DOLLIE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR 2012:
Each year we award The Dollie Volunteer of the Year Award. Â This award, voted on by her peers, is in recognition of the Dollie Volunteer who we all feel most demonstrates through her actions day in and day out, the true meaning of our motto: Â To Give is to Receive.
The 2012 Dollie Volunteer of the Year Award was awarded to: Â Marsha Beaver.
Marsha has been involved in dollies since the very first meeting back in spring of 2010.  Marsha quickly established herself as talented in the area of trim and decoration, often taking work home with her after the weekly meeting.  She co-chaired the silent auction portion of the 2011 Dollie Fundraiser, and then chaired the entire silent auction in 2012.  Her careful and methodical manner of organization led us to ask Marsha to serve as our Treasurer, and her enthusiasm and dedication to “all things dollie” gave her a seat at the table of the Board of Directors. Marsha is a valued member who always arrives ready & willing to work, and never misses an opportunity to be of service.
DOLLIE DO GOODER AWARDS 2012:
December marked the awarding of the 2012 Dollie Do Gooder Awards. During the previous week, each dollie member carefully reviewed a list of the over 50 recipient persons/organizations which either transported or received our dollies & colorful teddy bears during 2012.  Each member narrowed down their selections to three (3) which they felt deserved to receive a Dollie Do Gooder Award.  Thanks go to Denise Melas for receiving each member’s votes, and tabulating results. On December 13 Cindy announced the top three (3) vote getters and they are as follows:
Third (3rd) place: Â Children’s Surgery International, based in Minneapolis MN Â
 Awarded: $500
Dr Tim Lander is a pediatric ENT-facial plastic surgeon who travels worldwide on medical mission trips with a group of fellow medical professionals from the Children’s Speciality Center in Minneapolis.  Their work involves repairing clef palate and other craniofacial disorders on children. During 2012, Dollies Making A Difference sent dollies & teddys with this organization to Liberia and to Bangladesh.Â
Children’s Surgery International * Medical Arts Building * 825 Nicollet Mall, Suite 706 * Minneapolis, MN 55402
www.childrenssurgeryintl.org  contact person: Sue Baysden   email: info@childrenssurgeryintl.org
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Tied for First (1st) place: Â Violence Intervention Center, East Los Angeles CAÂ
Awarded: $1000
This hospital based program located within LAC+USC Medical Center, provides care and counseling to over 20,000 individuals a year, many of whom are children, who are brought into the center by the police because they are suspected to have suffered from some form of physical and/or emotional abuse. Â During 2012 Dollies Making A Difference has also responded to VIP’s call for additional donations such as clean clothes, socks, toys, pencils, crayons and books.
Violence Intervention Program (VIP) * 1721 Griffin Avenue * Los Angeles, CA Â 90031
www.violenceinterventionprogram.org  contact person, executive director: Dr Astrid  Heer, M.D.  email: contact@vip-cmhc.org
Tied for First (1st) place: The Children’s Burn Foundation Los Angeles
Awarded: $1000
The Children’s Burn Foundation came to us through a connection with Palisadian Laine Waggenseller, who took our dollies & teddys with him on a humanitarian mission to Bringing Hope to the Family school & housing program  in southwest Uganda.  While visiting the orphans who reside there, Laine befriended a young man Adolf, who was a resident in the orphanage.  Adolf was a 12 year old boy who suffered abuse at the hands of his aunt who inflicted such severe burn injuries to his legs that he could no longer walk or stand upright.  Upon his return to the USA, Laine shared Adolf’s story with medical professionals at The Children’s Burn Foundation, who subsequently brought him to Los Angeles for treatment.  When not at the hospital, Adolf resides with Laine’s brother’s family in Pacific Palisades, CA.
Children’s Burn Foundation * 5000 Van Nuys Blvd, Suite 450 * Sherman Oaks, CA Â 91403
childburn.org     contact person, executive director: Ms. Carol Horvitz