MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Many of us take things like making friends or living independently for granted. When one Twin Cities mom felt her daughter wouldn’t have the same opportunities as others, she did something about it.

So, WCCO’s Amelia Santaniello surprised Denise Martin with a $500 check from US Bank. It’s our way of thanking her for “Making a Difference” in the lives of young adults who have special needs.

Martin’s daughter, Natalie, has a learning disability. Martin felt her daughter Natalie was isolated and not easily connecting with others her age.

“They’re a hidden population within the community and they live at home with their parents,” said Martin. “I thought there’s got to be a way to connect the computer and friends that are like her.”

There was a way.

Six years ago, Denise started this project of love: an online niche group, called Bridging Hearts.

“In researching this, there is nothing like this,” said Martin. “There’s nothing with an online connection and events where they can get together locally.”

The online community has fostered friendships between Natalie and its 45 other members.

In fact, it’s how she became friends with her roommate Kelly.

“We had problems before in high school or whenever in school, we can just talk and chat about those issues,” said Natalie.

The group does more than chat online. Members have social events and have gone on trips together.

“It’s been a relief to know she now has friends and a connection with people who are like her and she’s happy,” said Martin.

Martin meets with every member of Briding Hearts and helps set up their profile.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — It’s not unusual for grandparents to be active in their grandchildren’s lives.

But when they go from grandparent, to parent it can be tough.

Robin Hurley has been raising her grandchildren for the last five years.

WCCO has teamed up with US Bank to thank her for Making a Difference in their lives.

Mike Binkley surprised her with the good news. Watch the video above.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Nearly 12 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with cancer. The ugly disease has been the call to action for a junior at the University of Minnesota.

To say Zach Morris is an overachiever would be an understatement. WCCO-TV and US Bank were happy to honor his dedication to Making a Difference.

Morris was quick to tell us, he doesn’t like bragging about himself. Morris is involved in more than a dozen organizations at the U, all while maintaining a 3.7 GPA with a double major in biology and physiology.

Last week, WCCO’s Jason DeRusha surprised Morris with the Making a Difference award during a Camp Kesem Minnesota meeting.

Morris has also helped organize the school’s Relay for Live. It’s the eighth largest relay in the country and has raised more than $220,000 for cancer research at the University of Minnesota.

When asked why he does it, Morris points to one of the influential people in his life.

“Most people talk about who they lost, or who’s currently going through the battle. I always say I relay for my grandma. She doesn’t have cancer, but cancer has had the worst effect on her. She lost her brother, sister and husband to cancer,” Morris said.

That heartache fueled action. Morris is driven by finding a cure in the near future and by making a difference in people’s lives now.

Morris’ newest labor of love is founding Camp Kesem Minnesota, a free summer camp for kids whose parents have or had cancer.

“Cancer is terrible and has all these horrible effects. We’re able to provide something, and they’re able to get something good out of their cancer treatment,” Morris said of the kids who attend the camp. “The families have told us it changes their kid forever. In an email one parent said Camp Kesem is the best thing that cancer ever did for them.”

One thing his family and friends constantly ask isn’t of his time, they ask how he juggles it all.

“I like to stay busy,” Morris laughed.

The chaotic schedule is welcomed by Morris. He says he gets more out of these opportunities than he ever imagined.

“I make some sacrifices, too. I don’t go out every weekend like a bunch of people in college, and I don’t get to go to all the football games. But I wouldn’t trade a football game for doing Making Strides Against Breast Cancer ever. I would rather be volunteering with Camp Kesem or American Cancer Society or anything than sitting on Facebook,” he said.

Because this is Camp Kesem’s first summer in Minnesota, it needs campers. Organizers are hoping to get 40 kids enrolled. It’s open to kids ages 6 through 13 whose parents have or were treated for cancer. For more information, visit minnesota@campkesem.org.

Camp Kesem’s Facebook Page

By Amelia Santaniello, WCCO-TV

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (WCCO) — Twice a month, WCCO-TV gets to do something pretty fun — surprise someone who’s helping others. This week’s Making a Difference award is going to Ron Johnson who volunteers his time at a non-profit that helps people transition out of poverty and homelessness.

“This is high quality,” said Johnson, a retired high school teacher as he helps Desiree Pedersen pick out furniture for her new place.

When WCCO showed up at Bridging, an organization that help people furnish their homes, Johnson thought he was being filmed for a story on the non-profit.

But midway through the shoot, WCCO’s Amelia Santaniello lets Johnson know the real reason they were there: to present him with the Making a Difference award. 

Within seconds, he handed the $500 check, from WCCO and American Equity Mortgage, over to Bridging founder Fran Heitzman.

“Well, you know where that money’s going,” said Johnson. ”Bridging, all the way.”

Johnson taught for more than 30 years at Bloomington Kennedy High School. When he retired, he started volunteering at Bridging. Twelve years later, he’s logged more than 3500 hours.

“When good people get together and do good things, then good things happen,” said Heitzman. ”Good things happen here every single day, because of good people.”

Johnson is one of those good people. His friendly personality sets clients and fellow volunteers at ease.

“He’s funny,” said Executive Director Sara Sternberger. “He always has a little quip as you’re coming through.”

Johnson can’t imagine spending his Wednesday and Thursday mornings anywhere but Bridging.

“This is a place where people who like to give to others come. And then there’s nice people who don’t have it as fortunate as us and they need some help,” he explained. ”And we can give it, and they’re as nice as anybody you wanna meet. So, it’s a win-win, totally, every day.”

Click here for more information on the non-profit Bridging.

Paula Engelking, Producer
Contact Paula

By Amelia Santaniello, WCCO-TV

EDINA, Minn. (WCCO) – A few years ago, local choreographer Matthew Michael Ferrell fell in love with the documentary Young at Heart. The film follows a group of New England seniors who sing rock music. Ferrell saw it 10 times.

Finally, he decided to try to see if any older Minnesotans would be interested in singing music by more modern artists like Queen, the Bee Gees and Aretha Franklin.

Fast-forward to March 2011.

Alive and Kickin’, a 23-member singing group, marked its one-year anniversary. Ferrell loves how his experienced singers lend new meaning to lyrics.

“When they sing these words like, ‘We are the champions,’ ‘Staying Alive’ is another song we do,” said Ferrell. ”It really means something when you’re 94 years old.”

WCCO’s Amelia Santaniello surprised Ferrell with a Making a Difference Award at rehearsal on Monday in the sanctuary of Edina Morningside Community Church. Ferrell’s prize is a $500 check from WCCO-TV and American Equity Mortgage.

“I can’t believe it,” said Ferrell. “Who did this?”

It was 71-year-old Jan Blegen’s idea to nominate Ferrell. Blegen said the weekly rehearsals are a high point in her week.

“When you get up and sing, I just forget everything including my bad back and everything that bothers me,” said Blegen. ”I forget about it.”

Blegen and her fellow choir members put on an impromptu mini-chorus for us.  Their founder was right. When the senior belt out Queen’s lyrics about life, it does mean more:

            But it’s been no bed of roses
            No pleasure cruise -
            I consider it a challenge before the whole human race -
            And I ain’t gonna lose -

            We are the champions – my friends
            And we’ll keep on fighting – till the end -
            We are the champions -
            We are the champions
            No time for losers
            ‘Cause we are the champions – of the world -

Ferrell has the group performing tunes most of the group’s members don’t know — songs like Respect, Born to Be Wild and Forever Young.

So far, they’ve done mostly nursing home gigs and corporate shows. They’re currently getting ready for a three-show engagement this summer at the Old Arizona Theater.

The oldest member of Alive and Kickin’ is 93-year-old Cal Sathre.

“I’ve been singing all my life in choirs, male choruses, solo work — this is more inspirational than anything I’ve ever done,” said Sathre.

For a few hours every Monday, thanks to Ferrell, the chorus members don’t fell old, achy or ill.

“It’s like all of that goes away,” said Ferrell. “For those three, four hours, whatever it is, we just get to live.”

For more information on Alive & Kickin’, you can e-mail them at aliveandkickin1@yahoo.com.

Paula Engelking, Producer
Contact Paula

By Amelia Santaniello, WCCO-TV

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Twice a month, WCCO teams up with American Equity Mortgage to give out the “Making a Difference” award to honor those people who make our community better. The winner gets a prize of $500 to spend any way he or she wants.

In 2000, when Ashley Van Oert was 12, she lost her dog Coco. She was crushed, but her Mom told her to start something positive in her dog’s memory.

Last year, she did it. She started Coco’s Heart Dog Rescue whose mission is to help pets find foster and “forever” homes.

That’s why she’s the winner of a Making a Difference Award.

“You don’t have your own building, so you have to rely on people in their own homes,” said Van Oert, Making a Difference Award Winner. “We rely on everyone here to house them until we have a forever home.”

Judy Bartel nominated Van Oert.  Bartel is a teacher at Van Oert’s alma mater, Hill Murray, and now she’s a pet foster parent.

“They don’t just take puppies that are very easily adoptable,” said Bartel. “They take pit bulls, they take cats.”

The Coco’s Heart crew will even take on a three-legged dog like Moose.

Right now they’re looking for homes for around 50 dogs and a couple cats.

Since getting started last May, Van Oert and her friends have found homes for 150 pets.

“It’s fantastic, and it’s really good when you see these little guys have a good fresh start and finally have a family of their own,” she said.

If you’re looking for pet — or you’d like to help out by fostering one, click here.

If you know someone who’s making a difference in our community — let us know about them with a nomination form.

Paula Engelking, Producer
Contact Paula

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – When Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot, the whole country started talking about it, including Ellen Silva and the knit blogging community.

“It got us talking about the hate language that’s out there and what could we do about it,” she said.

Along with another blogger, she came up with the idea for Warm Hats, Not Hot Heads. The plan — to send every member of Congress a hand-knit hat along with a note, asking them to lay off the hateful speech.

“‘Warm Hats, Not Hot Heads is a knitter’s response to the current heated rhetoric,” Silva said. “We feel it’s getting in the way of actually getting the job done.”

Knitters from all across the country have signed up to make hats for lawmakers. There’s even an ex-patriot in Germany taking part.

“We know, it’s a small thing, but small things add up,” Silva said.

For her efforts, Silva was the recipient of the Making A Difference Award, which includes a $500 prize. But the big check wasn’t her only surprise. The Wisconsin knitter who told us about Silva’s work was also in attendance to bring her the good news.

They met for the first time, and like knitters do, they complimented each other’s sweaters.

“To think that it had enough of an impact on you that you would do this,” Silva said to her nominator, Kathryn Keinholz.

“Well, I was trying to get you publicity,” Keinholz said with a laugh.

Even though the hats aren’t on lawmakers’ heads yet, Silva is convinced the project’s already made a difference.

“We’re hearing people say, you know, I really disagree with this person’s politics, I really don’t like them, but I’m knitting a hat for them,” she said. “How can I not think of them as a human being?”

For more information about Warm Hats, Not Hot Heads, click here.

Paula Engelking, Producer
Contact Paula

By Amelia Santaniello, WCCO-TV

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — The woman who nominated Jane Lundquist told us about Lundquist’s Maple Grove home.

“Her house has been home to many who just needed a little help ’til they could get a job, or whatever it was, to get back on their feet,” wrote Sara Subby. “Rent free and full of trust, love and respect.”

Subby, who’s best friends with Lundquist’s daughter, thought Lundquist deserved the Making a Difference award, which WCCO-TV and American Equity Mortgage give out twice a month. Subby was right.

I surprised Lundquist at Segue, her non-profit coffee shop in downtown Minneapolis. She saw me and headed back to her office.

“No, don’t run away,” I said. “We want to thank you for making a difference in our community and in the lives of younger people, and we want to present you with a check for $500.”

“No way,” she said, shaking her head.

Subby described Lundquist as an “arts and crafty stay-at-home Mom,” who decided to create a safe place for young people to gather.

When Segue opened at its original location in Maple Grove, Lundquist started spotting young adults who hung out and didn’t leave until the shop closed.

“They’re like lost kids and don’t have a place to stay,” she said. “And there’s not a whole lot in the Northwest suburbs for them.”

Lundquist and her husband Joel opened their home to many of those “lost kids,” even a few who had spent time in jail or prison.

“Other people in the family and friends of ours have a harder time believing that we’re doing this then,” said Joel. “We don’t think it’s a big deal.”

Try telling that to Christi Brown, who’s spent the past year and a half living in the Lundquist’ basement.

“She totally has changed my life,” said Brown.

I told her we need more Janes in this world.

“We sure do,” said Brown. Smiling, she added, “I’m trying to be one.”

Paula Engelking, Producer

Contact Paula

By Amelia Santaniello, WCCO-TV

ST. PAUL (WCCO) — Twice a month, WCCO-TV gets to do something pretty fun — surprise someone who’s helping others. This week’s Making a Difference award is going to a librarian. Not just any librarian — Marilyn Mauritz believes in second chances even if you goofed up and lost a book.

Misplaced books and mounting fines — they’re enough to make you stop using the library. That’s when you could use a “fixer” like Mauritz.

When the Humboldt High School librarian’s not helping kids find books, she’s helping them get back in good graces with the public library.

“I worked at the public library for eight years as my second job, so I know how to kind of get some help there,” she said.

Her friend, Dianne Hopen, nominated Mauritz for the award.

“And she’ll call and say, that was in another lifetime, they were little, they were young, they didn’t understand,” said Hopen.

“So we go down there and clear up their record, then I get ‘em a library card, and get ‘em back on track,” said Mauritz.

Mauritz isn’t just a “fixer.”  She’s a “finder.”

“When you talk with her, she’ll say, ‘Oh I went to Barnes and Noble, I went to this bookstore, I went to that book store, I went to Half-Price and I got this book for this one kid and I didn’t think I was going to find it,” recalled Hopen “Or I ordered these and I asked them to rush it, because if I don’t get that book to those kids by tomorrow, I might lose ‘em.”

Even the students at Humboldt feel there isn’t a book out there that she can’t track down.

Mauritz stocks a lot of Mangas — graphic novels, perfect for her kids, most of whom speak English as their second language.

Marilyn Mauritz is a librarian who doesn’t just love books. She loves the people who read them too.

Mauritz is so devoted to her students that she goes to their concerts and games, and takes pictures to post them online. She even has former students come back when they can’t find a book they need.

They were volunteering at Valley Outreach Food Shelf in Stillwater when WCCO’s Amelia Santaniello surprised them with the award.

Once the shock wore off, Rode and Rambo explained how they turned a hard day of the week into a special one.

“Instead of having Mondays be the day I start my diet or the day that I dread of the week, I’m gonna make Every Monday Matter,” said Rambo.

A year later, Rode and Rambo are still coming up with new ways to help friends and strangers alike.

“Some nights we make seven meals, some nights … we made up to 25 meals in one day … and then we go and just deliver them and surprise people,” said Rambo.

Writing letters for troops — they’ve done it. Shoveling snow for strangers — done that, too.

Rode said they definitely get something out of it.

“It fills us up, tremendously to give back to other people,” she said.

“It’s raining today, I’m going to go to Wal-Mart and walk people to their car, so they don’t get wet,” said Rambo. “Sometimes it’s a lot of work, and sometimes it’s no work, it’s just seeing a need and filling it.”

What’s really amazing is how these two manage to fit in service with everything else on their plate. They work. Rambo has four kids and Rode’s got three.

Still they find time to help other people.

For Making a Difference, they received $500 from American Equity Mortgage and WCCO. The pair was nominated by Rambo’s sister.

WCCO-TV’s Amelia Santaniello Reports

This week’s winner is Andy Hutson, who came to the rescue of two people last month — a person on Highway 169 and his own boss.

His wife nominated him for the big saves. First, he and a MnDOT employee shocked a guy who drove off the road after going into cardiac arrest.

“Yeah, I was just right behind the guy, happened to be in the right place at the right time,” said Andy Hutson, Making a Difference Award Winner. “We did what we had to do … what we were trained to do.”

Hutson knows a thing or two about helping people — he’s a firefighter as well as an IT guy. That training also came in handy last month at work.

“I came to work feeling not 100 percent that day,” said Hutson’s boss, Curtis Bell.

Bell had collapsed from bleeding ulcers.

“If Andy wasn’t here or if I was at home, I could have been out a lot longer and in worse shape and not being here, able to stand here and talk to you today,” said Bell.

Hutson has already received a community impact award at work for his firefighting, Habitat for Humanity and Junior Achievement work.

After jumping in to help two people in one month, his wife thought he deserved the Making a Difference Award, too.

“If it’s stressful or not … he knows that he’s got to do it. That’s just who he is,” said Amy Hutson, Andy’s wife.

When asked what he plans to do with the money, Andy Hutson brilliantly says, “Well, you know, I’ll give it to my wife.”

One of his wife’s friends calls him “Handy Andy.” He’s really lived up to that nickname lately.

If you know someone who’s making a difference in our community — let us know about them with a nomination form.

WCCO-TV’s Frank Vascellaro Reports

PIERZ, Minn. (WCCO) — Twice a month, WCCO-TV gets to do something pretty fun — surprise someone who’s helping others.

Along with American Equity Mortgage, the WCCO crew gives them $500 to spend, any way they want.

This week’s winner is Kurt Stumpf, a teacher in Pierz, Minn., which is two hours north of the Twin Cities.

He was nominated for turning around math scores, running the district’s basketball program and even creating student jobs by hosting tournaments.

If you’re lucky, you had a teacher like Mr. Stumpf once.

“This is the kind of classroom that if there was no class, there’d be 30 kids in it anyway. They just hang around there. They want to be there,” said George Weber, superintendent of Pierz Public Schools.

The superintendent said a lot of kids enter 7th grade only so-so at math. But after a year with Stumpf, they’re outperforming the rest of the state.

“He won’t stop til they’re a success,” he said. “He just never quits.”

When WCCO-TV’s Amelia Santaniello stopped by to present Stumpf with a $500 check, it seemed he was at a loss for words.

“This isn’t an actual check,” Santaniello said, holding a giant cardboard check, “but you get $500, to spend as you like.”

Stumpf was humble but excited about the honor.

“Awesome, I’m doing what I can, I don’t know how great it is,” he said.

He’s great alright — in class and on the court.

Stumpf runs tournaments so he can afford to take his varsity team to Target Center, Wisconsin Dells and even Chicago.

He’s in charge of basketball for the district and coaches volleyball, too.

Noah Boser, one of his students in the 7th grade, said there’s a number of things that make Stumpf a great teacher.

“He’s really funny, and he makes jokes to everyone,” he said. “He’s pretty good at teaching math, too.”

When asked what his secret is to great teaching, Stumpf said it’s nothing special, he just enjoys what he does and makes the kids his priority.

“I don’t have any secrets, and again, it’s not about me, it’s about the kids,” he said. “My secret might be my stupid jokes. That at least gets them engaged sometimes, that might be a little secret. But we just try to work hard and have fun.”

Stumpf grew up in Pierz and lucky for his hometown, he stayed.

He’s only 29, and he just got his master’s degree. When asked how he’ll spend the money, he joked that he’ll use it to buy pencils for his math class.

That’s a lot of pencils.

If you know someone who’s making a difference in our community, let us know.

Along with American Equity Mortage, we’d like to honor them.

Paula Engelking, Producer
Contact Paula

WCCO-TV’s Amelia Santaniello Reports

COON RAPIDS, Minn. (WCCO) — What do you call a couple who travels across the country over and over again to help disaster victims?  Good Samaritans?  Saints?  No, just call them Myron and Thelma Nash.

“I want other people to know how great they are,” said their son Phil Nash.

He nominated them for a Making a Difference award.  WCCO-TV and American Equity Mortgage give out the award honoring community volunteers twice each month.  The winners receive $500 to spend any way they want.

When presented with the prize at home in Coon Rapids, Thelma Nash was surprised.

“I thought these things only happened to other people,” she said.

Myron Nash downplayed the work he and his wife have done.

“No more than anybody else in our situation,” he said.  Thelma added, “We feel we benefit probably just as much or more than the people.”

Myron and Thelma were high school sweethearts in the southeastern Minnesota town of Wykoff.  They just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.  For the Nashes, it just makes sense to volunteer.

“We feel that we’ve been blessed with health at our age,” said Myron.  “We’re both over 70 now.  We can go down there and help people who are less fortunate.”

The Nashes are members of the Disaster Relief Team at St. Phillip’s Lutheran Church.

“Once we did one trip,” Myron said, “we were hooked,” Thelma finished.

Since 2005, the Nashes have made six week-long trips to help Hurricane Katrina victims in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

“They started calling this team the Boomerangs, ’cause we just kept coming back,” said Myron.

The Nashes also traveled to Galveston, Texas three times to rebuild homes following Hurricane Ike.  Last month, they drove to Tennessee to work with flood victims.

They help out closer to home, too.  Myron, a retired electrician, rewired a home in Houston, Minn., that was damaged by floods.  Together, the Nashes have traveled to Cedar Rapids, Iowa several times to help flood victims there.  The retired couple also volunteers at church and for Meals on Wheels.

Their advice for others who don’t currently volunteer?

“Try it, you might like it,” said Thelma.

“We know you’ll like it,” added Myron.

Paula Engelking, Producer
Contact Paula

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Twice a month, WCCO teams up with American Equity Mortgage to give out the “Making a Difference” award to honor those people who make our community better. The winner gets a prize of $500 to spend any way he or she wants. These are their stories.

We talk about African American history — about the black experience — a lot around the King Holiday and during February, but much the rest of year and that’s always bothered Benjamin Mchie.

“Then suddenly it just goes away after the first of March, is a discredit to us because we’re still here,” said Benjamin Mchie, one of November’s winners for the Making a Difference Award.

Out of frustration came an idea.

“We created the website, African American Registry. The home page changes every day to reflect the current date in African American history,” he said.

Look up Nov. 8 and you’ll learn that on that date four years ago, Minnesotans elected our country’s first Muslim American congressman, Keith Ellison.

The registry gets personal with more than 300 videos, including one of Ellison speaking.

When Mchie started the Registry in 2000, he asked teacher Sara Tuvey, the person who nominated him for the award, for advice.

“There’s more info than I ever thought that would be that accessible … and for free,” said Tuvey.

WCCO first told Benjamin that we were just doing a news story on him, then surprised him with the $500 Making A Difference award.

“We’ll probably buy a couple microphones for our Black Box video work,” said Mchie, about the award he recieved.

“It’s so funny, the people we’ve given this to, they always put it right back in to what they’re involved with. Don’t you want to be a little selfish? Go out for dinner or something?” said Santaniellio.

“OK, I’ll do that after I buy my microphones,” he said.

If you know someone who’s making a difference in our community — let us know about them with a nomination form.

And each Saturday, Sharon Bryse leaves her house and comes to Breanna Thingvall’s house.

“You’re doing good. Yes, you are,” said Bryse, as she bends and straightens the young woman’s stiff body. “Sometimes it gets tough to move.”

Thingvall was 9 when she suffered a brain injury in 1994.

Bryse started helping out a year later and hasn’t stopped. Without Bryse and other volunteers helping move Thingvall’s body, Cathy Childs said her daughter couldn’t live at home.

“I couldn’t do it, I absolutely couldn’t do it without volunteers,” said Childs.

She wasn’t surprised Bryse was picked to be a winner of WCCO-TV and American Equity Mortgage’s “Making a Difference” contest.

“Oh no, absolutely not. It’s about time,” she said, with a laugh.

Bryse’s sister, Patti Snell, nominated her.

“My sister Sharon has a passion for volunteering,” she wrote. “I think she should have a little recognition for everything she does.”

Bryse helped out a lot when Snell’s husband had a stroke last year.

“She just made a difference in my life, and she’s making a difference in everyone else’s life, too, as far as I’m concerned,” Snell said.

This week’s winner is glad she won. It’s not because of the $500 prize, but because it gives Bryse a platform to encourage others to share their time.

“I want to tell ‘em to go out and volunteer because there’s such a desperate need for volunteers,” she said. “This is to promote volunteerism, that’s what it’s all about.”

Bryse also makes caramels for the bake sales, delivers Meals on Wheels and provides friendship and checkbook-balancing help for an older woman.

So what will she do with her $500 prize? Not surprisingly, she’s going to share it with others.

Bryse plans to turn the money over to Second Harvest Food Bank.

Paula Engelking, Producer
Contact Paula

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — An 83-year-old great-grandma is using knitting to spreading her love to babies all over Minnesota.

“Probably (knitting) most of the evenings for about three hours and a couple hours in the day if I’m not busy,” said Betty Paulus.

Paulus is a knitter with cause, which is why she takes her knitting bag everywhere — even the doctor’s office.

“You know because it’s a good conversation starter, plus then you can start talking about Bundles of Love and then you can hand them a little brochure that tells them about and hopefully you’ve recruited somebody,” she said.

In fact, Paulus has recruited more than 30 people to knit for Bundles of Love, which donates bundles of handmade baby goodies to new mothers in need.

Paulus knits hats, booties and sweaters for the babies, and does quality checks on all the rest.

At 83, she has more energy and responsibilities than many people half of her age. She’s in the ladies fellowship committee, she buys children’s book bags and supplies for the church.

Her nomination form for ‘Making A Difference’ — a way that WCCO honors those making their community a better place — went on and on about all the activities she does, but clearly so much of her heart is with the Bundles of Love organization.

“There are so many people that deserve this award more than I do, but I’m happy for it, because it brings people to know about Bundles of Love,” she said.

Paulus can use the $500 prize money she won from ‘Making A Difference’ anyway she wants, but you won’t be surprised to hear she’s planning to donate almost all of it to Bundles of Love.

If you’d like donate money or volunteer your time to the organization, click here.

And if you want to nominate someone who’s making a difference in your community, fill out this form to nominate someone.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Kate Herzog is a native of Ghana who didn’t learn to read until she was 11. Now she’s paying it forward, and running a worldwide business out of this tiny office at the University of St. Thomas.

“Our mission is to alleviate poverty,” she said. “That is the goal.”

Her brand is called House of Talents, and her talent is identifying the right African artisans to make beautiful products, and trust with her start-up money.

“It’s the ones that are obsessed with getting out of poverty are the ones I work with,” she said, “because I advance them the money. I also have to make sure they cover my back, because I’m giving money. It’s all based on trust.”

Her office is full of baskets, jewelry, even soaps and each one has its own story.

House of Talents grew out of a St. Thomas MBA project, and Kate gets help from student interns, including Lance DeGroot, who nominated her, but she couldn’t get traditional financing, because she has such a non-traditional business.

“I’m dealing with people who are truly poor, and they have no collateral,” she said, “so I wasn’t going to get any loans.”

So, Herzog invested her own money, clearing out her savings and most of her 401(k). Now, her products are in fancy stores, and she’s using the proceeds to send African kids to school and buy books for their libraries.

“I sleep very well,” she said. “I’m broke and happy.”

Herzog’s inspiration is the American man who sent her the books that helped her learn to read when she was only 11. That’s why she’s donating books to build libraries in Africa.

You can see and buy Herzog’s products at http://houseoftalents.com/.

You can also find them at:
Dichotomy in Wayzata
JV & Co. in Gaviidae
Bibelot
Francis King
Pangea in Hudson, Wis.
QBP.com (bicycle baskets)

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Gerri McWherter’s essay on her friend and co-worker Barb Boger was moving. In it, McWherter cited numerous reasons why Boger should receive $500 from WCCO-TV and American Equity Mortgage for “Making a Difference.”

“We work at a group home with four men with mental disabilities,” McWherter wrote. “Our job is to ensure that they have a happy and healthy life, and I believe their lives are the best they can be because of her.”

Our “Making a Difference” committee read many nominations, but Boger’s work stood out. That’s why we decided to surprise her at her Cokato workplace. WCCO-TV’s Amelia Santaniello walked into the kitchen and told Boger the good news.

“WCCO and American Equity Mortgage would like to give you $500 for all the fabulous work that you do with these four men,” Santaniello said.

A shocked and honored Boger replied, “Oh my goodness, unbelievable, thank you.”

McWherter said it’s truly the kind of person Boger is that makes her deserving of this award.

“She’s got a heart the size of Texas,” McWherter said.

McWherter nominated her friend and co-worker not so much for what Boger does during her workday but for all the extra time she gives.

“She takes them on days when she doesn’t have to be here, to a game or what not, she’s just, I don’t know if she ever does anything for herself, so I think she should be rewarded for that,” she said.

Boger calls the residents her “guys.” She takes Jeff, Will, Craig and Jim to games, plays and to the Minnesota State Fair.

“Well, we’ll have to try to fit it all in for the weekend. We’ve got a big weekend coming up,” she said to the group.

McWherter talked with Jeff about all the places he’s gotten to travel to because of Boger. He told her they went to Nebraska for a game and even took a trip to Las Vegas.

“Bringing the guys that have disabilities out into the community so other people accept them for who they are is one of my pride and joys,” Boger said. “I love seeing that happen. Gives me thrills to see people accept them for who they are.”

If you want to nominate someone who’s “Making a Difference,” send us an e-mail. Tell us — in 500 words or less — why that person deserves a $500 pat-on-the-back. Nominations must be for people 18 years or older. There are a few other rules, as well. Click here to read all the details.

Paula Engelking, Producer
Contact Paula