A lesson in giving: Seymour family wins statewide volunteer award

Published Nov. 3, 2009
By Airman 1st Class Marissa Tucker
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- An Air Force career is quite demanding. Even with just one military member in the home, a family is subject to many changes. Add two security forces members to the equation and one might think it is a recipe for trouble. Then again, they probably have never met Master Sergeants Dean and Kathleen Parrish.

Both proud members of the security forces career field, they faced the stresses of deployments and difficult work hours. Despite their demanding careers and two daughters Lauren, 15, and Grace, 10, they earned the 2009 North Carolina Medallion Award for volunteerism.

The Parrish family, nominated for the award by Janie Best, 4th Force Support Squadron chief, because the family donates many hours toward volunteering to different causes on and off base.

"We do many different things, but our main focus is the Special Olympics and Smart Choices for Youth Program," said Kathleen, commandant of the Airman Leadership School and former security forces K-9 dog handler. "As a family, we make the decision to volunteer and in turn, it really brings us closer."

Dean, a true blue cop since 1988, said he gets fulfillment from helping others in any way he can, especially the Special Olympics athletes. Their intense motivation and determination have significantly affected his outlook on life.

"They (Special Olympics athletes) set the example of how we should live," he said. "They look at each other the same and it teaches us a lot about the way we should treat people. I always say we get more out of it than they do."

The couple got involved with the Special Olympics when Kathleen became the ALS commandant in 2005.

"The outgoing commandant was on the board of directors for the Wayne County Special Olympics, and she introduced me to the members," she said. "I kind of got thrown in to the mix, but after seeing what it was all about, I talked to my family about it and we decided to get involved and we've been at it since."

Kathleen signed on to be a track and field coach after someone could not fulfill their obligation. Not knowing exactly what she was getting into, she consulted her husband and they agreed to take it on as a family endeavor. Every Saturday and multiple days during the week from February to June they devote their time and efforts motivating and providing emotional support to the athletes.

"When one of us is willing to sacrifice and do something for someone it becomes a group effort," Dean said. "It's really not about me or (Kathleen), it's about what we can do for others. We've been so fortunate in our lives and we just want to give something back."

Getting the entire family involved has been a plus for the Parrish's. Their daughters Lauren and Grace have benefited greatly from working with the athletes, the parents of the girls said. Although a bit apprehensive at first, a trip to the state games changed their outlook and increased their interest in the Special Olympics.

"We were able to bring them with us, and they provided water and towels for the athletes," Kathleen said. "On the trip home, Grace said this was the best weekend she ever had in her life, and that's when we knew we were going to stick with this for a while. These days where teenagers are so plugged in, it's very easy to lose sight of what's important and how blessed we all are. It's been having a very positive effect on them."

This year, every athlete the family trained won a medal at the Special Olympics. One woman on their team who had been competing for 25 years earned her first medal.

Helping out in the local community is also a passion of the family. They also participate in the Smart Choices for Youth program, where children with incarcerated parents are matched up with a mentor. The Parrish's spend their time with a 17 year-old girl whose father is incarcerated.

"At first she was very quiet and withdrawn, but she began to open up to us," Kathleen said. "She's very artistically talented, she just needed some guidance. The Smart Choices for Youth Program is so valuable in that it gives people in the local community a chance to influence the life of an at-risk youth. Children with incarcerated parents are at greater risk for becoming offenders and if we can help influence them, why not?"

Helping others has turned into a lifestyle for the family. Dean learned that the owner of a local hair and barbershop he frequently visited had died and he wanted to help the shop in any way he could.

"The other employees mentioned they wanted to make some improvements in the shop such as painting and I told them if they bought the paint, I would do it for them," he said. "The owner has always been good to me and I just wanted to give something back to her. Me and some of my buddies from work spent a weekend scraping the wallpaper and painting the shop."

A deployment to Iraq earlier this year sparked a change in the way Dean viewed volunteer work. Realizing what a difference he could make just by giving some of his time, he did not stop when he returned home.

"I've learned that just because you come home from a deployment doesn't mean you stop serving," Dean said. "There's no difference here, because there are so many people who need help. We love the Air Force and everything it has done for us, so whatever we can give whether it's time or a kind word, we do it."

As recipients of this year's medallion award, Gov. Bev Purdue invited the family to her mansion for dinner but to them, recognizing the causes they support is the most important thing.

"It's very nice to be recognized, but take our example and focus on the community," Kathleen said. "Look at the upcoming holidays and do whatever you can for another person. There are some very unfortunate people in Goldsboro and someone could always use help. (I) hope people can find a passion for something other than themselves and their job."