Group That Sends Medical Teams Abroad Among Latest ‘Points of Light’ Recipients

Following are the people and organizations that have most recently been named to receive President Bush’s Daily Points of Light Award.

The Points of Light Foundation, a Washington charity, assists the president in making the choices and carrying out the award program. More information about the award winners and the program is available at the foundation’s Web site, http://www.pointsoflight.org, or by contacting the foundation at 1400 I Street, N.W., Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20005; (202) 729-8184.

The recipients:

2210. Fallan Branco, Brockton, Mass., who founded Teen Angels, an organization that identifies and helps people in crisis situations. For instance, Teen Angels raised several thousand dollars in cash donations, food, and clothing for a mother with three young children whose husband died unexpectedly.

2211. Richard Kelly, Edgewater, Fla., who has served as a volunteer for seven years at the Department of Children and Families in Volusia, Fla.; his recent activities have included collecting, sorting, and distributing more than 4,000 gifts to underprivileged children.

2212. Bob Field, Meridian, Idaho, who volunteers 16 hours each week as a tutor in the Learning Lab, a nonprofit group that offers programs in adult basic math and language skills, English as a second language, and literacy.

2213. Marsha McFarland-Gray, Clarksburg, Mass., who volunteers at the Clarksburg After School Program of Enrichment and Reading, which serves children in kindergarten through the eighth grade. Activities she has supervised or organized include baking classes, a basketball program, field trips, and the Mad Scientist program.

2214. Ted and Lucy Prettyman, Teasdale, Utah, who volunteer for a local mentor program for at-risk youths. Two brothers in particular have benefited from extensive guidance and encouragement from the couple.

2215. Lakeside High School Key Club, Garland, Ark., which matches high-school students with local business professionals for community-improvement projects, such as school renovation, landscaping around a local convention center, and volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity.

2216. Windham Region Homeless Coalition, Willimantic, Conn., a group founded in 1988 that offers beds, free meals, laundry, telephone service, health care, education, loans to pay the first month’s rent or a security deposit, and job placement to the homeless. The shelter also organizes programs for preschool children and toddlers, and after-school tutoring for students.

2217. Richard Hudson, Bayboro, N.C., a retired family physician who founded Hope Clinic, which provides free medical care, laboratory tests, and medicine to disadvantaged people in Pamlico County, N.C. In addition, Dr. Hudson serves as medical director at a similar facility, Merci Clinic, that also relies solely on volunteer staff and charitable donations.

2218. Alexa Jones, Andalusia, Ala., a college student who founded the Renaissance Foundation of Alabama, a nonprofit group that brings arts education to Alabama’s rural schools and communities, including art lessons and workshops, children’s theater, and music concerts.

2219. Jacqueline McAdam, Millinocket, Me., who founded a support group for people with cancer that offers counseling and legal advice, delivers baked goods to patients, and organizes monthly meetings at which patients, family, and friends share their experiences.

2220. Liz Kirkman, Seminole, Fla., a hospice volunteer who spends time with dying patients, raises funds for the Hospice Foundation, and educates the public about hospice programs.

2221. Health Volunteers Overseas, Washington, a nonprofit organization that sends primarily American doctors, dentists, nurses, and physical therapists to volunteer their services in developing countries. The organization has also collected and distributed more than $13-million in equipment and educational materials to program sites since it was established in 1986.

2222. Partners in Care, Severna Park, Md., which provides services such as transportation, grocery shopping, and home maintenance to elderly people who live independently. It also offers its volunteers “service credits” for their time, which they can use to obtain assistance themselves or donate services to others.

2223. David Solem, Billings, Mont., a former intern and volunteer mentor at Friendship House, where he has counseled and helped many children, and one at-risk youth in particular.

2224. Sheral (Oscar) Merz, Kearns, Utah, a volunteer with Adopt-a-Native Elder, a program that brings food, medical supplies, clothing, and companionship to Navajo elders on the Navajo Reservation in Utah and Arizona.