The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Fatima Browne recognized with Humanitarian Award
UPPER MERION » The Upper Merion Township Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday committee recently recognized a high school student and a nonprofit organization as outstanding contributors to the Montgomery County area.
Humanitarian Award
Starting at about age of seven, Fatima Browne, her family, other volunteers and members of Upper Merion’s MLK Committee honored the National Day of Service by visiting Bethesda House, a Philadelphia residence for people who were formerly homeless. It was here that Fatima developed her love of reaching out to people and understanding how we all fit together as members of the human race.
For many years thereafter, she returned to Bethesda, always encouraging family and friends to come along. Eventually, Fatima desired involvement with a charity where she could play a more permanent role. She volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House’s Annual Dog Show featuring therapy dogs; St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, the Bethesda House in Philadelphia, the Chester City team and the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in Pottstown.
This young humanitarian also became and continues to be a reading buddy at the Upper Merion Township Library. As if that wasn’t enough, Fatima and her friends were successful in recording a song on iTunes to raise money for “Save the Music.”
As an UMASD student, Fatima won the Student of the Month award, was elected 8th Grade Class President and participated in the Community of Caring Club. At Upper Merion, Fatima became aware of the President’s Volunteer Service. She got involved and not only received one award but also has received the Gold Level Award of the President’s Volunteer
Service each year since 2014. In addition, Fatima has been honored by the King of Prussia Rotary Club and received the Prudential Spirit award.
Currently, this young lady volunteers primarily at Cradles to Crayons, a Conshohocken based charity dedicated to providing kids with everyday essentials. Her involvement started after she heard about two sisters who could not go to school on the same day in winter because they had to share one coat. Fatima promptly organized coat drives in Upper Merion and Norristown.
At age 13, she became the youngest person accepted into their Teen Leadership Program. Each summer since then, this young leader could be counted on to mentor new members. For the past three summers, Fatima worked in their warehouse and averaged over 200 hours annually. She enjoys interacting with the volunteers and spreading the message that no matter our current circumstances, we all deserve to live with dignity. This year, at their first Teen Awards celebration, Cradles to Crayons honored Fatima.
Fatima has always had a strong sense of self and who she wants to be. Now a student at Archbishop Carroll High School, Fatima’s studies include two foreign languages. Her goal is to increase her ability to communicate with diverse people. She also participates in the chorus and drama clubs as well as volunteers with the Best Buddies Program.
Aware that a degree can open many doors, Fatima is considering her future career and is yet undecided whether to become a civil rights lawyer or a nurse. Whatever her choice, we are confident that with her kind spirit, intelligence and determination, Miss Browne will “keep moving forward.”
This selfless young lady demonstrates what it means to lead by example. Her actions demonstrate the answer to the question: “What are you doing for others?” The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr National Holiday Committee of Upper Merion Township is pleased to present its 2018 Humanitarian Award to Miss Fatima Browne.
Community Service Award
The Montgomery County Association for the Blind
On June 14, 1945, community leaders and members of the local Lions Club met to address the unique needs of blind or visually impaired community members, including veterans returning from World War II. This meeting resulted in the founding of the Montgomery County Association for the Blind (MCAB). It remains the only local organization to provide continuous specialized services to county residents with visual impairments. Its mission remains constant: to enhance the quality of life for people coping with blindness or vision impairments through education, support and advocacy, and to strive to prevent blindness through education and screening programs. MCAB is not part of county government. It is supported by donor contributions, private foundations, corporate grants, special events, bequests and other gifts.
Services provided by the Montgomery County Association for the Blind include:
• Prevention of Blindness: Vision screening is offered and specifically designed to accommodate both young children (3-6 years) and senior adults (65 and up). Pre-school vision screening detects problems before children enter school. Senior adult screening detects age-related diseases that can result in vision loss.
• Orientation and Mobility (O&M): With O&M, the consumer is no longer solely dependent on family, friends and others. With specialist- provided training, a visually-impaired person learns to travel safely and independently. This training is key to regaining confidence, self-resect and restored freedom. Learning to travel safely is a fundamental component of independence for a visually-impaired person.
• Specialized Services: Comprehensive, direct services are supported by professional staff with expertise in vision loss. These services include sighted escort, information, assessment, case management, referrals, home management assistance and counseling. MCAB’s caseworkers guide clients in learning about available help.
• Transportation: Fully escorted door-to-door service for selected programs and medical appointments. Service is based on availability. Advance reservations are accepted.
• Support Groups: Helping people learn coping strategies for vision loss from peers and professionals. Professionals facilitate these support groups. Programs are open to anyone who has experienced vision loss.
• Community Education: Presentations to service organizations, schools, community groups, scouts, etc. Also, in-service training programs are provided to those working with visually-impaired patients/residents at nursing homes, retirement communities, group homes and senior day care centers.
• Advocacy: From individual situations to legislative awareness and education, MCAB offers support for many blindness and vision loss issues.
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr National Holiday Committee of Upper Merion Township is pleased to present its 2018 Community Service Award to the Montgomery County Association for the Blind.