DAILY NEWS PEOPLE : CAROL ANN RICHLIE.Byline: - Holly Andres Carol Ann Richlie has been a volunteer with the Serra Project, a nonprofit organization Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. that is the largest provider of HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome housing in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, . In 1987, seven hospitals sponsored the project in response to the growing number of people who had been left homeless and destitute des·ti·tute adj. 1. Utterly lacking; devoid: Young recruits destitute of any experience. 2. Lacking resources or the means of subsistence; completely impoverished. See Synonyms at poor. because of the expense of fighting HIV/AIDS. The goal of the project is to offer safe, long-term residential care to those with the virus or the full-blown disease, regardless of race, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation sexual orientation n. The direction of one's sexual interest toward members of the same, opposite, or both sexes, especially a direction seen to be dictated by physiologic rather than sociologic forces. , marital status marital status, n the legal standing of a person in regard to his or her marriage state. or ability to pay. The Serra Project already has helped about 250 men, women and children locally. It recently received a $25,000 ``Faith in Action'' grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, charitable organization devoted exclusively to health care issues. It was established in 1936 by Robert Wood Johnson (1893–1968), board chairman of the Johnson & Johnson medical products company. to help the project's Interfaith in·ter·faith adj. Of, relating to, or involving persons of different religious faiths: an interfaith marriage; an interfaith forum. Volunteer Caregivers Coalition recruit and train volunteers to assist Serra Project residents. RESIDENCE: Burbank. BORN AND RAISED IN: Missoula, Mont. OCCUPATION: Administrator and a licensed clinical social worker. MARITAL STATUS: Single. CHILDREN: None. HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED?: ``My career has always involved helping others and, consequently, my volunteer efforts have always been an outgrowth of my work. I got my start when I was a teacher in Montana. I saw so much need and so little resources, I decided to focus my energies on organizing a group to support and educate parents of children with learning disabilities. When I became involved with The Serra Project's homes for people living with HIV/AIDS, it was as a facet of my work in administration at Saint Joseph Saint Joseph, cities, United States Saint Joseph (sānt jō`zəf). 1 City (1990 pop. 9,214), seat of Berrien co., SW Mich., a port on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the St. Joseph River across from Benton Harbor; inc. Medical Center. When I left Saint Joseph, my work with the Serra Project had become so significant that I maintained my volunteer efforts with the organization. When the agency wanted to establish the Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers Coalition, I thought my many experiences with religious groups would help to provide the coalition with a diverse group of people. I agreed to chair the group.'' WHY DO YOU VOLUNTEER?: ``I volunteered with the Serra Project because I believed in the program. The program is trying to meet the needs of people so that they can become independent. I also love working with the different groups of people who have volunteered from different faiths. They reflect the different faiths of our clients. I'm glad that we're addressing the spiritual needs of our clients - that's part of the program. I need to do something worthwhile in my life, and this is real important to me.'' BIGGEST DILEMMA: ``The biggest dilemma is to not be overinvolved. You can burn yourself out, and then the quality of whatever you're doing gets lost. I like to do quality work, so it's important to me to not take on too much.'' MOST DIFFICULT DAILY TASK: ``My most difficult daily task is coordinating the volunteers' schedules. Volunteers are usually very active people in their private life, and it can be difficult to arrange their schedules with us.'' GOALS FOR THE FUTURE: The most important goal for Richlie is to see that the proposed Community Housing Options at Independent Supported Sites Program facilities are opened up. It's one of the Serra Project two housing programs that leases homes and apartments for individuals who are able to live on their own but still need health care and social-worker support. ROLE MODELS: ``I'm inspired by people who get out and take action. I see people on TV who have volunteered who are inspiring. The everyday folk who follow their hearts to make a difference are my role models.'' HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS?: ``To me, success is measured in the sense of integrity with which you accomplish your work. Also the ability to let go of something if it's not viable and making the move to something else is a sign of a successful person.'' FAVORITE VALLEY HANGOUTS: Richlie loves the rose garden at the Huntington Botanical Gardens A botanical garden is a place where plants, especially ferns, conifers and flowering plants, are grown and displayed for the purposes of research, conservation, and education. in San Marino San Marino, city, United States San Marino (săn mərē`nō), residential city (1990 pop. 12,959), Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1913. Of interest is the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. . WHAT WOULD BE A PERFECT DAY FOR YOU?: ``A perfect day for me would be knowing that at the end of the day, I can look around and say that I was able to accomplish what I set out to do and move forward with the goals for the project.'' CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Carol Ann Richlie Hans Gutknecht/Daily News |
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