Linda Flynn,
A Hero In Our Midst

For Linda Flynn, what began as a way of introducing her niece to one of her own favorite childhood activities, became a forty-year passion. A Camp Fire girl herself, Flynn, 58, started a Camp Fire group for her niece and has been leading groups every year since.

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Ronnie Paige,
A Hero In Our Midst

A full-time firefighter in Little Rock, Ronnie Paige still believed that he wasn't doing enough to serve his community.

In addition to his seventeen-year career with the Little Rock Fire Department, Ronnie Paige, 58, spends his free time volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Central Arkansas. Largely because of Paige's involvement, BBBS is now the department's official community service partner, and several of the officers have volunteered their time to mentor elementary school students.

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Richard Roberts,
A Hero In Our Midst

Many companies offer employees the opportunity to volunteer on company time, but Richard Roberts' enthusiasm for this opportunity ended up benefiting tens of thousands of children in the Baton Rouge area.

Roberts, 50, a CPA for Postlethwaite & Netterville, has been volunteering with Camp Fire USA's Big River Council for over 15 years on a weekly, sometimes daily basis, making a huge impact on the 18,000-20,000 children whom the Big River Council serves annually.

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Rich Ridder,
A Hero In Our Midst

Making a difference in this world often begins with a single stroke. So learned a young Rich Ridder as he observed the importance of community service from a particularly special influence – his father. As a boy, Ridder watched his father paint houses for disadvantaged elderly for free, and committed that like his father, he would find his own way to make a difference.

Five years ago, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sedgwick County paired Ridder, 32, with then nine-year-old Loren. "Rich is my hero because he has turned my life around," Loren said. In addition to fishing, camping, and playing sports, Ridder often helps Loren with his homework. "In school, he sits down to help Loren and shows him an easier way to make it work," said Kristina Blanck, the pair's case manager at Big Brothers Big Sisters. "Not only do they have fun, but they work, and Loren really appreciates that." Since being matched with Ridder, Loren has dramatically improved his grades.

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Robin Winner
A Hero In Our Midst

When Robin Winner realized there wasn't enough time in a day to work and volunteer, she decided to make community service her profession.

For thirty years, Winner has been working in and outside the office with service organizations across the country. Now, as the Executive Director of Synergy Services in Kansas City, Winner, 59, has led the construction of an elaborate support network for the intervention and prevention of domestic abuse.

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Kate Bonner,
A Hero In Our Midst

Despite more than a decade of commitment to service, Kate Bonner does not consider herself a volunteer. "I'm just a good friend," she says.

Every week, Kate Bonner, 50, visits her friend Anne at a local facility for the mentally handicapped. "She is a wonderful lady," said Kate. "She just likes to have someone to see her and take her on errands." Anne, 70, has lived at the facility since she was nine-years-old, and Kate has been to visit her every week for more than ten years.

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Mike Hughes,
A Hero In Our Midst

Most days, Mike Hughes is a shipping manager, a carpenter, and an outdoorsman. But, because of his commitment to serving the Des Moines community, he has found ways, through service, to become a mentor, a shop teacher, a trail guide, and a role model for an Iowan teen.

Mike began serving in the Des Moines area over twenty years ago when he led a United Way program to install security measures in the homes of elderly Iowans. He also works with the Iowa Council for International Understanding to help facilitate the exchange of ideas and cultures between local businesses and the guests they host from overseas. And, for the past four years, Mike has devoted himself to improving the life of a Des Moines teenager through Big Brothers Big Sisters.

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Marjory Bernhard,
A Hero In Our Midst

Volunteer organizations in Trenton measure time in PM and SM—pre-Marj and since Marj.

For the past sixty-four years, Marjory Bernhard, 70, has been active in volunteer organizations that serve the children, underprivileged, and elderly of the Trenton area. She joined Camp Fire USA at age six, and, since that time, she has become a longstanding board member and one of the rare leaders who has mentored a group from preschool until college.

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Heidi Blais,
A Hero In Our Midst

Heidi Blais has devoted her life to children, first as a teacher, then as a mother, and now as one of New Hampshire's most magnanimous volunteers.

After retiring from her career as a special education teacher and raising her own children, Blais, 58, "missed education" and she began her remarkable work with organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters, Junior Achievement, and New Hampshire Partners in Education.

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Mary Wulfeck Yaney,
A Hero In Our Midst

For Mary Wulfeck Yaney, volunteering is more than just a hobby. Over the past fifty years, she has dedicated her life to improving the lives of children around the world. Yaney is widely known throughout her community as an honest, passionate, and devoted champion for youth.

Yaney, a retired teacher, has served a wide array of Ohio youth organizations. A former president and current board member of Camp Fire USA, she also mentors at Boy Scouts of America, tutors Rwandan refuges, teaches Native American history at a local archeological site, and leads Sunday school lessons at her church, to mention merely a few.


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Shirley Farnsworth,
A Hero In Our Midst

What could be more important than giving someone the power to dream? For Shirley Farnsworth, doing just that is an everyday occurrence.

For over 25 years Shirley has worked to improve the lives of poor and disadvantaged youth throughout her community. Currently, serving as Director of Extended Learning and Community Schools for the Denver Public School system, she is responsible for the development and implementation of a number of exemplary out-of-school programs for Denver youth.

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Todd Sutton,
A Hero In Our Midst

Todd Sutton learned at a young age how much of an impact one person can have on the lives of others.

"I had a couple of mentors when I was a kid that really made a huge difference in my life and helped me get a positive attitude about things," he remembers, "I just wanted to share that experience with someone else," said Sutton.

That desire led Todd, who currently works at the Utah Public Employee Association, to become a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Three years ago he was paired with a young boy named Chase and the two have been meeting weekly ever since.

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Lee Cabeza de Vaca,
A Hero In Our Midst

After leaving his profession as a teacher, Lee was very satisfied with his position with the New Mexico Department of Vocational Rehabilitation but still felt that there was something missing in his life.

“That something,” he now knows, “was interacting with children.”

Lee remembered growing up with the love and support of two male role models, his dad and his grandfather. “What they showed and taught me shaped the man I have become. I wanted to share what my father and grandfather gave me by being a mentor.”

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Carlas "CJ" Quinney Jr.,
A Hero In Our Midst

For Carlas "CJ" Quinney Jr., being a hero could not come quickly enough.

Over six years ago, CJ saw a commercial for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lansing, Michigan, featuring a young boy named Shaquille. CJ quickly thought that he had finally found his way to “give back;” his parents had always been there for him and he knew how fortunate he was to have received so much support and love from them both throughout his life. In addition, being a Big Brother for a child named Shaquille, his all-time favorite basketball player, seemed like a sign.

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Michael Brogan,
A Hero In Our Midst

Michael Brogan believes in the power of memories. Often, the reminiscences that we can provide young children--even if for only one week--have the power to last a lifetime. Year after year, Brogan has helped countless foster children to understand the invaluable importance of memories through his extraordinary compassion and steadfast commitment as a volunteer with Camp Fire USA.

Every summer, foster children throughout Alabama gather for camp--often disadvantaged, with only a brown paper sack or a garbage bag in tow--and in that week, men and women like Brogan step up and offer to help. Brogan's story, however, is a bit more unusual.

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John Peirce,
A Hero In Our Midst

John Peirce describes himself as an everyday person, but those who have seen him in action, consider him a hero.

It was Peirce’s involvement with the Rotary Club that led him to become a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters, which led him to a special relationship with Devin, his 10-year-old Lunch Buddy at Washington Elementary. The Rotary decided to adopt an elementary school in the city’s downtown area where 91% of the children receive free or reduced price lunches. Club members helped to create a Parent-Teacher Association, freed up teachers so that they could speak to parents, and read to children on a regular basis.

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Dianne Long,
A Hero In Our Midst

Dianne Long, an avid nature-lover and people person, has been impacting and changing the lives of individuals for over thirty-one years in more ways than one. She does not view her years of service as something she should do, but something that must be done as an everyday American who wants to make a difference. She combined her love for nature and children and became involved with Camp Fire USA.

Dianne first got involved with Camp Fire USA’s Lone Star Council in Dallas, Texas when her daughter Kristen started the first grade. She felt that her daughter would benefit from Camp Fire USA’s program that helps children develop planning and decision-making skills, as well as skills related to their individual strengths and interests. After seeing first-hand the benefits that the council offered her daughter, she decided to volunteer as a leader for her daughter’s club in 1975.

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Lee Ruff,
A Hero In Our Midst

Lee Ruff is a busy man. His work as an Equipment Manager at Q & D Construction in Reno, Nevada, requires his full attention. And he is a devoted family man, racecar enthusiast, and Harley owner. But Lee’s involvement in programs that help children and his community fuel his soul – and give him the opportunity to enrich the lives of children in need. And that is something he always has time for.

Ruff began volunteering as a mentor before Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Nevada was formed, tutoring a young boy in a school-based program. When the child moved, Ruff felt something was missing in his life. “I realized how much I liked working on a one-to-one basis with a child and how important it is to provide a positive attitude for kids to model,” Ruff explains.

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Dennis Vaughn,
A Hero In Our Midst

“Maurice and I are one and the same,” explains Big Brother Dennis Vaughn. “From day one, five years ago, we have been on the same page and have always complemented each other. Our backgrounds are similar and I can understand how he feels.”

To Maurice, a mature well-spoken 13-year-old and car enthusiast, Dennis,” has a great personality and a really cool car.”

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Jill Wagstaff,
A Hero In Our Midst

When Jill Wagstaff was in seventh grade, she was envious of a classmate who had a Big Sister through the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. She remembers her classmate’s stories about all the fun activities she and her “Big” shared and Wagstaff, the oldest of four, pined for her own big sister.

Though she never got a Big Sister, Wagstaff never forgot her interest in Big Brothers Big Sisters. Ten years later as a student at the University of Florida, an ad in the local school newspaper rekindled her early interest, and Wagstaff decided to sign up that day. Incidentally, she had several Sigma Kappa sorority sisters hanging out with her that day, and she recruited them on the spot to volunteer as Big Sisters.

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Heather Williams,
A Hero In Our Midst

They are friends, confidantes, playmates, and most of all, “sisters.” Heather Williams speaks of Antwanette, her “Little Sister”, as one of her “biggest inspirations”. For Antwanette, Heather is not just a “Big Sister”, “she is family.”

Their friendship started seven years ago when Heather, a vice president at the Bank of Oklahoma in Tulsa, got involved as a volunteer in Big Brothers Big Sisters’ school-based mentoring program at the bank’s “sister” elementary school. She was matched with Antwanette, a 10-year-old who needed help relating to teachers and peers.

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Shirley Fincannon,
A Hero In Our Midst

“Big Sister” Shirley Fincannon and her “Little Sister” Dwanna, who is 12 years old, is eagerly counting the days until their big celebration. December 12 marks their fifth anniversary of being “sisters,” and they can’t wait to dress up and go out for a fancy dinner. In their five years together, Dwanna has become quite a cook and appreciates good food, so this Nashville duo is giving their destination some serious thought.

But, they are not serious often. Their time together is filled with laughter, adventures, and sharing. And both describe their adventures as “lots of fun.” Seeing a smile on Dwanna’s face gives Shirley great pleasure.

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Juliette Moore,
A Hero In Our Midst

Often great things come out of adversity. For Juliette Moore, having a kidney transplant made her think twice about putting off her interest in getting involved in community activities and actually take the time to “celebrate life” and give something back.

This high energy Director of Campus Recreation at the University of Arizona had just turned 50 and thought that maybe she was too old to be a Big Sister. As the favorite aunt to more than 60 nieces and nephews and a self-proclaimed “kid at heart”, she couldn’t wait to spoil a “little” sister, and her local Big Brothers Big Sisters assured her that she was just the right age and could make a real difference in a child’s life.

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Chris Ostrand,
A Hero in Our Midst

Chris Ostrand, a Green Bay resident and an insurance broker with Associated Financial Group, set out to become a "Big" with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeastern Wisconsin because he simply wanted to give back to the community he so loves.

“There always seems to be a time in your life when you take inventory of where you’re at and what goals you want to set for yourself,” said Chris. “As I began setting some goals for myself over six years ago, I thought that it would be really cool to mentor a young boy.”

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Patrick Wiese,
A Hero In Our Midst

Little Brother Brennan Buck doesn’t remember a time when his Big Brother Patrick Wiese was not a part of his life. To hear Patrick tell it, his deep connection to Brennan, built of countless little moments over the last 11 years, was an easy commitment in which he learned as much as Brennan did.

“We’re just a couple of guys,” says Wiese, 42, a mortgage lender in Boise, Idaho, who was matched with Brennan through Big Brothers Big Sisters in 1995. At that time, Patrick was not yet married, nor did he have his two daughters, who are now nine and seven.

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Lt. Peter Gruters,
A Hero In Our Midst

Lt. Peter Gruters, an intelligence officer from Robins Air Force Base in Georgia, believes in the invaluable gift of touching the lives of others. A kid at heart, he finds joy and satisfaction in “blessing” others, in particular, a young boy he reached out to as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

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Brenda Taylor,
A Hero In Our Midst

Brenda Taylor, an associate school superintendent and native of Philadelphia, believes in the power of connecting with others. Whether it is sending cards to a senior citizen she met on a park bench, volunteering to help restore neighborhoods in Philadelphia or mentoring a young girl, Brenda demonstrates in tangible ways, how she cares for others.

Brenda places special importance on providing friendship and positive encouragement to a 14-year old Philadelphia girl, Demetra Davis, through Big Brothers Big Sisters. She has been Demetra’s Big Sister for almost two years, but to Brenda, it seems like a lifetime.

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Sidney Montgomery
A Hero in Our Midst

Sidney Montgomery, a native of Jackson, Mississippi, has always been passionate about introducing people to the simple pleasures that the outdoors offer. As an avid outdoorsman, wildlife enthusiast and an overall big kid at heart, Sidney enjoys teaching and exposing others to wonders of nature. Whether it is relaxing outdoors with his wife, Gloria, and two sons, Brook, 32, and Carson, 27, or trolling for bass in his fishing boat, Sidney finds that the outdoor world opens opportunities to foster and build relationships and can open one’s self to new perspectives.

As a member of the board for the Black Bear Conservation Association, Mississippi Outfitters and Guides Association, and the former Executive Director for the Mississippi River Foundation, Sidney is known as a passionate outdoors conservationist. Sidney is equally passionate about helping people. This is seen through his volunteer work with Big Brothers Big Sisters and numerous conservation groups. His unique way of combining the two passions in his life is what makes Sidney so unique.


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Ron Hunter,
A Hero In Our Midst

Ron Hunter, a north Minneapolis native and patent lawyer with Cargill Incorporated, has been a Big Brother with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities for more than four years, although mentoring has been a part of his life since he was a kid.

Since growing up on the north side of Minneapolis, Ron knows first hand the pressures and challenges faced by young people in urban neighborhoods. Throughout his childhood, Ron was fortunate to have many male role models that helped to keep him on track, including his father, whom he greatly admires. “I had several mentors growing up, including a fantastic father,” said Ron, “and they helped to keep me on the straight and narrow.”

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Carole Hofmann,
A Hero In Our Midst

Carole Hofmann, a single working mother of three daughters, is being honored by the national Heroes In Our Midst program for impacting the life of a young girl through the Big Brother Big Sisters (BBBS) program.

Carole and her daughters, Laurie, 20 and Jessie, 14, reside in Crownsville, Md., a semi-rural pocket of Anne Arundel County, where they also enjoy the company of a few farm animals. In addition to her role as a mother and a Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Maryland, Carole also works as a manager in the customer service department at SunTrust Bank’s operations in Glen Burnie, MD.

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Carlos Linares,
A Hero In Our Midst

Carlos Linares is a 36-yr old attorney with the Recording Industry Association of America and is a young man on the move. (Literally). Linares, an army brat, lived in Virginia, Florida, Mississippi, Colorado and Nebraska when he was growing up. He now makes his home in Texas.

His dad, who was from a long line of musicians, instilled a love of music in Carlos who won a music scholarship to LSU and has been the trumpet player in an 8-piece band “The Pie Tasters” based in Washington, D.C. for 10 years. After Carlos graduated from law school, hoping to combine his love of music with the practice of law, he got his dream job—as an attorney with the Recording Industry Association of America.


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