National Awards

Sacramento, Calif.

National Award to 3,500 co-workers at the Money Store headquarters in Sacramento. Led by Susan Giles, they helped children in trouble have a better temporary home.

The best moment came as children raced to their new beds and toys. One boy stared in amazement at a freshly painted sports mural, then pointed to a basketball player: "Hey, they painted a picture of me!"

Each year, 1,200 abused and neglected children live at Sacramento's sprawling old Children's Receiving Home until social workers find them foster homes or return them to their families.

Hearing that the home needed upgrades, 3,500 Money Store employees raised $27,000, and on Oct. 25, 150 of them treated the home to what its director calls "a complete transformation."

They painted dorms, day rooms and rec halls. They donated and installed 12 new computers, with promises of tech support. They delivered and assembled 11 new toddler beds and mattresses, put snuggly new linens on all 70 beds -- and nestled a stuffed toy against each pillow.

Administrative Assistant Susan Giles proposed the event after reading about Make A Difference Day in USA WEEKEND in The Sacramento Bee. "I carried the magazine around for a month, thinking, 'This is great. What can I do?' " She never imagined the effort would be "the most wonderful experience of my life."

$2,000 award will benefit The Children's Receiving Home of Sacramento.

Photo Credit: WILLIAM MERCER MACLEOD FOR USA WEEKEND.

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