2008 Featured Essays

Thank you to everyone who nominated a friend or loved one. Whether someone has gone above and beyond the call of duty or simply made a kind gesture, National Thank You Day was created as an opportunity to show our gratitude to those around us for all that they do. Below are some inspiring essays that captured the true spirit of the everyday thank you.

Madaline Atwater, Columbus, OH

My mom's career as a registered nurse ended abruptly when she was struck by an 18 wheeler truck. After having four major surgeries in 18 months, she has used her disability income to start a tutoring service for underpriviledged children in her neighborhood in her home. Some of the children have learning disabilities and have low self-esteem but my mom shares her time and endless love with them. They all call her, "mom" and believe with her help they can become assets to society and lead productive lives. Their ages range from three to 18. I think she deserves assistance buying clothes for these children and three computers for their small classroom. The children have to use the one computer my mom owns to do their school work. My mom serves tirelessly those who feel insignificant and hopeless.

Gerri Prignano, The Villages, FL

When my 32 year old husband died long time family friend Gerri Prignano was the first person on the phone telling me to pack up my children ( ages 5,3,and 6 week old twins) and move in with her so she could help me. Her husband had died the year before leaving her with 8 children and her son was getting married that month,but she made us feel like we were honored guest. She even put up the out of towm family members that came for my husband's funeral. She worked nights as a labor and delivery nurse and I do not know when she slept. She is still working part time and I would love to give her an 20K annuity so she could retire.

Laurie Emerson, Biloxi, MS

My husband was stationed overseas in Afghanistan when I found out I was pregnant. I was all alone as my parents lived far away from our duty station. It was my first pregnancy and I was so afraid. I did not want to bother anyone as I knew so many other wives had husbands overseas and their own worries.I was in the Commissary shopping one day when I accidentally dropped a tomato and had a hard time bending over to pick it up. All of a sudden I heard a cheerful voice say "I know how you feel, I think I lost my feet for months" For some reason that made me break down and cry. I felt someone hug me and tell me to cry it out. It was Laurie. She helped me to get through some hard times and today is my best friend.

Marge Widmar, Westerville, OH

My art teacher, Ms. Marge Widmar, from elementary, middle, & high school was a mentor and inspiration for me (and to many, many others!). After suffering from a stroke, losing her fine motor skills, she could no longer create jewelry - her main art form. Rather than giving up, she adapted to a new creative expression of montage. She even montaged her walking cane! Despite retirement, she continued a busy schedule teaching college courses for future art teachers & supporting the development of a community art center.

Phyllis Hulderman, Fostoria, OH

I am nominating Phyllis Hulderman. The reason I am nominating Phyllis is because she is a remarkable person. For the past 25 years she has donated her time and money to the soup kitchen in Fostoria Ohio. The Sharing Kitchen is ran completely off of donations. Phyllis has never been paid a single cent for her continuous 40 hours of work each and every week for the past 25 years. As a Thank You prize I would like to see Phyllis get a new vehicle with the $20,000. She has used her personal vehicles to pick up food donations and delivery food to those who do not have transportation. In 25 years she has donated approximately 52,000 hours of her life and has been through at least 3 if not 4 small pick-up trucks. PHYLLIS deserves a THANK YOU bigger than words, she deserves a $20,000 THANK YOU.

Rosa Chapman, Fort Wayne,IN

Mrs. Rosa Chapman. She is a wonderful person and a woman to whom I admire, because she truly gives her time and efforts to the misguided youth of the Fort Wayne, IN community. She started an after school program using her own money after her husband was killed by a 12 year old. In her bereavement instead of being angry at this young man she showed him love, by using love and compassion as her inspiration to help not only him, but so many young people who are many times victims and headed down a road of destruction too. Many times when the after school program doesn't have sponsors or is short financially, she uses her own money to keep it going. I would love that she be given the same love and compassion that she has shown to so many people in this community.

Dr Gary Poteet, Laramie WY

I nominate Dr. Gary Poteet. You see on several occasions, he has taken the day off (with out pay) to drive elderly patients on a 440 mile roundtrip to have the sight saving surgery that they needed. He's one Doctor that truly cares about his patients. He has also helped to raise over 50,000.00 for a cure for a genetic disorder called Neurofibromatisis. (It used to be know as elephant man's disease) For several years we thought our little child Dawson had this horrible disorder and we were desperate to help raise awareness and find a cure for our little one before it took his life.

Melissa Carboni, Allston MD

My daughter, Jill, was killed in a car accident Thanksgiving weekend 2005. Jill had one sibling, Melissa, now age 26. As a tribute to Jill's giving nature and her love for teddy bears, Melissa initiated a teddy bear drive to help comfort children in their time of need. Last year, 425 teddy bears were collected. Melissa distributed them during the holiday season to a children's grief center in Boston and to children's centers in hospitals in the Boston area. Melissa knows first hand the pain of grief during the holidays so she has found a way to bring some comfort to children who are in either psychological or physical pain.

Florence Gones, Menomonee Falls, WI

I nominate Flossie Gones, who is 91 years young. She volunteers 6 hours a week as my office assistant at the Tri-County YMCA and then goes to exercise class and then goes home to make strawberry jam for me from strawberries she has picked. She lives alone and is the sunshine lady for the Seniors at Tri-County plus taking care of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She is a beautiful woman.

Virginia Dorr, Canon City, CO

Although my parents live modestly on a social security income, my mom continues to make charity work a priority. Mom is 79 but she does a lot of volunteer work. She volunteered as a literacy volunteer, teaching adults to read and non-English speaking adults to speak and read English. She deep-cleans the pre-school area at church regularly. Every summer she buys and donates large amounts of school supplies to needy children. She makes frequent gifts to her local food cupboard, volunteers at an elementary school and makes weekly visits to an elderly church member. She also delivers cards and baked goods to anyone in her neighborhood or circle of acquaintances who is sick, bereaved or has something to celebrate. To get around to do all these things, she has a 24-year-old car.

Shari Casey, West Chicago, IL

Through their rescue shelther, 4 paws 4 u 4 ever, John & Shari Casey have rescued, taken care of and found forever homes for hundreds of puppies over the past five years. During that time, they've only taken one weekend off for themselves. Every day of the week, 24/7, there are at least a dozen dogs in their home, needing care & attention, waiting for their family to find them. My family helps out by doing foster care for incoming litters of puppies from time to time & we find ourselves exhausted after just a few weeks of nonstop puppy care. I don't know how John & Shari keep up the pace all of the time!

Mel West, Columbia, MO

Mel West, 86, works upwards of 60 hours a week to provide mobility for people in poor countries. Mel takes the discarded wood from expensive yachts and makes mobility devices for the poor. Mel started making hand cranked carts in his one car garage in Columbia, MO in 1994. Now, the P.E.T. project is a global phenomenon providing mobility to victims of: landmines, crocodile bites and even leprosy. P.E.T. stands for Personal Energy Transportation. Mel started the project after a friend stepped on a woman in Africa. She was crawling through tall weeds with two babies on her back. Mel runs the workshop that builds the PET carts despite his age and poor health. www.giftofmobility.org

Jeff Bowles, Taylorsville, UT

I would like to nominate my friend Jeff. He helps out a lot at the Golden Living Assisted center in Taylorsville, Utah. He works primarily with the elderly. He plays the piano and does a sing-a -long for the residents at Golden Living and would help out with whatever that is needed. He helps out with their picnics, games, and even with going to the grocery store to get whatever the residents need. He currently doesn't have a car so he would walk to Albertsons and bring back the grocery for the residents when needed. I think that Jeff is a hard worker and he cares a lot about people. He never hesitates to help people when the occasion arise. I think he deserves to have a check given to him to help him buy a car.

Sister Jerilyn Hunihan A.S.C.J., Shelton, CT

My sister is a nun who, at 51, became a prison chaplain. after years of teaching, she was able to follow her lifelong dream of ministering to the incarcerated. she lives in shelton CT but drives to hartford CT three times weekly. i am so proud of her effort but i worry because she drives an older model car. wouldn't a PT Cruiser or some other car make her life easier & ease my mind (I live in ft lauderdale fl)? she could also use the car to help in her other duties at the convent. this is a woman who NEVER has asked for a thing for HERSELF. the PT Cruiser 2008 is only about $13,000 now. she would use any extra money to feed the poor. please make this once in a lifetime opportunity come true. thanks so much!!!

Deeann Leanna, Suamico, WI

I would like to nominate my daughter, Dee Leanna. I am nominating her because she works full time for the non-profit, Heavenly Hats, that her son started 7 years agowhen I had breast cancer. She gets no compensation for this project that donates new hats to cancer patients and others that have lost their hair to disease. This project has donated over 350,000 hats to hospitals and individuals during this time. Dee works an average of 35 hours each week, boxing, sorting and doing the paper work this project requires. The web site is www.heavenlyhats.com