Wendy Wayne's list of contributions includes teaching for the Peace Corps in Kenya and vaccinating children for polio in India



Wendy Wayne's list of contributions includes teaching for the Peace Corps in Kenya and vaccinating children for polio in India

Wendy Wayne is honored for her humanitarian work

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updated 03/12/05
BAKERSFIELD - A Bakersfield woman was honored on Saturday for her humanitarian work.

Wendy Wayne is the 3rd person honored with the Temple Beth El’s Hillel Award for her good deeds in Bakersfield and globally.

Wayne, known as the ‘Mother Teresa of Bakersfield,’ said her goal is simply to make this a better world for everyone.

She welcomed 17-News into her home on Saturday and shared some inspirational thoughts; As well as shared the piano music that soothes her soul.

She said receiving the Hillel Award from for her humanitarian work was an honor.

“I've never had an experience where I volunteer time or resources where it hasn't come back to me compounded,” she said.

Her list of contributions includes teaching for the Peace Corps in Kenya and vaccinating children for polio in India.

And in her hometown, Wayne supports Kern County's Child Development projects and works as an Early Care and Education Consultant.

“The fun that you have, friends you make, the experiences that contribute to you as a person are so valuable,” Wayne said. “You can't buy those.”

Her pictures serve as proof to her contribution to the world.

“This is from Machupichu in Peru, and it's a phenomenal place in of architecture and science and astronomy, however it's one little boy that I met that I remember the most,” Wayne said.

She can pinpoint and tell stories about exotic places around the globe but she has called Bakersfield ‘home’ for the past 20 years.

“People here don't have anything to hide, they're just down home, pretty darn nice people,” she said.

Surrounded by close companions and her supportive husband of 28 years, she raised two boys who are now following in the humanitarian path.

Last month, her whole family went to an outing to Nicaragua, to help build latrines.

She said, “Having two sons that I think are good citizens and feel good about who they are and can share.” Her husband, Gene Tackett says Wayne is only beginning to scratch the surface of her good deeds.

“We will continue over schedule Wendy helps with that, she's a wonderful over scheduler even when we're retired,” Tackett said.

Wayne says her motivation to lend a helping hand comes from her friends worldwide.

“Whatever environment you're in, you are the one in control of the life you're living,” she said.

“I'm the luckiest person in the whole wide world. I've never had to want anything.”

Past recipients of the Hillel Award are Bob Price, Bakersfield's former Mayor and local Pediatrician Jess Diamond.

When this story was posted in March 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:


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RPCVs in Congress ask colleagues to support PC RPCVs Sam Farr, Chris Shays, Thomas Petri, James Walsh, and Mike Honda have asked their colleagues in Congress to add their names to a letter they have written to the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee, asking for full funding of $345 M for the Peace Corps in 2006. As a follow-on to Peace Corps week, please read the letter and call your Representative in Congress and ask him or her to add their name to the letter.

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Add your info now to the RPCV Directory Call Harris Publishing at 800-414-4608 right away to add your name or make changes to your listing in the newest edition of the NPCA's Directory of Peace Corps Volunteers and Former Staff. Then read our story on how you can get access to the book after it is published. The deadline for inclusion is May 16 so call now.

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March 1: National Day of Action Tuesday, March 1, is the NPCA's National Day of Action. Please call your Senators and ask them to support the President's proposed $27 Million budget increase for the Peace Corps for FY2006 and ask them to oppose the elimination of Perkins loans that benefit Peace Corps volunteers from low-income backgrounds. Follow this link for step-by-step information on how to make your calls. Then take our poll and leave feedback on how the calls went.

Make a call for the Peace Corps PCOL is a strong supporter of the NPCA's National Day of Action and encourages every RPCV to spend ten minutes on Tuesday, March 1 making a call to your Representatives and ask them to support President Bush's budget proposal of $345 Million to expand the Peace Corps. Take our Poll: Click here to take our poll. We'll send out a reminder and have more details early next week.

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