Local Man Honored as a Daily Point of Light

Center for the Victims of Torture
Tuesday, 30 October 2001

October 31 is national "Burge DeWitt Day"

When Burge DeWitt agreed to do some volunteer driving to bring new immigrants and refugees to their medical appointments at The Center For Victims of Torture (CVT) he never imagined that he would travel enough miles to have driven around the world more than twice. But that was 54,000 miles ago. Since then he has driven more than 100 clients from more than 50 countries to their appointments at The Center For Victims of Torture. Burge DeWitt, an 82-year-old Minneapolis man who currently lives with his son's family in Lino Lakes, is being honored at a reception at CVT on Wednesday, October 31 from 3:30-4:30 as a Daily Point of Light in the United States. This national award is designed to honor those who have made a commitment to connect America through service to help meet critical needs in the communities, especially focused on goals for children and youth. Armed with his cell phone, palm pilot and the maps he gets off the Internet from his home computer, there is no street corner, apartment, or landmark in the seven county metro area that Mr. DeWitt can't find. "This job is a lot more fun than I thought it would be. I have met some great people," said Mr. DeWitt. "The problem-free trips are my favorite. Although figuring out the various problems and getting a client to their appointment and back always feels like a small victory." The Center For Victims of Torture is the foremost treatment center in the United States for survivors of politically motivated torture and their families. Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota with offices in St. Paul, Washington, DC, Guinea and Sierra Leone, West Africa, CVT is celebrating more than sixteen years of Restoring the Dignity of the Human Spirit.

For more information, or to contact Center for the Victims of Torture, see their website at: www.cvt.org