Rudi Johnson Foundation announces '08 Mother of the Year
Rudi Johnson with 2008 RJF Mother of the Year, Kristin Dusterberg (Easley Blessed Photography) | June 11, 2008 - At the 3rd annual Rudi Johnson Foundation Mother's Day Luncheon, Kristin Dusterberg was presented with the Mother of the Year award.
Kristin was chosen to receive this honor because of her passion and dedication to Starfire, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving teens and adults with disabilities by providing social and community service activities. Dusterberg's daughter Jeannie was a founding member of Starfire. The activities that Starfire provided for Jeannie jumpstarted Krisitn's passion: Volunteering 40 hour weeks, gathering funding through various sources, and creating special events, all to allow Starfire to keep helping people like Jeannie.
On February 11, 2008, Kristin's daughter Jeannie passed away suddenly. Even during her time of grief, Kristin has continued to champion Starfire. After losing a child, it is so often easier to walk away from memories or reminders, but her commitment to Starfire has endured. She is already engaging in new projects to help keep Jeannie's memory alive.
The Rudi Johnson Foundation saw this passion and commitment that Starfire has seen for so many years and recognized it as something extraordinary. They chose to honor Kristin as the Rudi Johnson Foundation Mother of the Year. The foundation and Rudi Johnson will now be working closely with Kristin and Starfire to educate the community on the social needs of people with disabilities.
About Starfire
Starfire provides 110 monthly (1,320 annual) activities for more than 470 teens and adults with disabilities. These activities incorporate over 150 community volunteers, providing valuable inclusion for the individuals with disabilities. Starfire not only offers occasions for social interaction, but also removes barriers and teaches skills needed to eliminate social isolation. The organization also provides opportunities for its participants to volunteer at more than 30 local agencies. This increases self-esteem and focuses on abilities rather than disabilities. For the last 15 years, Starfire has been providing dual respite to the Greater Cincinnati area, an opportunity for persons with disabilities and their parents and caregivers to have time independent of each other.
About the Rudi Johnson Foundation
The Rudi Johnson Foundation is a 501c3 non profit charity formed exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. The Foundation is an outgrowth of the desire of All-Pro running back Rudi Johnson to give back to the community and promote the well being of its citizens through collaboration with other agencies and direct assistance to individual efforts to reach and maintain self sufficiency. The concept was developed in partnership with similar non profits, local officials, community members, neighborhood schools and recruited board members. Generally the foundation strives to uplift the community through education, entrepreneurship, and housing support.
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