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NEWS about The Heart of America Foundation

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Our Impact

Volunteer Opportunities

Congrats to our Christopher Reeve Award & Gee Whiz Kids® winners!

Books that Help

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Our Impact

Since we were founded in 1997, we have:

• Touched the lives of over 1,050,000 people.
• Helped volunteers serve more than 1,020,000 hours in the community.
• Replenished, redecorated and revitalized 62 elementary school libraries and reading corners in high need areas through our library makeover program.
• Provided children living in poverty with over 1.85 million books -- a value in excess of $10.4 million! 
• Introduced more than 500,000 students to community service.

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Volunteer Opportunities

The Heart of America is seeking volunteers to work in their office and warehouses Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 AM to 5 PM. The hours are flexible. Come help us prepare books to distribute to children! For more information please contact Sara at sara@heartofamerica.org.

See more volunteer opportunities.

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2009 Christopher Reeve Award Winner

Melissa Monette - Hawaii

Melissa Monette, a senior from Hawaii, was selected as the national recipient of the 2009 Christopher Reeve Award given by The Heart of America Foundation®.   The Christopher Reeve Award is presented each year to an extraordinary high school senior or younger that has demonstrated tremendous courage and compassion in serving his or her community. 

Three years ago Melissa Monette was inspired to create A Harvest for Many, Inc. when her grandmother was turned away from a food pantry.  Recognizing that people suffering in poverty were being overlooked by local services focusing solely upon the homeless, A Harvest for Many is a non-profit that provides food assistance to abused women and children, at risk teens, the homeless, and senior citizens.  Rather than raise monetary donations, Melissa focuses upon local donations of home grown fruits and vegetables, as well as supplementary donations from food drives, schools and corporations.

As President and Founder of A Harvest for Many, Melissa created and runs the organization web site, publicizes the program, identifies homeowners with fruit trees and gardens to solicit for donations, and works to balance supply and demand.  She has partnered with Safeway, Times, Foodland, Star Supermarkets and Walmart to donate surplus produce or gift cards, which are often relied upon when local produce is out of season.  The food and gift cards go directly to organizations targeting at-need populations.  Over the past three years more than 22,000 pounds of food has been collected, and distributed to 295 feeding programs that serve a total of 131,862 individuals.

Additionally, once a week she gathers produce requests from the senior citizens living at Hale Mohalu and Waipahu Hall senior living facilities, and then delivers the produce.  Recognizing the importance of physical activity for seniors, she also offers monthly aerobic exercise programs to senior citizens at the living facilities she visits.  The programs are taught by students, who educate seniors on staying fit through modern and Tahitian dance. 

Three years ago Melissa took over her brother’s program, Kids Helping Kids with Diabetes.  She works in collaboration with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to raise funds for diabetes research, educate the public, and provide support services for people with juvenile diabetes.  To raise funds for the program she works with over 20 schools and to date has raised more than $59,000, in addition to $6,000 in grants, for Juvenile Diabetes Research. 

Apart from her primary volunteer activities, she also arranged for two orphanages in Mexico to receive food, medical, and school supplies, and as part of the Nepal Medical Mission, sent medical supplies to women and children in Nepal.  She has earned her Gold Award as a Girl Scout, maintains a 4.14 GPA, and is captain of her high school tennis team. 

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2009 Heroes of the Heart® Gee Whiz Kids® Awardees:

1st Place - Joelie from Sand Springs, OK
Joelie, a fourth grader from Sand Springs, OK, was awarded First Place for the 2009 Gee Whiz Kid Award given by the Heart of America Foundation®.  The Gee Whiz Kid Award is given to children age 12 and under who exemplify the value of service in America. Joelie will receive an award certificate and a $250 educational scholarship donated by Marilyn Perlyn, author, and Amanda Perlyn, illustrator, of The Biggest And Brightest Light.

In 2004, at the tender age of five, Joelie Simmons began volunteering at the West Edison Plaza retirement center.  At the center she plays games with the residents, helps organize holiday parties, and puts on performances. In addition to her work at West Edison, she has also been involved in the Super Kids marathon, the OKC Aids Walk, and the Partners in Education Adopt-a- School Program, through which she has helped kindergartners attending Anderson Elementary School with art projects, reading and a variety of other activities.  

As a result of her love of community service, Joelie teamed up with her sister to establish the Sand Springs Kids Care Club, which encourages children to become involved in service.  Through the club, children can learn about and participate in different local community service projects.

2nd Place - Kamish from Carrollton, TX
Kamish, a sixth grader from Carrollton, TX, was awarded Second Place for the 2009 Gee Whiz Kid Award.

Kamish Kabani has been involved in a variety of community service projects, including acting as a weekly Jr. Volunteer with the Northern Texas Volunteer Corps and as an Arrow of Light Cub Scout. With the Volunteer Corps he performs numerous assignments, including assisting senior level volunteers in service.  His activities with the Cub Scouts include helping with “Scouting for Food”, which provides support for low-income families, and participating in the Aga Khan Foundation’s partnership to alleviate poverty.  Each year Kamish dedicates over 50 hours to each of these organizations.

In addition to his service through the Volunteer Corps and Cub Scouts, each year Kamish creates 1,000 “Get Well Soon” cards for local hospitals, including the Children’s Hospital in Dallas. His motivation behind this initiative is the idea that every child deserves to smile.

3rd Place - Coree from Wayne, NJ
Coree, a sixth grade from Wayne, NJ, was awarded Third Place for the 2009 Gee Whiz Kid Award.

Coree’s volunteer service began as a third grader when she donated 12 inches of her hair to a friend who had been diagnosed with leukemia.  Her friend was diagnosed while in kindergarten, and after seeing her go through treatment for two years Coree wanted to do something to help.  She decided to donate her hair to her friend through Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces for children.  

Currently, Coree has extended her volunteer activities by painting the diabetes education room at her local hospital.

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Purchase of These Books Supports the Heart of America Foundation® and Other Charitable Organizations

These books support the Heart of America Foundation’s mission—your support of these authors and their products will benefit our mission and our programs.

Who would mortgage his home to save a few hundred children he had never met, put planes in the air on a mercy flight into Soviet territory without a landing permit, and send tankers full of chocolate to children abroad? Bob Macauley, founder of AmeriCares, is profiled in His Name Is Today, the newest book by Bill Halamandaris. Purchase now

Marilyn Perlyn is the author of The Biggest and Brightest Light, a true story illustrated by her daughter Amanda. Filled with splendid illustrations and inspirational ideas for children, this heartwarming true story will give children a real understanding of the feelings that come from giving. A portion of the proceeds from this book will be donated to The Heart of America Foundation®. Order Marilyn's book

Chad Foster is a professional speaker and author of the bestselling Teenagers Preparing for the Real World. Chad is one of America’s most sought after motivational speakers, reaching hundreds of thousands of students and educators each year through his live presentations, books, and videos. He also serves as a member of the Heart of America Foundation’s Executive Advisory Board, and participates in our Speaking From The Heart™ program. Dear God, a nationally acclaimed children’s board book, is co-authored by Chad and his wife, Paige. This unique combination of prayer and education is the perfect gift for children ages 6 months to 6 years. All profits from the sale of Dear God, will be donated to charity, including the Heart of America Foundation’s youth programs. Order Chad’s book

This new release by Wally Amos, Chip & Cookie: No More Chocolate Chips, is the first adventure for two characters created by Wally Amos. Chip and Cookie are two lovable, chocolate chip cookie plush character dolls. They elevate the warmth, love and positive feelings children of all ages associate with chocolate chip cookies into a metaphor for all that's good about life. Order Chip & Cookie: No More Chocolate Chips

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