2011 Gift of Time Awards

DeAnn Kraichely (Springfield)

Nominated by: The Victim Center

Deann’s life is dedicated to service of others. She has been a volunteer victim advocate with The Victim Center since April of 1999. This past year she was a recipient of the "Lifetime Achievement" Presidential Volunteer Service Award for her work through The Victim Center. To date DeAnn has provided 11,994.25 hours of service through The Victim Center. She is very positive and truly a great source of comfort, resources, and "hope bringing" when working with those who are, many times, experiencing their darkest hour. Our community is truly a better place because of her service, hard work, and genuine caring spirit.

Greg Weaver (Springfield)

Nominated by: Tara Benson, Marissa LeClaire and Jeanette Lauver

Springfield, MO

This man could easily quit his job as an attorney in town and serve full time as a local advocate, volunteer and philanthropist. I can’t possible name everything this man does in a day. It could be running to a Developmental Center of the Ozarks meeting, to a CASA event, to a Habitat for Humanity ribbon cutting, to a church meeting, he does it all and with a great appreciation for each organization. He deserves this award for many reasons, but the most recent reason is due to his role with the Rock’nRibs event sponsored by the Springfield Rotary Clubs of Springfield. This nominee gives so much to the Springfield community and will continue to do so to make it a better community.

Holly Beadle (Nixa)

Nominated by: Junior League of Springfield

Holly possesses the integrity, attitude and demeanor that most of us could only hope for. Among the vast volunteers our candidate has given, many can be contributed to the Junior League of Springfield. This year, she chaired the Kids Count Committee which is directly involved with Isabel’s House. She has been responsible for coordinating House volunteers and being the liaison between the Isabel’s House staff and Junior League Community Council. Our candidate is truly a servant who demonstrates a relentless work ethic with impeccable character. She likes to remain in the background, never taking credit for her accomplishments, but concentrates on getting the job done.

Buddy Ball (Springfield)

Nominated by: Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks

Buddy, the husband of the pair, works closely with United Way of the Ozarks as part of their Annual Campaign Cabinet, raising funds to be distributed among many area non-profit organizations. We are very grateful for the role he plays in our Annual Giving Campaign. Buddy devotes over 70 hours a year, fundraising for United Way and has donated 30 hours to BCFO’s cause.

Virginia Jones (Springfield)

Nominated by: Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks

Virginia the wife of this duo is a hardworking, highly appreciated volunteer and mainstay at a number of local non-profit organizations. She has volunteered weekly with BCFO for over 2 years and has taken over a number of fundraising projects. Virginia has donated around 180 hours of her time to give help and hope to local families impacted by breast cancer. Virginia has also donated time to Isabel’s House and Suit Yourself Boutique. She has donated 288 hours of her time to these organizations. It is evident that this couple feels strongly about giving back to the community.

Janis McCall (Springfield)

Nominated by: One Missing Link, Inc.

This nominee founded One Missing Link, Inc., a non-profit organization, after the disappearance of her daughter and two other women who vanished on June 7, 1992. She started this organization with her husband and family with the purpose of educating, prevention and identification. She has worked countless cases over the years, very few with happy endings, but this nominee puts aside her personal tragedy and feelings to help each family deal with their own. It is a demanding job and leaves her little time for other interests.

Pat Dickens (Springfield)

Nominated by: CoxHealth

Pat works at the surgery waiting desk. She possesses a great attitude toward our patients’ family and friends. This desk is a busy desk and you’re dealing with stressed people all day. She maintains a calm attitude and helps to relieve a lot of that stress. She started May of 2008 and has donated 725 hours since then. These two certainly understand the needs of the community and work to fulfill them in a variety of gifted and caring ways.

Bob Dickens (Springfield)

Nominated by: Cox Health

This husband and wife team meets all the Ozarks Honor flights of the WW2 veterans and he is on the 1000+ person waiting list to be an Ozark honor flight. Both volunteer at Cox hospital. Bob since November, 2007, has worked at the information desk where he helps visitors find their loved ones. He is one of the first people that our customers talk to and his humor and pleasant disposition make him an ideal candidate for this desk. He has put in 1,311 hours since beginning with us.

Dwight Ingalsbe (Springfield)

Nominated by: Southwest Center for Independent Living

Dwight is special through his giving heart as well as his skills and technical expertise to help others through the provision of home wheelchair ramps for accessibility. Dwight has inspired others to give, as he has coordinated groups of volunteers to build wheelchair ramps for people with disabilities (consumers of the Southwest Center for Independent living.) His work significantly impacts the way of life for many people with disabilities. Last fall, for SCIL’S ADA celebration (Americans with Disabilities Act.) he built a special obstacle course, consisting of a wheelchair ramp and doorway that could be adjusted for varying inclines and doorway widths. Dwight continues to go above and beyond in serving people who would remain isolated in the community without his help.

Ron Enos (Willard)

Nominated by: Ozarks Technical Community College – Adult Education and Literacy

When Ron heard that the GED Program offered by Ozarks Technical Community College Adult Education and Literacy needed a volunteer to help with math and science twice a week for one to three hours per visit, he signed up. When some of the students he was working with were ready to take the GED test, he learned that they wound not be able to do so. The test could not be administered at the facility, and the inmates could not be released to go to an approved testing site. He wrote (DESE) requesting that the Justice Center be approved as an official testing site for GED. Because Ron would not quit, those who are incarcerated in Greene County have an opportunity to change their lives. In addition to the volunteer work at the jail, he wears many additional volunteer hats. So, even though our nominee has retired, he is devoting almost 40 hours per week to volunteering in charitable causes that help the people of Springfield and Greene County.