Metropolitan Inter-Faith AssociationHOPE • www.mifa.org • 901-527-0208 IN ACTIONWinter 2009 • Volume 27 • Number 4 MIFA Board of Directors Executive Committee Price Ford, Chair Jef Feibelman, Vice Chair Judy Royal, Secretary Ward Mayer, Treasurer Rev. Steve Montgomery Dear Friends, Peggy Brewer Paul Berz Thanks to all of you for helping spread the word about Something Good in Memphis! The community’s Jordan Barré response to our campaign has been overwhelming, and we have heard wonderful stories about the Otha Brandon many good hearts and hard-working hands in Memphis. Rev. Don Feuerbach Mark Finestone Yvonne Madlock It is really no surprise that Something Good in Memphis has caught the attention of so many people in Wilma McGee the community – in times of trial, we look for positive and uplifting examples to remind us why we’re Kojo McLennon here. And Something Good in Memphis has certainly provided inspiration – from prominent local leaders Snow Morgan to honest passersby, people are doing good things in our city every day, and we are grateful. Amy Poag Rev. Ollie Rencher Chris Suhoza I hope you enjoy and are inspired by the stories of a few nominees featured in this issue of Hope in Peter Tosches Action. If you haven’t already nominated someone – or even if you have – please be sure to recognize Blanchard Tual the people you know who make Memphis better. You may submit your nomination online at Cathy Polk VanLeit SomethingGoodinMemphis.org or by completing and mailing the form on page 5. David Waddell Russ Williams Thanks to each of you for being something good in Memphis! Emily Woodside Executive Director Margaret Craddock Sincerely, Hope in Action staff Ellen Whitten, Editor [email protected] Margaret Craddock (901) 529-4507 Executive Director Jessica Jones, Designer James Seacat, Communications Director Sally Heinz, VP of Development [email protected] Cover photos by Hank Word. Left to right: Alec McLean & Ollie Rencher, (901) 529-4523 Kris Kourdouvelis, Jennifer Fearn & Kembree Darakshani. 2 • Winter 2009 • HOPE IN ACTION www.mifa.org • 901-527-0208 Something Good in Memphis takes off! In September, MIFA set out to recognize the good in our community by creating Something Good in Memphis. Memphians from every corner of our city have responded in a huge way, sharing their stories about the kindness of friends, neighbors, relatives, and strangers. Sometimes it seems easier to focus on the negative, but we want to thank everyone who has reminded us how much good there is in our community! We hope you enjoy a sampling of nominations in this issue of Hope in Action – to see more or to nominate someone you know, visit SomethingGoodinMemphis.org. Gretchen Kirk is an inspiration! Nominated by Barbara Olson. Gretchen joined our faculty at St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School in August, 2006, and immediately made an impact on our students and teachers. She and her husband recycle notebook paper and containers from school events, reminding us that nothing is wasted and that we must respect our environment. Gretchen developed a program in which our sophomores work prepare and serve lunch monthly at the St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen in Midtown. She led the upper school class chaplains in a blessing for pets and worked with the chaplains to place a prayer for safe driving on all autos on campus. She is a visible and vocal supporter of Race for the Cure in Memphis and coordinated prayer services for those with cancer. Making a difference on our campus as an administrator, teacher, mother, spouse, and friend, Gretchen is respected for her giving nature, her care for each member of our school community, and for her energy and smile for all. www.mifa.org • 901-527-0208 HOPE IN ACTION • Winter 2009 • 3 Something Good in Memphis nominees from across the city! Checkmate. Sheun Aluko Doug Harpell helps a Jenni Helms is an Autism Natalie Jalenak is shares the joy of chess stranger Angel Something Good! Nominated by Scott Moore. Nominated by Jessika Jordan. Nominated by Katie Steinbrecher. Nominated by Judy Royal. Sheun Aluko is a junior at White I am nominating my dad because Jenni created a place in Memphis Natalie Jalenak is a devoted Station High School who heads a couple of weeks ago he helped where children on the Austism Meals on Wheels volunteer, feeds up a Chess Club for kids in the a total stranger pull his car out of Spectrum can learn, laugh, play, newborns at the Med, and visits Binghampton neighborhood. the mud. He did not even know and just be themselves. She is an seniors at a nursing home weekly. They meet on Saturdays at the this person but he wanted to do it awesome Autism Angel! Jenni She still finds time to bake the Caritas Village at Merton and because he needed help. My dad Helms is Something Good in BEST chocolate chip cookies!! Harvard. Sheun is involved in is always offering help to people Memphis. Natalie is truly Something Good many activities of his own, but in need and I just wanted him to in Memphis. takes time to share his skills and be recognized for his good deeds! gifts with the community. Sheun is Something Good in Memphis. 4 • Winter 2009 • HOPE IN ACTION www.mifa.org • 901-527-0208 Witt Meloni gave his Delvin Lane is Something Alim Khandekar brings Chris Reyes exposes summer vacation Good in Memphis faiths together Memphis Nominated by Fr. John Pitzer. Nominated by Rob Thompson. Nominated by Mohammed Nominated by Lauren Rae It is always great to see a young Delvin is a former gang banger Moinuddin. Holtermann. man or woman make a decision to who now serves the community Alim Khandekar and his Chris strives to use his interests – do something different with his/ he once was a menace to. Delvin committee were responsible for film and animation – to spotlight her summer time off. Witt had the works at Streets Ministries in celebrating the third annual Iftar the good things and good people in desire to not only work but to help the Foote and Cleaborn Homes dinner on September 10, 2009. Memphis through his organization, others. As one of his priests at St. community, and he provides a The dinner brought together Jews, Live From Memphis. Along with Peter’s, I would like to commend ray of hope to high school kids at Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Live From Memphis co-creators his efforts and the work he did this Booker T. Washington who often and Muslims with speeches from Sarah Fleming and Brad Phelan, summer at MIFA. have very hard lives. Delvin Lane leaders of each group. Chris gave recognition and exposure is Something Good in Memphis. to the little guys through the Flipsides series, like Memphis Roller Derby, local bands, Rozelle Artists Guild, VINI, and many more. www.mifa.org • 901-527-0208 HOPE IN ACTION • Winter 2009 • 5 • 5 Jennifer Hyatt is Something Prabhakar and Rohini Trey Carter is committed to John Boevingloh is a great Good! Parikh serve our community Memphis Ombudsman Nominated by Deborah Hyatt. Nominated by Linda Marks. Nominated by Benjamin Connell. Nominated by Rick Finkey. As an artist, she recycles scrap MIFA and Memphis are fortunate Patrick (Trey) Carter III is a John Boevingloh is Something metal into beautiful, functional, and to have this generous and gracious perfect example of of a young Good in Memphis. As a Volunteer imaginative works of art. She is a couple among us. In addition entrepreneur who understands Long-Term Care Ombudsman, volunteer member of Revolutions to performing innumerable acts John has developed a special Community Bicycle Shop at First of kindness and compassion for that giving back to the community Congregational Church, which friends and the community at large, is about more than giving money, it connection with the residents at provides the working poor and all Prabhakar, a retired engineer, has also takes time. He has organized his nursing home. On the rare Memphians with bikes and the tools delivered MIFA Meals weekly for food drives to provide dinners for occasions when he misses his and knowledge to keep them in good over 11 years. He also serves as a the homeless as well as clothing regular visit, the residents ask the working order. And she reads for the volunteer in MIFA’s Long-Term drives for those in need. He shows facility to call MIFA and make sure Memphis Public Library’s WYPL Care Ombudsman program. Rohini, he is okay. radio station, which serves the visually a retired pharmacist, is a frequent a strong commitment to making impaired (and anyone who enjoys a companion on Meals routes, and she his community a better place, and good read!) with daily presentations sometimes brings their grandchildren he is a role model for those who of newspapers, magazines, and along, so they will learn about service want to have a positive impact on books. Thank you, Jennifer! at an early age. the lives of others. 6 • Winter 2009 • HOPE IN ACTION www.mifa.org • 901-527-0208 Two ways to nominate someone you know – 1. Visit SomethingGoodinMemphis.org 2. Complete the form below and mail it to: Something Good in Memphis P. O. Box 3130 Memphis, TN 38173-0130 1. Your name: _____________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Your email address: _______________________________________________________________________________ 3. Your nominee: ___________________________________________________________________________________ 4. Why he/she is Something Good in Memphis: _____________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5. Nominee’s address and email address (we would like to acknowledge your nominee): ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ www.mifa.org • 901-527-0208 HOPE IN ACTION • Winter 2009 • 7 Share something good with MIFA holiday cards! MIFA makes giving easy and meaningful with holiday tribute cards for everyone on your list.