Today’s post is written by Jonah and Kayleigh, New York City Civic Corps members serving their terms as Service Coordinators with generationOn.
On Valentine’s Day, Scholastic store put on a 50th Birthday Bash for Clifford the Big Red Dog at their flagship store on Broadway. The iconic publishing house partnered with generationOn to throw an event that would celebrate a titan (in more ways than one!) of children’s literature and give back to the community at the same time.
As Service Coordinators with generationOn, we have the pleasure of meeting teachers who engage their students in service. Some teachers are exploring youth service for the first time; others are practiced veterans. For the Scholastic event, we partnered with Ms. Gen Berretta of PS 119, one such veteran, who regularly fuses service with academic instruction to create service-learning experiences for her students. She, along with Ms. Saby and Parent Coordinator Bernadette Slack, brought a class of first and second graders to the store, along with a select number of fifth grade student helpers selected for their leadership in past service projects. Scholastic provided a bus to transport the children – too young for the subway – to the event.
Once they arrived, students made Valentine cards for Clifford, listened to a story read by Clifford and friends, and then learned about homeless dogs in shelters. In order to help these animals, they designed and created bandanas for dogs in New York ASPCA shelters to wear in order to get adopted faster. Ms. Berretta infused the activity with elements of service-learning by pushing the students to think about spelling and grammar. The kids thrived on this call to action and came up with a number of clever slogans, including “I’ve been barking for a friend like you,” “I won’t eat your homework,” and “I won’t bite your leg, but I will bite robbers!” – to cite just a few examples.
This service project extended beyond the day of the event: Ms. Berretta brought the project back to her school, where several other classes completed it as well. With more time devote to the academic aspect of the project, students were able to practice skills related to spelling, grammar, drafting, and author’s purpose.
Learning takes on meaning when we apply it, and PS 119’s students applied it meaningfully as they used their intelligence and creativity to help out animals in need.
PS 119 invites you to read their blog, including updates about their service work.
The Power of Collaborative Volunteering: OneOC & CVCOC Oak View Project
Today’s guest post is written by Dan McQuaid, President/CEO of OneOC. Dan has more than 25 years of leadership experience as a chief executive officer, community leader, board chairperson, organization consultant and trainer.
Freshly painted public spaces including a concrete skateboard platform, playgrounds, and school buildings along with improvements to soccer fields and school gardens made in the low-income Oak View neighborhood of Huntington Beach were the outward results of the first combined volunteer project planned and executed by the Corporate Volunteer Council of Orange County (CVCOC) with project coordination by OneOC.
“When they set out to improve the Oak View neighborhood, the CVCOC members were thrilled to learn that they would work side by side with Oak View community members. This project brought together 11 nonprofits, 16 companies, and 75 neighborhood residents, all working together to build a stronger, more vibrant quality of life for those who call Oak View home,” said Rob DeLiema, president of BJ’s Restaurants Foundation and task force leader of CVCOC’s combined corporate volunteer project. CVCOC was launched in January 2012 in collaboration with OneOC, a nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization committed to accelerating nonprofit success through volunteer, training, consulting and business services.
The CVCOC Oak View project was the first combined company-volunteer effort. This expansive project brought together 500 volunteers, including grateful local residents and energized employees from 16 Orange County companies on the morning of Saturday, February 23, and did as much for the spirits of the participants as it did for the physical places they touched. This Oak View neighborhood is a densely-populated neighborhood of 10,000 residents in one square mile, 32% of whom live below the poverty line.
The project contributed to the overall Oak View Renewal Project that seeks to narrow the cultural, social, educational, health and economic gap between Oak View and the remainder of Huntington Beach and to serve as a model for community development.
CVCOC and OneOC’s efforts show the power of collaborative volunteerism. Diane Killeen, manager, Disney VoluntEARS and Cast Initiatives, Disneyland Resort and CVCOC vice chair agreed: “The success of our first CVCOC joint effort demonstrated our power to provide a community-based solution though volunteerism, both as individual corporate members and as part of the collaboration. Along the way, our Disney VoluntEARS had the opportunity to work closely with people from companies they may never have met otherwise and be a part of an incredible effort to brighten the lives of our Orange County neighbors.”
Participating companies included Allergan, Bank of America, BJ’s Restaurants, Corinthian Colleges, Cox Communications, Disneyland Resort, Edwards Lifesciences, Experian, Fluor, JP Morgan Chase, Kaiser, Pacific Life, PIMCO, Ricoh Electronics, HUB International and Western Digital.
Change Notes: Civic Accelerator Gives Today’s Start-Ups a Boost
Friends,
Twenty years ago, a group of friends and I started HandsOn Atlanta in a bar by passing a beer mug for donations. I can still vividly recall the energy and excitement of dreaming up something new, of being a part of creating a way for people to participate. So it’s a real thrill to be able to play a part now in supporting the development of the next generation of social entrepreneurs.
A few months ago, with generous support from the PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc. and Starbucks Foundation, Points of Light and Village Capital launched the Civic Accelerator – a 12-week boot camp dedicated to boosting early-stage ventures with missions that engage people as part of the solution.
Our goal in the year ahead: to invest in 30 organizations that will update – and possibly upend – what it means to volunteer.
The first 10 hard-driving entrepreneurs have just graduated from boot camp. They’re an ambitious lot with great ideas and amazing tools at their fingertips.
UBELONG is working to radically change how people volunteer abroad. Generation Citizen aims to revolutionize civics education. And MoneyThink wants to be the nation’s premier collegiate mentoring organization. No small goals here!
Each of the 10 start-ups was offered a $10,000 investment, and PGi donated terrific videos about each one. Two start-ups – Generation Citizen and UBELONG – were selected by their peers as “most ready to succeed.” These two were offered $50,000 investments.
As the largest organization in the world dedicated to volunteer service, Points of Light has the honor and responsibility of seeding innovation in our field. The Civic Accelerator provides a great opportunity for those seeds to grow.
We’re grateful that our founding corporate sponsors, the PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc. and Starbucks Foundation, have shared their deep experience and provided advisers and mentors to nurture the teams up to and beyond graduation.
Points of Light and Village Capital are now accepting applications for a second group of 10 entrepreneurs. The program will kick off this May. For details, visit the Civic Accelerator. If you have a big idea and are an early-stage for-profit or nonprofit organization that engages people to help solve a social problem, I hope you’ll apply
Eat to Live: Reducing Your Cancer Risk with Plant Foods
February is Cancer Awareness Month. Today’s post is written byPeter Ewens, the President and CEO of Natural Horizons Wellness Centers, based in Fairfax, Virginia. Natural Horizons is an integrative medicine and wellness practice that provides its patients with holistic cancer treatment programs, biological dentistry, pain management therapies and much more.
While cancer deaths have drastically declined since their peak in the early 90’s, the fact remains that it is still one of the top causes of death in the United States. This statistic may be sobering, but the good news is that there are many ways to reduce the risk of getting cancer, from exercising to limiting alcohol consumption, and perhaps one of the best methods: eating a plant-rich diet.
Why Plants?
Unlike red meats, which can increase the risk of colon cancer, plant foods can actually aid in cancer prevention. From broccoli to berries, plant foods are being studied every day, and evidence of their potential cancer-fighting abilities continues to build. So, how do they do it?
Nutrient Density
First, fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals, which support our body’s immune system and help keep it strong and healthy. A body that has all the nutrients it needs is much better equipped to fight off disease and keep its systems running in peak form.
Phytochemicals
Plants also contain substances called phytochemicals. These organic compounds are responsible for plants’ smells, colors, and more. They also are believed to help reduce the risk of cancer.
For example, lycopene is a phytochemical found in tomatoes. Along with giving tomatoes their bright red color, lycopene is also thought to help reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Studies into its efficacy and exact mechanism of action continue, but some theorize that the compound stimulates special, cancer-preventative enzymes in the body.
Low Caloric Density
Plant foods are lower in calories than most processed foods, and eating them can help to maintain a healthy body weight, which is associated with a decreased risk of many cancers.
6 Steps to a More Plant-Rich Diet and Lifestyle
Now that you know a bit more about the potential cancer-preventative benefits of eating a plant-rich diet, here are some ways to incorporate them into your daily routine and to create an overall healthier lifestyle:
Start with a clean slate – If you’re starting a new lifestyle, eliminating temptation can be a huge help. You don’t have to buy a whole new pantry full of food, but begin by getting rid of the worst offenders and replacing them with healthy options that still satisfy your cravings. For example, baked apple chips or baby carrots can provide a nice crunch similar to that of potato chips (just make sure the chips aren’t salted or sweetened).
Plan ahead – Perhaps the biggest downfall of fresh fruits and veggies is that they’re perishable, but you can avoid wilted plants and wasted food by thinking ahead. Make a weekly meal plan and purchase only the fresh ingredients that you need for those meals. If possible, make two small trips to the grocery store each week instead of a single weekly voyage so you can get food that’s fresher.
Figure out fresh versus frozen – Frozen fruits and vegetables are a great way to make sure you always have healthy options on hand. The trick is knowing what to buy: Varieties like corn, lima beans, green peas, and sweet peppers tend to hold up better after being frozen, whereas ones like green beans and asparagus can get mushy and are better fresh. Frozen spinach is a good option for use in casseroles or when making creamed spinach, but not for salads.
Be creative – Not a big vegetable fan? That’s OK! There are lots of ways to incorporate them into your daily diet without having to struggle through a salad. For example, try grating squash or zucchini into casseroles and spaghetti sauces, where you will be less likely to notice the taste. Steamed and mashed cauliflower can be added to mashed potatoes for a punch of nutrients with virtually no effect on texture or taste. Start adding them to your meals in small amounts, and you may find that eventually you do develop a taste for them.
Go meatless – Regular consumption of meat is associated with a higher risk of cancer, so try going meatless one day a week. You can also decrease portion sizes and make other ingredients the main focus of the meal. For example, instead of eating a steak, add some shrimp to pasta primavera. Rather than eating a full chicken breast, cut it into small pieces and include it in a casserole.
Indulge healthfully – Everyone needs a little treat every now and then, and you can still get your fix without going back to your old eating habits. For example, rather than order delivery pizza, make your own at home so you can add lots of vegetables and control the amounts of salt and cheese. If you’re looking for a sweet snack, melt some dark chocolate and drizzle it onto a banana or apple. Write down these healthy alternatives as you find or create them so that when a craving hits, you already have a plan.
Go Beyond Food
Improving your diet is a great first step for improving your health, but there are many other steps you can take to boost your wellbeing. For example, evidence is quickly growing that volunteering provides health benefits in addition to the obvious social ones. In fact, a report from the U.S. Corporation for National & Community Service states that volunteering can improve both mental and physical health, promote longevity, and lead “to greater life satisfaction and lower rates of depression.”
As the famous saying goes, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one small step,” and the same is true for changing your lifestyle. It may be overwhelming to think about a full overhaul of your eating habits, but by breaking it down into small changes like choosing fruit over chips, you can put yourself on the right path and end up making a huge difference.
Volunteers’ work is critical in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy… and all Disasters
It has been three months since Superstorm Sandy hit the easternseaboard. Last week I had a moving experience on the Rockaway peninsula, and in Brooklyn, seeing firsthand the devastation and how volunteers continue to be part of the solution helping these communities rebuild. As the storm approached, Points of Light dispatched their director of disaster services to FEMA headquarters. When the storm surged it became apparent what areas were the hardest hit. The Red Cross and many other organizations, along with government agencies and businesses, were poised for the relief efforts. Volunteers, both trained and not (unaffiliated), were responding. One of my clients’ subsidiaries, Southern California Edison, sent trucks, equipment and linemen along with staff from the community investment department, to help. Points of Light and its HandsOn Network (Volunteer Centers) were also responding. Nine affiliates through the region were, and are, active in the various phases of a disaster from initial relief, to recovery and resiliency.
My tour was through areas serviced by New York Cares. We drove the length of the Rockaway’s, visited their command center (very cold trailers), and homes that they were being mucked out. One home was being scrubbed for mold. After the home’s contents and dry wall had been removed, the studs were scrubbed so as the house could then be rebuilt. This is a tedious process and being done by volunteers. Many of the areas I visited are home to lower income and the elderly. Without the support of volunteers, many would not be able to rebuild, or rebuild as quickly. Volunteers have been providing many services in addition to those mentioned here. Tutoring children when the schools were closed so as they would not fall behind and now helping with income tax preparation as the disaster will make their returns far more complicated, are both examples.
Points of Light is building its infrastructure to better support the 250 HandsOn Network affiliates across the US, plus those outside the US, prepare and respond. Next time there is a disaster and you want to help, or be proactive with your support and help with the preparedness efforts, consider funding volunteer infrastructure. It’s a very important, and often overlooked, element of disasters. https://www.pointsoflight.org/programs/disasterhttp://www.newyorkcares.org/
The Civic 50: Why IBM’s Integrated Commitments Makes it America’s Most Community-Minded Company
Today’s post is republished from CSR Wire, originally published on Feb. 12, 2013. In part one of a new series on CSRwire
Talkback
examining the seven dimensions, Jackie Norris, Executive Director of Points of Lights’ Corporate Institute decodes the first one: community partnerships.
, had been volunteering at her local school in Chester, N.H. since her oldest son was in first grade. Recently, however, budget cuts left only one technology teacher to handle computer-related teaching, software managing and problem solving for all eight grades.
She turned to IBM’s volunteer programs to see what resources she could provide. Along with Chester Academy’s technology teacher, she discovered that one of IBM’s three dozen Activity Kits – Mission: Innovation – fit perfectly into the seventh-grade curriculum.
The activity kit transformed the course. “Tania’s work with the students energized both me and the students,” said teacher Susan Kessler.
Zirn then upped her volunteer hours in order to quality for an IBM community grant. That enabled Chester Academy to buy $1,500 worth of video equipment. “It was very fulfilling and memorable to be able to help in a way specific to my 25-plus years of work experience,” she said.
IBM’s Integrated Commitment
IBM uses intense management involvement to combine such bottom-up employee-community relationships with top-down multimillion-dollar grants to contribute to neighborhood life at every level. This integrated commitment earned the globally integrated giant top honors in
, a ranking of America’s most community-minded companies.
The Civic 50 is a partnership between the National Conference on Citizenship and Points of Light that ranks corporations on seven dimensions of local involvement. The
community partnership
dimension requires a company to pay close attention to local needs; to really
listen
and align what residents need with the company’s expertise, its employees’ abilities and the resources available. Employees have to be able to connect with each other and with corporate executives on what’s required, and on how best to contribute.
IBM has been doing that since founder Thomas Watson, Sr. wrote in the 1920s: “Business leaders are not just ‘doing business.’ They’re knitting together the whole fabric of civilization.”
In 2011, IBM’s 100
th
anniversary year, more than 300,000 employees from the $100 billion corporation volunteered three million work hours in some 5,000-community service projects in 120 countries, impacting the lives of more than 10 million people
From Disaster Relief to Economic Development
That’s impressive, but more important is the way IBM citizenship projects vary in reach, size, duration and expense, from spur-of-the-moment disaster relief after Hurricane Sandy through long-term economic development to lowering high school dropout rates and promoting STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education.
– IBM’s employee volunteer portal – gives all 400,000 IBM employees access to valuable online tools and resources they can share anytime, anywhere with local schools and community agencies.
IBM benefits in the process too: volunteer work keeps the skills of its expert workforce top-notch.
For example, the company’s Corporate Service Corps sends teams of top-talent employees with various skills to an emerging market country for voluntary four-week assignments providing triple benefits for the organization and its cadets: leadership development for IBMers, training and development help for the communities, and a burnished reputation for IBM in its growth markets.
These approaches of varying scope and cost demonstrate Points of Light’s vision that a corporation doesn’t have to be a multinational with the might of companies like IBM to do good for itself and its bottom line while doing good for its community.
“We look for sustainable partners, expert groups leading on particular issues,” said Diane Melley, vice president of IBM Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs. “Then we focus on using IBM’s assets – technology or the skills of our expert workforce – for maximum impact. The win is three ways: to the employee, the community and the company.”
Smarter Cities: Helping 175,000 People Find Jobs
The City of Philadelphia won a 100-city $50 million grant under IBM’s Smarter Cities Challenge program, where IBM teams collaborate with local stakeholders to address an important urban problem – a low-skilled workforce.
Working with city officials, employees and nonprofit organizations, the IBM team provided a roadmap for the planned Digital On-Ramps (DOR) Initiative, a mobile and land-based digital network to offer “anytime, anywhere” learning and workforce training for Philadelphians 14 and up, preparing them to connect to employment and post-secondary education. The four-year project target: help for 175,000 people in preparing themselves for modern jobs.
That’s an achievement by volunteers that
is proud to honor.
“Volunteerism is embedded in every aspect of our business,” Melley said. “We’re bringing the leading edge of technology into these partnerships.”
To learn more about optimizing your company’s community engagement programs, the National Conference on Citizenship and Points of Light invite you to attend
on February 21 at 2:00pm ET. Featured presenters include IBM and Citigroup, The Civic 50’s top ranked companies of 2012. The focus: IBM’s success in the “Community Partnerships” scoring dimension and Citigroup’s success with “Measurement and Strategy” in last year’s survey.
To register, click here for the
Reflections from a 2012 Hasbro Community Action Hero
In May 2012, six young people were honored as Hasbro Community Action Heroes and recognized for their achievements in volunteer service and contributions to their communities and the world. Each of the six young people, who ranged in age from 8 to 16, exemplified Hasbro’s commitment to the transformative power of service and embodied generationOn’s mission to inspire, equip, and mobilize youth to take action that changes the world and themselves through service.
In today’s post Nina Mahalingam, one of those six tremendous youth, reflects on her experience as a 2012 Hasbro Community Action Hero.
Several years ago, when I was just 3, my cousin invited me to help make plates and bowls for a shelter and soup kitchen. I thought it sounded fun and I wanted to play with the clay, but I was really surprised to find so many other people at the event. I was even more surprised that they were there to help other people without expecting anything in return.
Since then, I have discovered that most help comes from people who volunteer. At the beginning, I sometimes felt nervous about helping because I was so young but I really enjoyed doing something good for others- you get a feeling of happiness that I can’t really explain. I was impressed and inspired by my cousin Dylan so I started doing other projects like getting stuffed animals and books to children who never had much in their lives.
Two years ago, I heard about the tsunami in Japan and felt overwhelmed and sad with the news of so many children dying. I wanted to do something, something for the children whose homes and schools were destroyed. My dad encouraged me. With my cousin Aga’s help, we decided we would make paper cranes as a symbol of hope. At first, we thought our “Wish upon a Crane” idea would help us get many people to make a few hundred paper cranes. But we had so much love and support from people all over the world, and not just in the malls and libraries we went to. I was amazed to see the amount of inspiration that many other people got, and they donated their time — just like I had for the plates and books — for this project. We were able to make nearly ten thousand paper cranes and raise money from those who could give. We shipped the cranes to Japan and I was humbled to receive letters of thanks from children, teachers, and even the Japanese Ambassador and President Obama.
We all have time to spend, but we also can give time. With inspirations like my cousin and support from my dad, I feel happy when I do things for others. There are so many people and children in need and I’ve learned that even my small community help has made a big difference in many people’s lives.
It takes a little inspiration, a wish to make a difference, and a desire to help others, but we all have this inside us. I know that being a Hasbro Community Action Hero helped to inspire me to keep going and dream even bigger. I met other young people who were making a big difference and I knew that I wanted to do more. I worked with my cousins to create WalkingBooks, a program that helps bring books to children in remote areas without libraries. We’ve now distributed several thousand books and are still collecting!
I don’t think that I’ll ever stop giving. What will it take to inspire you to start?
Do you want to be a 2013 Hasbro Community Action Hero? The deadline to submit a nomination is 5pm EST today! Don’t wait, read more and submit a nomination.
A Moment When Service Shined
Today’s blog is written by Courtney Murphy, Manager, Strategic Engagement for CECP. This is reposted from the CECP blog on Feb. 14, 2013.
February 13, 2013–Last week, I had the opportunity to tour the Hurricane Sandy relief and recovery projects in the Far Rockaways in Queens with Points of Light as part of their Corporate Service Council meeting. Being a New Yorker myself, I was eager to see first-hand the areas affected and to witness the tireless work of rebuilding. Representatives from New York Cares, a Points of Light affiliate, guided us as we drove down Rockaway Boulevard, where less than half of the businesses have re-opened. In the first two months since Sandy made landfall, New York Cares volunteers have filled 14,000 slots on 924 disaster-related projects, where they “mucked out” (i.e., cleared out anything that sustained water damage) more than 300 water-damaged homes in an effort to get residents back in their homes.
It was crucial for New York Cares to organize the initial outpouring of volunteers so they wouldn’t get in the way of the city’s first responders. Even now, several months later, New York Cares serves as the primary source of relief operations in Brooklyn and Queens, with efforts expected to continue through the spring and into the summer. This organization runs busses of volunteers from lower Manhattan to their staging site every day. Projects progress from “muck out” to mold removal before the eventual rebuilding can begin.
In the Gerritsen Beach area in Brooklyn, we toured an affected house as it was being stripped of mold and met one of the
, who own a local construction company and have been instrumental in the area’s rebuilding. This grassroots involvement of neighbors helping neighbors has been critical to recovery efforts since many of the affected locations were underserved and lacked a nonprofit infrastructure.
Corporations have also stepped up to serve. Points of Light engaged corporate partners, such as IBM and Verizon, to provide technical expertise and in-kind support valued at $50,000 and has connected many others with Sandy-related corporate volunteer opportunities.
Back at the Corporate Service Council meeting, local practitioners from JetBlue, Capital One, AT&T, and New York City Mayor’s Office participated in a candid panel discussion about the response and the role that government, the nonprofit sector, and corporations uniquely play in the immediate and long-term recovery process.
Throughout the two day conference held at JPMorgan Chase in New York City, corporate attendees shared best practices, accelerating the impact of their community programs. Chaired by Cliff Burrows, President of the U.S. and Americas at Starbucks, the Points of Light Corporate Institute’s Corporate Service Council is the premier national platform for advancing corporate volunteerism. An executive panel featuring Burrows and representatives from the NBA, Con Edison, and JPMorgan Chase underscored the value proposition of community engagement and payback for the bottom line.
The conference closed with an energizing call to “Be Fearless” from Michael Smith of the Case Foundation, demonstrating how innovation often arises from “Failing Forward,” being willing to take chances and think outside of organizational constraints. Campbell Soup’s “Just Peachy Salsa,” which is turning blemished peaches into at least $100,000 for the Food Bank of New Jersey, is just one example.
The Corporate Service Council meeting shined a light on the power of service in situations such as Hurricane Sandy – and the potential to work together for even greater positive impact. Participating in the CSC meeting was such an inspiration, especially as we at CECP prepare to share stories of corporate engagement on International Corporate Philanthropy Day Monday, February 25, 2013.
Change Notes: The Presidential Citizens Medal goes to one of my heroes
Friends,
I’m happy to join a chorus of celebrants in paying tribute to our nation’s most passionate advocate for national and community service and one of my heroes, Harris Wofford.
Last week President Obama gave Harris and 17 others the Citizens Medal, the highest honor a civilian can receive. As the President explained, the medal honors “the courageous heart, the selfless spirit, the inspiring actions of extraordinary Americans.”
Harris, 87, has certainly lived an extraordinary life of service. A friend to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and an advisor to President John F. Kennedy, Harris fought alongside civil rights leaders to end segregation and advance the march of justice. He helped Sargent Shriver start the Peace Corps and served as its first director in Africa.
Harris served in the U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania and played a key role in drafting the legislation that created AmeriCorps, giving hundreds of thousands of Americans the chance to serve their country. He went on to be the CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, a co-chair of America’s Promise Alliance for children and youth, and a Points of Light board member.
Harris endeared himself to me and hundreds of others when, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, he arrived at the HandsOn Volunteer Action Center in New Orleans without official title or responsibilities. He just wanted to help. The conditions were rough. Dozens of people slept on mattresses in an open hall, and Harris slept alongside them, without hesitation or fanfare or even the sense that this might be unusual for a former Senator in his 80s.
He traveled the region, rolling up his sleeves to build playgrounds to rally the embattled spirits of devastated communities and to rebuild the homes of those who had lost everything. This guileless idealism and undaunted commitment to repairing the world is the story of Harris’s entire life.
President Obama honored Harris for “giving generations of Americans the chance to serve their country” and for “upholding national service as one of the nation’s highest causes.”
My hat’s off to Harris – one of the most vital, most enlightened people I know – for helping to save the world with boldness, laughter and ingenuity. He is truly a point of light.
You can watch the entire awards ceremony here. And, if you’re inspired by points of light in your life, honor them with the President’s Volunteer Service Award today.
In service,
Michelle Nunn
CEO, Points of Light
Serve Rhode Island’s Volunteers Respond to Winter Storm Nemo
Winter storm Nemo dumped more than two feet of snow and left more than 187,000 Rhode Islanders without power this past week.
With many people stuck in their homes from the snow pile up WPRI/Fox Providence teamed up with United Way 211 and Serve Rhode Island to help dig Rhode Islanders out of the aftermath of the blizzard.
Thanks to all the volunteers that came together to help the elderly and families in need!
Since last Tuesday morning Serve Rhode Island had 109 volunteers help shovel out 72 elderly and disabled RI residents.
At the current time volunteers are no longer needed, but will be needed if another storm hits in the future.
Keep up-to-date with our disaster response on our website news pages.
