AmeriCorps Members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove – Words Alive Volunteer Team of the Month - February 2017

Please join us in congratulating the AmeriCorps Members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove – Words Alive Volunteer Team of the Month for February 2017!

Our AmeriCorps team members help deliver the Words Alive Family Literacy Program (FLP) to families in need in the Garden Grove community of Orange County.  Words Alive FLP expanded to serve Orange County for the 2016-2017 school year with a goal to reach 300 children 0-5 and their families.

Through We Can Read Orange County!, a grant provided by Children and Families Commission of Orange County, the Orange County United Way, and the Orange County Community Foundation, BGCGG and Words Alive are able to work together to fulfill our missions.

“The Words Alive Family Literacy Program has helped BGCGG be more intentional in the interventions that we offer our families with children ages 0-5. We have identified the most vulnerable communities in Orange County with gaps in resources resulting in low literacy levels. Now we have a curriculum that will show real gains in pre-literacy skills for our youngest Club Members. So far, our AmeriCorps Members have dedicated over 2,000 hours in service through our Readiness on the Road Program. With their service this year we will be able to reach over 300 children.”

-        Christina Sepulveda, Vice President of Programs and Services, Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove
 

Check out the Volunteer of the Month Interview with our team below!

What is the most rewarding part of your work at BGCGG?

The most rewarding part about my work at BGCGG is knowing that families are creating memories when attending the program. Seeing parents spend quality time with their children is what motivates me to keep doing what I am doing because I know it impacts their lives in a positive way. 

-        Yvette Fuerte, BGCGG AmeriCorps Member

The most rewarding part of working for BGCGG is giving back to the families in the community where I grew up in Garden Grove, and actually making a difference in their lives.  It's an amazing feeling.

-        Joanna Calderon, BGCGG AmeriCorps Member

The most rewarding part is being able to experience growth in the families and children. I love that we get to sing our hearts out, and are able to provide families with quality care. Every activity has a purpose and most times it's so much fun, that no one even realizes they are learning.

-        Andrea Esparza, BGCGG AmeriCorps Member

What is your favorite part of the Words Alive Family Literacy Program?

My favorite part of the Words Alive Family Literacy Program is that children and parents are learning the value of literacy and early learning through fun activities. Also, seeing the children’s love for books grow from week one through week seven. 

-        Yvette Fuerte, BGCGG AmeriCorps Member

One of my favorite parts is doing the icebreaker with the parents. There is something beautiful and extraordinary in watching a mom stick her tongue out and slither like a snake, or seeing a dad jump around as he imitates a kangaroo.

-        Andrea Esparza, BGCGG AmeriCorps Member

In week 7, when all the families get together and we are able to see the growth in all the kiddos, as well as the cohesiveness of the group. I love to see them networking at the end, and hear them tell each other what other classes might be similar to the one we offer. It's a great feeling!

-        Leslei Emard, BGCGG AmeriCorps Member

Katie Collins - Words Alive Volunteer of the Month - January 2017

Please join us in congratulating Katie Collins – Words Alive Volunteer of the Month for January 2017!

Katie began volunteering with Words Alive in October of this year. She is a full-time student at the University of San Diego, studying English, history, and education.  She joined us for the fall semester as an intern to help develop our Adolescent Book Group Program curriculum – a great learning opportunity for her, and a great help for the program!  She has been a wonderful addition, diligent in helping develop the program’s online content and web page, and creative with the advancement of our curriculum guides which we use program-wide to facilitate book group discussions in the classroom.  This January she will be traveling outside of the country to study abroad and has dedicated some time to continue her support of the program.

Katie, you have been such a professional and impressive volunteer intern, and we are so appreciative of the hard work you have done and continue to do for the Adolescent Book Group Program and for our organization.  Thank you!

Check Out the Volunteer of the Month Interview with Katie Below!

Katie, tell us a little about yourself! 
I am a junior at the University of San Diego, born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. I am double majoring in English and History with a minor in Education, and my dream is to teach in an underserved, urban area in the United States. My favorite things to do include reading, yoga, rock climbing, and trying out new coffee shops. I will be spending the next five months in Buenos Aires, Argentina in a study abroad program, living with a host family, and taking all of my classes in Spanish, which will be extremely challenging for me but equally rewarding. 

How long have you been volunteering with Words Alive, and how did you get involved? 
4 months - I googled foundations or organizations in San Diego where I could combine my love of reading with the goal of promoting literacy with a classroom element. Words Alive was the first result, and I looked into our website and contacted Christina immediately!

What is the most rewarding aspect of your volunteer service with Words Alive?
So far my favorite contribution has been the opportunity to read and analyze The Glass Castle for the Teen Services program where I intern with Theresa. This memoir was so powerful and one of my favorite books I read in 2016. I loved being able to create a curriculum guide from scratch, knowing that my work would directly influence and guide classroom discussions among the in-class volunteers and students of the program. It excites me that the schools we work with are departing from the purely Eurocentric literary canon in favor of more contemporary and diverse material, which is all the more poignant and crucial to promote, now more than ever.

And, by the way, what are you reading lately?
I am currently reading Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, which was published about six months ago, and I recommend it to anyone and everyone! It follows two sisters in the late eighteenth century from a village in Ghana. One marries a slave-trader, and one is sold into slavery. I am almost finished with it, and I have no doubt that it is one of the best books that I have ever read. It is so important to promote own voice narratives and diverse literature. I cannot promote this novel enough.

Winter Yearick - Words Alive Volunteer of the Month - December 2016

Please join us in congratulating Winter Yearick– Words Alive Volunteer of the Month for December 2016!

Winter joined the Words Alive family earlier this year, and has jumped right in!  She began her involvement participating with the organization’s Event Committee, and was an invaluable source of support at the event in October. Winter exhibited such positivity and professionalism while monitoring the event’s silent auction.  She stayed past her shift to ensure the event wrapped up smoothly, and calmly handled all aspects of the closeout that were passed her way.

On top of volunteering for the luncheon, Winter shared her love of reading by supporting the Adolescent Book Group Program. Over the summer, while school wasn't in session, she volunteered to review books to add to our curriculum list. Reviewing books for our curriculum list allows for more options for our teachers.  This is how we learn of great books to share with our students and thus, enhance our program.

Winter, thank you for your time and dedication to Words Alive. Every little detail, and second of your time is appreciated.  We're grateful to have you on the Words Alive volunteer team!

Check Out the Volunteer of the Month Interview with Winter Below!

Winter, tell us a little about yourself! 
I’m a business professional originally from the East Coast, but love being in San Diego now. Most of my time is divided between work and my family, but I try to find time to enjoy all that the area has to offer. I also love to cook and read in my spare time.

How long have you been volunteering with Words Alive, and how did you get involved? 
I started volunteering in July of this year, so I’m still a newbie to the group!  I wanted an organization that I could relate to and felt passionate about their cause. I’ve always been a big reader and want others to share in my love of books, so when I saw Words Alive pop up in an email from someone I was intrigued. The more I read about the organization and the more I learned about the challenges the San Diego community faces, the more strongly I felt to get involved. I reached out to the group, and here I am now!

What is the most rewarding aspect of your volunteer service with Words Alive?
I really enjoyed seeing the fundraiser come together. To see so many people come together who feel passionately about literacy and opportunities for our youth is inspiring, and reminds me that we all have the ability to make a positive impact on someone else’s life. Surrounding myself with other people who want to make a difference has been the most rewarding part for me.

And, by the way, what are you reading lately?
I’m currently working my way through the Tess Gerritsen ‘Rizzoli and Isles’ series. I’m on a murder mystery kick at the moment, but I’m also reading ‘Helen of Troy’ by Margaret George on the side- it helps to balance out the scary!

Kathryn Kelly - Words Alive Volunteer of the Month - November 2016

Please join us in congratulating Kathryn Kelly – Words Alive Volunteer of the Month for November 2016!

Kathryn Kelly, University of San Diego senior, joined our team in September as the Development and Events Intern. Kathryn is incredibly organized in her approach to event management. She helped create all Social Media content for the 13th Annual Words Alive Author’s Luncheon including the beautiful slide show presentation at the event. She also helped organize in-kind donations for the raffle and silent auction. Kathryn’s ability to see what work needs to be done and accomplish the tasks at hand has been incredibly helpful in ensuring our success in raising support and awareness for Words Alive. Kathryn will complete her internship with Words Alive by helping us with our #GivingTuesday campaign. An opportunity for us to continue the excitement started at the luncheon and remind people that they can “Give the Gift of Reading” this year.

Check Out the Volunteer of the Month Interview with Kathryn Below!

Kathryn, tell us a little about yourself! 
I’m a senior at University of San Diego, where I’m majoring in Communications with double minors in Sociology and Marketing. If it wasn’t obvious by what I study, I’m definitely a people person! I get my energy from being around others and hearing their stories. When I’m not working or in class, I love hiking or being at the beach. I try to make it to the beach in some capacity at least once a week! I hope to pursue a career in corporate event planning or public relations, and interning at Words Alive has helped me take steps towards that goal.

How long have you been volunteering with Words Alive, and how did you get involved? 
I began as the Events and Development Intern at Words Alive in September.  I was initially drawn to this position because it gave me the opportunity to get experience in event planning and marketing. I loved that Words Alive works with children, teens, and families and supports a cause I care about. Half of my family is made up of teachers and principals, so education and literacy have always been close to my heart!

What is the most rewarding aspect of your volunteer service with Words Alive?
I love that I’m able to gain experience in so many different areas. I’ve been able to see how a big fundraiser is planned, what approaches are successful in marketing certain events, and the importance of relationship building in non-profit work. The most rewarding moment so far was seeing the Author’s Luncheon came together. I thought the event was such a success, and it was very rewarding to see all of the pieces fall into place. So much detail, attention, and hard work was put into the luncheon by a huge number of people, and being a small part of that team was really rewarding.

 And, by the way, what are you reading lately?
I’m currently reading a lot of textbooks, but I try to squeeze in some fun reading when I can! The book I most recently finished was Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee. I loved it!

Give the Gift of Reading

On November 29, Words Alive participated in a global day of giving, #GivingTuesday. We used this day focused on charity to kick-off our holiday campaign that will continue through the end of 2016. In order to continue inspiring a life-long commitment to reading, Words Alive needs your help to give books, volunteer, or make a donation. This holiday season, help us give the gift of reading to children, teens, and families all across San Diego.

Here's how you can help:
Give Books -- Like many of you, Words Alive has a holiday wishlist! We've compiled a list of books for our literacy programs that we believe our participants will love. We've partnered with Warwick's to ensure that all listed titles are available at their La Jolla location or online at www.warwicks.com. Our office will be accepting book donations Monday through Thursday from 9am-3pm, starting now!

Volunteer -- We are always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help out our organization. You'll be given the opportunity to serve on a committee, work in our office, or become part of one of our three literacy programs. To learn more about becoming a volunteer, visit our volunteer page.

Make a Donation -- Words Alive relies on your generous donations to fund our programs and community outreach. Making a donation will help support our Read Aloud, Teen Services, and Family Literacy programs and allow us to give the gift of reading throughout 2017. Help us to continue bringing our community together through literacy and show that reading matters!

Words Alive is excited to be using #GivingTuesday as a platform for kicking off our holiday campaign. We look forward to receiving books, enlisting volunteers, and generating donations throughout the rest of 2016. The impact you make now will allow us to broaden our reach in 2017. Thank you!

Lily Glasser - Words Alive Volunteer of the Month - September 2016

Please join us in congratulating Lily Glasser – Words Alive Volunteer of the Month for September 2016!

Lily attended a volunteer orientation in July, and immediately hopped on board as an office intern for the summer months.  Her passion for reading and can-do attitude are impressive, and made her an outstanding fit for the position.

Lily worked within the volunteer program to clean up data collection, to create fun and effective advertising for our volunteer opportunities and to build the content for an outreach banner.  She has quite an eye for design, and educated the staff about design programs such as Photoshop and Adobe InDesign through her work with the programs.  Lily was detailed in all of her work, and produced exceptional quality in all assigned projects. 

We have been so lucky to have your support, Lily!  Your maturity, work ethic and skill set are superior – you have such a great academic and professional future.  Thank you for all of your work this summer!

Check Out the Volunteer of the Month Interview with Lily Below!

Lily, tell us a little about yourself! 
I developed a penchant for reading, writing, and language at a young age. An avid, albeit sporadic, reader I enjoy novels, poetry, and short stories. I am currently enrolled as a high school senior, and outside of school I enjoy rowing competitively and listening to music. Through my editing position on staff of my school magazine as well as through perusing popular periodicals, I have gained an interest and appreciation for photojournalism, sensationalism, and design. I aspire to work towards achievement in the language, linguistics, and social science as I go on to pursue higher education.

How long have you been volunteering with Words Alive, and how did you get involved? 
I have been volunteering for WA since the end of July/beginning of August of 2016.

I was drawn to WA because of the organizations meaningful contributions to the community through the promotion of literacy. I first got involved with the organization through correspondence with Christina Meeker.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your volunteer service with Words Alive?
The most enjoyable aspect of my volunteer responsibilities has been being able to create designs to advertise WA; it is rewarding to know that these contributions will be able to advance the organization's reach in our community.

And, by the way, what are you reading lately?
I am currently reading Native Son by Richard Wright.

Sydney MacDonald - Words Alive Volunteer of the Month - August 2016

Please join us in congratulating Sydney MacDonald– Words Alive Volunteer of the Month for August 2016!

Sydney, like so many Words Alive volunteers, joined our family through her own friends and family.  Her mother, Andrea MacDonald, is current Words Alive board vice chair and has chaired the annual fundraising event, the Author’s Luncheon for two years.  Sydney was looking for a fun summer experience, and our office was looking for an intern – the timing was perfect!

Sydney has exuded an incredible professionalism in all of her projects.  She has assisted our staff with website maintenance and review, with donor communication around the upcoming Luncheon, with data clean-up and programmatic projects.  No matter whether the task has been entertaining or monotonous, Sydney handles everything with the utmost detail and quiet focus.

Sydney has been able to help us get organized and update our Donor Management system so that we can pull reports more efficiently. She has also helped us reach out to Raffle and Silent Auction Donors for our upcoming event. Her organization skills have helped keep the development and communications office moving this summer.

Thank you, Sydney, for giving us your time this summer and for your hard work!  We are lucky that you have shared your talents with us, among many other summer activities like teaching dance class!  We are very proud of you.  Thank you.

Check Out the Volunteer of the Month Interview with Sydney Below!

Sydney, tell us a little about yourself! 
I am 16 years old, going into my junior year of high school.  I have a passion for dancing and spend most of my time either at my dance studio or at my school's dance room. When I'm not dancing or working at Words Alive, I am at the beach with my friends or reading.

How long have you been volunteering with Words Alive, and how did you get involved? How did you first get involved with Words Alive?
I have been volunteering at Words Alive since June.  My mother has been volunteering at Words Alive for a couple of years and I have always really respected what they do.  Reading has always been a big part of my life and I love the idea of bringing it into other people's life. Since I knew I was going to have free time this summer, I thought helping out at words alive would be the perfect solution.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your volunteer service with Words Alive?
My favorite part of working at Words Alive is sending out donation requests and information sheets about the upcoming event, the annual luncheon. It is very exciting to know that I am informing new people about Words Alive and that they can see the magic of this nonprofit that I see.  The most rewarding part is when people respond to these requests.

And, by the way, what are you reading lately?
I am currently reading Mind Prey by John Sandford.

Celebrating Volunteerism: Words Alive and the San Diego Community

As Words Alive joins the nation in celebrating Volunteer Appreciation during the month of April, we thank the volunteer core that tirelessly devotes time and talent year-round to make our mission, and the work of many other organizations, possible.

San Diego is a philanthropically active community, and Words Alive is one part of the call to action.  The University of San Diego’s Caster Family Center for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Research, a partner in Words Alive program evaluations, published their State of Nonprofits in San Diego report in 2014 that cited a total of 9,364 501(c)3 nonprofits in San Diego.  The nonprofits reported represent a variety of foci including but limited to education, health, environment and animals.  Of the thousands of nonprofits reported, only 23% have paid employees – meaning the work of over 7,000 organizations is facilitated entirely by volunteer support. Of the few thousand nonprofits with paid staff, 59% have fewer than 10 employees (Words Alive included). 

The impact of San Diego’s volunteer community becomes clear – an enablement of thousands of charitable organizations to make their missions reality.  We can attest to that: our core of 550 volunteers empowers us with the ability to reach 5,000 children, teens and families each month with our programs.

Turns out, a culture of giving is not limited to San Diego.  In 2014, the State of California had the highest number of reported volunteer hours in the nation.  As if the time spent and the talent shared isn’t enough of a testament to the impact of volunteerism, the dollar value of each hour given is incredible.  In the last year alone, Words Alive volunteers have contributed over 10,000 hours toward our mission.  According to the Corporation for National & Community Service, each volunteer hour is attributed a monetary value of $26.87 (as of 2014). Since April of 2015, Words Alive volunteers have given nearly $269,000 worth in time!

On behalf of every nonprofit in San Diego, thank you for your devoted and often thankless work to ensure that we remain an aware, progressive and giving community.  You provide a model for the world of how your shared time and talent can bring such valued impact. 

Sources:

Schumann, M.J., Jones, J.A., Hunt, K., Mitchell, C., Krasynska, S., and Deitrick, L. (2014).  Annual Report:

State of Nonprofits in San Diego.  San Diego, CA: Caster Family Center for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Research, University of San Diego