LANSING, MICH. (May 29) -- A local man today received the national “Heroes In Our Midst” award for his years of volunteerism and spirit of service to the community.
Carlas "CJ" Quinney, Jr., a recent graduate of Michigan State University and a dedicated volunteer mentor and advocate for Big Brothers Big Sisters, was given a bronze Heroes In Our Midst medallion during a presentation at the Michigan State University Clara Bell Auditorium. During the presentation, Quinney received a Letter of Recognition from the governor for his service. In addition, program sponsors said a $1,000 check will be donated in Quinney’s name to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Michigan Capital Region to support similar mentoring matches in the community.
Heroes In Our Midst is a national recognition program of the Greeting Card Association. Each month the program honors everyday community heroes who give of themselves to connect with others and show they care, and encourages Americans to send cards to the heroes in their own lives. Since its launch last year, Heroes In Our Midst has generated thousands of cards for community and personal heroes.
“I really don’t consider myself a hero,” said Quinney. "I am so happy to receive the Heroes in Our Midst award. I hope that I am able to serve as an example to my community and I hope to continue my service in the years to come." Quinney first became interested in serving as a mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters when he was just 17. One month shy of the age requirement, Quinney returned quickly to his local chapter on his 18th birthday to register and to begin volunteering with the agency.
Six years ago, Quinney was matched with Marton, a quiet, reserved 10 year old who suffered from poor grades in school. Marton began going to the library at Michigan State University with Quinney, where they would each study and do their homework. Marton’s efforts started to pay off as he began coming home with A’s and B’s on his report card. “We worked for years on improving his skills in the classroom and his ability to stay on task. That came to a climax this year when he received a 3.5 grade point average,” said Quinney. “The look on Marton’s face as he handed me his report card…and the joy that we both felt in accomplishing such a goal was phenomenal,” Quinney proudly explained.
Quinney, who majored in Family Community Services and who will begin a Masters degree in this field in the fall, is also a volunteer with “Break the Cycle”, a non-profit agency that educates and empowers at-risk youth to avoid dangerous paths that include teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, and low academic achievement.
Marton’s mom, Tonya Benson, knows the importance of having CJ in her son’s life. “Marton, the eldest of three boys, now sees the importance of education and realizes the discipline and hard work it takes to achieve success,” she said. “He is only thirteen years old but already expresses a desire and looks forward to following in Quinney’s footsteps and becoming a Big Brother as well one day.”
During the awards presentation, Big Brothers Big Sisters and government representatives presented Quinney with greeting cards noting how appreciative they are of his volunteerism and community spirit. The organization hopes people throughout Lansing and the surrounding areas will send a card to Quinney expressing their appreciation for the impact he is making in the community. Cards should be addressed to:
Carlas "CJ" Quinney, Jr.
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Michigan Capital Region
1235 A Center St.
Lansing, MI 48906
“Heroes In Our Midst is all about the rewards of connecting to others and building human ties,” said Chris Bouchard, spokesperson for the program. “Greeting cards are also a cherished tradition for connecting and showing that you care about others. People everywhere have a special card story of how someone impacted their life or created a shared memory through a greeting card. We hope the people of Lansing will not only send a card or note to Quinney, but to the everyday heroes in their own lives.”
To learn more about Heroes In Our Midst, visit www.HeroesInOurMidst.org.
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Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest, largest and most effective youth mentoring organization in the U.S. It has been the leader in one-to-one youth service for more than a century, developing positive relationships that have a direct and lasting impact of the lives of young people. Big Brothers Big Sisters serves 240,000 children, ages 6 through 18, in all 50 states. The national offices are located in Philadelphia. To volunteer or donate, visit www.bbbsa.org.
The Greeting Card Association, headquartered in Washington, DC, represents nearly 300 U.S. and international greeting card publishers and suppliers. It is dedicated to celebrating, promoting and preserving the tradition and cultural values of exchanging greeting cards.
