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The spirit of volunteerism is alive and well in the state of New Mexico, thanks to people like Tom Fisher. In 2005, he contacted Catholic Charities about volunteer opportunities, feeling that it was high time he gave back in return for all of the help he had received over the years. When told that help was needed with local ESL (English as a Second Language) students, Fisher signed up for ESL training. After his training was completed, he was given his first assignment: tutoring a pair of brothers who were Cuban refugees.

Fisher's volunteering didn't stop there. Soon, he was deeply involved with Catholic Charities' ESL efforts, putting together a newsletter, helping with computer classes for refugees, and teaching English literacy skills to ESL students from Mexico and Palestine.

So remarkable are Fisher's contributions that he was named Governor Bill Richardson's Non-Profit Volunteer of the Year for his work with Catholic Charities in 2006. Not one to rest on his laurels, Fisher continues to work with ESL students on a regular basis.