Cheri Norman
Cheri is the mother of six kids, ranging from age 11 to 31, whose favorite thing is “to be a Mom”. She has three step grandchildren, 3 biological grandchildren, and two on the way. While taking care of her big family, Cheri has been going to USM for many years to follow her dream of becoming a nurse. She also works for a residential program assisting young adults with developmental disabilities, and makes ends meet by working as a waitress. Cheri excels at everything she does...as a worker, student, neighbor, wife, mother, and grandmother.
Shelley Douglas
Shelley Works at Nelson & Small in Portland and was a recipient of the Irving E. Small Memorial Award, honoring an individual displaying an ongoing commitment to self improvement, both personally, and professionally. According to Shelley’s husband of 29 years she is: patient, understanding, kind, faithful, thoughtful, appreciative, honorable, responsible, encouraging, motivational, and loving. And Shelley is not rude, irritable, or selfish. If a wife can make it 29 years without being rude or irritable to her husband, than she deserves recognition!
Lorraine Blow
If there is one word to describe Lorraine it would be “caretaker”. When her daughter was in a car accident, Lorraine quit her job to stay at home and take care of her daughter and two year old grandson. When Lorraine’s sister had stage 4 cancer, Lorraine took a leave of absence to be with her day and night. Lorraine took her Mother into her home fifteen years ago and cared for her through Alzheimers, congestive heart failure, and renal failure her until she passed. Even now she she takes care of both of her grandchildren after work so her daughter, a single Mom, can work two jobs. Not many people would do what Lorraine has done time after time in caring for others.
Lisa Nash
Lisa has worked for the Maine Department of Corrections for over 25 years. She inspired her daughter to go into the same field, and in 2006, together they earned their Masters Degrees in Criminal Justice. Lisa is well known in the local criminal justice community, and is getting national acclaim as straight forward, practical, and passionate. She is a long time board member of several non-profits, is part of a book club, and a local church. She is a Mother, Grandmother, and has always taught her family about the importance of volunteering and contributing to the community. She has lived the golden rule and does not judge people by their mistakes, but rather by their positive contributions to the world.
Peg Bradstreet
For over 25 years Peg has led a fetal loss support group through Maine Medical Center. She has brought comfort to hundreds of families who have lost children. With her calming manner, and sensitive, caring demeanor, she helps people get through a time of indescribable pain. Peg has shown true compassion, infinite wisdom, and unwavering dedication in supporting those who need it along a heartbreaking journey. It takes a special person to touch so many lives, and Peg continues to do so with her Monday night fetal loss support groups.
Chiara Tomasello
Chiara really makes an impression on people because the person who nominated her is her ex-husband! Chiara is 25 years old and has put herself through nursing school while raising her young son as a single Mother. Chiara has shown great perseverance in the face of adversity and after having her son wanted to get in shape, so in addition to going to school and being a stay at home Mom, she went on a weight loss program and lost over 100 lbs., which she has kept off to this day. Chiara now has her RN license and is a great nurse as well as a great Mom. Just ask her ex-husband!
Heidi Holloway
Heidi has been a lot of things to a lot of people, the world over, from orphanage volunteer to isolated island teacher. She spent 3 years sailing the Pacific with her husband in a 24 ft. engineless sailboat before settling down on Cliff Island, off the Coast of Portland, to teach in the one room schoolhouse. Heidi is a wife, mother, adventurer, and teacher who livens up the lives of all that have contact with her.
Sarah Nelson
Sarah is the event coordinator for the World Adult Kickball Association. From her home office she plans kickball tournaments for the nearly 100,000 players around the country. In addition Sarah is a successful entrepreneur who runs her own marketing firm for doctors and dentists. Sarah also works hard to maintain her own fitness and personal health. She works out every day, does power yoga, hikes, and loves running around Back Bay. Sarah makes life fun for those around her. She is excited to wake up each day, and her only complaint is there are not enough hours in the day.
Leslie Morisette
On Christmas Eve 1997 Leslie and her husband lost their eight year old son, Graham, to leukemia. Having endured the worst fate that can happen to a parent, Leslie gained strength from her tragedy through an idea she had to help others in similar situations. Knowing that critically ill children and their families are often are isolated from famiy, school, and loved ones, Leslie founded the “Grahamtastic Connection”, a program to provide free internet access and computers to families going through this difficult time. What started as a small pipe dream has blossomed into a program with a board of directors and non-profit status. Leslie works tirelessly and without pay to teach others about the insurmountable power of love.
Wendy Sapuan
Wendy is an expert at balancing a demanding workload and a busy family. She is an area manager for a retail company who puts in 55 to 60 hours a week and travels all over New England two or three times a week. Even when she is at home she must spend time on conference calls and e-mail. Yet she is able to make her husband and 4 year old daughter her priority. Wendy’s husband holds two jobs and is a two sport coach, but Wendy still manages to take care of her daughter without a babysitter, and plan fun activities and trips for her family. Wendy’s life may be her job, but her family is her life.
Kirsten Rossner Buchanon
In August of 2007, while pregnant with her 4th child, Kirsten learned that her oldest son, Cole, 6 years old, had Type 1 diabetes. While trying to keep Cole’s life as normal as possible, Kirsten immersed herself in the disease and it has become her life’s work. She founded the “Dash for Diabetes”, now in its second year, and Kirsten and Cole were selected to go to Washington DC, where they personally brought their message about diabetes relief to President Obama, Senators Collins and Snowe, and Representative Pingree. Some people are able to take something terrible and turn it into something positive. Kirsten is one of those people.
Patricia Stevens
Patricia is a licensed medical assistant who works at the University of New England health center. Without her the center would be in disarray. She schedules appointments, makes all the medical charts, organizes flu clinics, runs lab tests, handles the billing, deals with insurance companies, takes care of patients, and most importantly, makes sure that every student on campus is compliant with state and school vaccine regulations. She is hard working and dedicated to medicine, and is an amazing role model for both the students and faculty.
Mary Norbert
Mary is a giver. She always goes out of her way to share kindnesses with friends, family, and total strangers. Several years ago Mary invited her elderly Aunt to move into her home so she could care for her. She is now 99 years old, and Mary has cared for her through injuries and illnesses. Mary also visits people in need, from an elderly former teacher, to a colleague in Boston who had undergone surgery, always there with homemade soup, or lasagna, or brownies. Every Christmas Mary makes a Secret trip to the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital with a bag of treats for the kids. On her own birthday, Mary makes donations to local soup kitchens. Her philosophy is “In the end, only kindness matters”.
Corey Hascall
Corey is a selfless force of nature when it comes to causes she believes in. Her activism knows no bounds. Mary volunteers for phone banks for Equality Maine. She served as Campaign Manager for Ethan Strimling’s campaign for U.S. Congress. She managed the Yes on 7 Campaign to save Maine’s Working Waterfront, as well as the Casino’s No campaign, and she is the Executive Director of “A Rising Tide”, a non-partisan, not-for-profit leadership training institute for young people. Her passion for what she knows to be right and correct is unmatched. I addition to her civic work, Corey is always there for the people in her life, knowing that a good hug is as important as fighting the good fight.
Kristie Leighton
Kristie is a young woman who has seen a lot of ups and downs in her life and continues to smile. She is the Mother of 5 children, (2 biological, and 3 stepchildren). She recently graduated from Andover College with her Medical Assistant Degree. While she was going to school, she worked part time and was a Mom full time. Her husband got laid off toward the end of school, and even though money was tight, Kristie still made life great for her family, taking the kids on nature hikes, and whipping up delicious meals out of nothing. While others complain about their situation, Kristy continues to be an inspiration to those around her.
Jolene Littlehale
Jolene is the principal of the Woodstock Elementary School in Bryant Pond, Maine. She has been teaching for over 20 years, and constantly goes above and beyond her duty as principal. She is an active member of the PTA, attending every meeting, and volunteers for endless hours of collecting, sorting, and delivering bottles. She spends her summer vacation working at the local transfer station so she can purchase items for the school or help fund field trips that the district cannot afford. She knows each student and family, and even knows their pets’ names. In seasons when no soccer coach is available, she steps in and coaches, and goes so far as to provide transportation for students who need it. She is the best role model, teacher, and friend that any parent could want for their child.
Elizabeth Carr
Elizabeth put her dreams on hold to raise her young family. The family moved almost every two years because of her husband’s job, and wherever they went Elizabeth would make sure the kids were adjusting. In Virginia she volunteered with the church and theater group, in Gray she was the high school volunteer coordinator, in New Orleans she volunteered at the animal shelter, and in Australia she was the garden guide at the botanical center. This past summer, Elizabeth finally decided it was time to realize her dream, and being an artist, she opened an art colony in Brunswick, and teaches art classes to children and parents. Elizabeth has shown that you can achieve your dreams, even if it takes a while.
Kerry Hammond
In 2006 Kerry lost her husband to a brain tumor, leaving her to care for her three sons, ages 17, 12, and 9 by herself. Somehow, as a single Mom, she managed to juggle the three boys’ busy schedules and run a before and after school homecare service. The kids and parents in her program love her like family. Last year Kerry helped organize a 5k run/walk in Craig’s memory called “Rise Up”, and was instrumental in finding another family going through what hers had gone through to donate the money to. Despite her own setbacks, Kerry is always caring, and doing for others.
Julie Jordan Marchese
When Julie’s Mother was diagnosed with cancer in 2000, Julie was leaving her job as VP of Foodservice Sales at Jordan’s Meats. She cared for her Mom during her journey back to health, and then started giving to others. She began by becoming the chair of the Cure Breast Cancer for M.E. luncheon event that takes place every October for breast cancer survivors, now in its 8th year. In 2004 Julie was herself diagnosed with breast cancer, and took the challenge head on. After treatment she decided to do a triathlon to make her feel whole again. She loved it so much she founded her own all women’s triathlon called “Tri for a Cure”. In the past two years the “Tri for a Cure” has raised $675,000 for the Maine Cancer Foundation. Julie truly knows what it means to not only survive, but to thrive.
Holly Guy
Holly is an independent, nurturing, understanding, friendly, and community oriented woman. For the past 4 year’s she has been the Director of the Yarmouth Clam Festival. The event is run by volunteers and it takes an organized person, full of pizzazz and patience to adapt to the community’s needs. Not only is Holly a working woman, but she is also a mother of 5, and grandmother of 2, and she cares for her parents who are 88 and 94 years old. Holly is a giver to her community, friends, and family, who will stop at nothing to offer her services.
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