Living United

Are you Invested in Our Community? We Are.

What would happen if families had access to quality health care, kids entered school ready to learn, and individuals had the job skills they needed to become financially stable? How would their lives be different? How would our community change?

That is our vision. And we need your help.

The United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area is invested in: School Readiness, Self-Sufficiency and Community Health.

To ensure people have the tools they need to thrive, we have assembled a winning team: local nonprofits, business leaders, educators, health professionals and public servants. We are leading these team members in solid, research-based community strategies and linking them with the resources needed - funding, volunteers, advocacy, technology, in-kind resources and corporate partnerships - to deliver transformative, measurable results.

Today we’re appealing to you to step up to the plate and invest in our community. Please make a gift to help the United Way hit a home run for programs that make families more successful, and our community more prosperous.

We’re all on the same team; we all care about this community. It’s time to come together and Hit One Out of the Park.

Everyone who makes an “Out of the Park” donation that is received by June 1, 2012 will be listed in a full page ad in The Daily Progress (please indicate if you want to be anonymous).

What are you invested in? Give today. Click here.

Thank you.

 

Interning for the United Way a Valuable, Wide-Ranging Experience

In my third year at the University of Virginia I decided to enroll in the internship program (UIP) for the entirety of my fourth year. I had extra space in my schedule and thought it would be fun to get out of the classroom for ten hours a week and do something a little more practical.

My first day at the United Way was both wonderful and overwhelming. Jessica, my sponsor, showed me my desk and then introduced me to everybody in the office. They were all incredibly nice and excited to meet me and they all wanted to tell me all about what they did. I of course promptly forgot everything that they said and spend the next few months learning everything I could about the office and remembering what they had told me earlier.

At my internship seminar I heard horror stories of other interns’ experiences; they would vacuum for ten hours a week, didn’t have a desk to sit at, or would have to deal with highly erratic sponsors and schedules. At the United Way, however, everybody went out of their way to accommodate my schedule and they did their best to involve me with everything that went on in the office. As the intern I expected to do a lot of the busy work in the office, but people would hesitate to ask me to do certain things; everybody really wanted me to have a valuable experience and not just envelope-stuffing experience. I helped organized a School Supply Drive, participated in the Day of Caring (I have never blown up that many balloons), went to a Board Meeting, did research for Impact Area meetings, worked on the Better Business Challenge to make the office more sustainable, and accompanied people to the radio station.

From January until April, I devoted most of my time to doing taxes through the EITC tax coalition. While taxes might not sound very exciting, I really enjoyed this portion of the internship! It meant I got to interact with clients, problem solve if a return got rejected, and really feel like I was making a difference in the community.

By interning at the United Way, I now have a much better understanding of how organizations, and particularly non-profits, function. I feel a lot more confident that I will be capable of holding an actual job. I gained great work experience and also started really connecting to Charlottesville (the University tends to be a little bit of a bubble at times). It felt great to be a part of an organization that works so hard to improve the community. I know that when I visit Charlottesville in the future, I will definitely drop by the office and say hi to everyone!

Posted by: Ellen Janssen, University of Virginia Class of 2012

Save the Date for "One Fine Day for the United Way"

Circle Monday, July 23rd on your calendar for an amazing day at Keswick Hall at Monticello.

For golfers, the United Way Golf Classic, which normally sells out, will be played on the club's Arnold Palmer designed course. Last year's beer tasting tents on the course were a big hit, and will be back again this year. The tournament includes a box lunch and delicious dinner on the patio.

Don't golf? We have you covered. "An Afternoon in the Country" offers a wine tasting tour of three wineries, a box lunch with a speaker, and the opportunity to join the golfers for dinner in the evening.

Both events benefit the United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area. We are invested in: School Readiness, Self-Sufficiency and Community Health. Spend "One Fine Day" with us and help us invest in our community.

More detailed information will be posted soon. If you can't wait and have questions, please contact Caroline Emerson at cemerson@unitedwaytja.org or 434-972-1701. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

Team Up for Our Community!

CenturyLink loves being a part of these two winning teams – UVA baseball and the United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area. Where else can you have all things wholesome like baseball and hot dogs and make a positive impact in the community with your donation every time that  home run is scored! It’s an absolute win when we are able to support a local Charlottesville organization that does so much to help with School Readiness, Self-Sufficiency and Community Health.

And the tailgate in May provides a great way to connect with other businesses that not only care what’s happening in the community but are willing to step up and act by joining the Club.

This year as the Team Captain we have a small gift that we’ll be sharing with each business as a token of our appreciation. But you have to sign up to find out what it is! One will be coming to our friends at Overhead Door soon!

 

Guest post by: Simone Alley, CenturyLink

Welcome to Our First Team Members!

Some businesses know a great way to help their community while also getting some goodwill marketing exposure when they see it.The same day we sent out information on the United Way Home Run Club, we had a response from BB&T and then from the Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Central Virginia.

Welcome to the Team!

 BB&T is proud to again "Team up" with our United Way and The University of Virginia Baseball team as a member in the Home Run Club.  This continues to be one way that BB&T lives up to its mission of "Making our COMMUNITIES in which we work better places to be."  Hit some Home Runs!!!

 

Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Central Virginia is excited to be a Home Run Club team member again this year.  What better way to support the United Way, the UVA baseball team, and the community! Supporting the Home Run Club not only helps bring the fans closer to UVA baseball, but also helps us help the United Way work towards their mission.

 

Hit a Home Run for Your Business and the Community

It’s back by popular demand! It’s the United Way Home Run Club!

Do you love University of Virginia Baseball? We do. And we appreciate the work ethic and sportsmanship of Coach Brian O’Connor and the high standards he sets for his athletes.

We also love our community and work every day to “move the needle” on our three focus areas: School Readiness, Self-Sufficiency and Community Health.

So we thought, “Why not combine our community’s passion and support for the baseball team with an equal passion for reaching out to help others in need?” And so, the United Way Home Run Club was born last year.

For every home run the UVA baseball team hits between April 1 and the end of the 2012 season, Home Run Club team members pledge $10 to the United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area. Last year, the first with the new composite bats, that totaled 18 home runs through the post season.

CenturyLink has enthusiastically returned as our Team Captain this year. They will be hosting a tailgate party using Cavalier One for our team members before the May 9 baseball game. Here is a photo from last year’s tailgate, in which we enjoyed incredible food and drink donated from several area businesses.  We were told that we had the best Cav One tailgate food all year.

We find ourselves listening closely to each game broadcast on WINA, or following online, and the Home Run Club does not officially start until April 1! If you listen to WINA broadcasts of the baseball and lacrosse games, you will hear our radio ads urging you to join the Club, as we are an official baseball and lacrosse broadcast sponsor, thanks to the support of CenturyLink.!

Small businesses owners are urged to join our team for some high visibility goodwill marketing – their names will be listed in our ads in The Daily Progress, with mentions during radio broadcasts, too! We will also be doing mini-business profiles on this blog, with links to our Team Member's websites.

Can we add your business name to the team roster? Individuals are welcome as well. If you know of a local small (or big!) business that loves UVA baseball and also wants to support our community, tell them about the United Way Home Run Club. They can publicly show their support of both, plus get print and radio exposure for their business. Win-win.

Click here to download a form.

This promotion is so popular, that we already have a local business signed up before doing any outreach!

Welcome to our first team member of 2012:

Overhead Door Company of Charlottesville.

GO HOOS!

 

The United Way Home Run Club is made possible  by Team Captain CenturyLink

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by: Kim Connolly

 

Pulling People Together

We have each been involved in supporting local nonprofits for more than 20 years. Jane thrives on helping organize special events for a variety of organizations and Bryan has served on the board of our United Way for more than 20 years, as well as serving as the chair of the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce and as a volunteer for Special Olympics, the Red Cross, Blue Ridge Rotary Club, and the Party Parade.

Our United Way impacts the community in many ways that people do not see. Not just by providing grants for local programs and by offering many direct services, but by advocating for the human service needs of all citizens. There are many issues in our community that concern us, including the education of our children and their well-being. Children need to be raised with the appropriate education and social skills plus the understanding that they are part of a larger community. The economic prosperity of our region is also very important, and we need to provide people with the skills they need as well as the jobs needed to sustain a healthy and safe living environment for everyone who lives here.

Our United Way addresses these issues by looking at where the needs are; we do this by pulling together community members-from nonprofits, businesses, the education and health care communities, and the public sector -and listening to them about what works and what hasn't, and where they see the need for more action. That is why we support our United Way both financially and with our time -because of the important role it plays in our community. We feel strongly that the dollars raised here stay in our community. We have a staff that works tirelessly to provide direct services like the Volunteer Center, Child Care Scholarships, Prescription Assistance and so on. We can see a tangible impact on our community through the United Way.

Posted By:

Bryan Thomas, Area Executive, BB&T

Jane Thomas, Community Volunteer

I feel energized and inspired by these young people

Do you want to do something that will make you energized and feel inspired about the future of our country?  Then consider mentoring at Teen Tech at Computers4Kids.

Teen Tech is a program for students who have graduated from the Computers4Kids middle school program and wish to continue learning about technology as well as prepare for college and career.  To mentor at Teen Tech  you  just drop in and help  anytime Monday to Thursday 3 to 8 pm.  Students who have come after school could be working on homework assignments,  filling out college applications,  writing an essay or applying  for work.  Help with writing a resume is another mentoring project.  Sometimes it is helpful to just participate in a good conversation about how to proceed with a project.

Many of the students are recent immigrants and speak English but need help with their grammar.  Giving advice about how to do research is also something the students appreciate.   Students have to learn how to do research – these are our future scientists, doctors, engineers, technicians and other career professionals.

The students are hardworking and very focused on their task.  They listen carefully to advice and try to incorporate all that they are told.  They are extremely polite and appreciate the help that is given.  Mentored students have better attitudes toward school, fewer absences from school, less alcohol and drug use, and develop better relationships with others.   This is what we should want for our future citizens.

Many of the students feel that it is important to give back to the community and are volunteers themselves at C4K or other organizations.  Each time I leave C4K I feel energized and inspired by these young people.

 

Guest post by Jackie Lichtman, Computers4Kids volunteer mentor

A look inside the Music Resource Center

 

January is National Mentoring Month.

All month long we are featuring guest posts from many of our local nonprofits that work with youth and need volunteers to become mentors and tutors. On January 26, 2012, the United Way Volunteer Center invites you to our annual Mentor and Tutor Opportunity Fair from 11:00 - 2:00 at the Omni Hotel. There you will be able to meet in person with representatives from 17 local organizations and fit the right fit for you as a mentor or tutor.

Mentor. Tutor. Pass it on!

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The Music Resource Center is an after-school music education program for 7^th-12^th grade students that uses recording and performing arts to equip students with life skills. Students pay as little as $10 per year to attend the MRC where they can explore:

-          Digital Music Production (or Beat Making) – In our project studios, students compose entire songs using just a computer and digital sounds.

-          Instruments- We have electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitars, pianos, drums, as well as microphones and amps for students to experiment with to figure out what they like, or improve on an instrument that they already know.

-          Instruction- The MRC offers lessons and workshops, led by staff and volunteers, in areas such as drums, guitar, audio engineering, beat making, hip-hop dance and even DJ’ing.

-          Recording Studio- Students can record their songs---as well as learn how to record others--- in our state-of-the-art recording studio.

-          Songwriting- Students work with staff and volunteers to learn how to construct songs and lyrics.

Students learn instrument and technology skills in our facilities, however, they also learn to respect others, manage time effectively, and set and achieve goals. We acheive these goals through the help of our volunteers. If you know a 7^th-12^th grade student that you think would be interested in our program, or you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please visit our web site or call 434-979-5478.

 

Guest Post by Maria Gall, Music Resource Center Program Assistant & Volunteer Coordinator

 

Mentoring is an awesome feeling

January is National Mentoring Month.

All month long we are featuring guest posts from many of our local nonprofits that work with youth and need volunteers to become mentors and tutors. On January 26, 2012, the United Way Volunteer Center invites you to our annual Mentor and Tutor Opportunity Fair from 11:00 - 2:00 at the Omni Hotel. There you will be able to meet in person with representatives from 17 local organizations and fit the right fit for you as a mentor or tutor.

Mentor. Tutor. Pass it on!

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For the last year, Hope 4 Kids has been the best part of my Fridays. As the children begin to filter out each week around 5:30, I sincerely cannot wait until the next Friday when I will be able to see them again. Being a positive influence to someone who looks up to you literally and figuratively is an important responsibility and an awesome feeling. The kids at the Hope Center are great; they are well behaved and full of energy. This can be attributed to the program’s leadership. When I began volunteering, Sharon Mason was the director of Hope 4 Kids, and I really admired the way she ran the program. She had a no-nonsense, tough-love demeanor paired with a genuine desire to help the young children grow to be successful students and peers. She stressed academic as well as social growth, recognizing the necessity of manners for a well-rounded education. The program’s current director, Lori- Ann Strait, has the same leadership style and truly demonstrates Hope’s desire to help not only the children, but their families and the surrounding community as well.

 

The Hope Center provides tutoring, exercise, and very valuable life lessons to children whose parents are often too busy at work to watch over them in the afternoons. The education techniques are very effective, as good behavior is incentivized and poor behavior is not tolerated. The children earn points for using their manners and helping out, and they may exchange those points for prizes at the end of each week. Through this program the children are also able to learn about the importance of saving, as there are items of various prices available, some of which are worth several weeks of points. The Hope Center also gives back to the surrounding community. For example, Lori-Ann recently provided all the ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner for the children’s families and alongside that gave them scarecrows as decorations. Also, at least twice a year, the Hope Center hosts a clothing drive, where they take donations in and then sell them to lower-income community members at significantly reduced prices.

There is a significant need for male volunteers for the Hope 4 Kids, as a positive male influence is very necessary for many of the kids who participate in the program. I highly encourage anyone who is interested to volunteer; it is a cause that is very worthwhile and enjoyable. I volunteer because I want the children involved in the program to succeed. The Hope Center has been a way for me to give back to the community through which I believe I’m making a lasting impact. And, as I’ve mentioned before, it’s a ton of fun!

Guest post by: Andrew Thrash

These kids inspire me

January is National Mentoring Month.

All month long we are featuring guest posts from many of our local nonprofits that work with youth and need volunteers to become mentors and tutors. On January 26, 2012, the United Way Volunteer Center invites you to our annual Mentor and Tutor Opportunity Fair from 11:00 - 2:00 at the Omni Hotel. There you will be able to meet in person with representatives from 17 local organizations and fit the right fit for you as a mentor or tutor.

Mentor. Tutor. Pass it on!

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Every day a steady stream of students file into the “I Have a Dream” office at Charlottesville High School.   They come during lunch, free periods, and afterschool to get homework help, work on college applications, or just relax and interact with the other Dreamers. 

This semester my main goal has been to help them apply to college, but I have gained so much more than I thought possible in just four short months ago.  The diverse set of personalities and experiences they bring forward every time we meet continue to inspire me.

 One Dreamer, Trevail, always makes me laugh as he recites song lyrics and tells stories about his life, usually while working on Trigonometry homework. It’s been amazing seeing him grow as a student and person during my time working with “I Have a Dream.” I can’t wait to continue working with him in the new year!

 Guest post by:  Joanna Ferguson, Intern,  “I Have a Dream” Foundation

 

Ten years of Computers4Kids: Timeless Impact

January is National Mentoring Month.

All month long we are featuring guest posts from many of our local nonprofits that work with youth and need volunteers to become mentors and tutors. On January 26, 2012, the United Way Volunteer Center invites you to our annual Mentor and Tutor Opportunity Fair from 11:00 - 2:00 at the Omni Hotel. There you will be able to meet in person with representatives from 17 local organizations and fit the right fit for you as a mentor or tutor.

Mentor. Tutor. Pass it on!

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Recently Computers4Kids (C4K) officially celebrated its 10^th Anniversary Year at our annual graduation ceremony.  Founded with the intent to bring technology to the students who need it most, C4K has evolved to provide a powerful combination of after-school services that ensure low-income students receive the guidance and skills needed to use computers to achieve greater academic and career success. C4K uses mentoring as the means to provide technology training and access because it is a proven tool for increasing positive long term outcomes for at-risk youth. 

If you are wondering whether you can truly make a difference as a mentor, the answer is undeniably YES. You can! After 10 years of matching at-risk students with volunteer mentors from the community, C4K is seeing a real impact.  95% of mentored students tracked by C4K have graduated from high school, and 89% have gone on to college.

As a mentor, you can help give local at-risk students the tools for success, and the chance to make their own positive contribution to our community.  To learn more visit www.computers4kids.net today!

 

“Although I wasn’t a bad child or student, I was still considered to be a low-income, “at-risk” youngster.  I thought I did not have the aptitude, intelligence or wherewithal  to do well in school.  C4K helped me to realize that category will never define me!”                                                                   

-Robert Williams, C4K alumnus, speaker at C4K’s 10^th anniversary graduation ceremony, and current graduate student in social work at Howard University

 

Guest post by: Computers4Kids

Afterschool Tutors Are Changing Lives

January is National Mentoring Month.

All month long we are featuring guest posts from many of our local nonprofits that work with youth and need volunteers to become mentors and tutors. On January 26, 2012, the United Way Volunteer Center invites you to our annual Mentor and Tutor Opportunity Fair from 11:00 - 2:00 at the Omni Hotel. There you will be able to meet in person with representatives from 17 local organizations and fit the right fit for you as a mentor or tutor.

Mentor. Tutor. Pass it on!

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Abundant Life’s afterschool program at Johnson Elementary School has just gotten underway for the spring semester and we are thrilled to have started the year off strong!  This year we are blessed to provide quality afterschool programming to nearly 42 school children. We have over 60 tutors working in our program already, many of whom have returned from last year!

Over the past few years we have had the privilege to increase the program size and expand our ministry to some students outside the Prospect Avenue neighborhood.  Our program has also reflected the diversity of our families in the Prospect area- we now have students from Liberia, Mexico, Togo, Somalia, Thailand, El Salvador, and Burma.

Not only do we have one-on-one tutoring at the school, we are partnering with the Blue Ridge Commons Community Center and the new Boys and Girls Club to offer afterschool enrichment on non-tutoring days.  This has allowed our families to have high-quality afterschool care each day of the week.  We are thankful to have these continued partnerships.

 Posted by:

Richard Feero, Charlottesville Abundant Life Ministires (CALM, Inc.)
Buford Tutoring Coordinator
Walker Tutoring Coordinator

An Instant Connection through Mentoring at YMCA

January is National Mentoring Month.

All month long we are featuring guest posts from many of our local nonprofits that work with youth and need volunteers to become mentors and tutors. On January 26, 2012, the United Way Volunteer Center invites you to our annual Mentor and Tutor Opportunity Fair from 11:00 - 2:00 at the Omni Hotel. There you will be able to meet in person with representatives from 17 local organizations and fit the right fit for you as a mentor or tutor.

Mentor. Tutor. Pass it on!

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With a focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, YMCA volunteers give men, women and children of all ages and from all walks of life the resources and support they need to be healthy, confident, connected and secure. Volunteers can coach our sports teams and teach many of our classes; mentor and tutor school-aged children in our after school programs; motivate and support youth; extend a hand to help adults who want to do more, be more or live healthier; advocate for the Y’s efforts to influence policies and initiatives that positively impact our community and participate in opportunities to give back and support neighbors.

"I love the relationships I have formed! I love connecting with people in our community. Whether it's the participants, other volunteers, YMCA staff, family members of the participants, etc., it's just so great to get to know these wonderful people. I especially enjoy the participants. 

It is so rewarding working with these special individuals and feeling like you are really helping them w/ homework and other after school activities. This, along with the social interactions, is important to stimulate their minds and bodies.

 [The Y is] a place with such a sense of community that you feel the connection the instant you walk through the door. It feels so good to give back locally and the programs through the Y are a great place to do so! You feel the dedication and compassion from the staff and other volunteers.

 This is now a significant part of my life and one of the things I'm passionate about. It's an amazing feeling! This will help me as I continue into the field of medicine of the many different types of people I will encounter."

  ~First Year Medical Student volunteering at YMCA/Park’s Edge After School

The Piedmont Family YMCA welcomes volunteers. Volunteers are the "heart" of the YMCA. Whether it's offering hugs in the preschool, homework help in the classroom, or coaching a basketball team . . . there's just no way to put a price tag on the sense of fulfillment that comes from helping someone else.

 

Posted by Brookes Simms, Director of Child Care Services,  Piedmont YMCA

All you need to do is just be there for them

 

January is National Mentoring Month.

All month long we are featuring guest posts from many of our local nonprofits that work with youth and need volunteers to become mentors and tutors. On January 26, 2012, the United Way Volunteer Center invites you to our annual Mentor and Tutor Opportunity Fair from 11:00 - 2:00 at the Omni Hotel. There you will be able to meet in person with representatives from 17 local organizations and fit the right fit for you as a mentor or tutor.

Mentor. Tutor. Pass it on!

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Going to the Hope Center every Friday has been one of the highlights of my week. The most exciting aspect of the program is that both mentors and mentees are always looking forward to our activities. The reason I have come to really value the program is simply because I get to interact with the kids in the most fun and entertaining ways. I mean who doesn’t like playing tag or hanging out at the playground?

As Hope Center takes place after school on Fridays, the kids are always full of energy ready to have a blast. All you need to do is just be there for them. It really does mean a lot to them. Sometimes even more than we think. So if you’re thinking of giving back to the community, don’t hesitate to come by and check it out. It’s going to be awesome! I promise!

Guest post by: Constantine Triantafyllides, Hope 4 Kids mentor

Music Resource Center: not just an afterschool program

January is National Mentoring Month.

All month long we are featuring guest posts from many of our local nonprofits that work with youth and need volunteers to become mentors and tutors. On January 26, 2012, the United Way Volunteer Center invites you to our annual Mentor and Tutor Opportunity Fair from 11:00 - 2:00 at the Omni Hotel. There you will be able to meet in person with representatives from 17 local organizations and fit the right fit for you as a mentor or tutor.

Mentor. Tutor. Pass it on!

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If you’re familiar with the Music Resource Center (MRC), you probably know that we are an after-school music program where Charlottesville youth can explore their musical talents in our state-of-the-art studios.  But did you also know that the MRC teaches students during the school day? 

Through theCharlottesville Albemarle Technical Education Center (CATEC), the MRC offers a two-credit elective class to juniors and seniors in Charlottesville city and Albemarle county high schools. The goal of the class is to equip students with technical skills that will allow them to compete for jobs in the music industry after graduation. In the class, which meets for two hours every weekday, students learn aspects of recording engineering, live sound engineering, instrument maintenance and repair, beat production, music journalism and radio programming. 

The Music Industry Technology class was started in the 2008-2009 school year and is now in its fourth year. Approximately fifty students have taken part in the class over the course of four years. To learn more about the Music Industry Technology curriculum, visit the CATEC website.

 

Guest post by: Maria Gall, Music Resource Center

Would you like to help a child learn to read? Join us in Book Buddies!

January is National Mentoring Month.

All month long we are featuring guest posts from many of our local nonprofits that work with youth and need volunteers to become mentors and tutors. On January 26, 2012, the United Way Volunteer Center invites you to our annual Mentor and Tutor Opportunity Fair from 11:00 - 2:00 at the Omni Hotel. There you will be able to meet in person with representatives from 17 local organizations and fit the right fit for you as a mentor or tutor.

Mentor. Tutor. Pass it on!

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Why am I a Book Buddy?  The thrill of watching a child advancing from learning to read to loving to read over the course of the year cannot be explained.  I am neither a trained educator nor a reading specialist.  I am a community volunteer and a former Charlottesville public school parent who wants to give back to my school system for educating my own children.

I could tell you all about the wonderful benefits of being a Book Buddy tutor, but I decided instead to tell you more about one of my Book Buddies.  He was a 6-year old boy from Somalia, relocated to Charlottesville by the IRC.  English was not his first language.  As I was also told, he did not have a written language or any written language skills when he arrived in Charlottesville.

My job as a Book Buddy was to help him with his reading and writing skills so as to get him to grade level.  I had a lesson plan prepared for me by a Reading Specialist each time I came in to see him.  It contained all the necessary skills he would need to learn to read and write in English.  My Book Buddy loved reading, but was not so keen on writing, so that was one of the challenges.

But there was another “hidden” advantage to the program.  In working with an ESL child, you can teach them about things that they have never seen or words that they have never heard.  One of our exercises used the words barbeque grill and a pretzel - two things that he had never seen.  One day I had to define a hike and tell him about roasting marshmallows over a fire.  These little things actually affect how well he could do on standardized tests which are so important in our schools today.

From a selfish standpoint, there were so many benefits that I gained from the program - the look of pleasure on my Book Buddies' face when I went to the classroom to pickup him up; the friendship that developed between us; and the most important thing - making a difference in a life by helping a child to learn to read.

 

Guest post submitted by Susan Gainer, Book Buddy Volunteer

 

Book Buddies is a volunteer tutorial program in the Charlottesville City Schools that pairs up trained community volunteers with first grade students who need more reading instruction. We have lessons at different times at the 5 city elementary schools and we match up our tutors and students to work together twice a week, at the same time, for the entire school year.

We begin in mid- September and continue through May. We train our new tutors "on the job" and provide support throughout the year by modeling lessons and activities, answering questions, and helping out whenever needed. The lessons are 45 minutes in length, so the entire time would be about an hour. There is a coordinator responsible for the tutors in each school who writes the detailed lesson plans and provides all the materials so that the lesson is very structured and productive.  The tutors come in a few minutes (5-10) early and review their plans and materials. Then the tutor picks up the student and brings him/her to the Book Buddies room. The tutor writes notes/observations for the coordinator before leaving so the next lesson plan can be appropriate for the student.

The relationship develops into a very strong one, and the students work hard for their tutors. Most tutors stay on for many years with us because they find the experience very productive and rewarding, and it does make a difference to that individual child.

If you are interested, please contact Jeanette Rosenberg at 245-2415 or email Jeanette.Rosenberg@ccs.k12.va.us for more information.

 

For a child, attention from a caring adult is priceless

January is National Mentoring Month.

All month long we are featuring guest posts from many of our local nonprofits that work with youth and need volunteers to become mentors and tutors. On January 26, 2012, the United Way Volunteer Center invites you to our annual Mentor and Tutor Opportunity Fair from 11:00 - 2:00 at the Omni Hotel. There you will be able to meet in person with representatives from 17 local organizations and fit the right fit for you as a mentor or tutor.

Mentor. Tutor. Pass it on!

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A testimonial from a parent.

CALM (Charlottesville Abundant Life Ministries) tutoring means alot to me because my child's education is a very high priority in my life and his.  I am unable to help him with his math, being that I have been out of school for 30 years, and things are done so differently now.  Many of our children need the one-on-one assistance in order to take in or absorb  what was taught in the class room.  Also, having someone that is willing to devote the time, patience, and UNDERSTANDING, can mean so much to the children.  For many kids this is the only real attention they receive, and that too can make a major difference.  So, I really hope that this program can remain a very important part of our community to help our children to become a success.

Big Brothers Big Sisters: Where Volunteers Get Even More Than They Give

January is National Mentoring Month.

All month long we are featuring guest posts from many of our local nonprofits that work with youth and need volunteers to become mentors and tutors. On January 26, 2012, the United Way Volunteer Center invites you to our annual Mentor and Tutor Opportunity Fair from 11:00 - 2:00 at the Omni Hotel. There you will be able to meet in person with representatives from 17 local organizations and fit the right fit for you as a mentor or tutor.

Mentor. Tutor. Pass it on!

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I’ve been volunteering for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge for the past few months, covering group events and writing articles for their online newsletter. At each event I’ve attended, I’ve been continually amazed by how much fun everyone was having—not just Littles, but Bigs too. I have to admit that it’s unclear to me who enjoys the program more, because the volunteers are always some of the happiest people in the room!

Traditionally, I have viewed volunteers, or Bigs, as “helpers.” They are the ones who support and encourage Littles; they are the ones that Littles look up to and learn from. Imagine my surprise when I was fortunate enough to witness a tender-hearted moment where the Little was the one encouraging the Big! Talk about a role reversal!

This unexpected scene played out at the recent holiday ice skating party in downtown Charlottesville. One pair in particular caught my attention—the Little was an experienced skater, but it was the Big’s first time on the ice. When the pair took to the ice, the Big nervously clung to the railing while the Little patiently skated by her side. And while it was apparent that the Little could have skated circles around most people on the rink, she loyally refused to leave her Big’s side.

The pair proceeded to circle the rink this way, with the Big clutching the railing and the Little sweetly shouting words of encouragement. The Little only left her Big’s side twice, to protectively clear the path along the railing as needed. Finally, once the Big felt somewhat confident, the Little held out her hand and slowly coached her Big away from the railing towards the middle of the rink.

It was endearing to see this gentle scene play out. The proud, determined face of the Little—who was only half as tall as her Big—shouting, “you’re doing good, keep going!” Meanwhile, the wide-eyed Big nodding and clutching her Little’s hand, drawing all the support she needed from her newfound ice skating coach.

This scene demonstrated to me that, at Big Brothers Big Sisters, it really is a two-way street. Bigs benefit just as much—or more so!—from the program as Littles. It’s an amazing deal when you think of it. In exchange for donating their time, Bigs get back so much more in return:  friendship, trust, adoration…and even the occasional coaching lesson!

Guest post by: Angelique Paul, Red Press, LLC,  BBBS mentor

 

Mentoring at Hope Center is a Great Feeling for UVA Student

January is National Mentoring Month.

All month long we are featuring guest posts from many of our local nonprofits that work with youth and need volunteers to become mentors and tutors. On January 26, 2012, the United Way Volunteer Center invites you to our annual Mentor and Tutor Opportunity Fair from 11:00 - 2:00 at the Omni Hotel. There you will be able to meet in person with representatives from 17 local organizations and fit the right fit for you as a mentor or tutor.

Mentor. Tutor. Pass it on!

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I can honestly say that helping out at the Hope Center in Charlottesville is one of the things I look the most forward to about the weekend. Every Friday afternoon, a group of my friends head to the Hope Center to join Ms. Lori-Ann in mentoring and teaching the kids, many of whom go to Venable Elementary School.

I have only been to the Hope Center a half-dozen times, yet each of these times has been even more rewarding than the previous. The kids are all really great, and you can tell immediately that they really enjoy and benefit from having someone older to spend time with. Some of these kids have absent parents, and others just really enjoy having an adoptive older sibling to look up to. Either way the kids remember who you are, and seeing the recognition and excitement in their faces when you come back to see them again is a great feeling that is hard to explain.

Being a mentor to these kids is one of the most humbling and valuable experiences that I have had at UVa. Ms. Lori-Ann is a incredible woman that commands respect from the kids but is also adored by all of them. You wouldl love meeting and getting to know her and the kids.

 

Guest Post by Matt Sutton, University of Virginia student and Hope Center volunteer.