Celebration of Heroes
Island foundation honors acts of service
By Paula Peters
Monday July 17, 2000
OAK BLUFFS -When Jesse Taylor was having trouble sleeping one night last year,
she joined her parents watching the late news.
She was appalled by what she saw, the children of Sudan with bellies distended
from hunger, people so famished they were dying on their feet. "I wanted to give
them all of my allowance," - she said.
But that just wasn't enough to make a difference, so the 10-year-old Oak Bluffs
girl began a
campaign to raise money to deliver food to the starving people of Sudan. So far,
telephone Solicitations, yard sales,
the raffle of a used car and her allowance have totaled more than $1,100.
Last night, she was among more than 35 people from each of six island towns to
be honored in the Stone Soup Foundation's Celebration of Heroes, The ceremony was
held at the Oak Bluffs Tabernacle and hosted by Walter Cronkite.
These are otherwise ordinary folks who do ordinary things, but seem to do them
above and beyond the call of duty," Cronkite said. He said recognizing the unsung
heros of a community is the secret ingridient of Stone Soup, a fabled soup that
fed the world.
"They challenge us to respond in kink," the veteran television anchorman said.
Founded five years ago in Vineyard Haven to develop curriculum and educational
programs to promote volunteerism, community spirit and empower young people to
create a better world. The Stone Soup Foundation has established programs in cities,
churches and schools across the country.
The foundations executive director, Marianne Larned, is also the author of "Stone
Soup for the World: Life Changing Stories of Kindness & Courageous Acts of Service.
The Celebration of Heroes project was integrated into the island school system,
where the children solicited nominations from each community throughout the year.
In each town a winner was chosen in the youth, adult, senior, business, and seasonal
resident categories.
Jesse was recognized as the first youth winner from Oak Bluffs. She also received
the first Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. award.
Cronkite also was recognized as a seasonal resident of Edgartown and received a
special recognition from Oxfam-America.
"I'm honored but I'm embarrassed too," Cronkite said. "It's a little like being
given a box of candy for having eaten a box of candy.
Several hundred islanders attended the event, which also honored people like
Helen Lamb, Camp Jaberwocky founder, who was cheered by campers. The camp was
established on the island 50 years ago for people with disabilities.
"She saw people in need and just had to do something," said camp volunteer
Ron Wooley. "She is an amazing woman. She is definitely one of my heroes."
An award in the business category went to Chilmark Chocolates, where the owners
have been employing people with disabilities to make and sell candy for 15 years.
Sixteen-year-old Maxwell Butler of Aquinnah was honored for his efforts to create
a weather station at both the West Tisbury Charter School and in Aquinnah. Linked
to the Internet, radio and television stations, Butler's stations have put the
island on the weather map.
Community service, especially on an island is critical, said Butler, who hopes
other students strive to become a Stone Soup hero.
"In the community where we live, it is so small and so interdependent, community
service is very important," he said, "and it gives you a really good feeling."
Cronkite says he hopes the program will elevate the values of human kind. Humans
would be nothing if they are not their brothers' and sisters' keepers."
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