Richardson Coalition’s   “Real Heroes” Award  Finalists
 Vote for Your Favorite   (please vote for one only and one vote per email)
We are really pleased with the great number Real Heroes Award nominations we have received for wonderful  volunteers  in Richardson.    Volunteerism is what makes our city work.  We congratulate all the nominees, and we had a hard time selecting a list of finalists.  Below are the unsung volunteer heroes we have selected this year as our ten finalists.  We know you will be impressed with their volunteer stories and we hope you will help us select a first place award winner  by voting for your favorite.  Vote by sending an email with the name of your selection  (one name only  please and vote only once) to:  Richardson.Real.Heroes@gmail.com

Peggy Thorburn

Approximately six years ago Peggy Thorburn began recruiting people to serve in an organization she was forming for the benefit of the Richardson Animal Shelter.  To fulfill her dream she brought together a board of directors and established the group known as Richardson AnimaLuv, a 501-3C organization. 

Peggy has raised considerable amounts of money though her dedication, diligence and true passion for helping those who cannot help themselves.   Her successful efforts have included procuring volunteers to hold low-cost flea and tick dipping/microchip clinics and a Hot Dog Splash Day.  Later this month AnimaLuv will hold a Spring Pet "Pawrade" at Huffhines Park.  Four years ago Peggy established City Wide Pet Day, held annually at Owens Farm.  For the most recent CWPD Peggy secured 60 businesses as sponsors and 34 animal rescue groups as participants.  CWPD, along with the other special events, has helped provide funding for medical expenses, adoption promotion, low-cost microchiping, spaying and neutering, vaccinations, foster assistance and help with the petting zoo.

Peggy has also been successful in procuring grant money, thus providing for a cat room at the shelter.  Just this past month she secured a grant in the amount of $15,000 from a foundation. 

For ten years Peggy has volunteered her personal time caring for the animals at the shelter because that is where her heart is.  She also fosters animals at her home, and presently cares for several cats.  Peggy is a totally selfless, tireless and passionate advocate for the welfare of our Richardson shelter animals.   

 
Elise Bissell

Elise is a co-founder and Executive Director of Take Me Home Pet Rescue, a 501c3 charity that is solely dependent on donations and is comprised of volunteers. TMHPR started with only a few moms and their kids.  Since April 2008, Take Me Home Pet Rescue has saved the lives of over 400 cats and dogs rescued from local kill-shelters; many have come from our own Richardson shelter. 

Elise has also been active in the Richardson community by being a voice for the animals that have none.  She is a member of the Richardson Animal Advisory Commission for the welfare of animals and has assisted in making changes to help the animals at the Richardson Animal Shelter.  

She has a wonderful support system with her three boys and loving husband, Charley.  It takes a strong woman to manage a household and care for several foster animals at the same time.  All the while making Richardson a better community.

Elise also created Clean and Green in Richardson, a recycling movement that works closely with the City of Richardson in promoting recycling efforts in the community.  For the past three years, Clean and Green in Richardson has been part of the recycling management of the annual Wildflower Festival. 

Elise also is a contributing writer for the Richardson/Far North Dallas edition of the Dallas Morning News’ Neighbors newspaper.  Her articles are directed towards the welfare of animals in the community and to promote local rescue groups in efforts to find loving homes for the animals in their care.

 

 Sandra Wirtz

Sandra Wirtz is a Richardson citizen focused on building her community one opportunity at a time.  By focusing on quieter moments to contribute she: 

• actively volunteers at Dartmouth Elementary and the local PTA (for three years) resulting in a more beneficial educational experience;  
• teaches faith and formation classes at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, for the past two years, fostering a deeper connection and growth for her faith community and was active in the church’s parents group for four years; 
• assists her son’s RSA soccer coach (past two seasons) while encouraging players to become their best;
• when possible, continually contributes to charity drives by making and donating items for Haiti relief, local charities, and gift packages to nursing home residents and military personnel serving overseas; and;
• provided direct assistance to Katrina victims which included everything from a make shift supply drop-off at her residence to coordinating the delivery of donated furniture and other household items to victims.

Sandra firmly believes that being a better neighbor is to build a better home and life for all within the community.  She says, “people need to contribute where and when we can in order to provide a stable foundation and ensure opportunity for our next generation.  We need to ingrain in our children the need to connect with and respect neighbors even through the smallest of steps to take Richardson forward.  That’s what I’ve tried to do and hope to expand upon in the future.”

Courtney Scott

At age 17 Courtney Scott already volunteers in more charitable organizations than many people do in a lifetime. This young lady is one active volunteer. When Courtney was 14 her mother founded a local chapter of the National Charity League “NCL” (www.nationalcharityleague.org), a mother daughter organization dedicated to community service. Through NCL Courtney has become involved with the Richardson Animal Shelter, CITY House, Meals on Wheels and the Cottonwood Arts Festival. A junior at John Paul II High School, Courtney has been an active volunteer at the Collin County Children’s Advocacy Center (CCCAC) for three years. She ultimately was a founding member and serves as president of Youth Against Child Abuse, “YACA”, an organization for kids through age 18 that supports the CCCAC. YACA raises money, promotes awareness, and collects school supplies and backpacks for the children at the center. She has been successful at recruiting over 50 members into YACA. This young Richardson resident is full of ideas and carries a passion for helping those too small or fragile to help themselves. 
When one of Courtney’s high school friends was diagnosed with cancer last year she organized a blood drive that was so successful they set a record for one day donations at the Carter Blood Bank. In addition to countless hours of volunteer work in support of several organizations Courtney also finds time to participate on the high school teams for soccer, track, tennis and cross country. The future of Richardson is in good hands with amazing people like Courtney Scott in our midst.

 Fred D. Berry

Fred Berry is a Richardson resident who has volunteered his time in the community for nearly three decades.  An active member of the Richardson Kiwanis Club for 27 years, Mr. Berry has served as secretary of the organization for 24 years. After 20 years in the US Army where he retired at the rank of Chief Warrant Officer Mr. Berry settled in Richardson and spent several years in the insurance industry. Fred has generously volunteered his time through the Kiwanis Club to help children through the “Reading is Fundamental” project. In this project 1st and 2nd grade students at Richardson Heights and Bukhair elementary schools are allowed to select a new book as a gift from the Kiwanis Club. Fred and other volunteers write the name of the student inside the front cover and often sit with the child and read together.  Many of these children are learning English as a second language. “You should see how their faces light up when they realize that this new book is theirs to keep”, says Mr. Berry. He is always surprised when some of the young children remember him by name each year. In 2009 students from the first year of “Reading is Fundamental” project graduated from RISD high schools. 
Mr. Berry also volunteers time weekly at the Network of Community Ministries, sorting donations and filling the pantry shelves. Fred is truly an unsung hero, volunteering his time to help others who are less fortunate in Richardson for nearly three decades.

Ann Payne 

Ann Payne, a member of Altrusa International, Inc. of Richardson and a volunteer for the Richardson Adult Literacy Center, has chaired or co-chaired the committee which has provided significant enrichment experiences for the Pre-K and Kindergarten children at Terrace Elementary School . They take the 80+ children to Santa's Village (providing the bus and chaperones), to the Science Place and a bookstore where each child could select a book (paid for by Altrusa), to the Arboretum and other places the children would not have the opportunity to go.  Ann has organized Altrusa volunteers to collect donated books;  they gave away 1000 at the school's Expo. Under her leadership, Altrusans have presented four Teddy Bear Time programs in collaboration with the Richardson Adult Literacy Center (RALC).  This is an 8-week parent education program.  RALC has provided funding;  Altrusans  volunteer.  Ann has recruited, supervised and participated. Additionally, a session at Heights Elementary was added where extra books were provided.  As Ann says, “We give books wherever we can!”  Over 150 children have been impacted by Ann's dedication and work. She works quietly and often behind the scenes to bring enrichment experiences to the less than privileged children at Terrace and Heights.

She helped  the RALC by being the Tuesday afternoon volunteer  for 2 years.  Currently, she is a well-used  substitute.  Ann makes many trips to the office to collect Teddy Bear Time books and supplies.  As Ann says, "I just love those little kids!"

Jim Halt

Jim and his wife Beverly moved to Richardson 13 years ago from University Park, and absolutely love living here.  While in University Park, Jim and a friend started picking up trash on their daily walks. Jim brought that tradition with him to Richardson, and has been picking up the trash he sees during his 45 minute walks 6 days a week, rain or shine.  Jim recycles what he can by donating all the aluminum and clothes to the Network of Ministries.  Somewhere along the way, Jim noticed that he never saw the neighbors lived on an alley since they always went out the back, so he started picking up their news papers, and dropping them at their front doors, so that he would have an excuse to talk to them from time to time. You can only imagine the appreciation Jim’s neighbors expressed. Jim taught Jr. High Sunday school at his church for 30 years, until the church cut back and dropped the 11:00 classes. 

Jim also Volunteers at the “Gardens of Richardson” Sr. living center. A senior himself at 77, Jim started going to the “Gardens” every Friday afternoon 13 years to visit his mother-in-law, when she passed away 10 years ago, Jim decided to continue his Friday visits where he dances with the residents during their entertainment time, and lends a kind ear.

 If you run into Jim on one of his walks, he always has a kind word, and you will immediately notice his zest for life.

George Jones

George has been the Director of the Richardson Community Band for 26 years. On the surface this might seem like a one trick pony, but don’t be misled. This is an all volunteer organization. As Director, George wears many hats. He plans all the concerts, and puts together the program for the printer.   He selects the music, and when there is not an orchestral arrangement available, he does the arranging too. George established the “Summer Series” which runs every other Sunday night during the summer on the lawn of the Richardson civic center. Their goal was to provide free family entertainment. An average summer crowd is about 700. The Richardson Community band also performed the first concert at the Eisemann Center, and under Georges Direction has established a 4  concert annual series at the Eisemann. The next  is March 28th and will feature the 1812 Overture. The community band also plays 2 concerts a year at the Richardson Senior Citizen, a Christmas concert, and a May concert. The Richardson Community Band now as between 50 and 60 members, and under George’s direction is not only thriving, but also providing a considerable improvement to the quality of life to a large cross section in our fine city.

David M. Russell

A Richardson resident for 34 years, David Russell has been a member of the Richardson Wireless Klub (RWK ) for over 15 years, an amateur radio organization of approximately 55 members.  Mr. Russell is its immediate past president and has been an FCC licensed amateur radio operator (W2DMR) for over 50 years.
When Mr. Russell was Club President this past year, he, along with fellow club members worked with the City of Richardson Office of Information and Office of Emergency Management to establish an amateur radio communications repeater facility with FCC assigned call letters K5RWK.  The repeater system is located on the top of the Palisades building on Central Expressway in Richardson.  The repeater allows area “ham” radio operators to communicate with each other using low power portable equipment with complete local coverage of Richardson.  This system provides emergency communications for Richardson and the surrounding vicinity, and is ready to be used in natural disasters, hazardous weather conditions, security threats, and whenever called upon by Emergency Management personnel.  In addition RWK members through K5RWK provides communications for civic activities such as city’s monthly siren tests, the Richardson Christmas Parade, Boy Scout Jamborees and the Bicycle Wild Ride.  Twice monthly training drills are held so that the amateur radio operators can maintain their communication skills.

Glenn McGee

A little over 10 years ago Glen McGee started dedicating time to Richardson youth.  Glen is a 48 year old father of 2 and has worked 25 years as an information analyst.  He has volunteered 5 years with Girl Scout troop 2445 at Prairie Creek Elementary as the “Cookie Monster” teaching young ladies how to be safe, use mathematics, salesmanship and marketing through the cookie sales program.   As a Cub Scout Den Leader for two different dens over a 6 year period in Pack 1001, Glen strived to offer an exciting outdoor program where young men can learn by leading.  With his coaching as an adult leader, Assistant Scoutmaster and Scoutmaster for 7 years in Troop 895, Waterview Church of Christ, 65 boys who make up that troop had opportunities to lead over 200 scout meetings teaching and learning outdoor skills, leadership and citizenship while demonstrating scout spirit.  During that time he has also volunteered for camping, backpacking and high adventure outings for over 200 nights of camping.  As an instructor, program coordinator and co-director of 3 Cub Scout Twilight Camps (outdoor day camps) and 6 Oak Leaf leadership courses he recruited other adults and youth leadership.  He has also served 2 times as an Assistant Scoutmaster for the one week BSA National Youth Leadership Training course. In addition, Glen also volunteers with the Mighty Mustang Band as a chaperone for Football games, competitions and band trips.