This summer, African Travel is focused on expressing gratitude. We are forever grateful for the travel community who touch our lives daily and all heroes who help others. We have much to be thankful for and want to recognize those who are making a difference.

We turned to our trusted partners and asked advisors to nominate a hero who has made a positive impact during this unprecedented time.

From silent heroes helping those in need to nurses and firefighters keeping people safe, the submissions received were impressive.

 

Congratulations to our Hero Keith VanBrunt!

WINNER: Keith VanBrunt, Emergency Flight Nurse
NOMINATED BY: Robin Barfield, Cruise Planners

Keith is an Emergency Flight Nurse in Worland, Wyoming. During the Covid-19 Pandemic he was asked to travel to New Mexico to assist the Navajo Nation with their healthcare needs. It was a total shambles and shocked him more than he will say. He worked tirelessly, taking care of people that were extremely vulnerable and high risk in many cases without sleep. He and the team that he was with, provided much needed relief to the Navajo people who were dying en masse. This was all on top of his daily responsibilities in his home state. He had become quite distressed after being tested for antibodies, because he thought that he had suffered with the virus in January, but found that he did not possess the antibodies. He was frustrated that he could not offer anything that might help more people recover.

Lastly, he perpetuates his healing spirit as his son, an Army Medic was sent to help at the Javitz Center in NYC and his wife is a medical administrator that is always working to bring better healthcare services to their community. I urge you to consider this very deserving man for your trip.

 

 

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Thank you to all of our nominees

HERO: Cindy Cosenzo, Community Leader
NOMINATED BY: Lisa Genis, AAA Travel Oregon

Cindy has taken the initiative to help support senior citizens and the small business community. To help seniors, she formed a group that goes on walks around the community, getting seniors outside and moving and teaching them about why their community is great. Cindy has donated more than $13,000 to local bakeries, food pantries, toy shops, artists and medical centers to help support small business and to help give back to essential workers. READ MORE

HERO: Frank Venuto, Lieutenant Firefighter/Paramedic
NOMINATED BY: Josefina Genao, Cruise and Tours Unlimited

Frank wanted to be a silent hero while working as a Hazmat Lieutenant with Miami Dade Fire Department, and currently handles all Covid-19 related calls. He helped many cruise passengers who were stranded on COVID-infected ships. As a military veteran from Desert Storm, he spends his free time volunteering in food banks, cooking and delivering food to the elderly, and visiting low income homes to help residents with painting and small home repairs. READ MORE

HERO: Lisa Sweet, Registered Nurse, Director / Co-Founder of Sweet Beginnings Family Resources Center
NOMONATED BY: Roberta Christman,  AAA Travel Mountainwest

Lisa runs an adoption service and liaises with a local family resource center to help families obtain diapers and other essential baby products. She found that “diaper need” affects 1 in 3 families. Since COVID-19, Lisa has engaged with 25 community partners to reach more families. Lisa’s non-profit also provides feminine hygiene products to middle and high schools, the homeless, and shelters. READ MORE

HERO: Jeffrey Nietupski, Provided essentials for those in need
NOMINATED BY: Kristy Durso, Cruise and Tours Unlimited

Every week since the pandemic began, Jeff has worked tirelessly to provide food and clothing for those who lost their jobs. After weeks of job shortages, Jeff pulled together the entire community to organize a massive job fair for those that were unemployed. His tireless work of feeding the hungry and clothing the poor during this pandemic has made him a frontline worker nonetheless. READ MORE

HERO: Rodney Smith Jr.
NOMINATED BY: Shara Jones, Archer Travel Service

Rodney started a group called Raising Men Lawn Care and the 50-Yard Challenge to help today’s youth be upstanding adults for tomorrow. What started as a challenge for young men quickly became accepted by young women. Youth in all 50 states and several countries mow lawns and do yard work free of charge for the elderly, disabled, single mothers and veterans. When they complete the challenge, they are awarded with new mower equipment to continue their lawn care efforts and start a business if they choose.   READ MORE  |  VIEW VIDEO

HERO: Colin Jorgensen, MD Emergency Resident Chicago
NOMINATED BY: Karen Henderson, Largay Travel

Colin is currently a second year ER resident working in downtown Chicago. He was working in the ICU when COVID-19 made its way to Chicago and overwhelmed his hospital, taking up all open hospital beds. On average, Colin works around 80 hours every week. He continues to go to work even when half of his resident class has already caught COVID-19. He has been using his own phone to allow patients to say goodbye to their loved ones over Skype, as no one else is allowed in the hospital room.  READ MORE

HERO: Misty White, Nurse 
NOMINATED BY: Amber Hernandez, Dream Vacations

A nurse for 17 years, Misty works in the ER, ICU, Labor and Delivery, and Post-Partum units. Currently she is a labor and delivery nurse helping COVID-19 and non-COVID19 mothers deliver their babies. She is a charge nurse and trains new nurses in how to deliver babies safely during COVID-19. Her skills are highly sought after and she is currently working at two hospitals. Her professionalism and utmost care of her patients have helped mothers deliver their babies safely in this COVID-19 world.

HERO: Matthew Williams, Community Organizer
NOMINATED BY: Jessica Feehan, AAA Auto Club

Matthew is an inspirational community leader who devotes countless unpaid hours to organizing and leading the movement for racial equality in his community. He's created jobs by recruiting employees from his hometown in Amityville, New York and pays forward every kindness he receives.  READ MORE

HERO: Monica Wahler, Director of Human Resources
NOMINATED BY: Sheila Cannon, Palm Coast Travel

Monica is the director of Human Resources at a high school. She is described by many as an incredible worker, doing important tasks that go beyond her job duties. Since COVID-19, she took the initiative to make sure that bathrooms were always stocked with toilet paper and that classrooms had plenty of disinfectant products. When hand sanitizer became impossible to get, she stayed overtime making her own from alcohol so classrooms could remain supplied.  READ MORE