Stacey Merkt of San Antonio TX, a member of the Sanctuary movement, was the first of the group to be imprisoned for assisting Central American refugees. Pregnant with her first child, Merkt spent 179 days behind bars before being granted release to house arrest due to complications in her pregnancy. She and her husband went on to place American volunteers with church groups in El Salvador.
Home when commended: North America, US, Texas Home now: North America, US, Texas Gender: F (female) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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After her father died in a motorcycle crash while high on drugs and alcohol, Heather Metzger of Millersville MD started an anti-substance-abuse program called "Drug Free Me." Despite being ostracized by fellow students, she continued her campaign, revisiting her own painful memories of her father's death—as a warning to others.
Home when commended: North America, US, Maryland Home now: North America, US, Maryland Gender: F (female) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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Sandy Meyer, formerly of Rocky Mount VA, left her psychotherapy practice to start "A Bridge for the Children," a camp for abused kids. Severely abused herself as a child, Meyer has dedicated herself to helping these children heal.
Home when commended: North America, US, Virginia Home now: North America, US, California Gender: F (female) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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Susan Michaels and Mark Steinway give sanctuary to hundreds of dogs, cats and farm animals whose lives have been scarred by cruelty and carelessness. They take in abused animals at their Pasado's Safe Haven ranch in Sultan WA and take on the animal abusers in court.
Home when commended: North America, US, Washington Home now: North America, US, Washington Gender: F (female) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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Adam Michnik of Warsaw, a longtime Polish dissident whose work led to the formation of Solidarity, has spent much of his life imprisoned for his non-violent activism. When the Soviet occupation ended, Michnik joined the Cabinet of the new Polish Prime Minister, and began publishing a daily newspaper.
Home when commended: Europe, Poland Home now: Europe, Poland Gender: M (male) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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Christian Miller of Palm Beach FL saves lives — sea turtle lives. Starting when he was seven years old, Christian has spent close to five hours a day, April to November, patrolling a three mile stretch of beach, guarding the nests of the endangered giant sea turtles from predators and poachers.
Home when commended: North America, US, Florida Home now: North America, US, Florida Gender: M (male) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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Since the '70's Constance Miller of Seattle has devoted her life to getting good health care for women and for the poor, championing and assisting women injured by the Dalkon Shield and people who've sustained closed-head injuries.
Home when commended: North America, US, Washington Home now: North America, US, Washington Gender: F (female) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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Crow Miller of St. James NY sacrificed a good living and his marriage to run a virtually free school of organic farming, giving knowledge and food to the poor of Suffolk County. In spite of verbal and physical abuse by his neighbors, Miller continues to give away the 15 acres' worth of crops he gets from his 3.7 acre "farm."
Home when commended: North America, US, New York Home now: North America, US, New York Gender: M (male) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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There are school volunteers, and then there's Diane Mintz, who puts in a full week every week at Coronado Elementary School, introducing the underprivileged kids there to the world that lies all around them but out of their reach. Mintz takes the kids to arts events, college campuses, sends them to summer camp, and teaches them about leadership and public service.
Home when commended: North America, US, California Home now: North America, US, California Gender: F (female) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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Hundreds of pilots, mechanics, medical personnel and business people volunteer their time and gear at "Mission Air Ministries," a free air ambulance service covering 38 states. (See also Donald and Sandy Simpson)
Home when commended: North America, US, North Carolina Home now: North America, US, North Carolina Gender: G (group) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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Matt Mochary is a venture capitalist who stepped onto dangerous turf, the favela of Rio de Janiero, to produce a film about that impoverished community’s success against great odds. The film tells the story of a former drug trafficker and the Afro-reggae music he uses to attract people away from the drug trade and gang violence that run that favela. The story speaks to people in slums all over the world, and because Mochary stuck his neck out, it was told.
Gender: M (male) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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Claude and Louise Montgomery of Portland ME used their life savings to buy, renovate and maintain a shelter for the homeless.
Home when commended: North America, US, Maine Home now: North America, US, Maine Gender: M (male) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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Claude and Louise Montgomery of Portland ME used their life savings to buy, renovate and maintain a shelter for the homeless. Now a widow, Louise still lives in Friendship House and welcomes a dozen homeless people there every night.
Home when commended: North America, US, Maine Home now: North America, US, Maine Gender: C (couple) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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Louise & Claude Montgomery of Portland ME used their life savings to buy, renovate and maintain a shelter for the homeless. Now a widow, Louise still lives in Friendship House and welcomes a dozen homeless people to stay there every night.
Home when commended: North America, US, Maine Home now: North America, US, Maine Gender: F (female) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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Mario Montuoro of New York NY lost his job and drove himself deep into debt fighting corruption in his local labor union. The Bronx construction worker spearheaded a battle that eventually led to the conviction of the president and secretary-treasurer of the union on federal charges. Montuoro then won the state lottery, and used his new wealth to support other whistle blowers in the labor movement.
Home when commended: North America, US, New York Home now: North America, US, New York Gender: M (male) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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Pat Mooney of Brandon, Manitoba and his associate, Cary Fowler, have devoted their lives to insuring ecological stability by preserving plant gene pools as a hedge against starvation, especially in the Third World.
Home when commended: North America, Canada, Manitoba Home now: North America, Canada, Manitoba Gender: M (male) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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1 Way 2 Help
FIND GIRAFFES
Please note
We're adding stories and photos to the Giraffe Heroes database everyday. If information isn't visible yet, know that we're working on it.
YOU & THE FOUNDER
From time to time, Ann Medlock, this Project's founder, does a brief but inspiring email called Heads Up. You can check out past copies here. They're so good (and so free) we bet you'll join the Heads Up circle and send them on to friends & family.
For further wit & wisdom from Ann, check out her speeches, radio commentaries and OpEds.