Nominate & Vote For Your Winners
Help Us Choose the Stories We Write About Each Issue by Nominating Someone You Know or Want to Read About. Also, Feel Free to Pat a Loved One or a Friend on the Back for Being a Great Person. We List All Nominees Forever in Who’s Who In Your Community.
May’s Winning Nominee, Chosen by You, Our Viewing Editors, Is …
Adam Hathaway, Los Lunas, New Mexico. Winning Samaritan:
Adam spent his adolescence on the docks in Florida, physically and emotionally abused by his step-father. He is now a Master Mason, a Master in the Society for Creative Anachronism where he runs the Toys for Tots drive, and a Shriner doing everything he can for children. He has procured over 20,000 toys for the tots and is now in charge of getting children from Mexico, who desperately need medical care, to Shriner hospitals all over the States. He grew up with almost nothing and now gives his all to ensure that no child has to. By Rain Sullivan with a 2nd from Bill Knight
(Watch for His Story in an Upcoming Issue)
VOTE FOR YOUR WINNERS IN THE SIDEBAR »
Nominate Your Own Winner
- Nominate someone you know and respect as a Winner. They can be your parent, friend, teacher, child, neighbor — anyone is qualified as long as they are making a contribution to our community — as long as you feel they deserve a pat on the back. When we receive your nomination, they will be posted below for our readers to vote on.
- Your Nomination should state their name and the city they live in, which can be anywhere in the world. Your Nominations should be no longer than 50 –100 words.
- At the end of each month, the nominee with the most votes will be developed into a full length article for this magazine. If your nominee is selected, we may ask you to write it, for pay, provided you have already submitted a manuscript for our approval and your writing meets our standards. If not you, then one of our writers will be assigned the story. In either event, you will receive credit as a contributing editor unless you prefer to remain anonymous.
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About The Nominees
Annabel Sclippa, Cottonwood, Arizona. Winner Against the Odds: Despite being confined to a wheelchair at the age of seventeen, Annabel has continued to demonstrate unflinching courage and determination in achieving goals and in her dedication to helping others. She has completed her Bachelor’s Degree in English, studied Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, been ranked nationally in women’s wheelchair tennis, assisted many as an intuitive healer, and currently owns and operates The Annabel Inn, a Bed & Breakfast in Old Town Cottonwood, Arizona. All this while travelling world-wide. “Bella” continues to live in the moment and overcome any obstacles to her dreams. By Lee Phelps
Mr. Arnold Hummasti, Ferndale, Washington. Winning Educator: As an elementary school librarian for many years, Mr. Hummasti has touched the lives of countless parents, co-workers, and especially students. I would like to share my own personal story. When I began going to school at Central Elementary, I did not know how to read very well. I was in fourth grade, and way behind. I hated trying to read. Then I went into Mr, Hummasti’s library, and I felt so much interest in the words that Mr. Hummasti was reading with so much passion that I wanted to learn. If it were not for him, you would not be reading this. Thank you Mr. Hummasti. By Echo Westhoff
The Bradley Family, Boulder, Colorado. Winning Family: The Bradley’s are a squirrelly bunch. They consist of four outgoing boys and two loving parents. The boys are each two years apart from each other. The boys consist of Daniel the youngest, Nicholas the third eldest, John the second oldest, and of course Philip the oldest. These boys differ in many areas, yet they all have one major thing in common. They are all Eagle Scouts. They’ve done and continue to do their part in helping the Boulder community. Phil’s accomplishments range from earning his eagle scout by building a dumpster enclosure for Bethel Methodist, to running for city council. John has earned his eagle scout by building flower boxes for a retirement community wheel chair accessible. Nicholas repaired and repainted a fence surrounding a Habit For Humanity community. Finally, Daniel repaired and improved Philip’s dumpster enclosure, and refinished all the doors of the church. These boys continue to help out young boy scouts in their eagle projects, and tirelessly work to help their community. By Erin Lamouria
Devin Rohr, Massillon, Ohio. Winning Athlete: A young basketball player, named Devin Rohr, never got his shot to prove himself to the coach that he could start until halfway through the season. He was the best player on the entire J.V. team and he just wanted to prove it. Later in the season the coach finally started him because they started winning more games when he was in. He became the team’s highest scorer every game and in the last game of the season, he put up the all time highest amount of points anyone has scored all the whole year. More details about his amazing last game for the season will be told in the full story. By Dylan Leone
Jaimie Verlander, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Winning Citizen: Jaimie watched her best friend die. Beau was thrown from the van she was driving when a drunk driver ran them off the road at over 70 mph. Beau died in Jaimie’s arms in a ditch by the side of I10. After her recovery, Jaimie became an advocate for victims of drunk drivers and vowed to educate people about this travesty. She has spoken at MADD meetings and organized an art show exhibiting paintings and sculptures by those who have been affected by drunken driving. Though the accident happened years ago, she continues to speak out on Beau’s behalf. By Rain Sullivan
Jana Salais, New Braunfels, Texas. Winning Mother/Citizen: I think my mom Jana Salais should be nominated for this because she is a great person. She is so strong and has overcome so much in her life. With the loss of her husband a year ago, she has picked up the torch of the vision they had together. She ministers to the lost, homeless, abused, and the hungry. She ministers to young teenage moms to be that are incarcerated in rehab-housing. She teaches a bible study to the “Wounded Women” in our community, who have been phyically or sexually abused. Jana, with everything she has gone through in life, continues to “perservere” and run the race of life with her Heavenly Father at her side — directing, leading, guiding her path every step of the way. You go, girl, run with the wind! My mom is a GREAT person and she does so much in the community… She is more than worthy of this honor. By Olympia Oliva and Rose Moore
Katlyn, Mount Holly, North Carolina. Winner Against the Odds: Katlyn is a little girl who was born with legs that didn’t work, so she spent her early years either being carried or in a wheelchair. The tendons were too short, so she could not stand or straighten her legs. There were surgeries, physical therapists, positive moments, and setbacks. Her parents, unable to have more children, said their dream was that one day, Katlyn would walk in church. After one particular trip to Raleigh for surgery, Katlyn spent time in two casts, holding her legs straight. Then there were braces, and other devices. She was only in elementary school, but she was determined that one day, she would walk. During Sunday services, there is a moment when the children are asked to bring their offering up to a wooden box in front of the altar. One Sunday, with a walker instead of a wheelchair, Katlyn tried. The room was silent as she slid from the pew, took the walker in her little hands, and, very, very slowly, walked to put her dollar in the box. She had conquered and done what doctors had said she would not do. By Kathy Blake
Kenneth Crawford, Corbin, Kentucky. Winning Father: Kenneth Crawford gave up his education and quit school to work in the coal mines at the age of 9, to help provide for his parents and 3 younger brothers. In later years this cost him his life, a victim of Black Lung Disease. He spent years in Alaska, where he built houses in subzero temperatures. At times the skin of his hands would be left behind on the heavy ax he held cutting into frozen trees to help populate the never ending territory. He even helped his father run moonshine as an industrious teenager in the great mountains of Appalachia. He provided food for his loving wife and 4 small children,by hunting and fishing and never complaining of all of the time he spent doing it. There are great stories to share with the world about this man who is no longer with us. He was an exceptional man and everyone needs to hear what an inspirational life he led. By TK Hash
Larry the Curb Cleanup Guy, Springfield, Oregon. Winning Citizen: When Larry found himself on the street after a bad home investment by his girlfriend, he did what any responsible dad would do - he made his own job. With his long-term girlfriend and 13-year old daughter safely with a roof over their heads, Larry stays on the street cleaning up curbs and vacant lots for the recyclable bottles and cans he finds. “Helps the community and it helps me,” Larry says. If it looks unkempt and uncared for, with the potential for found bottles and cans, Larry is there - “till things get better.” As Larry points out, “You’re a family before you lose everything. You’re still a family afterwards too.” By Kristi Koons
Lori Booth, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Winner Against the Odds: After two separate vehicle accidents in her late teens, Lori was told she would never walk again or have children. She proved the doctors wrong and re-learned how to walk, ride her horse and race her snowmobile. Plagued with physical setbacks, for the last six years, Lori has dealt with a debilitating and rare condition stemming from a severe whiplash injury. She has fought countless battles with her provincial insurance company and the federal health care system. Forced to find her own treatment options and surgeon in the United States, Lori is just now beginning to experience a pain free and “normal” existence. Consistently upbeat and extremely compassionate, Lori gives us all hope and perspective. By Jenn Sharp
Maribel Class, Hillsdale, New Jersey. Winning Samaritan: Originally from Costa Rica, Maribel is raising and supporting her 21-year-old daughter, a college student, with no help from the child’s father. She has had more than 10 surgeries over the last several years, as she has had cancer in various parts of her body including breast, colon, stomach, bladder, and several other organs. Despite her ongoing issues with her health, Maribel works seven days a week at a barely livable wage, taking care of people with all sorts of health problems. Her clients range from wheelchair-bound to terminally ill to chronically ill, and she provides every service to them from personal care such as bathing, dressing, and feeding, as well as shopping for them, cleaning their homes, and doing all sorts of errands to meet their needs. Maribel performs all of these tasks with a smile on her face, and never complains about feeling overworked or ill, even though she has very little time to rest and stay off her feet. This selfless woman cares for so many who would be lost without her, yet despite her own health problems, she only keeps on giving. By Cathy Lipper
Ruth Anne Staley, Bend Oregon. Winning Mother: She is mother to over sixty children, most of whom are drug or alcohol affected from the womb, struggling addicts, or sexually/emotionally abused, as well as many handicapped children. She loves these children in a way that many could not, or chose not to try. Recently, she has adopted a son from Africa, brought to America to be reunited with his baby sister, but the young couple decided he was more trouble then he was worth, so Ruth Anne welcomed him into the family with open arms. This is truly a woman of strength and boundless love. By Liliann Swartout
Shannon Kenitz, Madison, Wisconsin. Winner Against the Odds: Soon after Shannon gave birth to Grace she noticed something was wrong with her baby. Her doctor told her everything was fine but he was wrong. After fighting for an elusive diagnosis for nearly 2 years, Shannon was told by an outright hostile medical system that Grace would soon die and she should “let her go”. Doctors laughed and told her not to waste her money when she told them of a controversial treatment she had found for Grace. Refusing to give up, Shannon drove Grace cross-country for the treatment, hopping from one hospital to the next along the way to stabilize her daughter. The transformation of both of their lives will amaze and inspire you as Shannon and Grace prove that sometimes hardship produces true heroism and that there is hope for thousands of people traditionally deemed untreatable. By John R Forcier
Stanley Hobbs, El Paso, Texas. Winning Samaritan: Stanley was a fighter in the Society for Creative Anachronism, a group that re-enacts the medieval times; and has been for over 20 years. He lived to be on that field, hitting other armored people with sticks. An accident rendered his left hand almost completely useless, making it impossible for him to do what he loved best. Not willing to let his own misfortune crush him, he now provides meals for the fighters and volunteers, and anyone in who might be hungry, in the SCA. He also donates hundreds of toys to the toy drive sponsored by the SCA every year. By Rain Sullivan
Tony, Mooresville, North Carolina. Winner Against the Odds: Tony has been a racing car driver, master mechanic, then crew chief. But one day something gave way. He had a stroke. However, it took him only three months to regain his physical capability. Tony looked forward to therapy and considered it a challenge. He tried to do everything with his weak hand- picking up things, putting on clothes, working a wrench, etc. He also practiced standing in the doorway on his weak leg. Tony wanted to go down to Daytona at the end of January to test cars. His goal? Go there without a cane or brace. And so he did. By Bob Guns, PhD
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