VOLUNTEER WALKS THE WALK, TALKS THE TALK

Kids love Fred Pennington.

Over the last eight years, he has spent thousands of hours volunteering at Cape Girardeau's Civic Center.

Ed Slaughter, president of the Civic Center, sees Pennington as a kind of Pied Piper.

"The kids stop his truck when he's driving the street," said Slaughter. "They know he genuinely cares. A lot of people just give lip service, but Fred walks the walk and talks the talk."

Pennington, who works as a photojournalist at KFVS-TV, grew up in a rough neighborhood in St. Louis. He knows firsthand the importance of a positive role model and someone who cares.

"I want to be there for these kids like someone was there for me," he said simply.

He feels it's important for a community to offer alternatives for youths, who are facing temptations from crime and peer pressure.

Pennington can be found at the Civic Center most mornings, before he reports to work for an evening shift. He also coaches basketball and directs several other programs.

Mike Heston, a former director of the Civic Center, said before you're done asking Pennington to help, he's up and starting the task.

"He has boundless energy and he's always looking for ways to help somebody," said Heston. "He has a passion to help others."

Pennington talked with pride about a number of Civic Center alumni who went onto successful careers. He's also keenly aware of the kids who get caught up in crime. These cases motivate him to try to help as many young people as he can.

If kids have no support system at home, Pennington finds the job that much harder.

The Civic Center tries to make a difference in kids' lives. "Sometimes, all they need is a little help to get going," he said.

This past Saturday, the youngsters sponsored a fashion show as a way to raise money for a trip to Washington. Pennington and Slaughter hope to take 15 to 20 youngsters to the nation's capital this June.

Pennington led two previous Civic Center trips to Wyoming, which included stops at Yellowstone National Park.

Many of these children have never been outside of Cape Girardeau County, much less Missouri. The trips help the teen-agers broaden their horizons. Visits to the White House, Smithsonian and FBI headquarters are planned.

These trips also offer an extended chance for Civic Center volunteers to build a rapport with the teen-agers.

Pennington is quick to point out that these trips are a team effort, made possible by generous support of the business community and other Civic Center volunteers. The youngsters also earned a portion of the trip money this year through car washes, a fashion show and parking cars during Riverfest.

Pennington also stays busy as a volunteer at St. James AME Church. He and his wife have a 1-year-old son.

Slaughter said he wishes there were more people like Pennington. "I wish there were 20 more Freds around Cape Girardeau."