Please join us in celebrating the IMPACT of volunteers in our community!!  The Community Impact Awards will be presented at a reception planned for Wednesday, May 4, 2005, from 8 - 9:30 am.  The reception will be held at  Salve Regina University, Ochre Court in Newport.  A breakfast buffet will be served.  RSVP by Monday, April 25 by calling 401-341-2440.  

The following is a list of the agencies and their programs that will be recognized for their work:

-         WaterFire Providence, has been chosen in the category of Culture/Arts for their WaterFire Providence 2004 Season.  A regular WaterFire takes 75-100 volunteers and close to 500 hrs of volunteer time, which is 80% of the labor to produce the event.  August 14, 2004, was the India/Pakistan South Asia Amity Day with 164 volunteers contributing 766 hrs. in an effort to build community between these 2 countries.  September 11, 2004, commemorated the 2001 tragedy with carnations and requests for kindness with 126 volunteers contributing 743 hrs.  WaterFire builds community through the unique art installation that is provided free to the community to enjoy.  A tremendous amount of work and unique elements went into undertaking these 2 events in a short amount of time.    

-         The RI Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependence, in Pawtucket, has been chosen in the category of education for their Alcohol and Drug Helpline program.  The Helpline has been around for 20 years (15 yrs were completely volunteer run) to offer information and referrals on alcohol and other drug abuse and on what treatment resources are available.  Just as importantly, the volunteer offers a "listening ear" - 7 days a week, 24 hrs. a day.  In 2004, 21 Helpline volunteers offered 8,118 hrs. to the community.  The Helpline is often the very start that an individual needs on his/her journey to recovery.    

-         The West Warwick Jaycees of Kent County, has been chosen in the category of Environment, for Jaycees Corridor and Arboretum project.  In 1996, the Jaycees received a small $300 grant and decided to rediscover the Senator Roch Riverwalk.  This area has been beautified with numerous trees, shrubs, plants, and flowers over the almost 10 years that this project has been going on.  "Ecology Days" are now hosted every year to continue the improvements to this community resource.  Hundreds of volunteers have worked on this effort and numerous local, state and national collaborations have also supported this work.  

-         AIDS Project Rhode Island, in Providence, has been chosen in the category of Health and Human Services for its Volunteer Buddy program.  This program began in 1985 as part of the very core of services offered to HIV infected individuals.  The Volunteer Buddy program addressed the fear, isolation, and intolerance that the early HIV/AIDS population faced.  The program continues to offer critical social support and assistance to the community.  While the program commitment is one year long, the majority of the relationships last as long as the client lives.  In the early days of the program up to 150 Buddies were active, currently 20-30 Buddies spend 10-12 hrs a month with their client buddy.      

-         Child & Family Services of Newport County, in Middletown, has been chosen in the category of Seniors for its Friendly Visitor program.  This program addresses the isolation and loneliness experienced by homebound elders, and has become more important as families are more transient and people are living longer often leaving seniors alone in the community.  The program began in 1986 and has 35 visitors, 8 who have volunteered over 5 years and of those 2 began visiting in 1986!  In 2004, 2,500 hours were contributed by these volunteers to the community.  For the past 8 years, a volunteer has coordinated the program with administrative assistance from other volunteers.  The elderly population has increased 14% in Newport in the last 10 years.   

-         Rhode Island Family Court CASA, has been chosen in the category of Youth for their Court Appointed Special Advocate Program.  This program was started in 1979, the second one in the US.  Volunteers are dedicated to helping abused and neglected children find their way through the RI Child Welfare and Family Court Systems to safe, loving, permanent homes.  Volunteers give a "child-centered" perspective to the court based on numerous talks with the child and everyone involved, and visits with the child.  Volunteers go thru rigorous training and commit to an 18-month involvement with each case they take on, averaging 10-12 hours per month on each case.  In 2004, 130 CASA volunteers advocated for 433 children and some volunteers have done this work for the last 15 years!  All staff, including judges, is appreciative of the unique perspective and advocacy that CASA volunteers bring to the court.  National studies show that a child who has been assigned to a CASA volunteer spends less time in court and less time in foster care than those who do not have a CASA volunteer.