Have you ever run into someone at a party or at an event where after meeting him or her you mention to your spouse or friend, "Wow...'so and so' was really interesting! What a great person!"?

Well, I have been lucky to meet tens and tens of that sort of person on the Extra Mile America Tour...and the Salt Lake City event was loaded with a number of individuals who fit that bill. 

Kayleen Simmons has a heart for helping low-income women and single mothers secure better-paying jobs...so she started an organization...and built a fulfilling career and life...with People Helping People. Lisa Osmond carried out her 17-year-old son Adam's wishes after he passed away by allowing his organs to be donated. She now is a leading Utah spokesperson for an organization called Yes Utah!...an organ and tissue donor registry program. Pamela Atkinson is one of the sweetest and softest spoken people you'd ever meet. Her words...and check book...however, carry amazing power in helping our "homeless friends" transition out of homelessness.

Tracy Henson and Candice Metzler use their social voice to lead food drives and help homeless youth, respectively. Both are humble in their walk...but so very strong as advocates for their cause. Bob and Pat Parks are a husband and wife team that have heard a calling to volunteer for Volunteers of America, Utah's Center for Women and Children, a residential detoxification center. They lead a weekly spiritual group that is a powerful part of the program to get individuals believing in themselves again.

Karen Webb provides hospice relief for overburdened caregivers, and then she works on creating the most amazing and professional "Memory Books" you have ever seen for patients and families. She has a full-time job, takes care of her 90-year-old father...and still volunteers 20 hours a week. Jon Dewey thought walking his children to school was not enough, so in working with the Salt Lake City Police Department, he brought back a parent/child safety program to his children's elementary school called Operation Safe Passage. It ensures the safety of children walking to and from school. Chris Beckwith and Nicole Bailey are passionate about running the coolest summer camp around...Camp Hobe...for young children (and their siblings) who have cancer. It's a special two weeks each summer that gives kids who have had to endure so much because of their illness a chance to just be kids again. 

Each of these individuals...in my eyes...are "wow" people! I count myself very lucky to now consider them people I know.