SHIELD Foundation Honored
for Community Service

TEMPESHIELD Foundation General Manager Olga Chaikheeva was one of 35 honored for serving Arizona through media, public safety, emergency, and judicial services in 2005.

She recieved the "Good Samaritan Volunteer" award at the "Making a Difference Together in Arizona" awards dinner held Friday April 28 at the Wyndham Buttes Resort, Tempe. 500 law enforcement, legislative and judicial guests from all over the state attended the awards dinner.

Total of 35 people, most of whom were police or judicial officers, received awards from the Arizona Governor's Office of Highway Safety, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, and the national organization of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Olga is the first SHIELD official representative, and one of the only two volunteers in Arizona so awarded.

Olga was a victim of domestic violence after she moved to Arizona from Moscow, Russia. She became an advocate for social change because Russian- language help was rarely available. There was lots of help and services available in Spanish but not in Russian or other languages. She gathered support from people in Arizona, including many Russian- speakers, to open the Phoenix office of the SHIELD Foundation to serve the unmet needs of foriegn victims of domestic violence, and/or domestic abuse, who do not speak English or Spanish.

Olga recently advised the judicial branch about changes needed in order of protection forms and processing.
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Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio
thanks Olga for her service to the law
enforcement community and victims of
domestic violence.

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35 people were honored for serving
Arizona through media, public safety,
emergency, and judicial services in 2005.


SHIELD Foundation is a non-profit organization supported by public and private donations. SHIELD follows the poverty guidelines published by the Arizona Department of Economic Security to provide free assistance to qualified low-income clients. Over 158 foriegn families in Arizona, 50% Russian, have been helped since the SHIELD Phoenix office was opened in 2002.

See more photos at SHIELD Foundation News.

35 Statewide honorees recognized at  "Making a Difference Together in Arizona" awards ceremony Friday, April 28

by Chuck Heeman, MADD — Michael Hegarty, GOHS — May 2, 2006
PHOENIX — Thirty-five law enforcement, medical emergency personnel, state and local officials, and members of the media were honored Friday, April 28th, at the annual "Making a Difference Together in Arizona" awards dinner at the Marriott Buttes in Tempe.

The Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS), Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), and National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted its second annual evening to honor those in public safety, emergency and judicial services, the media and public and private organizations who have made a difference in 2005 by making Arizona's roadways safer. The awards were determined by nominations submitted from statewide agencies and departments.

"We were proud to honor these fine men and women for the courageous work they have done to making Arizona's streets safer," said Richard Fimbres, Director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety. "Unfortunately, as shown by the tragic death of Gilbert Police Officer Rob Targosz this weekend, their work is very dangerous and there is still much to be done to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities are our roadways. We encourage everyone to drive safely-always buckle up and never get behind the wheel if you're impaired."
MADD National President Glynn Birch, whose son was killed by a drunk driver, delivered the keynote speech to the more than 250 honorees and guests from around the state and country, including NHTSA Regional Administrator David Manning.

"It was pretty amazing to see so many diverse agencies come together for one night," said Chuck Heeman, State Executive Director for Mothers Against Drunk Driving. "It was a very small glimpse into what goes on statewide to combat the epidemic of drunk driving. These people are on the front lines every day, and it was our pleasure to honor them."

Department of Public Safety Sgt. Ed Slechta was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his more than four decades of work with the department, especially as one of the original founding members of the Southern Arizona DUI Task Force where he also serves as its President, as well as "his dedication to family, career, and the enforcement of alcohol/drug related laws."  In addition, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano proclaimed April 28, 2006, as "Sergeant Edward Slechta Day" in Arizona.

The honorees for the "2005 Making a Difference Together in Arizona" are:

Making a Difference Together in Arizona 2005 Awards

(Also see this list posted at MADD)

Excellence in Adjudication Awards
  Prosecutor — Bruce Chalk, Pima County Attorney's Office
  Crime Laboratory — Ed Heller, Arizona DPS Southern Regional Crime Laboratory
  Youth Education — Judge John Ore, University Lakes Justice Court
  Phlebotomy Research — Cathee Tankersley, Phoenix College

Good Samaritan Awards
  Corporate Program — Joe DiBazar, AAA Yellow Cab Company
  Off-duty Officer — Officer Robert Katz, Mesa Police Department
  Volunteer — Olga Chaikheeva, SHIELD Foundation

Community Awards
  Non-profit Program — Heather Hurst, Archangel Foundation
  For-profit Program — Mark Guin, McKelvey Trucking Company
  Tribal Nation AwardvWilliam "David" Bruce, Tohono O'odham Nation

Lifesaver Individual Awards
  Corporate Program — Ralph Vassallo, Laidback Transport
  Youth Alcohol Education — Raymundo De La Ossa, Nogales Police Department
  Youth Alcohol Enforcement — Special Investigator Cheryl Judd, Arizona DLLC

Lifesaver Agency Awards
  Department of Health Services — Richard Porter, Chief of DHS
  Department of Liquor Licenses and Control — Sergeant Wally Hopson
  Department of Corrections — Sergeant Thomas Broyles
  Department of Transportation — Reed Henry, Arizona DOT

Law Enforcement Awards
  Outstanding Drug Recognition Expert — Detective Brett Campbell, Phoenix PD
  Outstanding Arizona DPS Officer — Sergeant A.R. Mullenaux
  Outstanding Police Officer, Small Force — Officer Nicole Florisi, Clarkdale PD
  Outstanding Police Officer, Medium Force — Det. Jason Kaufman, Prescott Valley PD
  Outstanding Police Officer, Large Force — Officer Kevin Weeks, Tempe PD
  Outstanding Sheriff's Deputy, Small Office — Tony Estrada, Santa Cruz County
  Outstanding Sheriff's Office Deputy, Medium Office — Sergeant Glenn "Linc" Gilbert, La Paz County
  Outstanding Sheriff's Office Deputy, Large Office — Sgt. Karl Woolridge, Pima County
  Outstanding DUI Task Force Unit — White Mountain DUI Task Force
  Outstanding DUI Task Force Individual — Sgt. Don Bischoff, Mohave County Sheriff's Office

Youth Outreach Awards
  Outstanding Enforcement/Education in a College Setting — Officer Michael Rushing, ASU PD
  Special Recognition for Collaboration with UMADD — Commander Allen Clark, ASU PD

Media Awards
  Excellence in Television News — Cathie Batbie-Loucks, KVOA-TV, Tucson
  Excellence in Newspaper Reporting — Arizona Republic
  Excellence in Spanish Language Reporting — Karina Coronel, KTVW 33, Phoenix
  Excellence in Community Awareness — Earl Hamlyn, Game Over Productions, Kingman

Special Awards
  Innovation Award — Koreen Johannessen, University of Arizona

Lifetime Achievement Award
  Sergeant Edward Slechta, Arizona Department of Public Safety

Award Honorable Mention
  Excellence in Adjudication — Judge Margarita Bernal, Tucson City Court
  Excellence in Adjudication — Prosecutor Bill Dickerson, Pima County Attorney's Office
  Community Award, Non-profit program — Esther Corbett, Intertribal Council of Arizona
  CEO Award, For-profit program — Paul Hallums, CEO National Traffic Safety Institute
  Good Samaritan Award, Corporate Program — Doug Fulton, President Fulton Homes
  Good Samaritan Award, Volunteer — Kim Ball, National Director of Marketing, Metro Networks
  Lifesaver Award, Department of Health Services — Dr. Timothy Flood, Ariz.DHS
  Lifesaver Award, Department of Corre  ctions — John Hallahan, Correctional Officer Training Academy
  Lifesaver Award - Youth Alcohol Education — Officer Tardy Thomas, Phoenix Police Department
  Outstanding DPS Officer —Officer Lason Adam, Highway Patrol, Arizona Department of Public Safety
  Outstanding Drug Recognition Expert —Detective Jeffrey Riddle, Phoenix Police Department
  Outstanding DUI Task Force Unit — Ed Slechta, President Southern Arizona DUI Task Force
  Outstanding DUI Task Force Individual — Officer Chad Wright, Gilbert Police Department
  Outstanding Police Officer, Large Force — Officer Trevor Grommes, Phoenix Police Department
  Outstanding Police Officer, Medium Force — Officer Robert Randall, Sierra Vista Police Department
  Outstanding Police Officer, Small Force — Officer Serra Rafael, Tolleson Police Department
  Excellence in Community Awareness — Michael Jamnik , Cox Media

Event Sponsors
  Arizona Governor's Office of Highway Safety — GOHS
  Mothers Against Drunk Driving — MADD
  University Mothers Against Drunk Driving — UMADD
  CarMax Foundation
  Arizona Trucking Association
  Scott McKay, Attorney
  Events by First Rose
  Southwest Ambulance
  Motorola
  Goldberg & Osborn Law Firm
  Defusco & Udelman, Attorneys at Law
  The Wyndham Buttes Resort
  SWANK Audio Visuals
  The 100 Cklub
  McKelvey Trucking Company
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