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National honoree

Retired telephone workers connect with poor students

Sheridan, Colo.
A bright new playground at a poor school has changed behavior: For months, not a single student has been sent to the principal's office during recess.

hen retiree Don Kastle visited Fort Logan Elementary, a poor school outside Denver, he was shocked. "I'd never seen such kids in my life dressed this way," he recalls of the students who didn't even own shirts or shoes to wear. He saw a sagging building the town had no cash to restore. But he also met committed teachers who had given up raises so the school could afford to keep small classes.

Fort Logan needed a patron. So Kastle summoned fellow members of Telephone Pioneers of America, a group for phone-company retirees.

The local Pioneers planned a sweeping renovation of the school. They posted their plans on USA WEEKEND's Web site, and offers of help rolled in. US West, the Englewood, Colo.-based communications company, collected 3,000 clothing and toiletry items for the students. A law firm gave $60,000 in used office supplies, ranging from staplers to computers. And 60 volunteers transformed the school's playground into a brighter, happier place. Principal Judy Kary has proof the playground made a difference: Since Make A Difference Day, not a single child has been sent to her during recess for discipline!

But more important, the school has community connections it never had before, Kary says, as volunteers who first helped on Make A Difference Day come back again and again to help.

$10,000 award from Paul Newman benefits Fort Logan Elementary School.

Paul Newman funds awards

The actor and founder of the food company Newman's Own Inc. gives $10,000 to the charities of each of the 10 Make A Difference Day Award recipients. This is Newman's fifth year as a Make A Difference Day supporter; his contributions to local charities through this day total $500,000. He will give another $100,000 to charities of participants in the next Make A Difference Day, Oct. 23.

Newman, who donates 100% of after-tax profits from Newman's Own to charitable and educational causes.

PHOTO CREDIT: JOHN EISELE FOR USA WEEKEND

Make A Difference Day, the largest national day of helping others, is sponsored by USA WEEKEND Magazine and its 600 carrier newspapers. Make A Difference Day is held in partnership with HandsOn Network and is supported by the Newman's Own, which will provides $10,000 donations to charities selected by of each of 10 national honorees. The 18th Make A Difference Day is Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008.

E-mail: diffday@usaweekend.com
Make A Difference Day Hot Line: 1-800-416-3824