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Carlotta Nesmith, Gainesville, Florida, Winning Humanitarian: For decades, Carlotta has single-handedly volunteered to oversee laundry days at Gainesville’s homeless shelter, St. Francis House. The task is chaotic and stressful, and others have tried to do it. But Carlotta manages the job and the shelter guests with poise, humor and kindness. By Jane Edwards

Clarissa Hersey-James, PhD, Tampa, Florida, Winner Against the Odds: She overcame abuse, drug use and lack of education. Four years ago she founded Breaking Free by Faith in south St. Petersburg. It houses, feeds and clothes up to forty people who are in recovery from many different kinds of problems and addictions, all without government funding. By Bonnie L. Quick

Danny Stevens, Lebanon Station (near Gainesville), Florida. Winning Benefactor: Danny bought 21 acres as an investment but fell in love with the terrain. He has turned it into a serene park open to the public. By Jane Edwards

Dan Smith and Steve Goff, Bushnell Florida, Winning Samaritans: I recommend these men who do meaningful things in a modest way for the people of small town Bushnell, Florida. Dan Smith and Steve Goff, the owners and managers of the Bushnell Trailer Court go above and beyond their required action to accommodate people. They put on events during the holidays for elderly people with no family, they often allow tenants who have hit upon hard times to slide on a bill so they can eat, and several other usually not done actions common to landlords. By Stephen Ayers

Dr. Trudie Kibbe Reed, Daytona Beach Florida. Winning Educator: She is the fifth President of Bethune-Cookman College and the first woman to serve in this capacity since College founder Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. She has developed the nation’s first academic minor in Black Families Studies and has broken fund-raising records over the past few years with $30.5 million raised, the most in the history of the college. She has consulted with the U.S. Secretary of Education and attended two United Nations Decade Conferences for Women in Copenhagen, Denmark and Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Reed was elected as the chair person of the Foundation for the Mid South and chairperson for the Council of Presidents of the Black College Fund. She was voted one of the 100 most successful Arkansas Women and serves on numerous other boards and organizations. By Diana Montane

Doug at the Oxford House, Cape Coral, Florida. Winng Humanitarian: The Oxford Houses are a national concept in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. In its simplest form, an Oxford House describes a democratically run, self-supporting and drug free home. It is a national phenomenon and, in our town, Doug is a man who is saving lives by bringing it to Florida. Doug has accomplished something that has never been done before in the Oxford House history. In Cape Coral/Fort Meyers/Charlotte County, he has set up SEVEN Oxford houses in the space of 12 months. This is an incredible accomplishment and has saved many lives. The national group of Oxford houses will now plough a lot of money into Florida, thanks to Doug. Although this is an anonymous set up for those recovering from alcohol and drug abuse, Doug wants to share his story in the hope it will help others. Doug is a winner within us, without a doubt! By Isabel Stewart

Fernando Castro, Gainesville, Florida, Winner Against the Odds: While planning his escape from Cuba, Fernando was arrested for counter-revolutionary behavior and imprisoned. When he was released he set off for Florida on a two-man raft with his brother. After three days at sea they were rescued by the Coast Guard. He now works as a janitor in a Gainesville school but hopes someday to once again practice his profession, a draftsman. By Jane Edwards

Gar Vivian, Gainesville, Florida, Winning Citizen: Has been involved at every level of Gainesville’s black community, as a director in the nursing school at Santa Fe Community College, as an organizer for the fund drive to save the Blue Note (a honky tonk in the 1920s), as one of the founders of an after-school program for at-risk kids, and as a singer who harmonizes with her sisters as the Washington Sisters. Vivian is an institution unto herself. By Jane Edwards

Gary Bone, Gainesville, Florida, Winning Educator: Gary is an art teacher at Oak Hall School. Every spring and summer he organizes groups of kids to travel to Andros Island where they help improve the island’s school with such projects as a new basketball court, a computer lab, and a library. The Gainesville kids also tutor the Andros kids, and the Andros kids teach the Gainesville kids about island life. After the hurricanes, Gary spearheaded a book collection to replace the destroyed library and classrooms. By Jane Edwards

Howard Solomon, Arcadia, Florida. Winning Merchant: Howard created Solomon’s Castle, a 30-year-old tourist attraction on 90 acres of land that he must sell because of his failing health. By Jane Edwards

Karen Karle Truman,PhD, Tampa, Florida, Winning Samaritan: Karen founded Dementia Caregivers Resources, Inc., to give support and information to caregivers of Alzheimer’s sufferers and other dementia patients. Truman was the Social Worker for the now unfunded Huntington’s Disease Foundation at USF. All her services are free. She has touched thousands of lives. By Bonnie L. Quick

Ken Rohl, New Smyrna Beach, Florida, Winning Educator: Ken Rohl is a natural health educator from New Smyrna Beach, Florida, specializing in rejuvenation and cellular regeneration using raw and sprouted vegetarian food, herbs, food-based natural supplements, detoxification, emotional healing, ancient esoteric techniques, and cutting edge science. Formally educated in electrical engineering and computer science, Ken worked for 23 years in the medical industry, from the patient level drawing blood in hospital emergency rooms, to the national policy level, showing healthcare executives how to implement technology. In 2006 Ken was honored to work with Coretta Scott King, wife of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Today he helps people locally and around the world. By Stefan Alessio Ingannamorte

Lesley Blackner, Palm Beach, Florida, Winning Activist: Lesley is an attorney and an organizer for the Florida Hometown Democracy campaign that rallies against growth junkies. By Jane Edwards
LoraKim Joyner and Meredith Garmon, Gainesville, Florida, Winning Clergy: LoraKim and Meredith are the ministers at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. They moved to Gainesville with their two adopted sons, teenage Central Americans, and have spearheaded the fellowship to adopt a wide variety of social projects to spread justice throughout the community. By Jane Edwards

Lynn Groce, Gainesville, Florida, Winning Humanitarian: Lynn has been seen for decades driving around town in his little truck to pick up furniture and appliances that he delivers to the needy through his organization, Christians Concerned for the Community. The organization also offers budgeting classes to the uneducated, as well as other assistance, such as yard work and counseling. Lynn truly lives the selfless message of Christ. By Jane Edwards

Margarita Oteiza, Miami, Florida, Winner Against the Odds: As a college student in Cuba during the revolution, Margarita smuggled guns under her skirts to the rebels. Her handsome young husband disappeared in the Bay of Pigs. But when the rebels became dictators and tortured her friends, she fled to Miami where she taught school and became a symbol of the island’s exotic sophistication that even war cannot destroy. By Jane Edwards

Mary Zipprer, Lake Wales, Florida, Winning Senior: Mary, 92, was raised on hundreds of acres her rancher parents bought for pennies. She remembers her father’s cattle drives to Tampa, and her mother sewing clothes for people in town in order to put food on the table. She has fought to preserve her ranch from developers. By Jane Edwards

Olive and Frank Schulte, Cooks Hammock (near Gainesville), Florida. Winning Benefactor: The Schultes donated 2,481 acres to the Suwannee River Water Management District for preservation. It is believed that Osceola camped on this property before he was captured. By Jane Edwards
Scott Camus, Gainesville, Florida, Winning Veteran: Scott is a Vietnam veteran who was one of the founders of Veterans for Peace in Gainesville. He visits schools and describes the realities of war and his role in atrocities. By Jane Edwards

Sister Hazel, Gainesville, Florida, Winning Clergy: Sister Hazel shot to fame when a local band took her name. For decades Hazel has run a ministry that houses, clothes, and feeds the homeless. By Jane Edwards

Stetson Kennedy, Jacksonville, Florida, Winning Senior: Kennedy infiltrated the KKK in the 1940’s. His book Unmasking the Klan revealed Klan absurdities and secrets. Woody Guthrie was in Kennedy’s home when the KKK tried to murder Kennedy. Kennedy is now in his 90’s and recently donated his home in south Jacksonville for preservation. By Jane Edwards

Steve Noll, Gainesville, Florida, Winning Educator: Steve received teacher of the year twice from the Alachua County School Board and twice as a UF professor. He is also a Christa McAuliffe award recipient and has been featured in National Geographic for his work teaching computers to handicapped kids. He has written two history books on the treatment of the handicapped in Florida and is currently working on a book about the cross-state barge canal. By Jane Edwards

Tyrone Keys, Tampa Florida. Winning Humanitarian: He was a Super Bowl champion with the 1985 Chicago Bears. Additionally, he founded a successful community organization to help disadvantaged children. Tyrone Keys runs All Sports Community Service with the intent of giving kids opportunities and responsibilities as they pursue their higher education dreams. His organization has made a positive impact in the entire Tampa Bay Area. By Michael Murillo

Vera Foote, Palm Bay, Florida.Winning Citizen: Although 80 years young, Vera recently lost her dear husband Bill, yet she continues to volunteer at hospice, at her church and in her community. She also holds down a part time job. She takes time to call her friends and family and she is a doting grandmother, a loving friend. By Rosemary L. Murray

Yaw Shangofemi, Hawthorne (near Gainesville), Florida. Winning Artist: Artist and blacksmith, Yaw crafts custom wrought iron without modern technology, keeping the ancient tradition alive. By Jane Edwards