Senators Dole and Daschle Announce 2012 Caring Award Winners

Press release (Oct. 22, 2012) — Senators Bob Dole and Tom Daschle, co-chairs of the Caring Institute, announced the 2012 Caring Award winners. These six amazing adults and six extraordinary youths are being acknowledged for their efforts to give back to society. They will be commemorated at the Caring Awards Ceremony at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., on Oct. 24., where they will be inducted into the Caring Hall of Fame.

"On behalf of our board of trustees, it is a great honor for us to pay tribute to these extraordinary people who have used their lives for the betterment of others," said Senator Dole. "They are wonderful role models who inspire us to be the best we can be," added Senator Daschle.

2012 Caring Award Adult Winners include:

• Wynona Ward, President, Have Justice Will Travel of Vershire, VT, who provides free legal service to low income women and children who are experiencing domestic abuse;
• Linda Smith, Founder and President, Shared Hope International of Vancouver, Washington, this former Congressional Representative is working to shut down child sex trafficking in the US;
• Amy Palmer, COO, Operation Homefront, San Antonio, Texas, as a disabled veteran, military spouse and mother, Amy started organizing volunteers after 9/11 to provide critical assistance to the families of newly deployed service members;
• Bruce Charash, Founder, Doc 2 Dock, New York City, NY, is medical doctor that wanted to use the thousands of tons of unused medical supplies that are thrown away daily in the US, to save lives in other countries; and
• Most Reverend Bishop Jean Marie, Fraternite Notre Dame, Chicago, Illinois, who started the Fraternite Notre Dame, an order devoted to charity and brotherly love after seeing a vision of the Virgin Mary.

2012 Annual Caring Award Young Adult Winners include:

• Alec Urbach, Founder, Giving from the Ground Up, Roslyn Heights, New York who at age 16 produces science curriculum videos and provides basic medical and dental supplies for needy children in Ghana and El Salvador;
• Kendall Ciesemer, Founder, Kids Caring 4 Kids, Wheaton, Illinois was moved when at age 11, she saw a show about African orphans and inspired 7,000 kids in the US to adopt 7,000 kids in Africa, raising over one million dollars, all while battling a rare liver disease herself;
• Kylie Kuhns, Founder, Kelsey's Dream, Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania started a Foundation after her older sister lost her battle with Leukemia, with the goal of making life brighter for children in need. At just 14, she helps children diagnosed with cancer, providing a snack pack program for children undergoing chemotherapy and a blanket program for children undergoing bone marrow transplants;
• Neha Gupta, Founder, Empower Orphans, Yardley, Pennsylvania found a passion for orphans after visiting them with family in India at age 9. She wanted to help them feel love and have an education and has since established four libraries, set up computer programs and conducted eye and dental clinics for 360 children; and
• Rujul Zaparde & Kevin Petrovic, Founders, Drinking Water for India, Plainsboro, New Jersey had a flash of insight when visiting India and seeing women and girls walking miles to get water. They have raised $1000 to build a well for the village and in less than four years, have built 47 wells that help over 80,000 people.

2012 Mother Teresa International Caring Award Winner includes:

• His Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama of Tibet for dedicating his life to promoting the values of caring, compassion and public service. His Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama was already presented with the award in a special ceremony, but will accept by video statement.

"It amazes me each year how caring andcompassionate people can be toward humanity in their willingness to change the world for the better," said Val J.Halamandaris, founder and executive director, of the Caring Institute. "I am so proud of our 12 extraordinary winners and the great work they do here in the United States and all over the world."