2009 Camden County Freedom Medal
Celebrating the Dream & Action of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Congratulations
to the 2009 Recipients
Ms.
Kimberly A. Forte, Blackwood
Ms. Forte has been providing Hearing Healthcare to South Jersey’s
senior population for 22 years. She travels to her patient’s private
homes, nursing facilities and assisted living centers to conduct hearing
testing, provide consultations for hearing aid fittings and provides
hearing aid repair services. She has been recognized consistently for
her caring and supportive services to the seniors of Camden County.
Mrs.
C. Joyce Fowler, Camden
Mrs. Fowler is Vice President of the Lawnside Historical Society and
Tour Guide Coordinator for the Peter Mott House Underground Railroad
Museum in Lawnside. When acting as docent for the Peter Mott House Tours,
she has the innate ability to explain in detail “the African-American
quest for freedom in a way that upholds the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther
King”.
Mr.
Jack Gallagher, Cherry Hill
Mr. Gallagher has donated his time as a volunteer for the Camden County
Workforce Investment Board serving for over 13 years. He currently holds
the position of Chairman of the Board. “Through his vision, he
has provided working opportunities for Camden County residents who are
in dire need of employment”.
Mr.
Curtis Godard, Winslow Township
Mr. Godard is an active participant in the Winslow Township Empowerment
Group, a sponsor of the highly successful Camden County “Music
in the Park” event held in New Brooklyn Park. He also utilizes
his mentoring skills for a local group Men Empowering Nations (MEN)
where he tutors young men and assists them with their social growth.
He is a positive role model who is dedicated and committed to the young
men in his community.
Ms.
Rebecca Abades Greene, Magnolia
Ms. Greene is a volunteer officer for a number of Filipino organizations
where she has raised money to help the homeless, build a small home
for a needy family and sponsors nursing students who need tuition assistance
… all in her native Philippines. She has also been instrumental
in raising funds to provide much needed medical equipment for devastated
areas in the Philippines.
Mr.
Robert L. Harper, Jr., Lawnside
Mr. Harper is a retired Vietnam Veteran who served in the US Marine
Corps. He is active in community by acting as an exemplary role model
for the Lawnside youth and surrounding communities. For his dedication
to the community, he has received a number of awards and certificates.
He truly lives Dr. King’s dream.
Mr.
John Huhn III, Blackwood
Mr. Huhn is a senior at Highland Regional High School. During his entire
school career he has been involved in a variety of service and charity
efforts that have positively affected the lives of hundreds of people.
He is multi-talented having an array of accomplishments that truly exemplifies
what Dr. King represented.
Mr.
David Kirstein and Ms. Lisa Kirstein, Voorhees
Mr. and Mrs. Kirstein are the proud parents of Private 1st Class Anthony
Kirstein, U.S. Army, who is currently serving our country in Iraq. They
spearheaded several projects, “Treats for Troops”, hosted
a “Benefit Bash” on the Battleship NJ and prepared “Welcome
Home” bags for returning soldiers. They also served turkey dinners
to 300 Army soldiers currently stationed at Fort Dix during Thanksgiving.
Mr.
M. Owais Lari, Cherry Hill
Mr. Lari is an active member of his community who promotes diversity
through the development of social welfare and educational programs.
Most recently, Mr. Lari organized various fundraisers to help those
persons who were affected by Hurricane Katrina, the Sunami, Earthquake
in Pakistan and the Cyclones in Bangladesh. Additionally, he has volunteered
his time by tutoring mathematics to at-risk students.
Ms.
Gloria Mazziotti, Audubon
Ms. Mazziotti is an avid organizer for The Catholic-Jewish Institute
of Understanding, offering classes at La Salle University where she
became the first person to complete the necessary requirements for certification.
She is also a founding member of the Jewish-Catholic-Muslim Dialogue
of Southern New Jersey.
Ms.
Mary McGowan, Haddonfield
Ms. McGowan is a member of the Camden County Human Relations Commission
where she has served in various capacities i.e. secretary, chairperson
for diversity development and an active participant in the formation
of the Junior Human Relations Commission. She currently serves on the
New Jersey State Human Relations Council Advisory Board where she has
initiated programs for the homeless, unwed mothers and recovering addicts.
Ms.
Silvia Moffa, Laurel Springs
Ms. Moffa is very active in her community, having coached baseball and
raising thousands of dollars for uniforms and equipment, serving as
treasurer for the Home and School Association, assuming the position
as Den Leader for Cub Scout Pack 215 where she organized a number of
fundraisers. She has also volunteered her time by speaking to inner
city youth about the importance of furthering their education.
Ms.
Hina Nayyer, Voorhees
Ms. Nayyer has organized a number of fundraisers to benefit those persons
impacted by several worldwide disasters. Recently she assisted with
a Food and Clothes Drive for the Homeless through the Pakistan-American
Society of South Jersey.
Mr.
Chuck Palumbo, Blackwood
Mr. Charles “Chuck” Palumbo gives of his time by volunteering
for various sports associations where he has coached, fundraised and
acted as a jack-of-all-trades to the youth in Gloucester Township. He
helps young people learn the art of sportsmanship and team work. He
does this on his own time without compensation.
Ms.
Carol Pavlicin, Cherry Hill
Ms. Pavlicin volunteers many hours at Camden’s Urban Mission Fellowship
mentoring young people. She also hosts on a regular basis a women’s
group that provides an opportunity for them to talk about their issues
and enjoy a good meal. A few summers ago during an extremely warm heat
wave, she took her teenaged son with her to Camden where they distributed
bottles of water to the residents.
Ms.
Felicia L. Reid, Blackwood
Ms. Reid volunteers her time to help children with special needs both
developmentally and cognitively. She is the parent of a special needs
child and is actively involved with Parent-to-Parent a statewide network
of support for parents/guardians of these children. She gives of her
time to help those, like her son, learn and grow.
Ms.
Stacy Roche, West Berlin
Ms. Roche’ works tirelessly to bring relief to the poor and needy
of Camden County by providing food and clothing. She has also served
on the Camden Habitat for Humanity helping to provide decent housing
for those in need. Her volunteering extends outside of Camden County
where she assists with housing needs and obtaining prescription containers
to be donated overseas.
Mr.
Douglass Wagner, Pennsauken
Mr. Wagner volunteers his time providing affordable housing through
the Camden Habitat for Humanity. As a single father of two boys, he
finds time to get involved with community projects that help to revitalize
Camden City along with church programs that help the needy.
Ms.
Susan Weiner, Cherry Hill
Ms. Weiner is an advocate for children with disabilities, no matter
how severe. She continues to help them overcome the obstacles that they
might face. She has received numerous awards and honorariums for her
work for the handicapped and disabled.
Mr.
Colby Winfield, Pine Hill
Mr. Winfield organized an Annual Day of Service at Highland Regional
High School where he convinced students to come to school on Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. Day to provide a day of service to the school community.
The students picked up trash and painted the interior of the school.
Last year he went even farther by assisting the aid of an art teacher
to help with a mural depicting Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream”
speech. He also convinced his students through the USO to write postcards
of appreciation to our service men and women.
Ms.
Denise Wolf, Erial
Ms. Wolf, a former single mother of three children, volunteered and
became President of the Anne Mullen Middle School Home & School
Council where she put all her efforts into helping other children. Now
married she has formed a new Home & School Council at the Timber
Creek High School where she has been instrumental in starting the annual
school picnic, back-to-school night, dances and the senior students’
last 100-days party.
