The NFCA Proudly Recognizes "Fraternalists-in-Action"
Fraternal MVPs—Week of June 4, 2007
The National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) is proud to recognize the following individuals as Fraternal MVPs (Most Valuable Participants) for the week of June 4, 2007. Fraternal MVPs are “Fraternalists-in-Action” who volunteer their time, energy and compassion to strengthen their communities through participation in local lodge activities and other charitable endeavors.
LeAnn Santana
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
Northeast Minneapolis Chapter
Osseo, Minnesota
LeAnn is a tremendous asset to her chapter because of her many connections in the community. She’s been able to connect different organizations working on similar projects. One such case is a Native American book distribution project, in which she was able to connect with another Thrivent member who serves on the board of a Native American group. She thinks of ways recipient organizations can improve their projects and offers her advice during their request for funding presentations.
Pakistan Earthquake Hunger Relief
LeAnn was successful in getting Chicago to be opened up as an airlift site for vegetarian food, through Pakistani International Airlines, after more than three months of heated debates with Pakistani officials in the U.S. and abroad. Prior to that time, no food was allowed into Pakistan from foreign countries for religious purposes, even though millions of people were starving, and there was plenty of food available that would qualify as “Hallal,” food permissible under Islamic law. LeAnn argued that it would be considered a sin in the Islamic religion to allow people to starve when there was plenty of food available.
Getting at the Roots of Hunger – 2006
Le Ann designed, and coordinated for three years, a project to offset hunger needs during the summer months. This project distributes free premium seed to more than 100 non-profit organizations to share with those in need. Seed also is given out at local agencies to low-income families or families in crisis, so they can grow their own food. Gardens were planted for local food shelves. Elementary schools planted gardens and summer-school classes tended the gardens throughout the summer months. Gardening clubs also picked up the project, as did some shelters, and many others. More than 27,000 individual packages of seed were distributed – roughly two tons. LeAnn is working on funding to bring the project statewide this year to community gardening projects, which benefit the poor.
The Affordable Daycare Crisis and Creation of Real Co-op
LeAnn spent more than three years researching service models to address the lack of affordable daycare. More than 7,000 low-income families are on a two-year waiting list to receive Minnesota Child Care Assistance. LeAnn created her own non-profit organization to address this and other unmet human needs. She currently is working on developing several daycare locations, and hopes to have the first site open in 2007. Two Thrivent Chapters have provided support to Real Co-op’s Daycares in a recent fundraiser that raised more than $16,000.
Teen Drug Awareness Seminar
LeAnn coordinated an awareness seminar at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Brooklyn Park. She sought out professionals who volunteered to speak on chemical use, and gathered a panel of 11 teenagers, ages 15 to 19, to share their negative experiences. More than 80 children attended, almost all of them with parents or counselors. Some of the children came directly from drug treatment programs and were as young as 11 years old. LeAnn sought out donations of food, speaker appreciation gifts and door prizes for attendees. Another Twin Cities Chapter, NW Minneapolis, helped provide funds for any costs.
The church’s Prayer Team was on hand to talk with many of the children, as some of the experiences shared in this open forum were quite traumatic. The Brooklyn Park Police Department provided a drug-paraphernalia display, along with information about the penalties of drug-related crimes. Additional information was provided on where to go for further help, and local Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. The teen panel had a lot of advice to give others in the audience, regarding what to say when teens are offered drugs, and also warning signs to parents that their children may be using drugs.
Book Distribution to Native American Indian Children
As chair of First Book – Great Minneapolis/Saint Paul, LeAnn coordinated a distribution of 150,000 books to organizations that serve Native American children. More than 80 organizations received books in Minnesota. Thrivent Chapters and other social-service organizations volunteered at the event, and the NE and NW Minneapolis Chapters provided financial support. Including local metropolitan grant rounds, LeAnn has been able to distribute more than 490,000 books or funds to purchase books valued at $3.6 million to children of low-income households.
Anton J. Kelner
SPJST
Lodge #28
East Bernard, Texas
Anton has been an SPJST member for 65 years. He assists with all aspects of his lodge’s activities, including setting up and cleaning up following lodge events, and donating food for the members at each of the monthly meetings. He also provides transportation for members of the community, makes regular visits to hospitals to visit the sick and the shut-ins, and runs errands for anyone who is in need. He greets old and new members to make them feel wanted and welcomed, donates to the youth fundraisers and supports the scholarship program.
Anton serves on the board for the Czech National Cemetery in his community. He also volunteers many hours performing numerous duties: assists in food deliveries for the local food bank, donates to the local school paper drive, assists the youth department at the local county fair and volunteers with many events at the Holy Rosary Church Bazaar. Anton provided a place to live for a family of four, who recently went through some hard times when both parents became unemployed. He paid their utilities, and provided clothing and toys for the children and transportation to school and medical appointments. He made a dream come true for another youth to belong to the Boy Scouts, by paying his membership fees, since the 11-year-old’s parents had no means of supporting the extracurricular activity.
Anton encourages youths to participate in the community using their time and/or talents, doing whatever is needed. He lets them know that by helping they are giving back to the community.
Carole Thornburg
Modern Woodmen of America
Camp #13371
Afton, Tennessee
As a youngster, Carole and her older brother served their community through Modern Woodmen’s Youth Service Club #13371-1. Decades later, their mother, Peggy Vaughn, still leads the club. Carole’s children are club members, and she serves as assistant club leader, a role she’s held for eight years. She arranges get-togethers with the local nursing home and Valentine deliveries to veterans and the elderly. She also touches base with elected officials regarding club activities and salutes the local newspaper with containers of goodies each fall. A member of Camp #13371, Carole helps out in various ways, including decorating parade floats, planting trees, and delivering donations on Make A Difference Day.
Carole is the youth programs director at her church, plans its Vacation Bible School and Christmas program each year and coordinates youth events between churches in Afton. She recently organized a “rock-a-thon,” planning games and other activities, soliciting donations and prizes, all to raise money for charity.
Earlier this year, Carole and her children reached out to 40 local individuals and couples, writing and sending “love letters” to thank them for the difference they made in their lives. She keeps the books and scores for the local tractor association, coordinates Boy Scout activities and organizes the Ruritan T-ball and Little League teams. She also helps plan and set up for the annual “Meet Your Neighbor” community cookout.
Carole has an extensive business background and, for the past three years, has worked as bookkeeper for Greeneville-Greene County Community Ministries. This agency, which is partially funded through United Way, provides food, shelter, medications, advocacy and other assistance to those in need. A lifelong resident of Chuckey, Tenn., Carole resides with her husband, Brad, and children, Dennis and Shea-Ann.
Mary C. Kvitek
Catholic Knights
Branch #258
Maribel, Wisconsin
Mary has been a member of Catholic Knights for just five years. However, in that brief period, she has had a significant impact on her local branch. In fall of 2004, Mary was elected president of Branch #258 in Denmark, Wisconsin. Prior to her election, the branch sponsored an average of five civic activities per year. In the past year, that number rose to eight civic events, including five fundraisers and three service projects. Volunteer time also has shown a dramatic rise in the past year. Prior to Mary’s involvement, members of Branch #258 donated an average of 206 hours of volunteer time annually. Last year, that number grew to 330 hours, a 61 percent increase.
Mary took the lead as chairperson on four of her branch’s projects. At her suggestion, the branch is now sponsoring an annual Arbor Day tree-planting event. Most recently, a tree was planted at the local junior high school’s Wilderness Center. Mary also participated in numerous fundraisers, including a pancake breakfast for All Saints Parish, a rummage sale to benefit the Denmark EMS Explorers Group, a fundraiser for the Exceptional Equestrians group (which assists children with special needs), a “booyah” (thick chicken stew) sale for Catholic Knights’ Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, and the “Fun Night for St. James” event that raised more than $20,000 for her local church—St. James Parish. The branch also has sponsored JOIN HANDS DAY and Make A Difference Day projects. Recently, Mary made a quilt that was sold for $4,000 in an auction to benefit Hospice and Sybil Hopp, a special-needs school in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
In the past year, Mary has donated 100 hours to Catholic Knights fundraisers and other branch activities, 3,000 hours to Viking Community Rescue Squad, 24 hours to the Wisconsin Regional Trauma Advisory Council, 36 hours to the Two Rivers Fire Department, 20 hours to the Manitowoc County EMS Association, 30 hours to the Viking Rescue EMS Explorers, 32 hours to the Exceptional Equestrians/Country Kids, and 10 hours to the FFA Alumni. In total, she contributed over 3,250 hours of volunteer service—more than 60 hours per week.
The NFCA salutes these outstanding Fraternalists-in-Action for their dedication, kindness and generosity. They embody the heart of fraternalism through their volunteer efforts and commitment to their communities.
To view previous week's MVPs, click here.
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