Grandma Ora: A Woman of Worth

Ora Rakestraw
91 – Sacramento, CA

“Sometimes I ask myself why I do this, but it is because I know that kids want to learn really badly. These kids are our world of tomorrow and we have to show them the way. I worked in a cleaners 35 years, but helping kids is my calling. As long as I can do good, I will.”

Ora Rakestraw tutors third graders with special needs at Woodridge Elementary School in Sacramento. Even at age 91, she volunteers four days a week, five hours a day. Kids line up each morning at the "Grandma desk” for one-on-one tutoring and her one-of-a-kind fun approach to learning.

According to the National Assessment of Education Progress, approximately 40 percent of the nation’s third graders cannot read at a basic level. A lack of reading skills is the most common reason that students are identified as having a learning disability and a need for specialized services. Yet only 2.8 million school-age students receive special education services due to learning disabilities. That leaves millions of students who struggle to read but don’t receive any specialized services.

Children who fall behind in reading have an especially hard time catching up, and those placing below the 20th percentile are at the most risk of dropping out of school. Ora has an outstanding ability to diagnose reading difficulties and use strategies to help these children improve their reading fluency and comprehension. With her help, they have a chance to experience success and are more likely to continue in school and graduate.

With over 31 years experience as a volunteer, Ora has worked with every possible special needs situation, including children who have been abused and those in the criminal justice system. As a caring adult in their lives, she also helps to help keep them out of trouble. Many have become class and community leaders.

As a foster grandparent both in and out of school, Ora has made a difference in the lives of thousands of children, helping to improve their self-esteem, sense of responsibility and love of learning. Her commitment demonstrates to parents and teachers alike that the children she works with can succeed. That’s why Ora is a 2009 Woman of Worth.

Republished courtesy of L'Oreal Paris Women of Worth

Grandma Ora’s Women of Worth Nomination Form
Sacramento Bee’s Grand Master Volunteer Article

Governor and First Lady’s Medals for Service

CaliforniaVolunteers Announces Inaugural Governor and First Lady’s Medals for Service Recipients
Awards Recognize Outstanding Volunteer, Nonprofit Leader and Business Volunteer Program of 2009

San Francisco - California held its inaugural Governor and First Lady’s Medals for Service ceremony at the Intercontinental Hotel on Monday, June 22, 2009 handing out three prestigious awards honoring the state’s top volunteer leaders. Attended by First Lady Maria Shriver and California Secretary of Service and Volunteering Karen Baker, the recipients received their honors as part of the 2009 National Conference on Volunteering and Service.

The California Medals for Service, an important component to the CaliforniaVolunteers volunteer recognition program, were introduced to distinguish individual volunteers, business volunteer programs and nonprofit leaders whose innovation in the field of volunteerism has had a tangible impact on their community, region and the state of California. Shining a spotlight on the state’s commitment to service, the awards demonstrate how simple acts can make big changes in communities across California.

“We received more than 100 nominations for the 2009 inaugural awards filled with amazing stories about volunteers and service projects that are changing neighborhoods and lives throughout the state,” said California’s Secretary of Service and Volunteering Karen Baker. “Today’s recipients rose to the top of the outstanding nominations as the embodiment of the service movement. They are an inspiration to us all on what can be achieved through determination and commitment.”

Volunteer of the Year
Thomas Zimmerman, Co-Founder Extreme Science Program
Thomas Zimmerman, a scientist at IBM Almaden Research Center in San Jose, has been bringing his hands-on approach to volunteerism to local schools for more than seven years, with specific focus on low-income, non-native English speaking students. Zimmerman founded and directs the Extreme Science Program at the Latino College Preparatory Academy (LCPA) in East San Jose, a hands-on after-school science enrichment program to encourage young people to pursue careers in science and engineering. The program has grown to 16 teachers, attracting scientists and engineers from NASA Ames, Lockheed Martin, San Jose State University and the United States Geological Survey. He is now expanding his volunteer work to the college level at the San Jose State University Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, supporting minority students on solar energy projects and providing mentors for his high school students.

Nonprofit Leader of the Year
David Levinson, Founder and Director, Big Sunday
Hailing from Los Angeles, David Levinson, founder and executive director of Big Sunday, was recognized as California’s Nonprofit Leader of the Year. Founded in 1999, Big Sunday is a 50,000 volunteer two-day event across Southern California, serving more than 300 nonprofit organizations, engaging people across faith, ethnic, economic, cultural and other boundaries. Big Sunday volunteers paint, build, repair, plant, play, cook, sew, organize, entertain, sell lemonade, decorate cookies, make greeting cards and deliver food in the spirit that everyone has some way they can help somebody else. Through Levinson’s leadership, the event has grown to be the largest regional community service event in the country.

Business Volunteer Program of the Year
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)
PG&E received the service award for California’s Business Volunteer Program of the Year for their support of the California State Park Foundation’s Earth Day Restoration and Cleanup program. Over the past eight years, more than 5,000 of PG&E's dedicated employee volunteers have been involved in a variety of activities, including the building of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) pathways; installation of interpretive signs; planting of trees and community gardens; the removal of tons of trash and recyclables; and other improvements such as painting over graffiti and installing irrigation systems. This work helped mitigate the significant maintenance backlog faced by California’s parks. In partnership with a variety of nonprofits throughout California, PG&E has also been involved with more than 500 employee volunteer events this past year.

The Governor and First Lady’s Medals for Service luncheon and awards were made possible by a grant from the Shinnyo-en Foundation.

Governor and First Lady's Service Award

The Governor and First Lady's Service Award honors Californians for their commitment to addressing needs in their local communities. The award program is made possible through a generous grant from the Shinnyo-en Foundation.

Children and adults are eligible for the award: Children ages 5-14 must complete 25 hours of community service in a 12-month period; youth and adults ages 15 and over must complete 50 hours of service in a 12-month period. Award recipients will receive a personalized certificate signed by the Governor and First Lady. After receiving their award, volunteers are encouraged to continue serving towards recognition provided by the President's Volunteer Service Award (50 hours or more, depending on age).

Volunteers must complete their hours of service with a certifying organization. To identify a certifying organization in your community, please visit the Governor and First Lady's Service Award Web site.

If you a community organization that is interested in becoming a certifying organization, please visit the Governor and First Lady's Service Award Web site for application materials. After completing a short application, you will be given access to an on-line account allowing you to track volunteer hours and order both the Governor and First Lady's Service Awards and the President's Volunteer Service Award.

If you have further questions regarding the Governor and First Lady's Service Award, please contact us at serviceaward@CaliforniaVolunteers.ca.gov.

Youth Service Awards/Recognition

Do Something
The Do Something Award honors youth who display leadership in working with Do Something, a nationwide youth network, to improve their communities. Up to five young people receive the award annually. Recipients are recognized at a national ceremony and receive a $5,000 grant to continue their service.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
Youth in grades 5-12 who have participated in a volunteer activity within the past 12 months are eligible to apply for this award, which recognizes students in middle and high school who have demonstrated exceptional community service. The application must be completed and submitted to a designated advisor by the last weekday in October. Applicants are eligible to receive recognition at the local, state, and national levels.

National Caring Award for Young Adults
The Caring Institute annually recognizes five youth (12th grade and below) with an award and an education scholarship for their dedication to helping others. Recipients demonstrate a commitment to service and to improving society. Nomination forms can be found online and are accepted from the beginning of the school year through March.

The Congressional Award
Sponsored by the United States Congress, this award is designed to honor young Americans 14-23 years old who excel in volunteer public service, personal development, physical fitness, and expeditions. This award, unlike others, which honor past accomplishments, challenges youth to achieve goals they have set for themselves.

The Howard R. Swearer Student Humanitarian Award
Sponsored by Campus Compact, an organization founded to promote the incorporation of service into academia, this award is presented to five or six students from campus chapters throughout the country. Member campus presidents nominate one student who is committed to both service and academics. Recipients receive an award and $1,500 to support a service program of their choice.

The American Citizenship Award
This award is bestowed upon students in elementary, middle, or high school by their school principal. It is designed to recognize students who display respect, exhibit fairness, who are eager to help others, and who generally exhibit behavior consistent with good citizenship. American Citizenship Award pins may be ordered online.

Adult Service Awards/Recognition

President's Volunteer Service Award
The President's Volunteer Service Award recognizes youth and adults who make a difference in their community through community service. Gold, silver, and bronze levels of recognition are available based on the number of service hours completed. In addition, the Lifetime Service Award is available to those who complete 4,000 hours of service over their lifetime.

Daily Point of Light Award
Sponsored by the Points of Light Foundation, this award is designed to recognize individuals, organizations, groups, families, business, or labor unions for their service either at home or abroad. Recipients are recognized for responding to a community need, making a significant impact, and approaching the problem with innovation and dedication.

AmeriCorps Education Awards
AmeriCorps members receive an education award following the completion of their term of service. Full-time AmeriCorps members (those that commit a year of their life to full-time service) receive an education award of $4,275. Part-time members are eligible to receive prorated education awards based on the number of hours they serve. Education awards can be redeemed up to seven years from the completion of the term of service and can be used to pay for any combination of the costs of: (1) attendance at a qualified institution of higher education; (2) approved school-to-work programs; or, (3) repaying qualified student loans. In addition, AmeriCorps members who have outstanding qualified student loans may be eligible for forbearance on their loan payments. For more information regarding AmeriCorps education awards, please visit the Corporation for National and Community Service's AmeriCorps website.

The Jefferson Awards
Sponsored by the American Institute for Public Service, the Jefferson Awards are presented at both the local and national levels. Local recipients serve their communities selflessly and without reward, while the service of the four national recipients has been recognized and appreciated nationwide. Nominations may be submitted online.

The Thomas Ehrlich Faculty Award for Service-Learning
Recipients are full-time faculty members who are nominated by the Campus Compact president at their institution. The award recognizes an educator who blends academic study with community and public service experience. The recipient must actively promote service-learning on his campus, and must have published research related to service-learning.