A few miles on the odometer and a few minutes out of busy day don't mean a thing to Morris Stole if it can help a youngster succeed in the world.

The Kirkwood Elementary guidance counselor doesn't mind going out of his way to help kids.

This winter, the North Liberty resident shuttled West High freshman Calvin Freeman to and from basketball practice because his mother's schedule conflicted.

"He was a Kirkwood kid three years ago," Stole said. "I've done similar sorts of things, doing some tutoring for kids to help them get through high school."

Freeman also attends gymnastics practice and soon will need a lift a couple times a week to play in the Cedar Rapids All-City Drum Corps. And Stole is happy to help.

Stole - who also serves as guidance coordinator for the Iowa City School District - has gone as far as opening his own home in Sharon Center to students.

"Five or six years ago, I had a couple young men stay here," he said. "The basic goal was to get them to graduate."

Stole's willingness to help others seems to have no bounds. He recently completed six years on the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Johnson County Board of Directors and organizes food drives for the Crisis Center at Kirkwood Community College.

"It think it's important to help people out that need a boost," he said. "Part of it is giving people a chance to succeed. If I didn't drive Calvin back and fourth, he wouldn't get to play basketball."

- Jon Klinkowitz