Doris Ford Webb

Douglas, Arizona

Doris Ford Webb is a native of the Douglas, Arizona, community who has continued to go the extra mile for not only those whom she helps within her healthcare profession, but for members of the community as well. Volunteering with operation Santa for Senior Citizens in the community through SEAGO has been a highlight of her volunteer work in which she provides warm items like blankets, gloves, scarfs, socks bundled together and gifted to the community and elderly. From 2015 to 2018, Doris participated in the Back-to-School Care Fair which allows children of the community to gather essential materials needed for the following school year. Doris was elected Vice President of the Douglas Area Food Bank from 2011 to 2019 and since 2013 during the holiday season when times can be tough, she continues to help with the Toys for Tots program and coordinating with the Douglas Fire Department to hand baskets of food to help make the holidays a family memory for years to come.

“Being a part of the Douglas community has always been important to me and my family. From participating at that American Legion as a kid with my father (Leon Ford Sr.), to being an athlete in high school, the community was always there to support me and my family and it’s why I continue to give back until this day. Going the Extra Mile to see the smile on another family’s face is worth every second.”

Whitney Pogue

Draper, Utah

Whitney Pogue has been coaching youth mountain bike riders in the community for nearly 10 years. She started the Corner Canyon Mountain Bike Team in 2013 and it has been the largest NICA team in the country for the last 9 years. She coaches over 200 kids per year, and they lovingly refer to her as their “Ginger Mama.” Whitney has received many national coaching awards and the CCHS team has won the State Championship five times since inception, including 2021. She is an extra-mile hero to so many in our community.

Eddie Victorian

Gary, Indiana

Eddie Victorian, owner of XF Management LLC is an organization that has taken an interest into breathing new life into the Emerson District in Gary, IN. XF Management has made strong efforts to not only restore homes in Emerson District but has taken it a step further by also focusing on the aesthetics of the neighborhood. XF Management volunteers their time, resources and hires local Gary residents. The mission of XF Management is to create economic sustainability through partnerships with Gary and other firms that share the same core values.

Adriene Davis

Lawton, Oklahoma

Adriene Davis founded Hungry Hearts in 2015, which provides free meals and groceries, as needed, in the Lawton area to the elderly, homeless, our veterans, and anyone in need of just a little help to get by.  They also provide personal hygiene items.  Hungry Hearts just expanded into a bigger building with two hydroponic towers that allow them to grow produce year around.  Ms. Davis has even bigger plans for the future of Hungry Hearts.

Wyonna Alberty

Lawton, Oklahoma

Wyonna Alberty is retired Civil Service and four-time cancer survivor.  She participates in local theater events.  She volunteers at several public schools, cultural events, hospitals, churches, veterans’ events and organizations, and the County courthouse.   Wyonna provides food, clothing, furniture, and appliances to anyone in need – out of her own personal funds.  She has received an award from the Mayor as one of the longest hospice volunteers.  She was presented the First African American President in history for over 70 years of service to VFW 5263 Auxiliary.

Barbara Curry

Lawton, Oklahoma

Barbara Curry began volunteering at the age of 15 as a candy striper.  She volunteers in everything from churches to hospitals to the American Red Cross and retirement centers, along with many more.  She teaches seniors life-saving skills.  Barbara has won several prestigious awards for dedication to our community, such as Woman of the Year, Red Cross Volunteer of the Year, and Community Service awards.

Linda Gomez

Douglas, Arizona

Linda Gomez has been a Douglas, AZ, resident for over fifty years and significantly contributed to her community through the Douglas Run/Walk for the Cure. After she was diagnosed with breast cancer, underwent surgery, and then received chemotherapy and radiation, she realized that her 4 -hour roundtrips to Tucson proved to be difficult and costly. She knew she was not the only Douglas resident battling cancer, so creating an organization that could be helpful to those individuals was a priority and gave her purpose.   After much discussion and encouragement with her family, she founded the Douglas Run/Walk for the Cure. Her first event was the Douglas Turkey Trot 5K run/walk on Thanksgiving Day in 2001. Since 2001, the Douglas Run/Walk had 18 more annual events and raised over $200,000.00 and has given over $100,000.00 worth of grants to Douglas cancer patients undergoing treatment.

Ken Nelson

Douglas, Arizona

Ken Nelson is a longtime resident of Douglas, Arizona, who has generously invested his time into giving back to the community through countless hours of service. He generally logs in 400 to 800 volunteer hours a year; in 2021 he has logged 528 volunteer hours and counting. Whether he is coaching Douglas Little League or Youth Football & Cheer, or volunteering weekly at the American Legion Post #11, his service continually benefits the youth, veterans, and community of Douglas. Mr. Nelson has also served on many boards to include the Elks Lodge 955, Cochise County Fair Association, City of Douglas Finance Committee, Douglas China Poblanas Organization, City of Douglas Council, City of Douglas Youth Activity Fund, and the Southern Arizona Youth Football & Cheer League.

Desiree Rice

Douglas, Arizona

Desiree Rice moved to Douglas, AZ, in March 2020 from Seattle, WA, and opened a small business in June of 2020. In July of 2020 she started investing in the beautification of Douglas by starting clean-ups in areas where she noticed large amounts of garbage.  For Thanksgiving she collaborated with another small business and supplied a complete Thanksgiving meal for several Douglas families. During the Christmas holidays she and her husband Josh adopted several families in Douglas and provided the entire family with gifts; this is something she and her mom started years ago and has continued the tradition in honor of her mother who passed in 2018. Desiree has loved her new life in Douglas and has been an incredible asset to the community.

BARRE ROTARY CLUB

Barre City, Vermont

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rotary Club shifted away from its usual activities by offering opportunities for community members to come together in safe, socially-distant ways.  They provided frequent drive-in movies projected on the outside wall of the local skating fieldhouse, where families could get out for an evening’s entertainment while remaining safely in their own vehicles.  The Rotarians also established the Barre Art Splash, with art installations displayed along Main Street all summer long.  Members of the public could walk along and view the displays out in the open air.  Both offerings allowed people to reengage as a community while remaining safe during these extraordinary and trying times.

Our Town

Elkins, West Virginia

Our Town and its group of volunteers are constantly working to improve the Elkins area by celebrating the arts, promoting community-building activities, and organizing public festivals and entertainment events. Our Town works with many different organizations to bring interest and enjoyment to the downtown area. Each year they place decorative scarecrows and gnomes throughout town for people to enjoy. They even go the extra mile by sweeping dirt from the sidewalks or storefronts, pulling weeds, and talking to out-of-town visitors about Elkins and what it has to offer.

Reverand Jeremiah Jasper and Mike Brooks

Elkins, West Virginia

Rev. Jeremiah Jasper and Mike Brooks both have worked hard during the pandemic and before to ensure that the weekly Common Ground Meals at the Woodford Memorial UMC never stopped. They are also a part of the Backpack program at First UMC which at one point during the pandemic, the program was distributing over 270 meals each week to food-insecure families. This long-standing program has dedicated volunteers from across the community serving every school in Randolph County.

Chad Ware

Elkins, West Virginia

Chad Ware has worked tirelessly to keep our town safe over the past year and a half through the pandemic. Chad utilized his great organizational skills to put together a COVID vaccination clinic here in Elkins to help provide vaccines for those in need. His efforts have saved many lives in the community.

The Vickrey Family

Huntington, Indiana

Haley, Samson, Kate, Luci, and Phoebe Vickrey have volunteered their time in multiple events to benefit the City of Huntington in 2021 through the Parks Department and other community agencies. The Vickrey family has maintained a consistent presence in  ”Trail Patrol” by picking up trash and reporting safety concerns while enjoying the trails as a family. They also volunteered at the Fireworks Clean-Up and the Big Family Bash as a way to give back to their community. The City of Huntington is pleased to nominate this family unit as Extra Mile Heroes, demonstrating the importance of modeling volunteerism for the next generation.

Hickory Creek at Huntington

Huntington, Indiana

Hickory Creek at Huntington has volunteered in an ongoing capacity to engage members of its nursing facility in volunteerism through beautification of downtown Huntington. Not only has Hickory Creek demonstrated reliability in volunteerism, but they have gone above and beyond to include residents in service who greatly benefit from getting out in the community. Hickory Creek at Huntington continues to volunteer on a weekly basis to maintain all downtown flowers, covering four blocks, and has done so for two years.

Bill Moyer

Huntington, Indiana

Bill Moyer has gone above and beyond for the City of Huntington. Bill is the leader of Huntington County Disc Golf and has lead his group through the maintenance of two disc golf courses in our community while simultaneously planning events and volunteering his time as a coach to promote outdoor recreation within our parks. As of July, Bill has recorded 131 volunteer hours as an individual in 2021 and has demonstrated continued interest in preserving recreation opportunities in Huntington Parks.

Tammy Riley

Pikeville, Kentucky

Tammy Riley, Public Health Director, and the employees of the Pike County Health Department were vital to the fight against COVID-19.  Ms. Riley had been Public Health Director for approximately 3 months when the pandemic began, but her leadership was outstanding.  Ms. Riley and the staff at PCHD worked many, many hours educating the public, contract tracing, and providing care.  Without Ms. Riley and the PCHD employees, the public would not have had the knowledge and tools necessary to battle the pandemic.

Dr. Fadi Al Akhrass

Pikeville, Kentucky

Dr. Fadi Al Akhrass is being nominated as an Extra Mile Change Maker because of his relentless efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Aside from his work as an infectious disease physician, Dr. Al Akhrass worked diligently to provide accurate information to the public during the height of the pandemic.  He participated in numerous press conferences to discuss the disease, vaccines, hygiene measures, etc.  He also participated on a Pike County Health Department task force to battle the pandemic.

Donovan Blackburn

Pikeville, Kentucky

Donovan Blackburn, President & CEO of Pikeville Medical Center, truly went the extra mile during the pandemic.  Using his contacts in state government, Donovan secured the first doses of the vaccine and was the only medical center in eastern Kentucky in which they were available.  Likewise, he was able to secure the antibody treatments for this area as soon as they were available.  Because of Mr. Blackburn’s leadership and the employees of Pikeville Medical Center, who worked tirelessly to provide care, the people of Pikeville, KY, and the surrounding area received the best available care and were able to stay home, in this region, to receive care rather than traveling to more metropolitan areas.

TN Memphis Heroes

Memphis, Tennessee

Mayor Strickland would be thrilled to highlight the following local heroes here in Memphis:

Dr. Manoj Jain (Mid-South Infectious Disease)

Gina Sweat (City of Memphis – Chief of Memphis Fire Department)

Angie Shelton (City of Memphis – EMS Deputy Chief w/ Memphis Fire Department)

Doug McGowen (City of Memphis Chief Operating Officer)

Tiffany Collins (City of Memphis – Director of Strategic Initiatives)

Kevin Spratlin (Health Care Navigator)

Mayor Richard Strick

Huntington, Indiana

“Volunteering helps us get to know our neighbors and our neighborhoods. It’s where good intentions become good actions. Ultimately, it’s what helps us learn to love the place we call home.”

Mayor Mary Alexander-Basta

Bolingbrook, Illinois

“I always encourage our residents to engage and be a part of the community, and we have many that truly add to our vibrancy, making Bolingbrook a great place to live. But then there those that make their community a priority. They realize by serving the community first, good things will follow. By going this extra mile, their family and friends benefit from their dedication as well.”

Mayor Frank C. Ortis

Pembroke Pines, Florida

“Going the extra mile in our everyday lives is what makes our cities and communities special places to live, work and play,” said Pembroke Pines Mayor Frank C. Ortis.  “I am especially proud of our residents who have demonstrated in so many different ways how even through the simplest to the most impactful of actions, positive change can occur and lives are enhanced.”

Mayor Robert M. “Bobby” Dyer

Virginia Beach, Virginia

“To go the extra mile is to see an end point before a trip begins, enlist others in the quest to reach that destination, and leave no stone unturned along the way. When you think your work is done, take a 360-degree look around you to ensure that nothing is left undone, and to see new opportunities ahead.”

Mayor Eric Hass

Fort Thomas, Kentucky

“Fort Thomas is blessed with citizens who value education and community and ‘go the extra mile’ to continue be involved to help our city be the best it can be.”

Mayor Jan Kulmann

Thornton, Colorado

“Volunteers who devote time and energy in Thornton raise the quality of life for so many people. We value their effort and commitment to the people in our community so much. The spirit of volunteerism continues to be vital and we want these people to know that we appreciate them very much.”

Mayor Thomas Chandler

Bossier City, Louisiana

“In stressful times it is easy to pull back and settle in with the status quo. Those individuals and communities who choose to step up and go the extra mile pave the way to move from average to excellent and inspire others to do the same. Be the one moving toward excellence by stepping over the status quo and determining to go the extra mile in your days.”

Mayor Nancy Bauder

Leavenworth, Kansas

“To me, going the extra mile means exceeding expectations, not just meeting them.  This past year, Leavenworth City staff, businesses, our military residents and services, and our community non-profits exceeded expectations in providing safety and health to our community.   A few of our day care centers stayed open to provide safe care to children of essential workers.  I’m proud of how our City pulled together during this time.”

Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital Staff and President & CEO, Chris Palazzolo

Rochester Hills, Michigan

The lengths our healthcare professionals go to day in and day out to care for their patients is nothing short of heroic. The staff at Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital continually set aside their own comfort and concerns to attend to the comfort and concerns of others as they provide top notch medical care. They have gone more extra miles than we can count and we are immensely grateful.

Alpha Phi Alpha and Omega Fraternity

Dover, Delaware

Alpha Phi Alpha and Omega Fraternity help victims of the recent catastrophic tornado which stuck the City of Dover.

Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity

Dover, Delaware

Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity continues to build homes and rebuild neighborhoods, but moreover, they are building families in the City of Dover.

Robbins Hose Co. No. 1 ~Dover Fire Department

Dover, Delaware

Robbins Hose Co. No. 1 (Dover Fire Department) The men and women of this all-volunteer fire department serve the City of Dover as the only all volunteer fire department serving a State Capital in the United States.

Battalion Chief Roland Tenley

Peoria, Illinois

Chief Tenley has continuously gone above and beyond what is asked of him. Since the beginning of the Pandemic, he has dedicated countless hours to ensuring the health of not only our workforce but the community. Chief Tenley worked diligently and played a key role in securing a Federal Grant that will pay for several of our firefighters to become certified paramedics. Chief Tenley uses his own personal time to train/tutor Peoria Firefighters that are working their way through either EMT or Paramedic certifications. Because of his leadership and passion for EMS, the Peoria Fire Department has some of the best success rates in the nation when it comes to positive outcomes for cardiac patients in our community.

Ernest Starks

Peoria, Illinois

Ernest has been an integral part of the Peoria Park District’s ELITE Community Outreach Team. He started as an unpaid volunteer, later becoming assistant to the program’s founder. Ernest was usually the last person in the room when decisions concerning ELITE were made. Today, Ernest is part of the Peoria Park District’s Security Team. However, he continues to volunteer time with the ELITE Program. 

In 2018, Ernest was instrumental in creating the Elnora Lyons Community Garden, on the southside of Peoria that he passionate about revitalizing. 

Young people all over Peoria know and respect Mr. Starks. He has been known to get out of his bed to help search for a missing neighborhood child or show up to help diffuse possible violence between groups of young people.

Officer Aaron Watkins

Peoria, Illinois

Officer Aaron Watkins is assigned to the Peoria Police Dept, Special Investigations Division as the Case Coordinator.  As such, he liaisons with units inside the department and outside local, state and federal agencies along with maintaining communications with neighborhood associations, business owners, civic leaders and residents and their spokespersons in an effort to reduce crime and establish a feeling of safety in our neighborhoods.  He meets with victims of crimes and suspects to give them custom notifications concerning their incidents and the need not to retaliate. During these notifications, Officer Watkins coordinates with the department’s civilian Program Manager to make sure services are offered to victims and suspects. 

 Officer Watkins has for several years worked with a multitude of community groups creating new ideas and programs to assist those in need. He has implemented and assisted with programs like the General Education Degree (G.E.D.) program at the Proctor Center. This provides an opportunity for members of the community near the Proctor Center to receive education and guidance to better themselves and their future. Officer Watkins has also worked closely with the Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church on creating an outdoor movie wall with land purchased through auction. He even purchased an abandoned house next to the church and donated it to the church to allow for expanding ideas and plans going forward. These are just a snippet of what Officer Watkins does because he never wishes to be noticed for all his generosity and commitment to the community. His efforts give the community renewed hope, confidence, and spirit. We believe that these shining examples are why Officer Aaron Watkins is the perfect recipient for the Amazing Extra Mile Award.

Brianna Alexander

Southfield, Michigan

Brianna Alexander established a non-profit “Detroit Speak Up,”

a college and career readiness program for high school students. The program provides resources, scholarship and leadership opportunities to students.

Zell Randle and Avis Randle

Southfield, Michigan

Zell Randle and Avis Randle are the mother team who founded the non-profit “Living Brave Through Breast Cancer” to support women and men mentally, physically and financially who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Barbara & Thomas Latimer

Southfield, Michigan

Barbara and Thomas Latimer established a “grass roots” non-profit Thomara Latimer Cancer Foundation dedicated to the prevention, treatment, cure and care of pediatric and young adult patients and families providing support services, resources and funding and scholarships.

M. Jane Roberts

Southfield, Michigan

M. Jane Roberts is a “servant for all,” an activist and advocate for change. Ms. Roberts compiled a memorial book honoring men and women of color whose lives ended violently at the hands of law enforcement officers.