Award Ceremony Comments by Michael F. Pitsch

Thank you, Hello and Hola,

I am pleased today to accept this award on behalf of the hundreds of volunteers who have given their time over these past seven years and more than fifty volunteers who do this work week in and week out.

During this time we have provided thousands of computers to schools, public, private, and parochial; daycares, preschools, church Sunday schools, after school programs, charter schools, and home schools as well as non-profit organizations who work with children. This work has been and continues to be, emotionally lucrative.

Recently, we were given the opportunity to provide these computer systems to families who came to us with three things in common, a limited income, limited education, and a desire to do something about that. They left us with one thing in common, a computer, coupled with training, support and an Internet connection. They left us with a tool by which they could improve their education and that of their children, and learn the skills necessary to improve their income. This has been an even more rewarding experience for all involved.

Those of you, who know my time on the school board, know that I am not known for brevity. But please allow me this indulgence to identify those volunteers with us here today:

Haylie Vaughn, volunteer, intern and now employee and also a mom and a student striving to improve herself and succeeding.

Gerry Hagen, a Carthage college honor student who gives him time without a thought

Damon Menzie, a dad and student who is on his way to becoming an outstanding technician

Gustavo Salazar, Sandra Garza and Luis Serna who did an outstanding job with Spanish language translation, interpretation and bilingual teaching.

Tom Maher who brought his wisdom and energy to this project
Charlie Baumeister, Charlie B., who has attributes all volunteer groups should have, a retired guy with a pickup truck and trailer. Who just kept showing up for the past six years and helping us tremendously

And also the many volunteers who could not be here this evening, but continue to work in support of this program, especially Kristoff Ausderau, an energetic and brilliant young man from western Wisconsin, who came to help us here in Racine for a year as an AmeriCorps Vista volunteer. He was clearly the force that made this program work.

And our two current Vista volunteers, Andy Laubenthal, an Iowa farm boy and Kevin Krejci, a plumber’s son, from Milwaukee who have also come here to Racine to be a part of this mission and help us do this important work. These educated and dedicated young men continue to support this ongoing program and to expand our reach which always seems to exceed our grasp.

And last but not least, my wife of 24 years, Deb (please stand) who has done her share of volunteering and most importantly has tolerated this passion of mine for this mission I have undertaken for these past many years.

In closing, I would be remiss if I did not challenge each and every one of you here today, to help us. To help us do this very important work. This work requires effort, talent, sacrifice and certainly funding. We have a talented and dedicated volunteer force, both local and imported, to do this work. But we need your support to make sure that everyone can participate in our democratic process and our social progress.

Someone once said that when we all do well, we ALL do WELL.

Thank You