Began a bus ministry; holds Kid's Church on Saturdays; gave up well-paying job to become Children's Director at his church

Established an educational center and annual youth summit at his own expense

Banks, of Tangipahoa, was instrumental in the formation of an after-school program helping children with their homework and special projects.

Founded mentoring program DOLLS (Daughters of the Lord Living Sanctified) focusing on career orientation, self-esteem, abstinence and STD awareness

Keenum works with children and youth at the First Baptist Church in Independence. She also leads music and produces a children’s program for vacation bible school.

An interior designer in Ponchatoula, Peltier volunteers with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), an advocacy program for abused and neglected children in state custody. Under her direction as president of CASA Services, Inc., a new program is being piloted in Livingston Parish to provide supervised visitation. She was also nominated in 2004.

Gardner provides underprivileged youth in Tangipahoa Parish with academic assistance and safe social activities through a youth center in her area, particularly targeting children from single-parent families. She also provides career counseling and peer support for single parents.

In 1992, Huszar founded a clothing bank for needy children in the Florida parishes. From humble beginnings with herself as the sole volunteer, the effort has grown into Hope Chest, with three programs and more than 25 volunteers who reach more than 500 children a year. Huszar maintains an active volunteer role with Hope Chest, which now also offers a Christmas Blessing program to provide holiday gifts and another program to help children with their school uniforms.

Indest has served on 30 committees, commissions, boards and task forces dealing with victims of child abuse and neglect. She helped procure $4.8 million in funding for Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) programs throughout the state. She has also spent several years as a foster parent to five children.

An interior designer in Ponchatoula, Peltier volunteers with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), an advocacy program for abused and neglected children in state custody. Under her direction as president of CASA Services Inc., a new program is being piloted in Livingston Parish to provide supervised visitation. She was also nominated in 2003.

Jennings volunteers as a foster grandparent at the local school and the Hammond Developmental Center. Through her church, she has accompanied children to local, state and national conventions.

Martinez directs the Crossroads Youth Ranch, a 114-acre non-profit working ranch providing education, counseling and recreational activities to troubled youth. His wife, Leslie, serves as substitute mother for the 20 teenage boys there.

Voorhees has served the children of Hammond for 25 years at a youth shelter

Dunn’s life’s work has been to encourage the community to get involved in children’s issues to the benefit of all. She has raised thousands of dollars, dedicated hundreds of hours to children’s causes and helped contribute financially to agencies such as 4-H, Caddo Parish Schools, March of Dimes, Children’s Advocacy Center, United Way and Baton Rouge Diocese Catholic Youth Ministry – to name only a few.

Huszar founded a clothing bank approximately 14 years ago for disadvantaged children in the Florida parishes. This initiative grew into the Hope Chest, which includes several programs and has more than 30 volunteers who reach more than 550 children a year. Recent additions to the Hope Chest’s efforts are a Christmas Blessing program and a drive to help needy children with their school uniforms.

Morgan goes above and beyond the call of duty in her job at the Quad Area Community Action Agency in Hammond. She devotes many volunteer hours to assist the children served by the agency, recruits her family to help them and digs into her own pockets to provide them with food, clothing, toys and other needs.

Pevey has spent many years coaching volleyball, softball and basketball in the Ponchatoula area. He is a volunteer fireman and has been named “Citizen of the Year” and “Town Hero” by his admiring neighbors and fellow Ponchatoula residents.