Caring Institute Names Caring People of the Year

There is a Caring Institute. (Yes, that's its name) And it has a hall of fame.

Based on information provided by a press release from PRNewswire, The Caring Institute was founded in 1985 by Val J. Halamandaris after a meeting with Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Halamandaris was moved by a statement made by Mother Teresa, that there was a poverty of spirit in the developed world that was far worse than the poverty of body in the third world. She asked him to do something about it - and his solution was in finding a way to recongnize those who gave back to society in tremendous ways (again at Mother Teresa's suggestion) and to identify them as role models. The Caring Institute is a 501 (c) (3) organization.

Former senator Robert J. Dole is the chairman of the board of the Caring Institute and said "On behalf of our board of trustees, it is a great honor for us to pay tribute to these extraordinary people who have used their lives for the betterment of others. They are wonderful role models and the very personification of caring," in reference to the five adults and six youths being honored with the 2007 National Caring Awards and being inducted into the hall of fame.

Romania's Man of the Year, Constantin Asavoaie, is being honored for having founded the Prison Fellowship Romania in 1993. This includes four homes for children in need, a Day Centre for juvenile delinquents, a Christian Centre for Mothers and Infants, and a shelter for homeless adults, 20 of whom have come directly from prison. He is also responsible for establishing Romania's first probation system with help from the nation's justice department.

Dominic Avellani is the founder of Community Education Center of the North End in East Boston,Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts. With his own money in 1972, he formed the Center which has since provided opportunities for over 40,000 immigrants, refugees, and high school dropouts. Each year over 3000 students receive diplomas in English, U.S. citizenship, GED studies, IT, and more