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After decades of creating special effects for film, tv, and advertising I chose to fulfill my dream of becoming a professional travel guide – a dream that was inspired by a realization my mother had while she and I were traveling together in Italy. My first step was to get ITMI-certified. That was followed by two years of careening across the US as an Adventure Travel Guide leading budget tours for young Europeans. These were extremely demanding, high responsibility trips, but they allowed me to learn countless destinations while accruing a huge amount of cockpit hours very rapidly.

Tomas Garza Organization/Effort: Peace Corps Location: Mongolia Service Work: Teaching English to adults and elementary-age students “It reminds you that there is nothing insurmountable about a language barrier – that commonalities between people

Sherry Paul Organization: Kids, Cameras, Conservation Location: Namibia, Zimbabwe Service Work: Teaching indigenous children about conservation photography “I know from experience that when you become emotionally connected with your subject, you create a

Yvette Kaplan Organization: Facing History and Ourselves Location: Various Service Work: Educating students and adults about the Holocaust “I think it’s very important to be an Ambassador of Goodwill, to open people’s eyes

Rena Groot Organization: International Messenger Location: Uganda Service Work: Engaging and helping children at various stages in their lives “We all have something to give…don’t underestimate what you can do to bless someone’s

Len Holmes Organization: Cycle of Hope Location: Various Service Work: Bicycling to raise money for Habitat for Humanity “I’ve been a bike rider all my life, but the long-distance takes real commitment and

The Chinese National Guide was leading a tour group of Americans through Tiananmen Square. All of a sudden she picked up the microphone and said to the group “I’m so sorry to tell you this, but at this very moment