Good Hearts, Good Eats Reap Rewards 10 Earn Awards From United Way

Miami Herald, The (FL)
1998-03-22
Section: Neighbors NE
Edition: Final
Page: 1

A dying, homeless AIDS patient taught Bessie Garrett the key to helping people in the streets: gain their respect. So Garrett, who lives in Bay Harbor Islands, spent the past four years working in the streets, carefully earning the trust of the homeless to get them health care.

In addition to trust, Garrett -- a registered nurse at the VA Medical Center -- has earned a coveted award this year. She and nine other public service employees across the county were awarded for outstanding community service with the third annual United Way Green Family Foundation American Values Award. The recipients, selected from a pool of 75, each received $5,000 last week.

The award is funded by the Green Family Foundation, headed by the United States Ambassador in Singapore, Steven Green, and his wife Dorothea Green.

``By honoring these extraordinary individuals and their exemplary record of service, we hope to salute all public service employees,'' Steven Green said.

Meet all the winners on pages 24-25.

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MARICE COHN BAND / Herald Staff GOOD NEWS: Bessie Garrett (wearing hat) hugs Vikki Wilson after telling her she and her four kids will get a chance to go to Disney World. Garrett, a nurse who works with the homeless, is one of 10 winners of the United Way service award.

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