Receive Lifetime Achievement Awards from President Biden
CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER
LEE COUNTY — In October 2024, three members of a local family received Lifetime Achievement Awards from then-President Joseph R. Biden by way of AmeriCorps — Dr. Joanna Abram of Auburn, along with her son Joseph and daughter, Joy.
Dr. Abram said she lives by a quote from the late U.S. Rep. Shirley Chisholm: “Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth.”
Dr. Abram, a member of Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of East Alabama, said she believes young people do not have to wait until they are 16 years of age to gain professional experience — volunteering allows them to receive experience early. Not only do organizations benefit from their services performed, but Dr. Abram also said she believes children benefit from volunteering by building relationships, fostering a servant-leader spirit and gaining professional experience. After demonstrating this to her own children, she recently learned they would be receiving President’s Lifetime Achievement Awards alongside her. The family said they were humbled to learn they were chosen for this once-in-a-lifetime honor.
Dr. Abram received the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award after volunteering through Higher Education Ministries International Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, for 25 years. In addition, she has volunteered through Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. for 29 years and with Alabama Veterans Network (AlaVetNet) and American Red Cross for five years, along with volunteering with the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). For six years, she assisted her children in volunteering at the CARE Humane Society (formerly known as Lee County Humane Society) and the Joseph Abram Teddy Bear Campaign.
Dr. Abram’s son, 23-year-old Joseph, received the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award after serving six years with his Joseph Abram Teddy Bear Campaign. The recipients of the Teddy Bear Campaign were Lee County Head Start, Bethany House Hospice, EAMC Pediatrics, Camp Good Grief, Lee County Boys & Girls Club (now known as East Alabama Boys & Girl Club) and Bear Inc., which included the victims of Hurricane Harvey.
In addition to his Teddy Bear Campaign, for which he received the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Joseph volunteered as an Eagle Scout. His Eagle Scout project was to lead community volunteers in cleaning 55 veteran head stones. He previously received honors and recognitions from Presidents Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and now from President Joe Biden. Additionally, he has received recognition from Gov. Kay Ivey and a proclamation from Auburn Mayor Ron Anders. A graduate of Samford University, he has served as a volunteer with the Auburn Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.’s Empowering Males to Build Opportunities for Developing Independence (EMBODI) program, and he also helped assist his sister, Joy, in volunteering at the humane society.
Joy S. Abram, 24, received the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award after volunteering for six years with CARE Humane Society. She collected numerous bags of dog food donated by Kroger customers over the years, cleaned kennels, washed and stored linen, played with the dogs, exercised dogs, bathed dogs and assisted with administering medicine to the dogs. To assist her brother, she volunteered with the Joseph Abram Teddy Bear Campaign, and for four years she volunteered with the Auburn Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.’s Growing & Empowering Myself (GEM) Program. This proud graduate of Tuskegee University continues to serve her community while enrolled in the MBA graduate program at Auburn University in Montgomery.
