branch of peace award
Second Recipient Announced
ANNOUNCING Dr. Jim Nichols of Lafayette, LA as the next Branch of Peace Award Recipient!
"He's really a warm, Christian person who's always ready to lend a hand where needed and never wants to be repaid. You can never repay him. He's always going to be on the up side of you when it comes to who's giving more; who's being more generous," said Trudy D'Augereau who is the dental assistant for Dr. Nichols and has been for 14 years.
The missionary team working together to help a patient on the mission field in Mexico.
Since 1992, Dr. Nichols has served as a missionary in Mexico through Mexico Ministries, recently deciding to boost his normal four weeks per year to the six full weeks he'll spend this year to provide dental services to the impoverished indigenous peoples of Mexico. The majority of his time has been spent in the state of Chiapas, the poorest of Mexico's states, which shares a border with Guatemala. The area is remote, isolated and mostly third world in respect to economy, education and industrialization. In the last 12 years, the Mexican government has brought electricity to most of the villages, built some schools, and dug some water wells. But medical/dental care is nonexistent except for the mission teams who occasionally visit the villages.
In addition, Dr. Nichols serves in several local community outreach areas, including 232-HELP, where he is a Board member. The organization provides referral services for the needy. He also provides free dental care each month to some individuals through this organization, who could not otherwise receive services, including the mentally disabled.
Dr. Nichols also volunteers his dental services at the Community Health Center in Lafayette one evening each month. This clinic provides free services for the working poor. He also donates his services two afternoons each month at St. Bernadette's Clinic, sponsored by Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, to provide free dental care to indigent and homeless individuals in our community.
"Helping others - that's where his heart is. He's especially passionate about his work in Mexico. He provides free dental care while there, and assists with other medical efforts or even building ditches for water lines, putting up church structures or addressing whatever needs exist. The people there will walk for eight miles without shoes just to see him. They call him 'doctor' and he humbly treats them all with expert care. There's an interpreter who's Indian who speaks some Spanish so there are some obvious communication break downs, but he still finds the cause most rewarding. His wife and his daughter go with him and conduct this ministry as a family," said D'Augereau.
With movements everywhere on 'the greening of America' and becoming more Earth friendly as people and professionals; and with the worldwide plights that human beings face and the many moving stories you hear of heroes trying to do their part, Jameson Founder and CEO Cathy Jameson wanted to highlight those qualities within the dental industry and bring the wonderful heroes to the spotlight for a moment. Thus, the Branch of Peace award. The first recipient was Dr. Brock Arms of Cadillac, Michigan who is also a philanthropist raved about by his dental team members for strong integrity and philanthropic efforts.
"We want to recognize anyone who is living with a big picture perspective; whether living an environmentally conscious life, doing something philanthropic and/or exemplifying outstanding leadership," Cathy Jameson said. "Dr. Nichols' service more than defines these traits, and we thank him for his 'above and beyond' work."
Cathy Jameson's vision evolved into special sketches created by her father, Derry Ebert, which have been crafted into one-of-a-kind wall décor awards commemorating each recipient.
To learn more about Dr. Nichols of Lafayette, Louisiana and/or to congratulate him in person, call 337.991.0766. For more information about Jameson Management and/or the Branch of Peace award, call 877.369.5558.
Or, click here to make your nomination for the next Branch of Peace award.