Celebrating and recognizing our volunteers’ invaluable contributions in transforming the lives of our fellow New Yorkers!
_IMG_0391c1r1th2.jpg "Sierra Freeman accepting award from Mary G. Connolly and Robert H. Gutheil")
Thursday Evening, April 22
During National Volunteer Recognition Week, Episcopal Social Services (ESS) held a reception to honor volunteers whose participation in programs greatly expands and enhances the services provided to clients. Close to 40 people attended the event and had an opportunity to enjoy refreshments, network with each other, and mingle with ESS staff.
Mary G. Connolly, Director, Development and Communications, who also manages Volunteer Services, began the short program by welcoming guests, and recognizing Mayor Bloomberg’s New York City Service initiative which has provided ESS three VISTA volunteers, members of the New York City Civic Corps (NYCCC), who have been rebuilding the volunteer program since they joined ESS last August.
Robert H. Gutheil, Executive Director, then related a short history of ESS and our programs, and emphasized the importance of volunteers’ contributions to clients and staff. Winter Wonders, the most ambitious volunteer project, yielded over 2,000 wrapped holiday gifts which were distributed to the children and families served by ESS. Mr. Gutheil announced that in 2009-2010, ESS volunteers provided 6,902 hours of service valued at $196,845, according to Independent Sector, a coalition of corporations, foundations, and private voluntary organizations that works to strengthen America’s nonprofit organizations.
_IMG_0392r1c1th1.jpg "Sierra Freeman, Learning Leaders, Mary G. Connolly and Robert H. Gutheil")
The highlight of the program was the presentation of the Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award to the Learning Leaders volunteers from the Bronx Academy of Letters (BAL) and Sierra Freeman, their Student Enrichment Coordinator. The Learning Leaders program is sponsored by ESS, The Bronx Academy of Letters and the Coleman Fung Foundation. The program provides the opportunity for ten motivated students from BAL to lead weekly workshops engaging children from families involved with ESS’ Family Preservation program. The BAL students also pursue additional service projects, and after successfully completing their volunteer assignments, participate in a six-week summer college course at the University of California, Berkeley underwritten by the Coleman Fung Foundation. Mr. Fung is also a generous supporter of ESS.
Maria Cummings, Alisha Freeman and Susan Seigle, the three volunteer coordinators from the NYCCC, then saluted the varied community partners who provide volunteers to ESS, including the Fashion Institute of Technology, AHRC, New York Cares, Hostos Community College, as well as corporate partners Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs.
According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, about 61.8 million Americans, or 26.4 percent of the adult population, gave 8 billion hours of volunteer service worth $162 billion in 2008.
ESS deeply appreciates the commitment to civic engagement of their many volunteers, and were pleased to have the opportunity to shine the spotlight on these generous and caring individuals.
