1 Kelly tmbrwolf329@yahoo.com 1 2009-08-13T00:36:00-06:00 Elva 2680 M 568 My hero is my Mom. She has always been a steady, motivating influence in my life. After she retired, she and my Dad decided to travel around, but ended up living in a very small community in deep South Texas. When they moved here, they realized that this community has a terrible frequency of poverty, hopelessness, and despair. So, Mom and Dad began a nonprofit organization here to identify the root causes of poverty in our community, and to create systemic solutions. My Dad has remained a steadfast volunteer, but my Mom has really been the person who has shaped the vision and the services that are offered in this organization. After my divorce, I moved to the same small town that Mom and Dad lived in, and now I am the CEO of the same organization. My Mom is 75 years old, and spends (on average) about 100 hours a week volunteering in the very organization she began. In the 6 years the organization has been in existence, we have helped to transform the lives of countless people who have traditionally been undervalued and who would otherwise have been unable to achieve the goals that they dreamed of. My Mom is the definition of true hero. 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 Paula mailstuff1@yahoo.com 1 2009-08-21T19:39:10-06:00 Kenda 2686 N 570 Kenda is a Hero as she has brought more joy, smiles and higher self-esteem to my young adult child and others like him. You see, Kenda created and directs "Movement E-Motion", a dance program for individuals with different abilities - young adults aged 13 to seniors with Down Syndrome, Autism and physical challenges. This lady, the artistic director of AZDance Group which is a professional contemporary touring dance company, a professional herself for over 29 years, created this program for these particular individuals in order to provide artistic physical activity, movement, expression and dance to them. Participants and parents gain friends, interaction and integration, physical fitness, and higher self-esteem. They also gain incredible exposure to classical and contemporary dance styles taught in a dance classroom as well as outstanding performing opportunities. Kenda has written grants, given her time and done more the past 4 years for our children than anyone I know - to see my child up on stage alongside a professional dancer is an emotion I cannot describe. Kenda has brought so much to my family; she is my hero. 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 Chicago USA 2007-04-08T14:26:20-06:00 Bryant 281 L 258 Illinois Born and raised in Cabrini Green, Chicago's most notorious housing project, Bryant beat the odds and became a person that everyone can look up to. Raised in an extremely impoverished community where he shared a one-bedroom apartment with four others and where friends and family were continually being lost to the streets, Bryant resisted the negative influences around him and excelled in school. He graduated from high school in 1992 with a 3.8 GPA. Right after high school he served for 4 years in the military. Somehow, he loved his great country so much that he decided to serve it even when it had challenged him so much. He came back a stronger leader and did not waste any time before continuing his education. That same year his hard work paid off when he was accepted into the prestigious University of Chicago. He graduated with an impressive 3.1 GPA and is currently employed by one of the regions top research centers. While paying off his substantial student loans, he managed to move his mother and grandmother out of the housing projects. In short, Bryant is an amazing, determined, and inspirational person who never let the hand life dealt him stop him from becoming who he is…A hero. 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Spring USA 2007-06-15T12:55:38-06:00 Jody 336 H 278 Texas I began singing as young as I can remember. And as soon as I could, I enrolled with the best music teacher in town. When I started with her, we could immediately tell our political and religious differences.\r\n\r\nThrough her teaching me, however, we have discovered that we have more in common than we could have ever imagined. We are both determined, passionate, and willing to do anything to achieve our goals.\r\n\r\n\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Greenwood United States 2007-06-25T14:29:54-06:00 Isaias 343 G 280 Indiana My hero is my brother, Isaias. Right now, he is studying at the University of Indianapolis, majoring in Sociology and International Relations. In his free time, Isaias is always going to George Washington Community School and the Christamore House, teaching inner-city kids about leadership, and he is always telling them to stay in school and off the streets. He encourages them that if they stay in school, they WILL get into college. By volunteering and getting good grades, they CAN have a future. If they do these things, they can get scholarships and they can achieve the dream that they and their parents have: to go to college, and to have a better life. When Isaias is at home, he tells me to keep up my good grades and start thinking about my future. If Isaias weren’t here by my side, I don’t know if I would have become the person I am now. 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Stockdale USA 2008-01-31T07:14:11-07:00 Greg 488 L 316 TX My hero is my husband Greg. My husband works long, hard hours on the night shift just to give our sons and me a better life. He is a Certified Nursing Assistant at a local hospital and he goes above and beyond his job requirements to make sure that his patients are comfortable, happy, that they feel secure and safe, and he is never too busy to sit and talk with them or lift their spirits. He never calls off of work; he always says to me "No, my co-workers and patients are counting on me." \r\n\r\nHe never fails to come home and greet my sons and me with a smile and kisses. He is never too tired or busy to rub my back, read the boys a story, or to do a favor for someone else. Whenever I get down about money or the car not working right, he always hugs me and says, "Don't worry. Together, we can make it through anything!"\r\n\r\nMy husband is one of the best people I know and I want to be just like him!\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Overland Park USA 2008-04-30T16:17:50-06:00 Will 571 S. 337 Kansas My hero is my husband, Will. He suffers from FSH Muscular Dystrophy, and has recently been diagnosed with a grade 3 (cancer) brain tumor. We have 2 little girls ages 3 and 4. My husband has been through a needle biopsy in his brain only to determine that his tumor is inoperable, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy (ongoing). He has been hospitalized, and is bound to a wheelchair for getting around due to the loss of function on the left side of his body after the needle biopsy. He has missed very few days of work; still bathes our girls at night; helps around the house; and does it all with a positive attitude. We both know the "odds" of his condition are not good, but we don't care—I should say—he doesn't care. I'm sure he has bad days when he is absolutely terrified, but he doesn't show it to anyone. I love my husband's strength and the courage that he has shown since all of this began. He is my hero. 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Washington United States 2008-07-19T07:40:38-06:00 Amanda 685 G. 405 New Jersey Ms. G. teaches everyone to love who they are and she has never judged anyone. She is a very talented teacher and mentor. Ms. G. is not afraid to do anything. She's always willing to defeat fear. \r\n\r\nShe's always there for anyone who needs to talk. And she's always willing to give another chance. She truly wants everyone to get along, and that is how she lives. She is my hero! 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 Monroe United States 2008-07-19T16:01:06-06:00 Erin 688 B 407 Michigan Erin B. has taught me that you don't have to be fake or selfish to be popular with your peers. She has come into my life and taught me how to be a better friend and a better person. She brightens every room she walks into, and makes a new friend with everyone she greets with a "Hello." 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 Atlanta US 2008-08-11T08:05:10-06:00 Seth 713 C 420 Georgia Seth has worked everday for the past few years for the Taskforce For the Homeless in Atlanta, helping hundreds of people get back on their feet after experiencing a homeless situation. He does this in the face of people that that minimize his work, characterizing it as wasted effort. He never tires of helping those that repeatedly fall, and rejoices for every person who escapes homelessness. Seth's endless passion for other people inspires me. 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 Carrollton United States of America 2008-10-25T16:34:02-06:00 A.J. 827 V. 462 Texas He has been my best friend since fourth grade and has always stuck up for me. He makes me laugh when I am in the worst mood. He makes the unpopular kids at school feel like they are really important. I wish I could strive to be more like A.J. because he has really made a difference in many people's lives, including mine. 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 Frisco United States of America 2008-10-30T04:53:49-06:00 Jeff 861 M 471 Texas My soccer coach, Jeff M. is my hero. He has showed me so much not only in soccer but also about my outlook on life. I am a usually a negative person about myself and the things I do. Every time I would do something wrong in soccer I would take it out on myself. He is the one who would encourage me after everything I did, good or bad. It really helped, and I started to play much better. I am now the starting left defender on my team and usually play the whole game. So, thank you Coach Jeff. 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 Louisville USA 2008-11-19T08:56:27-07:00 Patrick Henry 879 H. 479 Kentucky Patrick is a remarkable young man who was born without eyes and without the ability to fully straighten his arms and legs, making him unable to walk. Additionally, two steel rods were surgically attached to Patrick's spine \r\nto correct scoliosis.\r\n\r\nDespite circumstances that seem overwhelming to you and me, Patrick has overcome these physical issues to excel as a musician and student. Patrick started playing the piano at the age of only nine months, and also plays the trumpet and sings. He even participates in the University of Louisville School of Music Marching and Pep Bands\r\nwith help from his father (Patrick John Hughes), who tirelessly maneuvers his wheel chair through the formations with the other 220+ members of the Cardinal Marching Band. Patrick is usually a straight 'A' student, having received only 5 'B's' during his entire educational experience - up to and including his sophomore year of college.\r\n\r\nA virtuoso pianist, vocalist and trumpet player, Patrick has won or finished very high in numerous competitions, as well as winning awards acknowledging the circumstances he has overcome to achieve these heights. \r\n\r\nThis story courtesy of www.patrickhenryhughes.com 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 Birmingham United States 2009-01-22T05:15:31-07:00 Phoenix and Talia 913 D. 498 Alabama On October 15, 2003, I received a call from my wife that she was getting ready to have an emergency C-section. She had gone in for a normal prenatal check up and was told that the baby was breech and they needed to take him. I immediately left work facing a 2 1/2 hour drive in which time I had no idea how mother or baby were doing.\r\n \r\nI arrived at the hospital just as my wife was being wheeled out of surgery and was told that she would be fine, but that there were some problems with our son. His heart was beating at about twice the normal rate for an infant and it looked as though there might be a small hole in it as well. They weren't sure if he would even last the night. \r\n\r\nThe first time that I was able to see or touch my son was through an incubator. While only two weeks early, he was on the small side. We talked to the doctors and because we were in a small town, they didn't feel they had the correct facilities to meet his needs. We were advised that he would be taken to a larger facility about 3 hours away that had an excellent neonatal unit.\r\n \r\nMarcy, my wife, was still in quite a bit of pain, but was able to see our son for just a few moments the next morning before he was taken to the helicopter to be transported. She was to stay in the hospital for a few more days for a full recovery, but urged me to go with the baby. I spent the next few days traveling back and forth between hospitals before she was released that Saturday - the baby had been born on Tuesday.\r\n \r\nIn the neonatal ICU, we were advised that our son did indeed have a small hole in is heart as well as an irregular heartbeat. We spent 10 days in the ICU and during that time, he was defibrillated four times in an effort to lower and regulate his heartbeat. Finally, we were allowed to take him home, but not without medication to regulate his heartbeat. He was on medication for the first year of his life. We were advised that this medication was known to cause developmental delays in young children but our only other option would have been open heart surgery. \r\n \r\nThe medication did indeed cause delays. Our son didn't walk or really talk until he was 18 months old. He is somewhat smaller than other kids his age. But Phoenix has never let this stop him. He is now five years old, but through our efforts, the efforts of developmental specialists, and his on tenacity, he is now on the same developmental level as the other kids his age. He is intelligent, happy, and full of energy. He will be starting school in the fall and is already reading. Phoenix never lets anything stop him. If he can't do something, he'll keep trying until he can, never giving up. He is named for the mythical Phoenix that rises from the ashes and we believe his name fits him completely. It's because of his spirit and determination that he is one of my heroes. \r\n \r\nMy other hero is my daughter. Talia was five when Phoenix was born and has never complained about the amount of attention that we had to give him. She is incredible! Instead of being the “typical” big sister and complaining about her “little pest” of a brother, she has always been there to help not only Phoenix, but her mother and I as well. If Phoenix couldn't do something that he wanted to, Talia would be right there patiently helping and teaching him. She is always there to help her mother and me as well. We are blessed everyday by her caring spirit and nature. As she has grown older, she has, if anything, become more of a helpmate to us, as we now have a new infant girl in our lives. Talia loves and cherishes both of her siblings and never complains about having to help, doing it without asking and with a smile on her face. Between my son and daughter, I've learned how to live a good life with determination, caring, and perseverance. This is why they are my heroes.\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 San Carlos USA 2009-01-25T15:33:56-07:00 Naomi 915 D. 500 CA My hero is a girl I know at work. She started there about 6 months ago after being out of work for over a year. She has some developmental and learning differences that make it hard for her to do math and cash registers, so she couldn't get hired in a lot of places, particularly in retail. But she's told me that everyday during that year with the exception of maybe 10 days, she was out looking for work, filling out applications. \r\n\r\nMany times she would fill out applications in the same stores three to four times because when she went back to check with them they would say they had lost it, or when she interviewed with them they would say they had hired someone else, but she would go by the store again later that same week and see the 'help wanted' sign still in the window, so again, she would go in and fill out another application. Finally she was hired by our company, and she's one of the kindest, most compassionate girls I've ever met. \r\n\r\nShe never misses work, she's always helpful to the customers (they love her) and she tries to help her co-workers whenever they need her, though they don't always do the same for her. She may be different in the way she learns, but she is a HERO in the way she acts, trusts, and believes in herself and others. I'm proud to call her a friend.\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 Yardley USA 2009-02-04T04:41:31-07:00 Vince 918 D. 503 Pennsylvania My hero is my father. My mother left my father when my two brothers and I were very little. My father single handedly raised all three of us and put us through four years of college. Today, we are all successful career oriented individuals who have him to thank. He has provided me with the courage to face anything without fear of failure and reminded me that you can succeed against all odds. My father is my hero and I wouldn't be where I am today without him. 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 Philadelphia USA 2009-03-26T02:19:19-06:00 Ryan and Cindy 953 K. 521 Pennsylvania In 2002, Ryan Kerr was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer. His mother, Cindy Kerr, began making pillowcases to brighten up his hospital room and to put a smile on his face. He loved it and she began making pillowcases for other children with cancer at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. \r\n\r\nRyan was a most remarkable young man. Diagnosed with osteosarcoma at the age of 12, his life was forever transformed. Over six years he fought through 5 recurrences of his cancer, 30 months of chemotherapy, 15 surgeries (including the amputation of his right leg), over 150 days of physical therapy and two broken bones in his healthy foot. Despite all of that, Ryan never let it slow him down! \r\n\r\nRyan loved adventures – big and small. He loved to go new places, to do new things and to launch off anything with a drop –a half pipe, a ski jump or a railing. Skiing with him was both a joy and sheer terror. He was constantly darting in and out of the woods, flying off the nearest bump and speeding down the hill with an incredible grace and aggressiveness. He always wanted to challenge himself with something new – rock climbing, scuba diving, cycling - you name it, he wanted to do it. \r\n\r\nRyan’s courage is nearly legend. His friends were constantly amazed by his adventures and how he would finish chemo one day and ski the next. Few people will ever understand how difficult it was for Ryan to just put on his leg and go through a normal day of school. He was always exhausted and was in pain much of the time. But he would never show it so that he could be with his friends and be in school where he loved to do his photography, hang with his friends and be a part of class discussions. \r\n\r\nAs a student, he was so curious, so engaging and so kind that he stole his teachers’ hearts. He missed countless days of school yet somehow still managed to keep up with his school work and graduate from high school. Ryan never wanted to be known at the school as the cancer kid or even as an inspiration. He wanted to just be Ryan, fitting in with all the other students, no special treatment – except, of course, he loved the perks of the elevator key and the great parking spot! \r\n\r\nHe was a young man with a wisdom and maturity that so far exceeded his age that he surprised each person he met. Ryan saw beauty in everyone and everything. He learned to be a deeply compassionate, thoughtful young man with a wicked wit, a winning smile and the world’s best hugs. Most of all, he lived his life with such joy and courage that he inspired thousands of people in our community and around the country. We are very sad to lose one of the best friends we will ever know, but are thankful for his memory, his inspiration and the light he brought to the world. \r\n\r\nIn 2008, Ryan lost his very brave battle with cancer but the pillowcase project - now a not-for- profit called ConKerr Cancer – A Case For Smiles - has grown in amazing ways. In just three years, Cindy and tens of thousands of volunteers have provided over 73,000 pillowcases to sick children in 87 hospitals across North America and in South Africa. School groups, sewing circles, church groups and fabric stores have all pitched in and are making pillowcases for the kids. \r\n\r\nConKerr Cancer has had a profound effect on the families we have already reached, and we are deeply committed to providing even more pillowcases – and smiles! – to sick children everywhere. ConKerr Cancer is dedicated to Ryan and the thousands of children like Ryan who bring such courage and light to the world, despite their life changing illness. ConKerr Cancer is our way to keep their light alive.\r\n\r\nStory courtesy of www.conkerrcancer.org.\r\n\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 Ville Platte US 2009-06-25T14:28:07-06:00 Sacred Heart & Ville Platte HS Teams 999 550 Louisiana My name is Tim. I am a physical therapist in the small Cajun/Creole Southwest Louisiana town of Ville Platte where 51% of our population of 8,000 lives below the poverty line. We have two high school football teams in our city. One is an 82% African American, predominately Protestant, mostly poor public school called the Ville Platte High Bulldogs. The other is an all white, Catholic, largely upper middle class, private School, called the Sacred Heart Trojans. Now, we are in the Deep South, where the city and high schools there were torn apart with racial violence that made national and international headlines two years ago. We are not immune to the racism and prejudice that historically has been in this region. But, we have been given a rare and precious gift that brings this town and community together in a way that nothing else has- a simple high school football game. A game that draws the whole community together in which winning is important, but not the most important thing. A game where respect, effort, and love for your opponent is the most important. A game where the two teams share a meal together the night before the game. A game where the two teams after the meal, kneel together and pray FOR THEIR OPPONENT to play his best game of his life! A game where the winners shut their mouths and talk good about their opponents and the loser doesn't hang his head, but looks at his opponent and shakes his hand and says, "Congratulations. Good Game"! A game where NFL Films came down and did a short 10 min. feature on the game and the late Pope John Paul II saw this feature and sent a letter with a Papal Blessing over the two teams, schools and town. A game where the public school faces closing due to a 40 year old desegregation case and the prayers from members of BOTH schools have kept it open! The Game is called the Tee Cotton Bowl (Tee is Cajun-French for petite or little). Also here are some past articles written about the game that I have included in this email. I have more also if you are interested. I have seen some of your work. It is outstanding.\r\n\r\nThis year's game is the week of Nov. 6th. I sponsor this game along with my wife every year. This year is the tenth anniversary of the game. \r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 Jade Coates urway2kul@gmail.com 2009-11-23T09:15:06-07:00 Cameron 2817 L 643 Cameron is one of the best firefighters I know. He's always ready to go when disaster strikes. Constantly, he's up for more than 48 hours at a time. If you're ever in a bad mood or just looking for someone to talk to, Cameron is your guy! He's a perfect example of humility because he never boasts about saving citizens lives. 2009-11-23T09:15:06-07:00 1 John Walborn johnwalborn@cs.com 1 2010-01-21T10:56:05-07:00 Beautiful Teamwork 2889 677 A number of years ago when my daughter Ellen was running high school cross-country, occasionally I assisted Coach Moore, the cross-country coach, with cross-country meets. Up until recently, the school year for students in South Carolina started in early August. If you have ever been in South Carolina in the summer you know that there is nothing more miserable than the heat of an August afternoon. The temperature is typically in the mid 90’s, with very high humidity and absolutely no wind. About 3:30 each afternoon, the boys and girls of the high school track team dress out and begin training in the stifling heat for their five kilometer cross-country meets. One of the things that always surprised me was the number of overweight students that turn out to train for cross-country. For most of these students the heat, stress, and the temperature take their toll causing them to drop out early in the season. At the same time, the August heat does not really faze the more seasoned athletes who train all year. As you would expect as the season progresses, the runners’ times improve and temperatures get much milder as fall approaches. The event that I want to share happened at a cross-country meet held at Irmo High School in late autumn. There was a chill in the air and it was unseasonably cool for South Carolina in the fall. Before the race, others and I assisted the coach in setting up the lane. If you are not familiar with cross-country races, the lane is a flagged off area that funnels the incoming runners to the finish line where they are timed. The meet was held behind the school in a large field lighted with bright stadium lighting. This was the area where the lane was set up and the runners completed their run. As I recall, even though the meet was exciting, the evening was uneventful. The meet ended in the typical way. The seasoned runners from both schools finished way ahead of the pack. The slower runners straggled in. Once across the finish line, the runners struggled to catch their breath, grabbed a cup of Gatorade and put on their “warm-ups” to keep from getting a chill. Runners who had completed their run milled around, met the kids from the other school and swapped stories, friendly jabs, and compliments. At some point that evening, the coaches figured that all of their team members had returned. The time keepers downloaded results to their computers, and those who helped set up the lane began to tear it down and pack it up. The meet was over. At the edge of the field, just visible by the stadium lighting and several hundred yards away, one more runner appeared. The runner was a girl who was probably a freshman or sophomore. She was from the Irmo High School cross country team. She was clearly struggling to find the energy to finish up running strong. It was quite clear that she was one of the overweight kids that had, against all obstacles, trained with the cross-country team all season. Even though she was finishing dead last, it didn’t seem to dampen her spirit. She was working hard to make her way toward the lane that was gone and finish line that had been removed. You could see the amazement of the Irmo team as they made each other aware of the last runner coming in. One of the girls on the Irmo team yelled, “Form a lane!” Other team members echoed this command as the Irmo team quickly rose to their feet. About forty students scampered to assemble themselves into parallel lines forming a lane. Once in place they all shouted words of encouragement to the final runner. As this girl entered the lane, the team members from each side of the line joined hands to create an archway for her to run through as the encouragement continued. What could have been an embarrassing and humiliating finish for this girl was turned into a welcoming and rewarding conclusion from her team members. My words cannot explain the impact of the scene that night. I will always remember how great this group of all-American kids looked on that cool fall night as they proudly stood under the bright stadium lights in their black and gold warm-ups cheering their teammate on. They showed everyone present what compassion and sportsmanship is all about. Responsibility for the values displayed that night rest with parents of the team members and with Coach Moore who has been an inspiration to the kids his entire career. The coach’s leadership clearly shone through in the actions of his team that night. 2010-01-21T10:56:05-07:00