1996-1997 Harry Singer Foundation National Essay Contest
Teacher : Connie Doonan
1st Amanda Nelson
2nd Kelly Grutorad
3rd Kelli Erie
3rd Molly Petersen
"People who own or operate companies have a great amount of
responsibility that they have to take care of and maintain daily. A boss and owner of
Malden Mills accepted this, and went to new heights of duty in December of 1996
(Michelmore 94). Aaron Feuerstein's company met with tragedy that month when a fire
claimed many buildings. With 3000 workers' jobs at stake, Feuerstein spent millions to
keep his company running, and even more to repair it while still paying it's employees. In
an event that could have cost many people their jobs, one man took responsibility and
solved a problem."
Travis Johnson, Newell-Fonda Community High School, Newell, Iowa
"Volunteering used to mean a non returnable favor. Now it is
another word for 'look at me, I'm helping someone'. [Nowadays] the only way someone can
help without being recognized is to be an anonymous donor. Every year Newell-Fonda High
School provides those students earning a 3.5 - 4.0 with letterman jackets or Mustang coats
and sweatshirts purchased at the expense of anonymous donor. It isn't exactly a deed,
rather an incentive to work harder. Sometimes I think that those that do the most help are
those that create an opportunity, not those that guide students through each step."
Amanda J. Nelson, Newell-Fonda Community High School, Newell, Iowa
"Many kids in groups like the 4-H groups are trying to help
clean up their community…It's not only kids that are trying to help…Two cities
in Illinois are rallying together to help clean up women's shelters, collect food and
clothes for the needy, clear park trails, and make home repairs for seniors. There are
about 1000 volunteers…recruited from companies like IBM,State Farm, Illinois Powers
and Mitsubishi Motors. The employees recruitfriends and family."
Kelli Erie, Newell-Fonda Community High School, Newell, Iowa
"Crossroads Ministries is another program started in order to
help teens feel more comfortable talking out their problems. It serves it's purpose as a
coffeehouse and a nontraditional youth ministry built on the principal that 'if you
provide teenagers with a safe place to go and someone to talk to, they will come', states
the Fort Dodge Messenger."
Molly Petersen, Newell-Fonda Community High School, Newell, Iowa
"Here are several examples of people taking responsibilities
within small communities. Alta, Iowa, held 'Altagether', a community fund-raiser, to
accumulate funds to purchase the materials needed to build a playground. The community
came together to build it for the children of that community. These volunteers didn't have
to do this for their children, they wanted to. Connie Wabeke and John Ryan, residents of
Newell, have also made a difference in their community. They purchased many gifts at
Christmas and dressed up as Santa and went around the community and gave the gifts at
Christmas and dressed up as Santa and went around the community and gave the gifts to
needy children. This was a simple act of caring and generosity."
Jill L. Kier, Newell-Fonda Community High School, Newell, Iowa
"The Boy Scouts of America have always been great providers
with a strong sense of civic duty. When the rain came in the summer of 1993, and grew into
a flood, a group of Scouts in Des Moines, Iowa, took action(Butterworth 38). Throughout
the worst of the floods, Troop 50's members placed sandbags, filled and distributed water
bottles, and unloaded trucks with supplies."
Travis Johnson, Newell-Fonda Community High School, Newell, Iowa
"The Family Giving Tree is a non-profit organization that
focuses on fulfilling the Christmas wishes of kids who would otherwise go with out. Last
year the charity provided gifts for 22,000 kids. This is done with the help of corporate
sponsors, donations of gifts and funds, and volunteers. The 52 Association is a charity
that offers free confidence-building post therapeutic rehabilitation programs to
physically disabled children at it's Children Confidence Centers."
Ana Davis, Newell-Fonda Community High School, Newell, Iowa
"In Maui, Hawaii, the Kahului Rotary Club decided to plant
flowers, paint graffiti covered walls, and put up new playground equipment at the kamali'i
park after local residents complained that the park was attracting loiterers, not
children. In Egg Harbor, New Jersey, local residents and city officials were on hand for a
block party and anti-drug celebration to send the message to the neighborhood drug dealers
that drugs are not welcome anywhere in the area. In Abilene, Texas, approximately 50,000
volunteers gathered to plant 10,000 daffodil bulbs and refurbish several senior citizens'
homes.…It is amazing what a few people can do with a little bit of love and
time."
Kodi Petersen, Newell-Fonda Community High School, Newell, Iowa
"Kevin Kaplowitz is a 16-year-old magician who gives shows in
Los Angeles hospitals and care centers. A specialist at one of the hospitals said that
when they give Kevin $25 gift certificates to the mall, he turns around and donates $100
back to the hospital."
Jeffrey P. Bartsch, Newell-Fonda Community High School, Newell, Iowa
"Iowa Cares collected $73,000 to help needy Iowans pay for
expenses that are not covered by traditional welfare programs or by insurance."
Pamela Kies, Newell-Fonda Community High School, Newell, Iowa
"When I was in 4-H we adopted a hi-way and we would go out
every so often and pick up trash and junk that people decided belonged in the ditch. At
the time I was doing this I thought that it was the silliest thing that I had ever done. I
now realize that it was a very good thing to do because all of that garbage did not belong
there at all. There are many ways to help out at the Ronald McDonald House and one of
those ways to be a 'camp counselor'. The Ronald McDonald House at Stanford relies on
approximately 275 volunteers who work two-three hour shifts a week. these volunteers may
do anything from answering phones, talking with parents, or to comfort a child. Although
you are volunteering you are required to be there at least six months. Another way to help
is working at a camp. At these camps there is a full recreational facility, complete with
waterfront boating including canoeing and boating, crafts, and fellowship. At these camps
the 'campers' not only get the special care that they need, they also get to meet many
unique people. These camps are a great thing and I hope they can continue!"
Jillanne Friday, Newell-Fonda Community High School, Newell, Iowa
"More than 5 million kids pledged over 54 million hours to
volunteer under 'The Big Help', which is organized by Nickelodeon and Earth Force. The
kids are encouraged to help clean up parks and rivers, recycle reusable items, and visit
elderly people. Some citizens in Newell and across the country also participate in
'Habitat for Humanity'. Under this program, volunteers help low-income and elderly people
repair their run-down homes. This is especially beneficial to the [many] elders in Newell
who aren't able to get out very often. The 'Adopt-a-Highway' program was also implemented
by groups in Newell. The Newell Lions, Newell Boosters, Newell Achievers, and Newell-Fonda
Middle School all participate in the clean-up program along Highway 7."
Jill R. Groth, Newell-Fonda Community High School, Newell, Iowa
"A group of teens from Sacred Heart School in Early, Iowa,
participated in a three-day service project called Seeds of Hope. They visited a homeless
shelter, helped at a care center, and helped make an old building into nice apartments.
These teens think this was a good learning experience, and it made them appreciate what
they have…Another good deed took place in Ames, Iowa, when students from Wallace Hall
and the Minority Support Group at Iowa State, volunteered to help repair playground
equipment. An example of other volunteer work was the Salix cemetery project. Parishioners
from St. Joseph Parish in Salix, Iowa, are restoring deteriorating grave stones, planting
new trees, placing benches around the large crucifix, and are putting flags by those who
served our country. Not only are small volunteer groups helping out, but the communities
around Storm Lake and Albert City grouped together to help a neighbor
[harvest]…Orville Ehlers was unable to bring in his crops due to the replacement of
two knees, which left him almost disabled for six months. In addition to his physical
pain, he also had emotional pain from the distress of having recently lost his wife."
Julie Mohr, Newell-Fonda Community High School, Newell, Iowa