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They turn disability into ability. They help others cross the finish line. They realize a dream to save lives. They preserve history.

These traits embody the exceptional people we recently recognized through the Georgia-Pacific “Tips the Hat” contest, which searched for citizens doing good works in their local communities. Nominated by fellow community members, the first-place honorees directed a $2,500 donation from Georgia-Pacific on their behalf to a local eligible charity. Second- and third-place winners directed donations of $1,000 and $500, respectively.

We tipped our hat to a total of 12 local volunteers from our facility communities in Florida, Georgia and Wisconsin, and donated a total of $16,000 to local charities. There is no shortage of inspiring stories from the “Tips the Hat” first-place honorees, as told by their nominators. Congratulations to all the winners!

First-Place Winner: Darlene Crowe. Palatka, Fla., resident Darlene Crowe is dedicated to serving the visual and hearing needs of Putnam County and the State of Florida. Darlene, who is deaf and blind, travels throughout the state to spread the word about the Florida Support Service Program sponsored by the Florida Deaf-Blind Association. The program will make service providers available for deaf and blind people to assist them with effective communication skills. With her guide dog, Darlene regularly shares her experiences in mobility, communication, and other areas that sighted and hearing people take for granted to educate the public. Receiving organization: Florida Deaf-Blind Association

First-Place Winner: Christian Jensen. Volunteer Christian Jensen is the executive director of the Green Bay, Wis., chapter of My Team Triumph. His desire to give one physically disabled person the opportunity to compete in a marathon in 2009 kicked off an amazing journey dedicated to providing other physically challenged individuals the experience to participate in endurance races. Christian dedicates himself to pairing physically challenged athletes called "captains" with able-bodied "angels" so they can proudly cross the finish lines of 5ks, 10ks, half and full marathons, and triathlons. Christian’s leadership with My Team Triumph is making a difference and making life better for disabled people in Wisconsin. Receiving organization: Syble Hopp School

First-Place Winner: Stuart Sullivan. In May 2010, 15-year-old Andrew Cohn tragically lost his life after a collision with a base runner during a game caused an abnormal heart beat. Had an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) been available within the first 3-5 minutes of his cardiac arrest, Andrew's chances of survival would have been over 90 percent. Camden County Firefighter and EMT Stuart Sullivan of Kingsland, Ga., volunteers for AED Alliance, a non-profit organization that created a free public borrow concept of AEDs for groups such as travel ball teams, scouts and church groups. Stuart is helping to establish a borrow plan in each of Georgia’s 159 counties and ultimately to counties nationwide. Receiving organization: Camden County Fire Rescue

First-Place Winner: Norman Turner. Retired Chief Warrant Officer Norman Turner from Savannah, Ga., has devoted years to researching and preserving Effingham County’s history. He published 75 booklets of data on local events, people and history. Norman has shared information with the Historic Effingham Society library and donated booklets to the Georgia Salzburger Society to generate income for the museum. As a co-owner of the Reiser Zoller Farm on the National Register of Historic Places, he has shared the home with tourists, students and movie producers showcasing its 278-year history. Norman also worked with the Department of Transportation to properly mark creeks and helped acquire historical markers. Receiving organization: Springfield Elementary School