Transit authority employees, Chicago Norcal Inc. and San Bernardino, Calif. Pepi the Clown, of Calif. Root River clean up, Wis. Students of Fall River, Mass.

Volunteers mobilized by "The Albany Herald," Ga. Vernon High's soup kitchen, N.J. Pine-Richard Middle School, Pa. The whole city of Abilene, Texas. Aldine Independent School District in Houston

Chicago -- A spirit of service was sparked among the 11,000 employees of the Chicago Transit Authority, whose first-time communitywide effort in 1998 made them a national honoree. In their first joint effort with other city agencies, including the housing authority, park district, schools and street and sanitation departments, volunteers collected four tons of food, clothing and books, and picked up six tons of garbage. The goal: improve conditions where many of them work. "They know the streets because they drive them," says coordinator Mike Fontaine. Also: 250 teens from four schools cleaned 36 public-housing apartments; others visited sick and elderly people at Cook County Hospital. The honorees will give the $2,000 award to Kaleidoscope Inc.

San Bernardino, Calif. -- In four years, 1,000 volunteers from the County of San Bernardino and Norcal/San Bernardino Inc. have grown to more than 65,335 volunteers from 24 cities fanning out across the nation's largest county (20,160 square miles). On Make A Difference Day, Oct. 23, they provided clothing for 1,000 low-income children and work clothes for 6,000 welfare-to-work recipients; gathered food for 1,440 needy families; and gave luggage to 127 displaced children. More than 50,000 clothing items filled two semi-trailer trucks. Where does all the support come from? "We need to look no further than our own back yard," says coordinator Susan Patane. The honorees will give the $2,000 award to San Bernardino Rotary Club.

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Santa Maria, Calif. -- As Pepi the Clown, Michael Petlansky was among the first national honorees in 1992. He has entertained underprivileged and disabled kids for 40 years and trained 129 Pepi's Rangers (kid clowns who follow 12 guidelines such as doing homework before "goofing off"). In October, Pepi performed magic and made balloon animals for 500 kids. On Oct. 23, he thrilled a diverse group of kids from the Santa Maria YMCA. Balloon-contest winners got gifts that Pepi pays for from his Social Security and a small pension. The honorees will give the $2,000 award to Fundamental Baptist Church.

Racine, Wis. -- The common root in this community is its river, the Root River, the focus of work by 8,600 volunteers -- 25% more than in 1998. Volunteers, divers and boaters of all races, ages and economic levels helped to remove nine tons of garbage, 5,700 pounds of metal and 600 tires from the river. Good deeds weren't limited to the river: 130 projects touched the lives of the hungry, homeless and helpless. Instead of bus fare, commuters paid in canned goods -- 1,000 items were given. An additional 330 people donated 110 pints of blood. Dentists gave checkups to poor children, and landlords reached out to needy seniors with home repairs and reconstruction projects. The honorees will give the $2,000 award to Root River 2000, Park High School.

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Fall River, Mass. -- Students set out to prove even a penny is significant when added to others -- collecting 1.3 million ($13,000) for scholarships for kids as young as elementary school-age. The honorees will give the $2,000 award to Citizens Scholarship Foundation-American Dream Challenge.

Albany, Ga. -- Year-long coverage in The Albany Herald has spurred tremendous results -- nearly 9,000 volunteers from 26 projects at struggling Miller County Hospital to fifth-graders who raised $500 for a classmate who needs a heart transplant. The honorees will give the $2,000 award to Alpha Center.

Vernon, N.J. -- Vernon High students created a temporary soup kitchen in 1998 and worked a year to create a permanent one. On Make A Difference Day 1999, 65 young volunteers put finishing touches on their new soup kitchen facility and dedicated it. The doors are finally to open in May. The honorees will give the $2,000 award to Harvest House.

Gibsonia, Pa. -- Pine-Richland Middle School collected clothes and food for homeless people, veterans and pets. The honorees will give the $2,000 award to Pine-Richland Middle School Special Projects.

Abilene, Texas -- 61,192 volunteers -- more than half the city's population -- raised the bar for the fifth time. Schools alone gave 50,000 pounds of food and 1,000-plus clothing items. The honorees will give the $2,000 award to Mental Health Association.

Houston -- In the Aldine Independent School District, a record 50,000 volunteers in 64 schools took part, from Head Start tots who gave soap to the needy, to custodians who bought cleansers for a shelter. The honorees will give the $2,000 award to North Harris College.

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Longtime supporters
National non-profits on Make A Difference Day's Advisory Board: Campus Outreach Opportunity League | Corporation for National Service | General Federation of Women's Clubs | Goodwill Industries International | March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation | National Assembly | National 4-H Council | USA Harvest | Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States | Volunteers of America