Community Service Awards — Hands that Reach Out and Pitch In

Northwestern Mutual's Community Service Award recognizes financial representatives whose outstanding dedication to local organizations has significantly bettered their communities. As you will read, our financial representatives are making a difference in communities all across the country. Each year, the Northwestern Mutual Foundation identifies 24 of these financial representatives as Outstanding Volunteers. They are honored during the company's annual meeting, and the nonprofits for which they volunteer are awarded a $10,000 grant. In addition, one more financial representative is recognized as the Most Exceptional Volunteer and his/her nonprofit is given a grant for $25,000. Here is a look at a few of the past Most Exceptional Volunteer winners:

Mitch Barnes — 2007 Most Exceptional Volunteer
Louisville, Kentucky
The Dream Foundation

A playground is supposed to be a fun and safe place for children to play. Unfortunately, children with disabilities are often unable to participate in any playground activities. Mitch Barnes believes that every child deserves a chance to play.

As founder and president of The Dream Foundation, Mitch Barnes has made it his life's mission to help children and families with physical disabilities by raising funds for research programs focused on finding a cure for Duchene Muscular Dystrophy.

He also established The Play Together Playground Project, a campaign focusing on the design or redesign of playground areas and equipment, making them accessible to children with special needs. His success in redesigning a playground in DesPres Park in Louisville received so much positive publicity that his model has been utilized by leaders in other communities.

A winner of the 2003 CSA, Mitch was also successful in securing two $100,000 grants from the U.S. HUD, and several other park projects are either under way or in the development stages for construction in the very near future.

Lesley N. Day - 2006 Most Exceptional Volunteer
Raleigh, N.C.
Camp Carolina Trails - American Diabetes Association

Children with diabetes deal with day-to-day issues that other children, and even adults, can not relate to. Because of these daily concerns and responsibilities, these children often feel out of place among their peers. Lesley Day works to make sure that these children feel like they belong.

Lesley's relationship with Camp Carolina Trails began at the young age of 14 — not as a volunteer, but as a camper. By showing exceptional maturity, leadership and enthusiasm at such a young age, Lesley quickly gained her counselors' attention. When it came time for her to "age out" of camp, she decided to become a counselor and has taken her responsibilities well beyond the call of duty.

Working with the "high risk" kids soon became Lesley's niche, and she helped develop a program that teaches tips on healthy eating as well as other lifestyle choices kids can make to manage their diabetes. Along the way, she continues to build self-esteem, instill leadership qualities, and teaches campers that it is okay to step outside their comfortable boundaries. Lesley now works as Program Coordinator (a year round position), commits time to Staff Development Retreats, and works to coordinate fundraising activities across the state.

Carolyn Dodd, 2005 Most Exceptional Volunteer
Indianapolis, Indiana
People's Burn Foundation

Fire devastates. It consumes timber and belongings. It scars and disfigures those who survive the flames. Carolyn Dodd has devoted the last eight years to helping those who survive.

Giving about 35 hours a month to the People's Burn Foundation, Carolyn has raised money, worked with survivors, recruited volunteers, and established fire safety programs in schools. As part of her efforts, she has also established a "store," Extinguish the Need — a resource supported by community donations of clothing and household goods, where victims can, without cost, replace some worldly possessions lost to fire. Nearly 300 burn survivors and their family members have been helped in 2005.

Camp Brave Hearts, another of Carolyn's initiatives, is the nation's first camp for children who are burn survivors. The camp gives severely disfigured kids a summer camp experience where they can unselfconsciously have fun. The camp has become a model for rehabilitative services for children across the nation.

Carolyn spearheads a mission that many people shy away from because the emotional pain of working with burn victims is far too intense. She is an outstanding example of community spirit and leadership. Her work has become a model for fire departments and burn foundations throughout the country.

View the complete list of winners from 2006 and 2007.