National Awards Urban river cleanup, Realtors help homeless, Students reopen school Homeless showers, Rebuilding a home, Uninsured dental care Local partners 10 years of volunteering in Conn., UAW/GM lend a hand, Bread for the needy Upgrading from a shanty In this article: Portraits of caring: Aiding a wounded soldier's family Also: Local projects honored

Make A Difference Day Awards Portraits of caring

Portraits of caring

The good news is that good things do happen every day. And that's especially true on the fourth Saturday of each October, a day that millions observe as Make A Difference Day.

Last Oct. 22, for the 15th time, Americans reached out to others. Taking place just weeks after a series of devastating hurricanes, Make A Difference Day 2005 reflected the nation's desire to address crisis. And as always, Make A Difference Day action stretched far beyond the headlines, taking as many forms of caring as the heart can imagine.

We asked volunteers to tell us, via mail and online, exactly what they did. We reviewed all the good deeds, and a special panel of judges selected 10 efforts that captured their hearts.

These 10 -- the newest recipients of the prestigious National Make A Difference Day Award -- are profiled on the following pages. In addition, we salute local honorees in many of USA WEEKEND's newspaper markets.

In the coming days, good things continue to happen as Paul Newman, one of the Make A Difference Day judges and a long-time supporter, donates $100,000 to 10 charities chosen by the national award recipients. Result: an enduring cycle of good news.

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A car wash in the rain aids wounded soldier's family
Azusa, Calif.

Preschool Jennifer Vogel, right, and the Behee family - Marissa, left, little Madison and Jarod, a soldier wounded in Iraq.

Last spring, the Behee family's world was turned upside down. After Staff Sgt. Jarod Behee, 27, was shot in the head while serving in Iraq, wife Marissa moved across the country to be by his side during his extended treatment. Meanwhile, daughter Madison stayed with her grandparents in California -- and grew to lean on her preschool teacher, Jennifer Vogel. (You can see their bond in the photo at right.)

When Vogel learned that Jarod's family may face financial hardship, she mentioned Jarod's plight to her stepfather. Something clicked: Vogel's stepfather works in a town where utility poles are adorned with yellow ribbons bearing the names of local military personnel. And Jarod's name was on the flag outside his office.

Again by chance, one of her stepdad's co-workers told Vogel about Make A Difference Day, the Saturday set aside to help others.

Vogel decided to raise funds for Jarod's medical expenses. She organized three car washes, enlisting neighbors and volunteers from Sonrise Christian School and Christ's Church of the Valley. "The San Gabriel Valley Tribune" ran announcements about the event. And on Oct. 22, they washed 150 cars -- in drizzling rain. Raised: $6,000.

"The whole thing -- from beginning to end -- was meant to be," she says.

$10,000 Make A Difference Day Award from Paul Newman benefits military families via Christ's Church of the Valley,San Dimas, Calif.

Photo by Brian Davis for USA WEEKEND