The White House on Tuesday night released to Examiner.com the list of the 2010 Presidential Citizens Medal recipients set to be honored in a ceremony by President Obama on Aug. 4.
Each honoree, as nominated by their neighbors across the country, is not only unique but has gone above and beyond to make a difference in his or her community.
Congratulations to the winners, listed below:
Want to get to know the winners?
2010 Presidential Citizens Medal Winners
Dr. Roberta Diaz Brinton (Los Angeles, Calif.): Dr. Brinton volunteers as Director of the USC Science, Technology, and Research (STAR) program, which provides South Central LA high school students with an integrated science education pipeline that includes education, hands-on research, mentoring and summer jobs.
Dr. Daisy Brooks (Chicago, Ill.): Dr. Brooks founded Daisy's Resource and Development Center, which helps pregnant girls 12-21, providing education and vocational training.
Betty Chinn (Eureka, Calif.): Ms. Chinn came to the U.S. after fleeing Communist persecution that left her mute; in the U.S. she found her voice and a life where, for over twenty years, she has provided food and clothing to the needy twice a day.
Cynthia Church (Wilmington, Del.): A breast cancer survivor, Ms. Church founded Sisters on a Mission, which assists women of color who have breast cancer.
Mary K. Hoodhood (Grand Rapids, Mich.): Ms. Hoodhood engages in a variety of volunteer activities, including founding Kids’ Food Baskets, which provides brown bag dinners to elementary school children living in poverty.
Kimberly McGuiness (Cave Spring, Ga.): Ms. McGuiness is an advocate on behalf of deaf children in Georgia.
Jorge Muñoz (New York City, N.Y.): Mr. Muñoz is a naturalized citizen who drives a school bus by day and at night serves food to the homeless from his truck.
Lisa Nigro (Chicago, Ill.): Ms. Nigro founded Inspiration Café, a restaurant for the homeless, which has grown into an organization that provides holistic services to help the homeless.
Mary Ann Phillips (Star Valley Ranch, Wyo.): Ms. Phillips volunteers in Germany with Soldiers’ Angels, a nonprofit that provides support to soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Elizabeth Cushman Titus Putnam (Shaftsbury, Vt.): Ms. Putnam founded the Student Conservation Association, which places volunteers in conservation service positions around the U.S. and in several foreign countries.
Susan Retik (Needham, Mass.): After the death of her husband on September 11th, Ms. Retik founded Beyond the 11th, which helps Afghani widows and their children.
Myrtle Faye Rumph (Inglewood, Calif.): Following the drive-by shooting death of her son, Ms. Rumph founded a youth center to provide a safe haven and intervention programs for South Central LA youth.
George Weiss, Jr. (Marine, Minn.): Mr. Weiss founded the Fort Snelling Memorial Rifle Squad, which performs final military honors for deceased veterans (over 55,000 to date).
Examiner.com wants to hear from you. Your questions and comments will be used in interviews with this year's winners, so submit your questions here by Aug. 5 and we'll bubble up the most interesting thoughts and ideas for our exclusive Examiner interviews.
Read more Examiner coverage of the award winners here.
Comments
Now if we could just get BP to honor Obama with a containment cap for his mouth!
Lou
www.remain-anonymous.at.tc
quit with the hating he keeping real all u racist radical conformist there is no more room for you, the time to usher in real change the people of this country can believe in. All in town and country dwellers have milked your last cow, skinned ur last chicken, its time u farmers realize whats at stake, and quit acting like this country is as strong as it used to be. We need more Obama's and Ruiz and Diaz's the truth is, they are the future you and your old ways are the past.
Happy to see a diverse group of winners. Felicidades a todos!
~Teresa
Austin Latino Neighborhood Examiner
Congratulations to all the winners. I wrote about Lisa Negro from my city Chicago. She has a wonderful story.
Thank you, nameless. Your rambling, incoherent, incomprehensible drivel makes the case better than any thoughful, rational conservative could. I'm guessing the reason you can't form a proper sentence is that english is a recently acquired second language for you. That's forgiveable. The fact that you can't form a coherent thought is the reason you support the current direction this country is taking. Obama, Ruiz and Diaz actually make sense to you. Do us all a favor and develop some critical thinking skills.
First, congratulations to all of the recipients receiving this well deserved award. Secondly, shame on anyone who would bring politics into this. President Obama was honoring people who put their money where their mouth is. I don't think this is the time or the place to voice your dislike of the administration or its policies. This was not about that. It was about service to country and community. Clearly, this is not very high on your list since you chose this to harp on rather than recognizing these great Americans. I am sure if it were your relative you would not be too happy to see political commentary where it does not belong!
I think he missed someone very important!
www.runwithjazzy.com
Coverage was beautifully done, very clear and at a good angle. I'm very proud of the photographer. I wish I had your cam, LOL!
As for those recognized, those are the kind of people I would love to surround myself with. I know it's hard to do what they do, as often as they do, but they are the magnets of this world. Compassion is what holds us together and knows nothing about division except as a way of sharing.
I commend all those who got these awards and for the work they have done for the people. For the citizens not awarded, (and they are many) I also commend the tireless hours they provide to help many people and projects.
And now, fellow Examiners, let's cover our local deserving heroes for what they have done.
This is a great article. Tks!!
Thanks to all the people above for their unselfish giving of their time, talent and passion.
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