January 13, 2011
We are thrilled to introduce our newest hero, Critical Care Paramedic, Jon Edwards, who lives on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. Jon knows first hand that statistics for everything bad are higher on the reservation, with rates for heart disease, diabetes, suicide, traumatic death, etc. being at least twice the national average. There are only 3 mobile AEDs (Automated External Defibrillator) on the reservation, which measures 2.3 million acres of land. That means by the time an AED arrives at an emergency, a person in cardiac arrest has very little chance of survival. Jon requested $25,000 to establish Public Access Defibrillation and Medical First Responder programs in every community on the reservation. He wrote, “It is my responsibility to my tribe, my family, and the next generation to attempt to promote change on Standing Rock in my area of expertise.” Jon’s gift will benefit 11,000 members of the Standing Rock Tribe.
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February 10, 2011
Bullying in schools has become a national problem. It takes the focus away from education and can escalate into dangerous situations. Our newest hero, Kyung (Kevin) Chung is a school counselor at the Ann Arbor Trail Magnet School, a Pre-K to 8th grade school within the Detroit Public School District. His goal is to create a safe environment so that no student's educational experience is overshadowed by the fear of being bullied. Kevin requested $1,000 to implement an anti-bullying/conflict resolution program at his school. He'll be purchasing grade-specific teacher manuals, student workbooks, and DVDs that address dealing with anger, taking responsibility, making better choices, solving conflicts, and violence prevention. With their new anti-bullying program in place, the over 500 students attending Ann Arbor Trail Magnet School will benefit from a safer environment in which to learn.
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March 23, 2011
Everyone benefits when volunteers knit, sew, or crochet items and give them to families in need. That’s what “The Mending Hearts Project” is all about – people feeling good about helping others, and those in need will know that someone cares. Our newest hero, Nicole Prieto, a stay-at-home-mom of four & wife from Riverside, California, donates handmade gifts like blankets and clothing to local hospitals, for teen and unwed mothers, mothers of babies in NICU, and chemotherapy patients. Nicole asked for $2,000 to purchase yarn, fabric, and supplies since many of the volunteers are on a fixed income and their donations are limited by the materials they can afford.
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March 28, 2011
"My son's Boy Scout troop needs new tents for their campouts." That’s all we needed to hear to make Susan Nilson from Minot, North Dakota, our newest hero. When her husband was deployed to Iraq 6 years ago, Susan had her son join the troop because his dad was going to be gone for 15 months and she felt he needed some men to help support him emotionally as well as guide him during this time. Camping is an integral part of Boy Scout activities, and since the troop’s tents are worn and leaking badly, Susan requested $2,000 to purchase 15 new tents and 30 tent stakes so the troop's 62 members can stay warm and dry when it rains.
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May 26, 2011
We are always happy to help those who help others, as with our newest hero, Christine Schroeder, an EMT with Endeavor Emergency Squad in Burlington, New Jersey. Christine requested $3,000 to purchase matching uniforms for the squad of close to 40 dedicated volunteers and professionals who serve the community. "With times being tough," she wrote, "we are looking for assistance with purchasing uniforms so we can look as professional to our community as we are. We all are a family here, a team, and we all share one common goal-- to serve and provide care to the community in which we live."
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June 16, 2011
He’s still in high school but 18-year-old Francis Mancho is already a hero in his community. Francis is in his fourth year of volunteering at Matheny Medical and Educational Center in Peapack, New Jersey, a hospital, school, and home to children and young adults with severe developmental disabilities. Francis requested $3,000 to purchase two touch screen computers to help him teach the youth entrepreneurial skills by selling organic produce to the staff from a community garden that he created last year.
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August 3, 2011
Norman (Buckey) Walters is a Professor of Political Science and Criminal Justice at Gillette College in Gillette, Wyoming. Buckey recently took on the added responsibility of Director of Security for their newly established Campus Police Department. Short on the necessary funds, Buckey requested $25,000 to purchase a fully equipped 4-wheel drive patrol vehicle so that campus police can better provide and maintain a safe environment for students, employees and campus visitors.
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August 22, 2011
An office manager from Grand Isle, Vermont, Lesa Tourville is also a member of the Booster Club for the after-school sports program at Grand Isle Elementary School. This after-school program is especially important to this community as many of the kid's parents must commute considerable distances for work and they rely on the program to give their children something to do. Lesa requested $1,000 to purchase new uniforms for 40 students who will participate in soccer this school year.
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September 7, 2011
Julie Gillett is a mother of three and a kindergarten teacher at Vance Village Elementary School in New Britain, Connecticut. Since their school district is one of the most impoverished in the state, Vance Village teachers and students simply do not have enough technology equipment to live up to their motto: "Real World Learning for the 21st Century." Therefore, Julie requested $10,000 to purchase ten laptops, ten projectors, and ten digital cameras for the school's 600 students.
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September 12, 2011
WONDERFUL NEWS!! We just learned that A LIFE WAS SAVED thanks to our Hero Alisha Obando of American Falls, Idaho, who had requested funds in January to provide three AEDs to her local school district. Less than a year later, a life was saved. A 17-year-old student collapsed at a high school football practice on August 30th. He had no pulse. According to EMTs, CPR would not have saved him. The AED machine saved his life. He was later taken to the hospital for surgery. We could not be more proud of Alisha for having the foresight to provide these lifesaving machines. To know more about how this drama unfolded, click here.
September 15, 2011
Kehaulani "Kehau" Costa is a working mom with four young boys ages 12, 8, 6, and 4 months. She works full time as the office administrator at Malamalama Waldorf School in Keaau, Hawaii, a small Pre-K through 8th grade school in one of the most economically disadvantaged districts in Hawaii. Kehau’s goal is to start a music program at the school where all the children can learn to play the ukulele, an instrument very unique to Hawaii's music, language, & culture. Kehau requested $5,000 to purchase 30 ukuleles, 30 cases, and music books for the school's 100 students.
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September 28, 2011
When I first started Jenny's Heroes in 2008, it was only going to be for one year and my plan was to give away a million dollars. But by 2009, the weakened economy had created even more need so I decided to continue for a second year. Then a third. And now four years later, after one hundred Heroes from all fifty states, this program has finally come to an end... but I haven't. I've been rewarded beyond words at how much good these selfless and giving people have done and I plan to search for new ways to share my good fortune with others.
Click here to see 2008 OUR STORY
Click here to see 2009 OUR STORY
Click here to see 2010 OUR STORY