Volunteers from MegaCARE Missions Honored with President’s Volunteer Service Awards

Eight volunteers and two staff members at MegaCARE Missions were recently honored with The President’s Volunteer Service Awards. Volunteers Lethea Butler, Dawn Carter, Zunoraine Holmes, Marcine Jones, George Makaye, Katie Newborn, Kesha Odoms and Amy Wesley, were all honored at the Silver Level. Staff member Richard Wesley was honored at the Silver Level and volunteer Candice Jackson was recognized at the Bronze Level. Pastor Ronnie Guynes, executive director of MegaCARE Missions received the Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Established in 2003, the award is available on an annual basis to individuals, groups and families who have met or exceeded requirements for volunteer service and have demonstrated exemplary citizenship through volunteering. The award is issued by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, a group created by President Bush to recognize the valuable contributions volunteers are making to our nation. As one of the certifying organizations participating in the program, MegaCARE Missions confers the award to recognize the outstanding achievements of its volunteers. The Silver Level award recognizes adults who contribute 250 to 499 hours over a 12-month period, while the Bronze Level award recognizes adults who contribute 100 to 249 hours over a 12-month period.

"In his 2002 State of the Union Address, President George W. Bush created the USA Freedom Corps and called on every American to make a lifelong commitment to volunteer service. The President's Volunteer Service Award recognizes individuals and families who have answered that call," said Pastor Ronnie Guynes, executive director of MegaCARE Missions. "These award recipients are role models for all Americans. Each volunteer hour contributed makes a difference in improving the quality of life for others, and I encourage everyone to contribute to their community by volunteering."

MegaCARE Missions has a long history of volunteer service, and more than 400 volunteers perform community service each year on behalf of the organization.

In 2010, MegaCARE's volunteers contributed over 5,000 hours of community service which included:

• Removing more than 19 tons of litter, debris and bulk items from community parks and neighborhoods in Dallas
• Planting 900 trees throughout the Dallas / Fort Worth area
• Conducting blood drives which contributed to saving more than 2,500 lives to date
• Volunteering and distributing clothing and personal care kits at shelters in Dallas/Fort Worth and Reynosa, Mexico
• Collecting and distributing Christmas toys to children at hospitals in Dallas and orphans living in impoverished communities in Reynosa, Mexico

The President’s Volunteer Service Award is an award for volunteer service that every American – from every age and every walk of life – can aspire to achieve. To be eligible to receive the award, individuals, families and groups must submit a record of their annual volunteer service hours to participating certifying organizations, such as MegaCARE Missions, that will verify the service and deliver the award.

The award is chaired by two-time Super Bowl Champion Darrell Green, with former U.S. Senators Bob Dole and John Glenn as honorary co-chairs. The council comprises leaders in government, media, entertainment, business, education, nonprofits and volunteer service organizations and community volunteering.

Interview/B-Roll Opportunities

• Pictures of the award recipients
• Pastor Ronnie Guynes, executive director of MegaCARE Missions

About The Potter's House
Located in Dallas, The Potter’s House is a 30,000-member nondenominational, multicultural church and humanitarian organization led by Bishop T. D. Jakes, twice featured on the cover of Time magazine as "America's Best Preacher" and as one of the nation's "25 most influential evangelicals." He is currently awaiting the release of his next film project, Jumping the Broom, slated for release on May 6, 2011. The Potter's House has four locations, The Potter's House of Dallas, The Potter's House of Fort Worth, The Potter's House of North Dallas, and The Potter's House of Denver and a Spanish language church, Casa de Fe. www.thepottershouse.org 

About MegaCARE Missions
MegaCARE is an international outreach and relief program that supports and initiates sustainable community development efforts through education, health care assistance, humanitarian service and empowerment. The humanitarian arm of The Potter's House, MegaCARE was founded in 1997 by T.D. Jakes and has implemented programs in the United States, Kenya, Zambia, South Africa, Swaziland, Egypt, India, Bulgaria, Mexico, Belize and Guyana by initiating sustainable development efforts through staff, volunteers and strategic partnerships. www.megacaremissions.org

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