THEHUD SCANDAL $4 Billion and Counting The New Volunteers More Americans than ever before are giving their time and energy to others. Their causes are varied-AIDS, homelessness, literacy-but their goals are all the same: to help those in need.
This is what I mean when I talk of "a 1987, at a value of about S150 billion. thousand points of light "-that uaslgalaxy They certainly were needed. Bush's com of people and institutions working together passionate call to service comes after the lo solue problems in their own backyard. tightfisted Reagan years, in which public -President BusH, June 22 funding of social services was drastically cut. Many of those cuts affected the young f the '80s were the Age of Avarice, est and poorest Americans, forcing charita Members of the Junior League, helping with then the '90s are shaping up as the ble agencies to pick up where government Age of Altruism. From the White left off. In recent years volunteer groups types are gone. Forget the upper-middle House on down, the message is clear: have had to step up their own recruiting class housewife who spends her days at the Get Involved. Just last month, when efforts, reaching out to those they once garden club: today working women are PresidentI George Bush unveiled his plan to overlooked-including the elderly and more likely than housewives to give time to promote volunteerism in a speech before a handicapped. good works, and many organizations are New York City business group, the audi Today's volunteers live in every neigh creating night and weekend programs for ence cheered. The president's critics could borhood (page 46). Increasingly, they are the busy schedules of dual-paycheck cou argue that the "Points of Light Initiative" part of a group organized by employers ples. Men, too, are volunteering almost as would do little more than publicize success (page 38) or religious organizations, which often as women, although they are more ful volunteer efforts needed because of cuts still account for a full 20 percent of volun Likely to take part in programs such as in government spending on human serv teer efforts. But many of the old stereo- Scouts and Little League. ices. But many Americans ap Many of the causes that parently agree with Bush's cen are attracting these volunteers tral theme: "From now on, any were nonexistent a decade definition of a successful life ago--organizations like Moth must include serving others." ers Against Drunk Drivers After years of apathy Ameri (MADDl and AIDS groups. cans are volunteering more First Lady Barbara Bush's than ever. According to a 1987- championship of literacy has 88 survey by the Independent drawn much attention to that Sector, an umbrella organiza problem (page 43). Self-help tion for most of the major chari groups are one of the fastest table groups in the country, 45 growing segments of the non percent of those surveyed said profit sector. There are organi they regularly volunteered zations for everything from and more than a third of them adult children of alcoholics to reported spending more time Resolve, for people with infer on volunteer work in the last tility problems. three years. In all, it is estimat To take on these new prob ed that 80 million adults gave a HANK MORGAN lems, traditional charities have total of 19.5 billion hours in A new needy group, AIDS babies, gels loue and attention had to change their direction.
36 NEWSWEEK: JULY 10, 1989 successful programs his organi zation has started is called Family Friends. It pairs older volunteers with the families of children with serious disabil ities. The volunteers help out for several hours a week, giving the parents a much-needed break. Other organizations re cruit senior citizens for tutor ing or child care. Younger people, too, are in creasingly attracted to the idea of public service. About 25 per cent of American colleges and dozens of high schools have re cently made volunteer work part of the curriculum. One of the most extensive efforts is in California, where students at the state's 29 public universi ties are encouraged-but not required-to perform 30 hours of community service annual ly. About a quarter of the sys tem's 400,000 students are par ticipating in the two-year-old program, officials say. Nationalservice: Nine bills cur rently before Congress attempt to make community service for young people a national priori MARIO RUIZ children in a New York welfare hotel, also work on such problems as teen pregnancy and women and alcohol ty. They range from proposals to set up programs like the Ci- vilian Conservation Corps of The genteel Junior Leagues now work on ly that he doesn't need government money; the 1930s to a plan to give states money to teenage pregnancy, women and alcohol in fact, he has rejected federal grants. "We expand volunteer opportunities for youths. and disadvantaged children, among other run it like a business," he says. One of the most controversial, put forth by issues. More than half of the league's Senior citizens have always given of two conservative Democrats, Sen. Sam members also have jobs. "The league has their time but as they are living longer and Nunn of Georgia and Rep. Dave McCurdy to be in touch with the community around staying healthier, many groups are tailor of Oklahoma, calls for a fuil-time program it," explains the association's president, ing programs to older people's skills. of civilian or military service where volun Maridel Moulton. "There is a genuine feeling that the time teers would receive vouchers worth up to Growinggap: Some of the renewed interest has come to make really organized use of $12,000 per year of service; they could be in public service may be a reaction to the older people," says Bill Oriol of the Nation used for education, training or a down pay excesses of the '80s. The growing gap be al Council on the Aging. One of the more ment on a home. After five years the serv- tween the very rich and the ice program would replace cur hope.lessly poor is now impossi rent student-loan programs. ble to ignore; even investment Critics say this plan would put bankers have to sidestep bag la WhoVolunteers and Why an unfair burden on the poorer dies on their way to work. "In a students, since they would be lot of cases, people have been About 45 percent of adults 18 years or age or older virtually forced to sign up in out ma.king their living," says reported volunteering in 1987. order to get money for educa Will Murray of The Nature Time given to volunteer work averaged 4.7 hours a week. tion. President Bush had origi Conservancy. "Now they're try nally planned to focus on young ing to make their lives." Often, People 65 to 74 volunteered the most (six hours a week), people in his volunteer propos they use their professional followed by those 45 to 54 (5.8 hours). al; instead his plan is aimed skills to solve social problems. People with household incomes of $20,000 to $30,000 at encouraging volunteers of Two years ago Stan Curtis, a 40- volunteered most often, followed by all ages without any strings year-old stockbroker from Lou- those earning $50.000 to $75,000. attached. In his speech, he said isville, Ky., founded Kentucky People volunteered to do something useful (56%), he will ask Congress for $25 Harvest, an aU-volunteer agen million a year to promote com cy that has distributed 1.6 mil because they would enjoy the work (34%), a family member or friend would benefit (27%) or for religious reasons (22%). munity service, but details of lion pounds of surplus food to the programs haven't been "1t():\1A 19"8SURVEY t'OR INDEl'f'.NOE~TSEC'T'Otll'ONDUC'TED BY the needy. Curtis says the or TIIE GALLUP OUCiA1':IZATJON worked out yet. ganization operates so efficient- Charitable groups welcome
KEW WEEK: JULY 10, 1989 37 ~PEl"I.-\L REPORT all the attention but they worry that Wash Lester M. Salamon of Johns Hopkins Uni tions as a substitute for government," says ington is asking volunteer organizations to versity and Alan J. Abramson of The Ur Salamon. "What's needed is a partnership do more-and expecting government to do ban Institute. During the same period di between the two." less. "As much as l believe in volunteer rect federal spending for human services That partnership is as old as the nation. activity," says Brian O'Connell, president declined a total of S113.4 billion, com In the 1830s French observer Alexis de of Independent Sector, volunteerism will pared to what it would have been if 1980 Tocqueville was impressed by the "public help solve problems only ifthere are "very spending levels had been maintained. Al spiritedness" of the colonists. Today the good public systems in place." though private contributions have made problems are more complex and the solu In the past decade many of those public up some of the difference, they tend to go tions harder to come by. The "points of systems have been seriously weakened. to higher education, hospitals or the arts, light" are still burning brightly, but they Since 1980 federal support to nonprofits more than to such areas as employment need more than people power to keep on has declined 20 percent in inflation-ad training or housing for the poor. "l think shining. justed dollars, according to a study by it's unfair to position volunteer organiza- BARBARA KANTROWITZ
ing from another rich labor pool-retirees. New England DoingWell by DoingGood Telephone is a member of t the Josiah Quincy Ele The Telephone Pioneers of Amentary school in Bos America, a national organiza ton's Chinatown, a group of tion with 104 chapters and k.indergartners sits in rapt at more than 650,000 members. tention as Kristina Brown Made up mostly of retired reads aloud from a book called phone-company workers, the "Dinosaur." The 27-year-old Pioneers' North Andover, Brown is not a librarian. She's Mass., chapter manufactures a branch manager for the a "beeping soft ball" that en Bank of Boston and part of ables blind children to play a cooperative program with baseball. The device is so ef the Boston Partners in Edu fective that organized "beep cation, a nonprofit group er ball" leagues have sprout formed to improve education ed across the country. in the city's school system. What kind of return on Besides being a hit with investment does corporate the kindergartners, Brown's IRA WYMAN f'OR ~&WSWEEK volunteering bring? Unlike read-aloud sessions are a mar NewEngland Telephonevolunteers pitch inat a Bostontrack meet direct charitable contribu keting tool. "If a young child tions, the gift of people power goes home and says, 'Hey to provide community serv personal computers, read to brings few corporate tax Mom, the banker read to us ice. "Volunteering is not residents at senior-citizen benefits. But it can yield today,' it helps people in the just warm fuzzies," says Shir homes and hold clothing unexpected rewards. Faced community accept us," says ley Keller, executive director drives for the needy. with having to lay off 80 Brown. "It also helps get rid of of Volunteer-The National While some companies stop workers during a slow period the idea that we're the big, Center. "It's good business. short of allowing volunteer ef several years ago, the owners bad Bank of Boston." But it is still a foreign concept forts on company time, oth of Iris Arc Crystal of Santa Doing well by doing good to mostcompanies." ers encourage the practice. Barbara, Calif., decided in• is becoming an increasing There was a time when cor NCNB Corp. urges employees stead to lend the workers to ly popular concept in corpo• porate volunteerism meant to take paid time to tutor in the community-service organiza• rate America. With corporate little more than delivering a schools and man food lines in tions one day a week, footing restructurings giving compa fruit basket to the needy at state emergencies. Every oth the bill. The result: the com• nies a black eye and a grow• Thanksgiving. But today com er Friday about 25 employees pany avoided the high cost of ing low-wage labor shortage, panies are instituting sophis of the Hard Rock Cafe in New recruiting and training new many are finding volunteer ticated volunteerism depart• Orleans come in early to pre employees once the slump programs an effective route ments--complete with their pare200 lunchesforthehome ended. Of course, most compa to an improved public im• own budgets and staffs. A less. Perhaps the ultimate in nies still don't give employees age. While relatively few com joint program by Virginia and paid-time volunteerism, how: time off for volunteering, ei• panies have organized pro North Carolina power compa ever, is the "social-service ther paid or unpaid, and they grams, the number that send nies divides employees into 60 leave,'' acorporateequivalent won't unless it's necessary to workers into community serv volunteer"teamcouncils." At of academic sabbaticals. At lure workers who demand it. ice has doubled to an estimat Apple Computer in Cuperti Wells Fargo Bank, any em But one day, helping one's fel ed 1,200 in the past five years. no, Calif., new employees un ployee with three years' serv low man may become a bona For employees, such efforts dergo a two-day orientation ice can apply for a six-month fide benefit, ranked beside offer an opportunity to brush program and receive a bro paid leave to work for a non corporate day care and family up on old skills or learn new chure entitled "There's More profitorganization. dental plans. ones as well as to do good to Life Than Work." Some Employers who can't send ANNETTA M1LL&Rw1/h DODY TSIANTAR in Boston, JUDY deeds. For companies, they 650 Apple employees tutor el their current workers to the How ARD m Son Francisco represent a cost-effective way ementary-school students on volunteer fronts are recruit- and b11rea11reports
38 NEWSWEEK: JULY 10, 1989 00 SUSAN FARJ.EY-Nl:W YORK NEWSDAY In a typical gesture, Bush pays attention to the children during a recent visit to a New York City shelter for runaways A FirstLady Who Cares After many years of volunteering, Barbara Bush is an inspiration to others
s America's First Volunteer, Bar ability was the source of her interest is "a America would help almost everything." bara Bush has had to cut back on myth," she says. In 1979, when her hus In the last 10 years Bush has visited more what she loves best: the hands-on band was first running for president, Bush than 500 literacy programs in libraries, volunteer work that has given her realized that if he won, she would have schools, day-care centers, housing projects so much satisfaction over the what she describes as a "golden opportuni and shelters. The privately funded Barba Ayears. Except for occasional stolen mo ty" to advance a special issue of her own. ra Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, ments like cuddling an infant at a shelter, She spent that summer jogging-"That established this spring, supports reading there's little opportunity for her to get close was many years ago," she jokes-and mull programs around the country. Bush often to people she helps. In a recent interview in ing over possibilities such as pollution, un urges people she meets and even her the family quarters of the White House, the employment, crime, drugs and especially friends to get involved in tutoring pro 64-year-old First Lady discussed how she teenage pregnancy. Some she rejected as grams of all kinds. She believes that one-to has come to terms with her new role as a too political, others just didn't seem right one contact is the best recruitment tool for symbol and sometime lobbyist for the na for her. She chose literacy because she volunteers. "You get right in and you tion's 80 million volunteers. For years, she realized she could discuss a broad range work," she says. "You see yourself feeding says, "I gave hours of time. And of course, of social problems through that one is the hungry, nurturing the poor."Thatkind money. Now what I can do best is highlight sue. If, for example, teenage girls were of involvement is very gratifying, she says, these programs." encouraged to achieve in school, then, because the results are immediate. Literacy has become her primary cause, Bush believes, they would be much less As a lifelong volunteer, Bush bas experi and it was a calculated choice. The common likely to wind up pregnant. "The truth enced those rewards firsthand. When her wisdom that her son Neil's learning dis- is," she says, "having a more literate husband was U .N. ambassador, she worked
NEWSWEEK:JULYl0,1989 43 with cancer patients at Memo Bush doesn't remember them rial-Sloan Kettering Cancer ever specifically pushing vol Center in New York. Thatexpe unteerism. "I don't think any rience was especially poignant; body sat you down," she says. nearly two decades earlier, in "We just grew up knowing 1953, Bush's daughter Robin that's what you did." In the died of leukemia in the hospi 1950s and 1960s, when the tal's pediatric ward just before Bushes were rearing their chil her 4th birthday. For years she dren in Texas, she worked for visited a Washington hospice. everything from Little League "I got very involved with a lot to the March of Dimes. Her own of their patients," she re children have learned by exam calls. "Personally involved." A ple, as well. All of them have woman named Frances Ham participated in volunteer work. mond was one of her favorites. Her youngest son, Marvin, 32, BRAD MARKE~AMMA•LIAISON nearly died from an attack of "I gained much more from The First Lady pitches in and feeds the hungry at a soup kitchen Frances than Frances ever colitis in 1986; since then, he gained from me," Bush says. As has spent many hours helping Second Lady, she volunteered in shelters who see those pictures will overcome their others with the disease. Neil, 34, and his and soup kitchens, like Martha's Table in prejudices and help out, too. wife, Sharon, have worked in soup kitchens Washington. During the last campaign, These days Bush is always very conscious in Denver, where they live. Last December she initiated Operation Soap-an effort to of the impact of her involvement in particu Jeb, 36, and his son, George P., 13, visited get aides and reporters to collect hotel lar issues. Although she is interested in a victims of the Armenian earthquake. This soaps and shampoos and donate them to wide range of social problems, she picks her summer George P. is staying with his the homeless. causes carefully. Her staff reviews the grandparents in the White House and help SecondLady: Bush's friends say that she thousands of requests for help that have ing out in a soup kitchen. didn't seek too much publicity for herself come into the White House since January. Arealist: Despite her many years of volun over the past eight years because she Some are rejected because of time prob teering, Bush is realistic about the limits of didn't want to embarrass the Reagan lems, others because they are considered community service. She knows that volun White House. Her recent trip to a thrift inappropriate or too controversial. This teerscan'tsolveeverysocial problem. "The shop to donate old clothes, for example, year she was invited to appear on the popu meat of the program really is the profes might have drawn even more attention lar TV show "Golden Girls" to promote the sional," she says. "And you need money for than it did if it had come amid the flap Special Olympics, but declined because she that. You have to have the professionals over Nancy Reagan's "borrowed" ball felt it was improper for a First Lady to who put everything in place and keep the gowns. Says one Bush friend: "Can you appear in a comedy (even though Betty program going and keep the volunteers imagine the questions the press would Ford appeared on "The Mary Tyler Moore coming in." As for the money, "I leave that have asked had they known how much she Show" in 1976 and Nancy Reagan was on to a lot of congressmen and a lot of senators was doing for the homeless? Reporters "Diff'rentStrokes" in 1983). Instead, Bush who are out there lobbying for money." She would have suggested she was more con agreed to do a public-service announce adds, "I have never lobbied my husband cerned about that issue than President ment about literacy after a "Kate & Allie" with a few exceptions." Although she de Reagan himself." episode dealing with that issue. clines to discuss those exceptions, friends Now that Bush is First Lady, publicity Although her parents were active in and her aides credit her with influencing is part of the job. Her every action is record their community charities in Rye, N.Y., him to campaign as the education candi ed; even her bout with Graves' date and to add funds to the disease, which has affected her budget this year for schools, vision, makes headlines. Yet, volunteer programs and AIDS despite the fishbowl, she tries research. "She does let him for moments of intimacy. On a know how she feels," an aide trip last month to Covenant says. "And he listens. He trusts House, a New York City shel her instincts and he often fol ter for runaways, Bush and lows them." her husband listened intently Barbara Bush is well aware as the youngsters told often of how hard it is for many peo wrenching stories of life on the ple to find enough time to vol streets. The Fi.rst Lady spent unteer these days. But, she much of the visit with the 3- says, "everybody has some week-old daughter of one of the thing, whether you have time shelter's residents on her lap. or money or know-how or space. Bush sees such gestures not Today you can no longer say, only as a chance to be-even 'The drug problem worries me' briefly-more than just a fig or \Crime worries me' or 'Illiter urehead but also as an opportu acy worries me.' lf it worries nity to teach by example. She you, then you've got to do some has been photographed cud thing about it.'' dJing and kissing AIDS-infect l'A ROI. T POWf:RS-TI IF. WHITE HOUSE BARBARA KANTROWtTzand ed babies and hopes that people Chatting with some residents of a Washington nursing home ANN McDANIEL
44 NEWSWEEK: JULY 10, 1989 SPECIAL REPORT
VERMONT AllGod's A Saluteto Children ector and Susan Badeau started their family un EverydayHeroes H remarkably enough 16 years ago, with the first of two biological children. In 1981 they adopted 2½-year-old Jose, a severely malnourished Salva More than 80 million Americans volunteer doran; Raj, a premature 9- month-old with mild cerebral compassionate men, women and children who, bit by palsy, came from India; Joelle, a Florida infant with fetal alco bit, earn the quiet satisfaction of comforting the needy. hol syndrome, arrived in 1985; a year later it was four learning Their names usually don't make the headlines, but they disabled siblings from New Mexico, followed by Todd, a bi do keep our nation great. They reflect the diversity of racial Vermont baby, and then six teenage siblings from New our people and remind us of what we still can be-folks Mexico. Alysia, a 1-year-old Texan who also has cerebral next door who just happen to be outstanding citizens. palsy,camein mid-May. Yes, the Badeaus are one of
IDAHO TheHarder, the Better n 1979 most of Tom Whit of other adventurers: this year taker's right foot had to he was invited to join an expedi Ibe amputated after an auto tion to climb Mount Everest. He wreck. The veteran outdoors reached 23,500 feet but in May man had tackled some of the was forced back, after three at most treacherous mountains tempts to climb the rest of the in Europe and North Ameri mountain, by fierce weather ca, but he found that peo and illness. ple were now reluctant to in vite him on treks. In 1981 Adventure leader Whittaker he formed C.W.HOG-the Co operative Wilderness Handi AL GRILLO-PICTURE GROUP capped Outdoor Group-and After the spill Weaverling ran a 43-vessel wildlife rescue mission has taken hundreds of disabled ALASKA adventurers on such expedi tions as dog sledding in Wyo ming and riding down Idaho's 'AKick in the Pants' RiverofNoReturn. "If you turn people's minds from sympathy hen the Bird Rescue home totally vandalized, your [toward the disabled] to admira Center in Valdez need pet dead, your wife raped." tion, the more negative feelings Wed someone to help save Weaverling organized a 43-ves evaporate," says Whittaker, 40. animals after the Exxon tanker sel, 200-worker wildlife-rescue "You can't feel sympathetic for spill in March, Kelley Weaver effort. Having moved to Alaska someone you ad.mire." The pro ling's name came up right 13 years ago "to get away from gram, funded by private and away. A former kayak guide, the world at large," he now says public donations, has been rep Weaverling knows Prince Wil 11 million gallons of oil showed licated in five states. liam Sound inch by inch. He him "1 need to get involved. I'm Whittaker, who wears a pros compares the disaster to "com ashamed it took this kick in the thesis and walks with a slight ing home and finding your pants to get me going." limp, has regained the respect
46. NEWSWEEK: JULY 10, 1989 those special families that care for "special needs" children those who are disabled, mem bers of a minority group or a large sibling family, or simply too old for most adopting cou ples. They decided to put their experience to work in 1985 and founded Rootwings Ministries, which hassincefound homes for 60otherspecial-needs kids. Asif their 17 kids don't keep them busy enough, on any spring day, there's Jjkely to be bunches of Badeaus playing Little League or in school concerts. The Barre household itself is a miracle of planning. A color-coded sched ule tracks the activities of each child. Susan Badeau, 30, draws a salary from Rootwings, and some of the disabled children get government subsidjes. Hand-me-down clothes and do nations also help. Hector, 32, promises they won't be one of those families with 35 kids. "I IRA W\'MA~ FOR NEWSWEEK look at those people and I think Hector and Susan Badeau look in a house{ ul of 'special need$' kids whom no one else wanted to adopt they're crazy," he says smiling.
TEXAS Self-Help for Hispanics ix years ago Eliana Schip pel, a native of Peru, was Sfighting alcoholism in an expensive Texas clinic. The American staff was well trained, but Schippel wasn't getting anywhere. When a Spanish-speaking counselor came to the clinic one day, Schippel was finally able to use her own language to express the l'IIRISHARRI depths of her pain. Her recov Drugs destroyed his housing project. but Jualmli is fighting back ery began that day, and so did LOUISIANA her mission: to help other His panic alcoholics. Public discussion of alcohol is Creatinga Drug-FreeZone still taboo among Hispanics, Plfll. IIUBJ.:R-DLACK STAR and the stigma is worse for Schippel aids alcoholic women he New Orleans housing and enforcing a "drug-free women. "It's not acceptable for project where Endesha zone" in the project. The area the female to drink," she says. 16clientson a sliding scale that TJ uakal i grew up was a has organized patrols and built "These women die painfully at starts at Sl. La Posada uses two tight community; he went on new sports fields and fenced off home alone." Last fall Schippel paid counselors and three vol from there to co!Jege and law a!Jeys. Although Juakali was and her husband used theirsav unteers. Schippel draws no sal school. "Si nee then we have lost shot in the leg on patrol, he ings to buy an old two-story ary. The rewards? 'Tm happy. a generation and a half to didn't give up. "The pushers building in Dallas's inner city. I'm sober. Being here reminds drugs," he says. Now, with a have decided that we're not go She opened an alcoholic-treat me of where I was. And if at the grant from the Housing Au ing away so maybe they'd bet ment program she called La Po same time I can help somebody thority, Juakali, 34, is creating ter," he says. sada-The Inn-charging her else, it's a great bargain."
NEWSWEEK: JULY 10, 1989 47 SPECIAL REPORT
NEW YORK WEST VIRGINIA Breakingthe 'WeWere Put Here to Help' Codeon AIDS aniel Addison mined coal mines: now there are only for 22 years. Now, he says, two, and many families are des ris Long left a career in phar Dhe mines human gold at a perately poor. The director of maceutical chemistry four food pantry in the isolated town the local food bank asked Addi Iyears ago to fight AIDS. At of Coal Mountain. In 1987 Addi son to help-and volunteering first she emptied hospice bed son was hurt in an under brought him back to life. Now pans or answered hot lines. But ground rock fall. His physical 50, surviving on disability her drug expertise and zeal for injuries were severe-a broken checks, he works 60 to 70 hours smoking out information from back, a severed hand-but the a week running the food-distri a lumbering and uncoordinat emotional damage was devas bution portion of a program ed AIDS-research bureaucracy tating. Once an active man, he serving an eight-county area. has made her a leading expert was despondent at not being Addison believes "the reason in AIDS drug-testing efforts. able to return to work and we were put here was to help "It's about empowerment," she stayed in his room for months. one another. l had to get hit says. "You can't wait for gov His children were grown, his with a 12-ton rock to realize ernment to do the job." wifegotajob: "It seemed no one that." Seeing former co-work Before Long went to work, it needed me," he says. ers as clients is hard, but re was virtually impossible for 811.J c'\:\ll'IU:J.L But someone did. Coal Moun wards are great: smiles, hand AIDS patients to get informa Addison went from coal lo soul tain once had seven active shakes and soft "Thank you's." tion about who was conducting clinical trials of experimental drugs. She established the MONTANA AIDS Treatment Registry, a clearinghouse for the latest data on available trials. With EvenWhen Their HouseWas computers and faxes, she is now putting together a guide to all onFire, They Put Others First drug trials. "We have become the experts," she says. Quiet or years now, Ken Gard command post, manning secu but iron willed, Long, 55, is now ner and Annie Galbraithe rity gates and keeping poeple consulted by the same govern Fhave devoted their lives to away," said Jim Williams, a ment agencies she had to prod helping their neighbors. Gard longtime friend. into greater accountability. ner, 38, currently heads the The blaze razed Gardner and Elkhorn Search and Rescue Galbraithe's ranch house and Team, which formed during the charred everything they owned fruitless 1984 search for a lost except for a tepee and a flock of 4-year-old girl. He keeps the fleet-footed chickens and pea tracking hounds and organizes cocks. Despite the fact that they searches, but tends to down have no insurance. Ken and play his role, calling himself Annie didn't focus on their the dumb "guy on the end of the losses: "That stuff's stuff," said leash following the dog." Gal Annie. "What matters is my braithe, 42, joined the Clancy life, my neighbors' lives and my Quick Response Unit eight critters' lives." years ago and has been its direc That's when the neighbors in tor for the past five years. the Helena area stepped in, or Trained as a physical-rehabili ganizing fund-raisers and re tation therapist, she teaches building the couple's home. Do CPR and first medical response nations ranged from lumber to techniques to about 120 peo wildflowerseeds.Friendsstored plea year. the few possessions saved Last year, when the 47,000- photos. heirlooms, Ken's guns acre Warm Springs Creek fire and saddles and Annie's art storm raced through the Elk work. "It's very easy to give," horn Mountains, Gardner and Galbraithe says. "It's much Galbraithe were too busy pro harder to receive." Gardner, tecting their neighbors' houses too, says it has been hard to to save their own home. "In accept help from others. "This stead of building fire lines is not our house," he said. JOOI IU'RE'.\ around their home and moving "This is our friends' house. We Long /i nds patients drugs furniture, they were at the just live here." Gardner and Galbraithe's home wa
48 NEWSWEEK· JULY JO, 1989 0 ARKANSAS YouCan Go Home Again alvin King, the youngest against competition from large of 11 children, worked yield commercial farms. In Chard to earn a degree in 1930 there were 80,000 black business administration and farmers in Arkansas, about one was offered a job working with out of every three; in 1982 there a Florida hotel firm. He de were a mere 1,300. King coun clined and now, at 36, he's back sels those who remain on how to working his family farm in Far hold on to their farms. Earning go, one of the nation's poorest a small salary, he devotes more counties. He's also director of than60hoursa week to the proj the nonprofit Arkansas Farm ect. "I look at what others have and Land Development Corpo done and regret I haven't done ration, helping keep older more," he says. What led him black farmers on their land and back to the delta? Advice from trying to interest younger gen his former boss, King says. He erations in staying in their fore told him: "lfyou can't deal with fathers' vocation. where you've come from, you llA l'lll S~IART-l'IC'TlJRE GROUP It's a David-and-Goliath bat won'tbeabletodeal with where Back in the delta. King helps other black farmers to keep their land tle, small farms struggling you are going."
MISSOURI I DELAWARE Healingan Trialby Fire
OldWound ocation and avocation are synonymous for Jon Rich or hundreds of desperate Vardville, 24. He works as women, Lorena Casey, 75, a paid firefighter and is also an Fis a lifeline to a more civi eight-year member of the Clay li.zedworld. Fifty hours a week, mont Volunteer Fire Co. On she is the gentle voice of Kansas a Claymont call last year City's NEWS House for Bat he heard that a baby was tered Women. Answering the trapped in an apartment. With hot line, often having to coax out an air pack, he crawled information from her callers, through smoke-filled rooms, Casey offers advice, gives infor carrying the infant "like a little mation and makes referrals. football." Says Richardville, "Some of these women are so "That one day makes it all beaten down they are scared to worthwhile." do anything," she says. "You can't tell them what to do, they Casey's hot line soothes the pain have to decide. Lots of times they just want to talk to some tired from her job in a news body who can tell them what paper classified-advertisement options they have." department in 1981. At first she Her work for the shelter, helped out downtown at anoth which can house as many as 30 er organization that assists bat women and children, is balm for tered women. Arthritis and an old psychological wound. As high blood pressure restrict her a girl, Casey often saw her fa. somewhat, so a year ago she ther beat her mother, who switched to NEWS, whose hot stayed in the marriage for the line goes directly to her apart sake of her children. "There ment. Casey doesn't get person was nothing she could do," Ca ally involved with the people sey says. "There was noth who call, but she likes hearing ing Like this for women back how they fare once they leave then." Casey, a widow with one the shelter. Knowing that she Wll.tlAM R SALLA7rl:AMMA-I.IAISON son, seven grandchildren and has helped is a daughter's lov- ~1ARTY KAT'L ·ebuilt by thankful neighbors three great-grandchildren, re- ingtributetohermother. Richardville to the rescue
NEWSWEEK. JULY 10, 1989 49 OKLAHOMA TheYoungest Volunteer fter listening to a story aboutaboywhohelpedthe Ahomeless, Brian Farish announced that he wanted to give all his money to the poor. "Brian," his mother told the 6-year-old philanthropist, "you've only got 45 cents." But Brian was hooked. For five months he added to the amount by doing small chores, finally collecting $50. He knew exactly what he wanted to do with it: buy toys for poor kids. IDs aunt, a Methodist minister, helped him find a needy family ROil Nl-:LSOX-1'1<.'TlHE t.iROUP and Brian picked out the treas He promised he'd do more. and since then Maxwell has never stopped working to help the children ures: walkie-talkies, a dump SOUTH CAROLINA truck. chalk and crayons. Did he want to keep any of the toys for himself? Well, yes, he says, Dayand Night, a Cheerleaderfor CancerKids "but I knew they didn't have any toys." s Willie Maxwell lay in Maxwell, 59, makes a dual raspy whisper from his own Brian likes the idea that bed in 1982, recovering contribution to the children's cancer. "There are a lot who, if some other kids may hear his Afrom cancer surgery on lives. Five mornings a week, they don't go this year, won't story and try to help the poor his vocal cords, he vowed that if when his shift at the hospital make it to next year." Maxwell too. Recently, in a backyard he pulled through, he would do ends, he makes "house calls" also finds out which children fund-raiser for abused chil more to help others. His job as in his van, gathering scrap pa in the hospital need cheering dren, Brian played the lovelorn the midnight-shift security su per and aluminum cans to up, and he talks with them Demetrius in Shakespeare's pervisor at Columbia's Rich raise money for Camp Kemo, a and brings them books, cards, "Midsummer Night's Dream." land Memorial Hospital in local summer retreat for kids flowers and fruit. "I visit as The part taught him that even troduced him to the special with cancer. In six years much as possible," he says, charity has its limits. "I don't problems and needs of young he has collected more than "and if they die, I'll try to do any kissing," he announced. cancer patients. "I started look $16,000. "I help as many as I make it to the funeral. I follow ing for ways to help," he says. can," Maxwell says, his voice a them to the end."
NORTH DAKOTA Rust knows how hard it can be to break the silence. She was unable to discuss with her Tellingthe family-or even with her hus band-how she'd been abused: Talesof Abuse "I covered up my pain total ly." Only at the age of 37, while he first few times Gwen working toward a master's de Rust talked in public about gree in counseling, did Rust dis Tbeing an incest victim, she cover how much anger and bit was terrified: "It was as if some terness she'd repressed. "I body was going to jump out of a learned to grow emotional car and shoot me." Ten years ly, spiritually, psychological later, at the age of 47, Rust runs OAVIOWALBEHG ly," she says. Rust now works the Incest Awareness Project, Rust breahs the silence on incest toward prevention of abuse, as out of a mobile home on her well as for treatment of the vic farm near Harwood, and pub groups, established a speakers tims, through open discussion. lishes a newsletter for incest bureau on incest-to reach out "Our society has been so closed victims called Breaking the Si to rural areas of North Dako to talking about incest," she lence. She has also helped to ta-and participated in a state says. "That has to stop." Rust ~-reveJE.' 50 NEWSWEEK: JULY JO, 1989 NurturingHer Southie Roots t's only 12 minutes by sub teem. "We are trying to make way from South Boston to these women see they have IHarvard Yard. But few from skills and something to offer so the hard-bitten, working-class ciety," says Finn, 22. She had neighborhood ever cross into her own barriers to overcome. that world of privilege. Fewer, Harvard classmates ridiculed still, opt to return. Harvard her accent, although she got senior Theresa Finn came back the last laugh by winning a last year to create a tutoring prestigious scholarship. After program for Southie welfare another year of putting the tu mothers and children. She and toring program on track, she'll other students are helping the enter law school. Not an Ivy, women prepare for high-school but local Suffolk University, IRA WYMAN FOR NEWSWEEK equivalency exams. They're another way to stay close to a Returning from Haruard, Finn tutors mothers in South Boston also bolstering their self-es- place that makes her proud. MINNESOTA him rich compensation. "To see the smiles on these kids' faces," he says, "that's all I A Designfor needed. I decided to do whatev er I could to help." the GoodLife Volunteering one day a week, Sable, 77, has designed hen George Sable re everything from a brace for an tired as chief engineer artist's arthritic hand to cus Wfor Honeywell in 1975, tomized wheelchairs for ath he could have made a lot of letes. Sable's work has contin money as a consultant. Instead ued despite two hip surgeries the self-effacing Sable began to and a bout with cancer. Even design and adapt eq ui pmen t for during his prolonged struggle the disabled at Courage Center, with cancer, says Mary Wiser, a rehabilitation center in sub Courage Center volunteer di urban Minneapolis. His first rector, "George's dedication project, a hand-pedaled bicycle was an amazing, inspiring for disabled children, brought thing to see." ROBNELSON-PICTURE CROUP Miles and his Phoenix staff fly mercy missions for the poor NORTH CAROLINA Sick?A FreeFlight Home etting sick is bad enough, have conditions that make an but when it happens far air ambulance the only suit Gfrom home, the misery is able transport and must be un even worse. That's why Dr. able to finance the trip. The John Miles recruited other doc service doesn't fly more than tors and business people to help 1,000 miles from Charlotte, but him start Phoenix Air Medical it does take people from the air Services, Inc., a nonprofit air port to other cities. So far, mis ambulance service. Phoenix sions have included bringing a flies people back to the Char dying AIDS patient from Wash lotte area when they get sick or ington, D.C., home to his moth injured somewhere else-free er in Charlotte, and flying a of charge. Miles, a surgeon woman with throat cancer who from Gastonia, his wife and a was visiting Gastonia home to fellow surgeon are all licensed Memphis when her illness pilots, and two of them are al worsened. The service is fi ways on call, along with para nanced solely by donations; its - medics and a flight nurse. assets, explains Miles, include At 77, Sable builds and adapts equipment for the disabled To qualify, travelers must about $200, "pencils and stuff." NEWSWEEK: JULY 10, 1989 51 MICHAELO'UALLAGIW ichaelO'Callaghan at its bestwhen one human is not,by most givesto anotherhuman. accountingstand "Foodfrom a friendforms a Iards,a richman. Last year bond;we want people help hesupported his family by ingpeople," he says. shovelingsnow from the Otherpersonal beliefs sidewalksof hisadopted alsomove him to action.He hometownAnchorage, hasn'towned a carsince his Alaska.Yet, in thatsame arrivalin Anchoragein year,he gave 350 tons 1969,maintaining that of foodto Anchorage's bicyclingis moreenergy poorand hungry. How efficientand kinder to the didhe do it? environment.So hefounded Morethan a decadeago, EarthCycles, Anchorage's the46-year-old father of summerbicycle rental pro fourdiscovered how much gram.With an ID and a $5 perfectlyedible food was deposit,you're zipping tossedout every day by alongthe bike trail gazing at supermarkets.Here Mt.McKinley and 15,000- footvolcanoes across the spondedto thiswaste by Photo:James D. Wilson-Newsweek teachinghimself the art of inlet,the natural beauty that "dump-boxdiving." "Hey,we are all tryingto get firstseduced O'Callaghan into set Rummagingthrough dumpsters alongand we've all gotto helpeach tlingin Anchorage. outsidethe doors of thefood other,"O'Callaghan says, and to O'Callaghan'sbiggest and most giants,he found more than enough thatend, he convinced a major recentchallenge has been this to feedhis family. In fact, the supermarketchain to feedthe spring'smassive oil spill in Prince harvestwas so plentiful that he put WilliamSound, a criticalAlaskan mostof it in a largeplywood box habitatarea. Perplexed and angry andseveral refrigerators in his "I just like to find o overExxon's slow cleanup backyard...and shared it with response,he mobilized volunteers Anchorage'shungry. need that nobody's fora citizen'scleanup force. Asked A firmbeliever in "theless you filling." if heconsiders himself a Sixties' make,the less you spend," the activistliving in theyuppie formerOregonian who dropped out Eighties,the man fond of wearing of collegein hislast year ("What," hungry,not its dumpsters. Now, in a DoonesburyT-shirt responds: heasks, "do you do with a political ninestores, seven days a week,he "I stayaway from labels. They're sciencedegree?")-decided "to anda stringof volunteerswalk in boxes.I just like to finda need workto live,not live to work."Now thefront door and collect food from thatnobody's filling. But I don't heis richin oneof modernliving's theproduce, dairy, bakery and doit alone;you need others to get rarestcommodities: time. healthfood departments-even thingsdone." Butit is howhe uses this time thesalad bars. SaysAnchorage's best-known thatsets him apart. "I work-I just Thoughmany social service cyclist:"I'm partof thevehicle don'tget paid for it," saysthe man organizations-seniorcitizen cen a sparkplug-not thewhole wholikes to makethe wheels turn ters,churches, group homes transmission." whereverhe thinks he can do the pickup from his back door, Thisis the eighteenth ofan Amway-sponsored series mostgood. O'Callaghanbelieves that giving is onAmericans who are quietly ·making a difference.· Onthe Alert AgainstCrime n 1986 Shelby Long's 30- block neighborhood in Rich Imond suffered three mur ders, two rapes and 134 burglaries. The crime wave prompted Long to organize those who live around her into an effective crime-alert force. "It was really out of control," she remembers. Long, a former surveyor and draftswoman, developed a "telephone tree" to get the word RICHIWSAKI out. She calls 35 neighbors and Sadruddin 's self help group sends a message of hope and brotherhood to gang wannabes in Portland they each call 35 neighbors un til everyone is alerted. She now OREGON publishes a monthly bulletin (circulation: 1,100) filled with anticrime tips. Recently she BGE,a PositiveAlternative to Gangs held a neighborhood exhibition of devices that protect against aleed Sadruddin sees tive. We're there to pull them to tary schools, where they have car and home theft. And she the dangers of drugs and the positive," says Sadrudd.in, seen students as young as fifth also acts as a liaison between Wgangs every day. Across 17, who serves as the group's graders dressed as gang wanna police and those neighbors who the street from his Portland president. bes. Sadruddin knows the vis have information on crimes. home, boards cover the win Resembling a high-school its have worked when be hears In all, Long, 49, works nearly dows of a former crack house. fraternity, BGE has 25 mem elementary students saying full time as a voluntary crime Last summer Sadruddin and a bers from four high schools. they want to be BGE's instead fighter. "No other citizen works handful of classmates founded They sponsor dances and clean of Crips or Bloods. His own as many hours trying to stop a group called Brothers Gain up graffiti, help one another heroes, he says, are his fa crime," says Richmond Police ing Equality through Excel with homework and talk about ther, who works with the Port Lt. Herbert Nichols. Last year lence, or BGE-" a positive al family problems. They're also land Development Commis Church Hill showed the bene ternative to gangs." "I see planning a gang summjt, sion, and Malcolm X. His fits of the neighborhood effort friends at risk, starting to asso The BGE's have also taken dreams? "Maybe law or poli that Long has spearheaded. ciate with a gang. They could go their message of hope and tics. I've discovered I love There were no murders, no to the negative, or to the posi- brotherhood to area elemen- speaking," he admits. rapesandonly20burglaries. KENTUCKY Teachinga Lessonin Love o help the children ofrural In 1987, with a $91,413 one Cumberland County, Emo time grant from the state De Tgene Gwinn, 40, and Lau partment of Education, Gwinn rie Ernst, 34, have sacrificed started a program for 3- to 5- pay for principle. The two year-olds. But the grant ran teachers have given up their re out, forcing layoffs and the tirement benefits and cut their levying of a $6 daily fee; some salaries more than 20 percent children had to withdraw. Now in order to keep their preschool Gwinn has obtained an $11,000 open. Together they now earn matching grant from the Pub $19,000. But they feel it's worth lic Welfare Foundation. "We it. Seventy-one percent of the have to match it by July 30," county's adults are high-school she explains. "1f we do, we'll dropouts, the teachers point help more kids. And maybe out, and they believe early we'll be able to bring our sala RALPH AI.SWAKG-Jll PICTURES childhood education can help ries back up. If not, we're Credit Long with cutting crime break that grim cycle. ready to cut them again." Gwinn (left) and Ernst have cut the1 54 NEWSWEEK: JULY 10, 1989 SavingWilla Cather's World or more than 40 years, velka, the prototype for An Mildred Bennett has been tonia in "My Antonia." Al Ffighting to preserve the though townspeople "thought I real-life inspiration for a was crazy," says Bennett, she fictional world. Bennett, 79, persisted. She has colJected lives in Red Cloud (population: Cather letters and mementos 1,300), the town which novelist and bought a number of build Willa Cather grew up in and ings in the region, including the chronicled in her literary clas Pavelka farmstead. Bennett's sics about pioneers on the preservation has provided a plains. When Bennett and her rich vein of information, both husband moved to Red Cloud for Cather scholars and for after World War 11,shebegan to those who are curious about the seek out the models for Cather's hardy pioneers who settled the characters, including Anna Pa- Great Plains. PIIOTOS BY ,JAMES D WILSO'l-'IEWSWEEK Lewis and her students are changing laws in Salt Lake City UTAH KidsClean Up Toxic Waste emocracy is thriving at the funds to the state health Jackson Elementary department and earmark them DSchool in Salt Lake City. for a specific use. Undaunted, In 1987 students in Barba 20 fifth and sixth graders went ra Lewis's accelerated instruc to the state legislature and lob tion program learned there was bied to change the law. The bill a contaminated barrel-disposal passed and the kids made the site nearby. They circulated a first contribution. Now they're petition and the barrels were branching out, winning a grant removed. Last year they decid to buy trees, working to get side ed to expand their fight for haz walks repaired. "We've Learned ardous-waste cleanup. After aboutthegrowingoftheworld," ,JOll:S \OLLI-:.'mOHt-PIITllHt:t;Rm I' raising $2,700, they discovered says Kory Hansen, 12. "A kid Bennett preserves a Great Plains literal)' heritage in Red Cloud there was no legal waytodonate can make a difference, too." WYOMING A Missionin the Mountains rustic resort town like Mission in Jackson. The mis Jackson Hole may seem sion, on the second floor of a Aan unlikely destination little junk store, is home to for the homeless. But as an about 40 people a night for oasis of high employment in much of the year-many of the otherwise economically de whom, he says "just need a lit pressed Rocky Mountains, this tle start." community of some 14,000 Unfortunately, his services draws hundreds of people each are more in demand than ever: year hoping for new lives in the "Our low-cost housing is just shadows of the Tetons. going, going, gone." So he is For more than 24 years now, raising money to expand the long before America's uprooted mission, and, at 69, is thinking poor became "the homeless," of retiring-to spend more time Orville Wolff has been devoted caring for the elderly. "You \HCIIAF.I PATRl('K-PIC.'7URE GROllr to helping them keep their dig know," he says, "I just want to l to operate a preschool nity at his Good Samaritan be involved with life." Wolff's shelter is 24 years old 0 NEWSWEEK JULY 10 1989 55 SPECIAL REPORT NEVADA CONNECTICUT MoreLoaves GivingBack andFishes ourteen years ago Tina Bradley's husband was sign above the fruit stand Fdead from drugs, her two in the Las Vegas grocery children lost to the courts. She Astore says it all: "Touch it. was sleeping on the lawns of I Take it. No limit." Gleaners, the state capitol in Hartford, founded in 1982 by Celeste and nursing a heroin habit of her David McKinley, is a super own. Therapy and steady work market for the needy. Shocked helped win the kids back in that stores threw away tons of 1985. That's when Bradley de edible food because the fresh cided to give back. Visiting her ness dates had expired, Celeste brother-in-law in jail, she start McKinley persuaded one man ed counseling wives of inmates. ager to donate items to her so She accompanies them to court, she could help the hungry. Soon helps find work and listens long she had enough to set up a food into the night to their loneli bank in a garage. Now, with ness. Bradley, 35, understands. supplies also donated by casi Pl-:'ft-:H.UI..AKt-:LY PIC'1'l,IU-;(.;ROl'I' She met and married her sec nos, wholesalers, caterers and Bradley helps women like herself whose husbands are behind bars ond husband in prison. the local Air Force commis sary, Gleaners has moved into a warehouse, serving 20,000 peo ALABAMA ple a month. The cost for a cart of groceries: $2. Most of Gleaners' customers A CopWith a Conscience are not homeless but senior citi zens on fixed incomes or moth WhoAlways Pitches In ers who are single or have sick husbands. A firm believer in in captain with the Mont kids.and thisgivesmean oppor dividual initiative, McKinley, gomery Police Depart tunity to go down there and 40, recruits shoppers as volun Ament, Danny Billingsley work with them," says the fa teer staff. Although other food just can't seem to do enough to ther of one. "There's not much banks have copied Gleaners, help others. When he began in communication between us, funds remain tight. But McKin the department's juvenile divi but they know why we're ley, a devout Christian who sion, he organized a Christmas there." The policeman and his once pawned her jewelry to fund that now brings cheer to pals will bring along presents meet expenses, is unfazed: Tl~I RYA' about 200 underprivileged fam including as many baseball Yamashita builds confidence "God has never failed us." ilies. He also persuaded a local caps as they can carry. HAWAII Chevrolet dealer to donate a used car and raffie it off to raise money for a woman in need of a OnTheir Own double lung transplant. In his free time, he does household t Helemano Plantation, chores for the elderly. residents grow their own Billingsley and a group from Avegetables, operate a res the Evangel Temple, a Pen taurant and run a food service tecostal church, have also car in downtown Honolulu. The ried their charitable deeds 60 residents are all retarded to Central America. They've gaining independence. Pearl helped build a church in Guate Yamashita, a founder of the mala and a student dormitory nonprofit Opportunities for the in Honduras. This September Retarded Inc., which runs He they'll travel to San Nicolas, lemano, says, "We just tell the Argentina, where they will patients they're capable and work up to 16 hours a day help guess what? They do their best ing to repair a dilapidated or to make it work." The 68-year phanage. Billingsley, 39, will old university instructor is pay the $350 air fare out of his proud ofHelemano. Several pa own pocket and use part of his OA\'ll) LEI-.:WAin: tients have "graduated" to vacation for the six-day trip. "11Kf:l"lS\1)1F.k- Pl(TitREC:ROUP 'Take it' from McKinley's store work at a nearby military base. "I've always been crazy about Billingsley's cause is kids 56 NEWSWEEK: JULY 10. L989 ~PECIAL REPORT CALIFORNIA AIDSWith a HumanFace etting AIDS was not part of my game plan," says GChristian Haren, a for mer top model. Using a mixture of humor and compassion to give AIDS a human face.Haren talks about the disease in San UA.'\'WJIITJ-: Franciso high schools, part of Geese helps troubled kids The Wedge program he helped KAN AS found last year. "My volunteers keep dying, it's very rude," says Haren, 53, eyes twinkling. "But AnAdvocate it shows the students-'this dude's dying and he's here with or about 30 hours each us'-they get that." week Kathy Geese acts on Pf:n:Rrn f:rn Fbehalf of abused and neg Sternberg's profession is dentistry but his passion is the ocean lected children in the court NEW JERSEY and foster-care systems around Kansas City. "I hate that any body has to do this job," says the Strivingto SaveOur Shores 35-year-old mother of one, who lives in Lenexa, Kans. The ay 16, 1981, marks trademark, but the group also strength of Geese's commit the birthday of an activ fiJed a lawsuit last year forcing ment to children stems from Mist. That was when Den New York City to cover its trash her own troubled past. Beaten nis Sternberg saw the surf near barges so that waste wouJd by a relative, she had to testify his Allenhurst home streaked not blow into the ocean. Stern in a trial when she was 12 with with red sludge. The 40-year berg is taking the battle a step out anyone on her side: "I think old dentist founded Save Our further: running for state leg back now and wonder how I Shores, one of the state's islature. After years as an ever lived through it." Thanks highest-profile environmental outsider, he wants to develop to Geese, there are some kids groups, boasting 50,000 sup environmental policy from the who don't have to go through porters. Beach rallies and inside. "Just screaming," he troubled times alone. boardwalk protests are their says, "isnottheanswer." TENNESSEE HomegrownProject Manager high-school dropout and 27 children. " I wouJd see kids former welfare recipient being left alone," she says. Awho had the first of her "There were so many parents six chiJdren at 14, Alma Lovett who needed to go to work but identifies with parents in the couldn't afford a babysitter." Memphis public-housing proj Lovett's most recent project, ect where she lives. Now 51, funded with a S25,000 grant Lovett has been active in the from the city of Memphis Joseph A. Fowler Homes for 15 and the U.S. Department of years. She got her high-school Housing and Urban Develop equivalency diploma in 1983, ment, is the formation of the and then a business degree Fowler Homes Tenant Man from Draughons Junior Col agement Corporation. In Sep lege. In 1986, with a Sl,500 tember she'll graduate from a grant from Kentucky Fried training program that will Chicken, she opened a free make her the first tenant man KAREN P l'Ul.f'F:R day-care center for Fow.ler ager of a public-housing project Once on welfare, Louett is now a source of strength for others residents that now enrolls anywhere in the state. 58 NEWSWEEK: JULY IO. 1989 In 1869,the All England Croquet Club established itself on four rented acres in Wimbledon. But, by 1875,the popularity of lawn tennis induced the club to set aside a rectangle of grass for the upstart sport. Two years late1; the croquet bastion became the All England Croquet and Lawn Spencer Gore, the tuur- nament's firsl champion. Tennis Club. That same year; 200 spectators assembled to watch 22 amateur players serve and volley for a silver cup. Netstorming Spencer Gore became the worlds first Wimbledon champion. Thelegend that Today, that legendary lawn has expanded to 10acres with 18 grass courts, each a repository of grew from alawn revered memories. But none is more storied than that cathedral of tennis mystique, Centre Court. in Wimbledon. On this hallowed turf the worlds finest players compete each summer to the Royal Box, 350,000 enthusiasts pack for a fortnight of the grounds for the two play from which taut weeks that are emerge the athletes Wimbledon. forevermore In a setting where distinguished as precision, stamina and Wimbledon A.,-..- style are revered, a champions. timepiece must perform From to intimidating the crowds standards. that queue up That overnight for --..-.. explains the tickets, to Rolex on the Chris Evert, three-time the royalty. scoreboard, as Wimbledon Singles Champion. aristocrats,~ well as its designation as the official diplomats and timepiece of celebrities invited Wimbledon. A 19th-cenlur,• tennis racket.· ~ ROLEX LnJy Dntrj11,tO.v,,lrr Prrprlunl, Dny-Dnlr Oy.,trr Prrprlual Chro,wmrlrr,b1Jlh tit 181.1.110/1} u•ith malrh1i1,9 Prr.,,i)mt brncrlrl. lflrilr/orhrvchurr. Roi,.,. llin1rhUS.A., /,,r., Depl.709,Rol,.,. Bui!J,i,_9,665 Fif1hA,-,,11u,N,., Yt,rl.,N. Y. /0022. © /988 Rolr.,· llin1rbUS.II., Im-. LaoyOa1e,us1 Day Dale OystE-1Pfa(peiuaJ Prfl'Sldent rue uademarl\s A Lifeline for Retirees dith Bolan has just about done it all. In addition to Eraising three children, she worked as a welder during World War II, crawling into the tight spots in ships that most men couldn't reach. She has manufactured casings for bombs and worked for a florist. At 74, Bolan is no longer em ployed-but she hasn't slowed down. "I didn't want to just sit at home by myself," she says. "That's when you start getting the aches and pains." So along with other volunteer activities, Bolan leads a group of retirees ROB NEI.SON-Pl(TURE GROUP who get out mass mailings for For more than six decades Pauley has been working to get a fair deal for the disenfranchised everyone from local clinics to GEORGIA the Girl Scouts. Rapid City's Retired Seniors Volunteer Pro gram (RSVP) organizes and At 83, StillShowing Poor People They Count bundles about 150 mailings a year, sometimes starting the rances Freeborn Pauley re way some people have to suf ing membership to whites. day at 6:45 a.m. for the bigger cently moved into Atlan fer," says Pauley, 83, a great Jailed during the '60s for help jobs. She thinks the mass-mail Fta's Wesley Woods elderly grandmother. "You'd think I'd ing to desegregate schools and ing program does as much good care home-but her 60-year get toughened to it. Sometimes I organizing interracial commit for the seniors as it does for devotion to social activism re think I can't stand the hurt." tees in small towns, Pauley, in their customers. "It's a life mains vigorous. Her tiny apart Pauley began her social ac 1983, founded the Georgia Pov line," she says. ment is crammed with file cabi tivism during the Depression, erty Rights Organization, a After Bolan was recognized nets, a computer and books on when she set up a hot-lunch statewide coalition of 1,500 ac for her work by South Dakota poverty, civil rights and AIDS. program for the DeKalb Coun tivists and poor people. Her spe Gov. George Mickelson, she re The move has freed her from ty schools. As president of a lo cific goal was to lobby the legis ceived a letter of appreciation domestic chores to focus on cal chapter of the League of lature, but her broader aim, she from President Bush. "It was helping the voiceless and disen Women Voters in the '40s, she says, has been "to show poor an awfully nice letter," she franchised. "It'sjust not fair the struck the bylaws clause limit- people they counted." says. "But I wouldn't want him to do any handwriting for us. It ain't very good." IOWA Onthe Job carlett Lunning is chang ing the "white gloves" im Sage of the Junior League. In 1981 the 38-year-old par alegal helped found Youth Employment Training, a pro gram that helps inner-city teens in Des Moines find jobs. The youngsters get 10 hours of JIM HEEMSTRA-PICTURE GROUP classroom training, learning Inner-city youth who need work get training from Lunning such skills as writing resumes and dressing up for interviews. three years the program has says Lunning, a divorcee who's Lunning has also coaxed busi helped nearly 200 kids, about raising three children. The Ju ness leaders to come by to stage 75 percent of whom have found nior League agreed, honoring STEVE WOIT-PllTURt; GROUP mock interviews, which are vid jobs. "They say it was helpful to Youth Employment Training Bolan posts letters for causes eotaped for review. In the past have some adults to talk to," in 1987 as a model program. NEWSWEEK: JULY 10, 1989 59 TheRescuers nowstorms can converge on the White Mountains Swith sudden ferocity, stranding hikers and skiers. When they do, the Appalachian Mountain Club volunteer res cue team comes looking. After an April avalanche on Mount Washington, three volunteers pushed through a 60-mile-per hour storm to find a red glove sticking in the snow. When someone pulled it, Ken Haw kin's hand was still moving. They carried the unconscious 17-year-old to safety. Says AMCer Dave Evankow, 30: [RA WYMAN roR NEWSWEEK "Just a good group of people When hikers and skiers are missing, the Appalachian Mountain Club comes looking to be with." NEW MEXICO RoleModel auline Gomez counts her self among the fortunate Pfew. Although she was born blind, Gomez was raised not to pity herself. "When I said I couldn't do something, my mother would just say I was cuckoo," she says. Ln 1956 she helped to found the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico. ow 69, self-support ing and a role model for the JAMESSCllNEPr-Wlll,!ELER PK"TURES blind, Gomez is still giving her JAMES COOK Although she has Down syndrome, Clough teaches and inspires time to organizations that try Valdez sparks a renaissance WISCON IN to spread her mother's mes COLORADO sage, teaching the blind self TheGraduate Returns confidence and self-acceptance. ATown Reborn I ary Clough, 27, has Coaching is her favorite task, n San Luis, poverty was Down syndrome. Usu since she won a bronze medal in growing and hope was dying. Mally this condition in bowling at the 1983 Interna IBut that was before Patrick volves profound retardation tional Special Olympics. Valdez, 40, a Roman Catholic and extreme dependency. But Clough went on to public priest, arrived in 1985. Seeing Clough is a volunteer teaching schools, where she learned that the area was full of arti assistant at the Menomonee to read on a third-grade level sans who "kept their talents Falls Center near Milwaukee, by the time she graduated at hidden," he asked for volun a school she herself attended 21 from a special program. teers to repair the old mission 22 years ago. She works with She hopes the kids at the cen church. They restored it-and 2-and 3-year-olds, disabled and ter will work toward self-reli their spirits. Sparked by Valdez nondisabled, some with Down ance, as she has. "We care (who is also encouraging organ syndrome. Among other tasks, about little kids here," she says. ic farming), much of San Luis is she helps with puzzles, reads "We set examples for them." being renovated and attracting stories and teaches the kids a Few set a better example than tourists. Says one resident: variety of athletic activities. Mary Clough. "He's the savior of our town." 60 NEWSWEEK: JULY 10, 1989 0 ·••--•- SavingLives GivingBack fter an escaped convict s an intern in Miami, Jose shot and killed her 24- Pedro Greer Jr. was ap Ayear-old son, Lois Hess Apalled when a homeless considered smuggling a gun patient died of tuberculosis, a into court and shooting him. In treatable disease. So five years stead, she turned grief into be ago he started a free clinic next lief. Since that day in 1975, to a downtown shelter. Today Hess, 61, has battled endlessly the Camillus Health Concern, and effectively for gun con with 200 volunteers and a paid trol-testifying, writing, fund staff of 12, treats thousands raising. Her lobbying was one of indigent patients annually. reason why Maryland's elector University of Miami medical ate voted tobanthesaleofcheap students even get credit for handguns last year. And still clinic work. "You're supposed Hess is crusading. "It's reward to give back," says Greer, 33, ing to know that maybe I'm JIMJUDKIS whose father emigrated from A youthful 81, Moskowitz comforts, shops and cooks for the elderly helping save one life," she says. Cuba. "That's what this coun "One life would be worth all the PENNSYLVANIA try is based on." trouble I've been through." A Friendfor the Forgotten ust two years ago a mugger aration, letter writing and get broke her ribs, knocked ting to the doctor, as well as Jher to the sidewalk and providing companionship and stole her purse. A few years be support-"showing people you fore that, another thief had care about them." grabbed her purse and shop The petite, energetic Mosko ping bag. But 81-year-old Jean witz was raised in an orphanage Moskowitz continues to make and lost her husband when her her rounds as a veteran Senior baby was only 1 month old. She Citizen Volunteer, helping the supported herself and her son as elderly in Pittsburgh. "They de a baby nurse. Why not take it pend on me,"shesays. easy now? "There's such a Moskowitz spends at least need," she says. "I am grateful four hours a day, five days a I'm able to do it." Moskowitz is MARTIN11. s,~,o~ week with her clients. She helps the best kind of volunteer. Her Hess battles for gun control with light shopping, meal prep- clients consider her a friend. The RHODE ISLAND Recipefor a SecondChance ohn Nelson shunned the landed in a foster home at 8 and soup Line at Amos House drifted through a string of jobs Jduring his drinking and after high school. When Sister drugging days on the streets of Eileen died in 1983, he eventu Providence. "I wasn't ready to ally took over the cooking. He give up and start over," he says. puts in four 12-hour days a The 36-year-old Nelson heads week (plus weekends at cook the line now, serving 200 to 300 ing school), serving everything meals a day to the hungry and from liver and onions to the homeless. After he was left for nouvelle horsd'oeuvres that ar dead in a 1982 robbery, Amos rive as contributions. He plans House founder Sister Eileen to take his new talents onto an Murphy befriended him with ocean liner or a private yacht, odd jobs, cigarette money and a but leaving Amos House, he room of his own. The care was a says, "will be the happiest and IRA WYMAN f'ORNEWSWEE:t\ t1-:1rningpoint for Nelson, who saddest day of my Life." Nelson serves up to 300 meals a day to Providence's hungry NEWSWEEK JULY 10. 1989 63 Ridingthe Reservation n attorney was once asked fuJ remark." He refused; she to leave a Navajo tri punched him in the nose; he Abal-council meeting after left. Honesty, intelligence and making what Annie Dodge feistiness have helped make Wauneka calls "a disrespect- Wauneka (who won the Presi dential Medal of Freedom in 19631 a legend. In the '50s. when thousands of Navajos contracted tuberculosis, Waun eka educated herself about the disease and began counseling isolated, often suspicious fam ilies. At 79, she still tours the sprawling reservation in a Hlt"II FHISIIMAX truck, addressing groups on When the temperature drops. Grant helps keep the needy warm health and education. Her six children ask when she's going WA HINGTON to stop, but Wauneka laughs, "I've always loved to travel." Her top topic now-for good TheWood Bank Delivers TO~!l\'f:S reason-is alcoholism. It's the Waunelw educates her tribe No. 1 killer of Navajos. hen winter comes to En by Plum Creek Timber Co., umclaw, the tempera Grant's employer. Grant, 36, Wture can drop to bone says the typical Wood Bank cli chilling levels. That's when ents are single mothers and the many people living in and near elderly; often the wood is their the town of 6,300 give thanks only source of heat. The ranks for the Wood Bank. The distinc of volunteers swelled this year tive charity, brainchild of for with grateful locals who have ester-John Grant, delivered 160 been helped by the program in loads of wood to the needy last the past. "It's a venture for ev winter. Local volunteer organi eryone," says Mayor Bob Deni zations cut up and deliver son, who often helps load the the wood, most of it donated wood truck. ILLINOIS Mentorsfor TeenMothers llAVlll S\IAHT-PllTl'RF. C:HOL'P Sisters Louise, Beverly and Loretta battle poverty with actiuism t the Ida B. Wells Hous MISSlSSIPPl ing Project on Chicago's ASouth Side, Belen Finner has seen more than her share of young mothers having a hard RaisingHell for the Lord time. Their inexperience, she n Holmes County, the fourth Center. A county political lead says, "is the reason why there is poorest in the nation and 70 er has called them terrorists; so much child abuse. Because there's no one to teach the l)A\'11) WALBf:RG Ipercent black, three Francis the editor of a local paper has WeiIs teaches how to parent can nuns from Minnesota have dubbed them communists. But mother." So, two years ago Fin come to do the Lord's work. Sis with their aid, ROCC has fought ner started Mama Said, a men ters Beverly Weidner, Louise local political corruption and tor program that matches expe lives around-then I will feel McKigney and Loretta Beyer segregated voting districts. "lf rienced mothers with young that what I'm doing is not in arrived in Lexington 16 years we're caJled hell raisers be women who need parenting vain.•· ln March the Chicago ago to serve in a free clinic. Now cause we stand up for justice skills. Finner, 60, knows that Housing Authority recognized they fight poverty with political and speak out," says Sister Lo success won't come easily, but, Finner's work by giving her of activism, working with the Ru retta, "then I guess we are hell she says, "if I save only 10 or fice space, and the CHA may ral Organization and Cultural raisers." 15 young mothers-turn their expand her program. 64 NEWSWEEK JULY 10, 1989 SPECIAL REPORT OHIO ThePower of Friendship he last thing Irene Muncy py elsewhere. It's called Com seemed to have time for peer, "a comrade who's also a Twas another volunteer ac peer," and Muncy signed up. tivity. The mother of four Muncy, 39, was matched with daughters between the ages of6 29-year-old Jane Comer who is and 14, she was already active being treated for schizophre in her church, her children's nia. She brought Comer into school and on a project de the family, inviting her along signed to reduce child abuse by on family outings. Everyone training parents. She was con seems to gain from the arrange sidering a career in counseling ment. Muncy is happy to help; when she heard of a program Comer says she used to be shy, designed to give mentally dis "but now I can talk to people turbed people friendship, sup about it." And Muncy's girls port and role models as they have gained some understand A:l:DYS~OII-PltTIRE GROUP simultaneously receive thera- ing of the mentally ill. Mu11cy(middle right) made Comer{middle left) part of her family MICHIGAN I MAINE Pavingthe Way StayingPut t 16, Joyce Chin sudden ou either give up and ly started falling down. get out," says Herbert AAt first she thought she YAdams, "or you stay couldn't wear high heels. But put and fight." Adams, 34, a later the diagnosis was muscu free-lance writer, stayed and lar dystrophy. The illness made fought. Examining deeds and a difference in her own life and, tax records, he exposed the because of her, in the lives of absentee-and often secret 1 countless others. Chin's cru landlords neglecting his pictur sade has been to promote acces esque Portland neighborhood. sible public transportation for Several turned out to be leading the handicapped. Now 56, mar citizens who ignored health ried, with two daughters, she codes and property taxes. His also works at Detroit's Center fight produced a new trash ordi for Independent Living. "Some nance and may lead to one re body has to be out there paving MARYANN C:ARTl.;R quiring registration of blind the way," she says. Lowe11kron(left), Cunningham. Dykstra and Richardson with pets real-estate partnerships. INDIANA ExtraCredit for GoodDeeds earning Unlimited is an teenagers take pets along on alternative-education pro visits to a nursing home and Lgram unique to North Cen a center for the disabled. tral High School in Indianapo At North Willow Center, a fa. lis. The 265 juniors and seniors cility for mentally and physi who participate must spend at cally disabled adults, adult least 24 hours doing volun volunteers had trouble relat teer community service. Molly ing to the patients, but not Dykstra, Danielle Cunning the North Central students. ham, Rosemary Lowenkron "They're just big little kids," and Aaron Richardson have says Richardson, 17. All four all chosen to work with the In plan to continue their volun dianapolis Humane Society's teer efforts next year, though Pt:rt;R YATI:::; Pet Pals program. For at least they won't receive further JIM 1>,:-.1ELS Chin pushes for public access three hours each week, the class credits. Adams named la11dlords 66 NEWSWEEK. JULY 10, 1989