Ogo Egbuna, Research and Development
Volunteer for Conejo Free Clinic
With unemployment increasing and the economy continuing to struggle, the services of the Conejo Free Clinic and volunteers like Ogo Egbuna M.D. have become even more critical to the community. A transplant nephrologist, Dr. Egbuna spends two to three evenings per month seeing uninsured general medical patients who can't afford regular medical care. Dr. Egbuna is now working to add a kidney screening and education program to the clinic's list of services. "These are very hard times, but this is a free clinic with no eligibility criteria," he says. "If you are having a hard time, come over and we'll take care of you the best we can. There aren't many other ways to serve the community with such an immediate and significant impact."

Kim Larkins, Research and Development
Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County
On any given Saturday you'll find Kim Larkins building homes with Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County, serving as crew lead on the construction site, tackling any task — and ensuring that every volunteer has an outstanding experience. Larkins is also vice chair of the organization's board of directors. She recently adapted the group's strategic plan to the current economic climate while keeping it challenging and achievable, and she continues to participate in wall-raisings, home dedications, fundraising, grant writing, goal setting, project management and community outreach. "Habitat allows me the opportunity to work alongside the Habitat partner-families as they earn their sweat equity hours, an integral part of their commitment to Habitat homeownership," Larkins says. "The joy and the pride I feel as I help with construction have led me to find strengths and confidence I might not have found otherwise." Habitat homes are purchased by low-income families at affordable prices, thanks to volunteer labor, the support of community organizations, donation of land, and Habitat's no-profit, no-interest mortgages.

Chris Lindsay, Sales and Marketing
Volunteer for Girl Scouts of California's Central Coast
A former Girl Scout herself, Chris Lindsay leads both of her daughters' Girl Scout troops, changing the course of many girls' lives by recruiting, training and retaining members, developing programs, inspiring the girls to earn badges and other awards and helping manage cookie and fall product sales. Logging her volunteer hours, Lindsay used funds from earned Amgen Foundation Volunteer Service Grants to create Harvest Moon Overnight Adventure, a weekend camp that serves about 250 families. Under Lindsay's management, the Conejo Valley Service Unit received the 2009 President's Award for membership growth, diversity, communications and program delivery. "I agreed to do this for my girls, but I have found the most rewarding part is watching all the girls in the troop grow up, mature and become young confident women," Lindsay says. "These are girls who will rock the world one day!"

Bella Oguno, Research and Development
Volunteer for International Medical Relief
Floods, earthquakes and hurricanes not only leave behind material destruction; survivors often face physical and emotional scars that last a lifetime. In the wake of these natural disasters, International Medical Relief volunteers like Bella Oguno arrive on the scene delivering medical care and supplies and offering training and education on topics such as disease prevention, water purification, CPR and personal care. This summer, Bella spent eight days setting up medical clinics throughout Port-au-Prince, Haiti, directly improving the lives of more than 2,500 survivors of the January 2010 earthquake. She also managed a clinical pharmacy, helping to explain and dispense more than 4,000 unique prescriptions, each individually bagged and labeled with translated safety information. "It's critical to ensure the health and well being of those who have just survived a disaster," Bella says. "This experience has changed my perspective on life and my priorities."

Chris Wright, Worldwide Business Continuity & Crisis Management
Volunteer for National Disaster Search Dog Foundation
In the January 2010 Haiti earthquake aftermath, canine disaster search teams found and rescued nine people buried deep under the wreckage. Chris Wright can take great pride in his indirect role in saving their lives. He is the chair of the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation's board of directors and for its National Training Center committee. Wright shares his leadership and disaster preparedness planning and support expertise so that the staff can focus on what it does best: recruiting and partnering rescued dogs with firefighters and other first responders to find and save people during disasters. The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation not only trains the dogs — they ensure their lifetime care. In fact, Wright even adopted one of the dogs. Lukas, a handsome Black Labrador Retriever, who couldn't quite complete the training is now a very happy member of the Wright family.

Ralph Payne, Manufacturing
Volunteer for Livermore Fire Protection District
Ralph Payne could spend his free time — not to mention vacation days — immersed in safe hobbies like golf or gardening. Instead, this certified emergency medical technician is on call as a volunteer firefighter/EMT and Assistant Fire Chief for the Livermore Fire Protection District. Payne and his fellow volunteers answer about 100 calls annually ranging from motor vehicle accidents to structure and wildland fires. Payne covers 30 miles of highway and 310 square miles of rural Colorado, where the nearest medical center is almost an hour drive away — even longer in snowy months. "Rural areas need volunteers who can drop what they are doing, day or night, and run in and help set or splint bones, stop major bleeds or rescue people out of their crashed vehicles," Payne says. "It's nice to know that an ambulance or chopper is in route, but we get to people in need first and address their immediate life threats."

Susan McHugh, Sales and Marketing
Volunteer for Tammany Trace Foundation, Louisiana
Having a son with special needs, Susan McHugh knows firsthand the difficulty of finding a place where all three of her boys could play side by side. So she gathered other parents of special-needs kids and brainstormed the idea of a handicap-accessible playground. After speaking with numerous civic organizations, raising more than $400,000 in donations and overseeing the planning and building, Kids Konnection Playground was born. The playground, located in the Tammany Trace recreational corridor in Mandeville, La., is now complete and serves 80,000 visitors each year. McHugh serves on the Tammany Trace Foundation board and organizes special playground events. "Children and adults, with or without disabilities, socialize and play together at the Kids Konnection Playground," McHugh says. "It's a wonderful place!"

Matthew Weiss, Research and Development
Volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay
Without the mentoring friendship of Matthew Weiss, 13-year-old Bryan's life could have taken a very different turn by now. Weiss met Bryan through the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay, which matches more than 2,000 children, ages seven-14, from low-income, single-parent homes, with caring, qualified adults each year. Weiss regularly helps Bryan with his homework and school projects, demonstrating how hard work leads to ultimate success. But it's not all homework and no play. Weiss takes Bryan to Red Sox and Celtics games, museums and other interesting places to help enrich the boy's life. "I'm making a difference in the life of a child who has little or no advantages — and that's personally very rewarding to me," Weiss says. "My work with Bryan not only benefits him, I think it indirectly benefits the larger community."

Ana Delma Lebrón, Manufacturing
Volunteer for Puerto Rico Youth at Risk
Ana Lebrón helps at-risk youth take control of their lives and become productive, caring members of the community through Puerto Rico Youth at Risk. In 2007, Lebrón began her volunteer service as a mentor of young people, ages 13-17, who are at-risk for school dropout, teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse and delinquency. Lebrón's supportive twice-weekly phone calls and regular field trips inspire the youngster she mentors to identify and reach his goals. She now models leadership skills and attitudes to all the program's participants and even received the group's 2009 Volunteer of the Year Award. Plus, she serves as liaison between the group and Amgen staff. "This program makes a significant difference in helping youth make positive decisions," Lebrón says. "More than 95 percent of our participants complete high school. The organization is leaving a legacy in our society."

Richard Fitzpatrick, Security and Emergency Services
Volunteer for Neutaconkanut Hill Conservancy
Richard Fitzpatrick grew up close to the hiking trails, wildlife and scenic views of Neutaconkanut Hill near Providence and has watched the area evolve over the years. "This is still my neighborhood, and I would like to help improve it," he says. Fitzpatrick does just that as a Neutaconkanut Hill Conservancy volunteer, organizing and participating in clean ups, redefining and rerouting trails, adding natural railing to boost trail safety and constructing bird and bat houses for youngsters to erect in the forest. He even constructed natural stadium seating at the summit that overlooks the entire city. Fitzpatrick also helps organize volunteers, guides tours and gives frequent presentations to encourage more people throughout the state to take advantage of the natural beauty of the area.

Justine Dell'Aringa, Research and Development
Volunteer for Seattle Tilth Association
From garden crew volunteer to serving as board president, Justine Dell'Aringa definitely rolls up her sleeves as she nurtures the growth of Seattle Tilth. The organization inspires and educates people to garden organically, conserve natural resources, and support local food systems in order to cultivate a healthy urban environment and community.  Along with mentoring new gardeners, Dell'Aringa lends a hand at annual events, organizes fundraisers, and manages the Board of Directors. In one of her proudest achievements, she led the acquisition of Seattle Youth Garden Works, which teaches homeless youth job-training skills through gardening and selling produce at farmers' markets. Before Dell'Aringa stepped in, the group had folded due to insufficient funds. "Not only do we teach people how to grow and produce their own food — a basic skill that's been lost in our culture - we help people take their first steps toward living a more sustainable lifestyle, and we make it accessible and fun," she says.