Red Cross blood drive and also hosted over 300 guests at the
DU Dog House cookout, raising over $5,500 for the Global Service Initiative. Through this program,
two brothers of the chapter helped build an elementary school in Jamaica. Several brothers are also
actively involved in IU Dance Marathon for Riley Hospital for Children. The men of Delta Upsilon,
through their hearts of compassion and service, have shown an impressive body of work, impacting
hundreds of families locally and globally.

Wednesday Food Pantry Volunteers

First United Methodist Church - Monroe County United
Ministries
For more than 20 years, volunteers with First United Methodist
Church’s Wednesday Food Pantry - a pop-up food pantry - have
brought a free, reliable food source to families in the area. Many
people are surprised to learn that nearly one in four families in
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Monroe County live in poverty. There is a shocking demand for supplemental food sources, and these
volunteers provide this much-needed service in a very client-centered way. The dedication of the
Wednesday Food Pantry volunteers is amazing - from the lifting and carrying starting at 2:30 p.m.,
well past closing time at 5:30 p.m., to the strategic planning involved to ensure continuous updates
and improvements. These volunteers work hard and smart to make sure they can provide necessary
food to Monroe County families!

Friends of Lake Monroe

Steering Committee
Friends of Lake Monroe
Friends of Lake Monroe is a citizens group dedicated to finding
solutions to improve the water quality of Lake Monroe by
enhancing its use as a drinking water, recreational, and ecological
resource. The committee’s service includes outreach, educational
events, connecting with stakeholders, and developing scientific
programs. Though several groups are involved with managing Lake Monroe, no entity shares this
group’s scope: to protect and preserve the lake and its watershed. Lake Monroe is the sole drinking
water source for Bloomington and surrounding counties. Without a clean lake, the city would suffer
significant health and economic impacts. Over the last two years, these six volunteers have connected
over 150 people with local experts and stakeholders under the collective umbrella of an ambitious
goal - to keep the lake clean.

Gibbs Family
People & Animal Learning Services (PALS)
The husband and wife team of Bud and Becky Gibbs make the
perfect pair as they volunteer at People and Animal Learning
Services - PALS. PALS promotes joy, quality of life, better health
and empowerment by providing therapeutic programs with
horses. By providing a caring, safe and challenging environment,
PALS fosters growth and individual achievement of their
participants. Bud and Becky volunteer together every week, working as sidewalkers and horse
leaders. Their interactions with clients and horses is amazing to watch, and the fact that they have
a strong background with horses is a huge advantage for the organization. Bud provides a much-
needed male influence for the PALS clients. Together, Bud and Becky help over 25 people each week,
always with a warm and welcoming attitude.

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Habitat for Humanity CEO Search
Committee
Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County
The Habitat for Humanity CEO Search Committee was made up
of local business owners, human resources professionals, and
Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County board members, donors,
and volunteers. Following the retirement of the organization’s
former CEO, the need for a quality search committee to find the
next leader was a make or break moment for Habitat. They were determined to settle for nothing but
the best since the decision would impact hundreds of individuals in our community. Throughout the
process, they were collaborative, communicative, and supportive of the Habitat staff, ensuring the
right fit was found. They say they “couldn’t be more thrilled to have Darryl Neher as our new CEO and
he is already dreaming big and putting work boots behind the dream.”

IU Civic Leaders Center

Multiple organizations in the Bloomington community
The IU Civic Leaders Center seeks to connect first year college
students with the Bloomington community as a way to
give back and make meaningful contributions to the place
that they now call home. They work hard to fill what the
Bloomington community needs, contributing over 500 hours
of service each year. The Civic Leaders seek to understand our
community’s largest issues and find ways that they can make a difference. They have partnered with
many community organizations and are continually seeking new opportunities for their engaged
students. They have participated in one-time, repeating, and Dr. King Day of Service activities in the
Bloomington community over the past five years. They truly believe in the value of service and the
impact it has in the community.

Lotus Education & Arts Foundation

2010-2017 Powerhouse Volunteers
Lotus Education & Arts Foundation
The Lotus Education & Arts Foundation ‘powerhouse volunteers’
- people who have sustained the organization from 2010 to
2017 - do every activity imaginable. They work in the office, put
up posters, staff crafts tables at Lotus Blossoms Bazaar, serve
food or work in the kitchen at Edible Lotus, create visual arts
installations, plan the festival, arrange venues, close streets, work with community partners, and
train and orient over 500 volunteers. These amazing volunteers direct set up and tear down of the
festival, house-manage venues, work on the volunteer database, and create homemade gifts. They

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pack boxes, haul equipment, loan their vehicles, and paint walls. It is amazing that this group was
volunteering in 2010 and every single one is still working to pull off the 2018 festival - Lotus’ 25th!

Monroe County Civic Theater

Monroe County Civic Theater
The Monroe County Civic Theater is a nonprofit community
group that is open to all who want to participate. Participants
have ranged in age from 4 to 80. While there are some unpaid
professional actors, most are amateurs with little or no past
experience in acting or singing. From director to stage manager,
costume designer, singer, musician, technical support, actor,
song writer, or playwright, all can find a place to grow and develop their talents. Every December,
they host a symposium that benefits a local, charitable organization. Last year members wrote short
plays, composed music, and shared a skit with a domestic violence message as they were supporting
Middle Way House. Members of the Civic Theater bring artistic enjoyment to others, and enjoy giving
back to the community.

Patient Escorts of Planned Parenthood

of Indiana & Kentucky
Planned Parenthood of Indiana & Kentucky
Patient escorts of Planned Parenthood volunteer in 90 minute
shifts multiple times each month. Their work is to distract
patients from protesters and ensure safe, unencumbered
passage into the health center. Patient escorts have brief,
but profound, contact with patients of Planned Parenthood,
which provides reproductive health care. Escorts judge neither the patients nor the protesters, being
there only for patient support. Without escorts, patients’ well-being and sense of safety would
be compromised. It is a unique position because you are appreciated by the patients, but you are
chastised and your values questioned by protesters who far outnumber you. Patient Escorts are skilled
in the art of making tension-reducing small talk, and offering kind words and reassurance to patients
to make them feel at ease when they arrive.

Seven Oaks Parent Teacher

Community Association
PTCA Seven Oaks Team
The purpose of Seven Oaks Parent Teacher Community
Association is to support and encourage both collaboration and
communication between parents, faculty, and administration
in order to advance the mission of Seven Oaks Classical School.
They also organize fundraising and school events to deepen
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community spirit and involvement, raise funds for educational purposes, and enrich the children’s
social experiences as they strive for high moral character and civic virtue. They are great role models
for the children and encourage community service to benefit the school’s families and the community
of Ellettsville. When a family is in need, they step up and provide meals and other support to
ensure the community is taken care of. They reach a lot of people in small and large ways with their
tremendous support!

Shalom Community Center Volunteers

Shalom Community Center
Volunteers at the Shalom Community Center truly embody
the principle that every person deserves compassion, respect,
and acknowledgement of their “story worth sharing.” Nothing
happens at Shalom without the important work of volunteers.
Volunteers share the joy of providing services to thousands each
year--laundry, casework, showers, day shelter, meals… each
day Shalom volunteers serve 200 to 300 clients. In the constant bustle of Shalom, volunteers are
essential to maintaining the day to day operations. What makes Shalom such an incredible resource
to people accessing their services is the meaningful relationships built among clients, staff, and
volunteers. What is most outstanding about Shalom volunteers is that they uphold the agency’s
values by offering the gift of nonjudgmental hospitality to those who have been marginalized by
society.

Trinity Episcopal Church “Meal Makers”

South Central Community Action Program
Since the start of South Central Community Action Program’s
poverty eradication model called “Thriving Connections,” Trinity
Episcopal Church volunteers have been reliable and essential,
not only by providing meals, but by establishing lasting
relationships. The Thriving Connections program serves dinner
to more than 50 participants each Thursday. Relationships are an agent of change as participants
share a meal to break down barriers and establish friendships. Trinity Episcopal Church “Meal Makers”
invest effort, thoughtfulness, and heart into every meal they prepare for Thriving Connections. Over
the years, their love for the work and the warmth of their presence has become a mainstay for the
Thriving Connections program. Not to mention that their cooking is better than your grandma’s and
our grandma’s combined! Nothing brings people together like a wonderful meal.

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WonderLab Volunteer Team
WonderLab Museum of Science, Health and Technology
WonderLab Museum volunteers encourage an atmosphere of
play and discovery as visitors experience hands-on exploration.
What these wonderful volunteers share in common is a passion
for science that sets a mood in the museum of “this is fun - come
try it.” Special moments happen each and every day because of
this team. In 2017, 688 individuals donated more than 15,000
hours to serve 90,660 people in many different capacities at WonderLab. Their volunteer team
demonstrates the profound power of volunteering. Volunteers have nurtured WonderLab and helped
it grow from a traveling outreach program into a vital place for hands-on discovery in science. Go to
WonderLab and watch the teens, college students and adult volunteers and you will feel and see their
enthusiasm and passion.

Please join us as we wish Bet Savich a

Happy Retirement!
Bet has been with the City of Bloomington for
28 years, serving as the director of the City of
Bloomington Volunteer Network for 23 years!

Connect to service at
BloomingtonVolunteerNetwork.org
Thank you for being a part of the Bloomington
Volunteer Network! Because of your volunteerism,
you have created lasting change in Bloomington
and Monroe County and made a meaningful
difference in our community!

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 Thank You!
to all of the volunteers, staff, community organizations and businesses
who make the Be More Awards possible.
2018 Award Selection Committee
Caleb Poer, student, Bloomington High School North; recipient,
2017 Outstanding Black Male Leader of Tomorrow Award (high school student category)
Joy Bhattacharya, student, Bloomington High School North; recipient,
2017 Serve Indiana Award for Excellence (youth category)
Brian Richardson, Assistant Director of Student Diversity and Inclusion, IU School of Public Health;
2017 recipient of Outstanding Black Male Leader of Tomorrow Award (adult category)
Becky Jessmer, Corporate Development, WTIU Public Television
Jennifer Hottell, Community Engagement Director, United Way of Monroe County
Kevin Osborne, Business Development Officer, IU Credit Union
Meagan Niese, Development Director, Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County

Reception Entertainment
Craig Brenner, Piano (craigbrenner.com)

sponsors
City of Bloomington Community and Family Resources Department,
Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, IU Credit Union,
United Way of Monroe County, and WTIU Public Television

Be More Awards Celebration

Volunteers & Staff
Volunteers: Diane David, Jeanne Gunning, Elizabeth Ketzner, Linda Ngo
Staff: Anthony Christian (Special Projects Intern, Community and Family Resources
Department, City of Bloomington), Stefanie Green (Office Manager, Community and Family
Resources Department, City of Bloomington), Aubrey Kearney (Eads Fellow, School of Public and
Environmental Affairs, Indiana University), Bet Savich (Director, City of Bloomington Volunteer
Network), Lucy Schaich (Assistant Director, City of Bloomington Volunteer Network), Michael
Shermis (Special Projects Coordinator, Community and Family Resources Department, City of
Bloomington), Grace Skorin (Intern, Kelley Institute for Social Impact, Indiana University)
A very special thank you to photographers Martin Boling and Richard “Mac” McLaughlin,
Community Access Television Services, and WTIU for documenting tonight’s event and
WonderLab, for donating free admission tickets to each Be More Award nominee.

Please take a few minutes to help us make

this event better! Use the QR code or link.
http://bit.ly/BeMoreAwardFeedback