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Senator and former Majority Leader, Robert J. Dole, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Caring Institute, today announced the winners of the 2009 Caring Awards.

“On behalf of our Board of Trustees, it is a great honor for us to pay tribute to these extraordinary people who have used their lives for the betterment of others. They are wonderful role models and the very personification of caring,” said Senator Dole.
Mission
The Caring Institute is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1985 to honor and promote the values of caring, integrity, and public service. Inspired by the example of Mother Teresa, we at the institute believe most problems can be solved if human beings truly care for one another. We celebrate those special individuals who transcend self and devote their lives to serving the disadvantaged, poor, disabled, and dying. Their enduring dedication to caring uplifts us all and ennobles the human race.
Goals
We’re committed to spreading the caring credo: you can do well by doing good. Success, as we constantly stress, is defined by having a passionate concern for the welfare of others. To reinforce this message, we continue to broadcast a new standard of social responsibility. Behind all our endeavors — past, present, and future — is the central concept that one person can make a difference.
2009 INDUCTEES:

Mark Asperilla, M.D.
Founder, ACCESS Care and Charlotte County HIV Clinic, Port Charlotte, FL
Since moving to the United States from the Philippines 20 years ago, Dr. Asperilla has devoted his life to providing free medical treatment and supplies to care for thousands of needy persons in the U.S. and countries such as Peru, Ecuador and Guatemala.

Paula Lucas
Founder and Director, American Domestic Violence Crisis Line, Portland, OR
Ms. Lucas transcended the domestic violence perpetrated against her by creating an organization 10 years ago that helps battered women in 175 countries to find housing, obtain custody and support their children.

John Dau
Founder, John Dau Sudan Foundation, Syracuse, NY
John Dau was the leader of the so-called Lost Boys of Sudan. Along with 27,000 others, he walked more than 1,100 miles to freedom. Having been granted asylum in the U.S. in 2001, he raised $700,000 and returned to open a clinic in Southern Sudan, which has provided care for over 25,000 patients, most of whom had never seen a doctor before.

General Colin Powell
Founder, America’s Promise, Former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Former U.S. Secretary of State Washington, D.C.
General Colin Powell achieved the pinnacle of success and is in a class by himself when it comes to philanthropy. He created America’s Promise in 1997, enlisted over 500 organizations to help America’s youth, raised over $300 million and provided essential services to more than 10 million children.

Larry Selman
The Collector of Bedford Street, New York, NY
Neither a stroke which confined him to a wheelchair nor his developmental disabilities have been able to stop him from raising more than $400,000 for such causes as AIDS and Muscular Dystrophy over the past 20 years.

International Awardee:

Rabbi Yitzchak Dovid Grossman
Founder, Migdal Ohr, Migdal Ha’Emek, Israel
Beginning 35 years ago, Rabbi Grossman began caring for boys from broken homes. As of today, he has built and runs a campus with 18 schools and 7 day care centers that cares for and educates some 7,000 underprivileged young people each day. Known as the “Father Teresa” of Israel, he was twice offered the post of Chief Rabbi in Israel, a post he declined in favor of continuing to help the thousands of young people who need him.

Zach Bonner,
Founder, Little Red Wagon Foundation, Age 11, Valrico, FL
Zach has given wagonloads of love to America’s 1.3 million homeless kids. Since he began at six years old, he has walked more than 1,200 miles to spotlight their plight and has collected more than $350,000 in donations. This money has provided homeless kids with toys, Christmas parties, and “Zachpacks” full of school supplies and food.

Ana Dodson
Founder, Peruvian Hearts, Age 17, Golden CO
Ana was adopted as a baby from an orphanage in Peru. But she left a piece of her heart back in the mountains of her mother country. Since visiting there at age 11, she’s raised $150,000 dollars to give Peruvian orphans the food, education, and health care they need to grow up strong and be able to give back someday.

Austin Gutwein
Founder, Hoops of Hope, Age 15, Mesa, AZ
Austin has taken aim at AIDS in Zambia by shooting over 10,000 free throws. Since 2004, players in his annual basketball shoot-a-thon have scored more than $1 million dollars. But the real winners are Zambian kids. Austin’s nonprofit has built two AIDS clinics so there will be fewer orphans, outfitted 1,000 caregivers with bikes, and even built a high school with its own basketball court.

Rachel and Kelsi Okun
Founders, ThanksUSA, Ages 14 and 11, McLean, VA
Rachel and her sister Kelsi want you to show your patriotic spirit by playing their online game. It’s a treasure hunt that funds a scholarship program for military families. Contributions from players have helped add up to $5 million or 1,800 scholarships that let families of U.S. troops enjoy the chance for an education. And that’s the greatest treasure of all.

Heather Wilder
Author of “Heather Hurts”, Age 16, Las Vegas, NV
Heather spent the first seven years of her life locked in a room by her drug-addicted mom. She now has a loving new parent, but she still remembers the fears she faced as a foster child. So she’s written 11 booklets about how to deal with the foster care system. Writing booklets and conducting toy drives have helped Heather cope with her hurts and helped 1,500 foster kids cope with theirs, too.

We are now accepting nominations for the 2010 Caring Awards.
Thanks to all who submitted nominations for the 2009 Caring Awards, and to those nominated for this prestigious honor. Nominations are under consideration at this time and winners will be notified by mail. Please direct any questions toinfo@caring.org.
Now you can watch videos of Caring Award winners on YouTube! Just visit theCaringChannel. If the video of your favorite adult Caring Award winner isn’t posted yet, contact us at info@caring.org and let us know who you want to see on YouTube!