Glasswing International and Hands On Atlanta Help Students Dream of a Brighter Future
Without access to affordable after-school activities, students who already come from a cycle of poverty or violence often only know of that world and could be led to spend their after-school hours wandering with the wrong crowd.
have both worked tirelessly to provide after-school or weekend programs to help students in their communities stay in school and empower them to dream of a brighter future.
Glasswing International
Glasswing International was founded in 2007 by Celina de Sola, her brother Diego and husband, Ken Baker in San Salvador, El Salvador, with a simple goal to “foster change by investing in a community’s existing strengths and resources – its infrastructure and its people.”
With a number of offices across Latin America, Glasswing helps reform public schools throughout the region with initiatives such as after-school programs, mental health committees, and extreme makeovers.
On a weekly basis, hundreds of young volunteers will donate their time to lead clubs such as glee, debate, English, science, sports, and more at more than 1,000 after-school programs across 6 countries.
“For the young people we work with, who come from some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Central America, after-school programming is far more than a convenience,” de Sola said. “In these communities, educational programs can transform lives.”
, a 15-year-old from El Salvador, her father meant everything to her. So when he was taken to jail four years ago, she became depressed. Her grades started to plummet and her family started having financial problems at home.
“Everything was spiraling downward, including my self-esteem,” she said. “I felt everybody was judging me for my father’s mistakes.”
But then she decided to enroll in the Girls Club provided by Glasswing and her perspective slowly began to change.
“I will never forget the topic I liked to learn about the most – it was to value myself,” Gabriela said. “It was a way of realizing that I was more than my family problems… and I had to keep fighting to create my own life.”
Today, her grades have improved and she credits Glasswing for helping her through her hardest time.
Hands On Atlanta
From science experiments to fitness games, students are able to get a variety of fun learning experiences through Hands On Atlanta’s Discovery program.
Saturday mornings in Atlanta bring a special group of youth and volunteers together. Hands On Atlanta provides an enrichment program for over 800 students from kindergarten to fifth grade.
, partners with 11 schools in the metro-Atlanta area that have been deemed title 1 schools, which means at least 40% of the students come from low-income families.
From robotics and coding, to art and fitness, students are able to learn a variety of educational lessons from volunteer mentors on two Saturdays a month throughout the school year.
The lessons go beyond just the typical science and math lessons, however. Students are able to learn how to deal with their emotions, cultivate strong relationships and show initiative in taking responsibility.
“Discovery provides a way for students to connect to education without the pressure of grades and performance,” said Candice White, program manager of Discovery. “The students are able to engage with mentors, individuals in the community that truly want to see them grow.”
For these students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, programs like Discovery enable them to dream bigger than what their current situation allows. And all of this wouldn’t happen without the nearly 2,000 volunteers who dedicated more than 9,500 hours last school year.
For nonprofit organizations, like Glasswing and Hands On Atlanta, de Sola said, “volunteers are truly the “motor” that keep the entire operation running.”
If you’re considering whether or not to volunteer this Global Volunteer Month, maybe White’s favorite quote will motivate you: “A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle,” by James Keller.
“That’s something everyone should remember when it comes to serving,” White said. “Not only is it self-gratifying, but it is something that makes our whole entire community better.”
In light of COVID-19, nonprofits, companies and individuals are adapting the ways in which they serve their communities. Visit
to find creative ways to make a difference and be a #LocalLight in your community during Global Volunteer Month.
Meet the Aguirre Family: The First-Ever Disney and Points of Light Volunteer Family of the Year!
The Aguirre family from McAllen, Texas, were announced today on Good Morning America as the first-ever Disney and Points of Light Volunteer Family of the Year!
The Aguirres were surprised live on-air with a special visit from Mickey Mouse and GMA’s Will Reeve, who invited them to a week-long vacation at Walt Disney World Resort, where they will be the guests of honor at a super celebration for Family Volunteer Day. Plus, they received $10,000 for the organization that nominated them, San Juan Diego Catholic Regional High School — and a surprise additional $10,000 for their own nonprofit, Emily’s Meals.
The Aguirres, parents Coni and Rick and daughters Emily and Erica, started their volunteer journey four years ago when a then 6-year-old Emily saw a homeless person for the first time and asked her parents how they could help. That question prompted the family to create Emily’s Meals,
which now provides food to 40 homeless people every day. Learn more about the
, were featured on Good Morning America ahead on an online vote to find the winner.
Today the other finalist families were surprised with the news that Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Bob Chapek — so impressed with their volunteer work — is inviting them all to Walt Disney World Resort, too! In addition, Disney will give each of the families’ organizations $5,000 to continue their important work.
All five families will join Points of Light and Disney parks and resorts around the world in celebrating
on Nov. 18 for more information on Family Volunteer Day global celebrations and how you can join in, and tune into Good Morning America on Friday, Nov. 29, to catch up on all the excitement of the families’ trip to Walt Disney World.
If you and your family would like to get involved with family volunteering, you can
and earn Disney Parks tickets by hosting volunteer family events.
Meet the Bell-Wallaces: Finalists for the Disney and Points of Light Volunteer Family of the Year!
The Bell-Wallace family from Pickerington, Ohio, were announced this week on Good Morning America as one of the five finalists in the running to be named the Disney and Points of Light Volunteer Family of the Year!
The Bell-Wallace family’s volunteer story began 17 years ago when Kevin and Carey Wallace approached
to ask if they could offer a therapeutic horse program for their 4-year-old daughter Morgan, who had been diagnosed with autism. Kevin and Carey were so impressed with Morgan’s progress, they have been dedicated to supporting the program ever since. Morgan’s grandparents, Darlene and George Bell, also joined as volunteers, with Darlene going on to create a new program to help support veterans experiencing PTSD. Now, every event at Dreams on Horseback features the volunteering efforts of all three generations of the Bell-Wallace family!
The Bell-Wallaces were one of thousands of families across the country nominated for the
featured on GMA this week, sharing the stories of their incredible volunteer work, followed by a nationwide online vote starting on Oct. 11 where you will be able to vote for your favorite family!
The winning family will be announced on GMA on Nov. 1 and will receive a dream vacation to
on Nov. 23. The nonprofit or school that nominated the family will also receive $10,000 to continue their important work in the community.
Make sure to tune into every day this week to meet the rest of the incredible Top 5 families, and stay tuned for more updates on the competition and details on how you can vote!
If you and your family would like to get involved with family volunteering, you can
and earn Disney Parks tickets by hosting volunteer family events.
Meet the Nepolas: Finalists for the Disney and Points of Light Volunteer Family of the Year!
The Nepola family from Pembroke Pine, Florida, were announced this week on Good Morning America as one of the five finalists in the running to be named the Disney and Points of Light Volunteer Family of the Year!
The Nepolas have volunteered with
since 2015. Parents Justin and Jackie, with daughters Mia and Ava, work tirelessly for the projects they volunteer for, whether they’re building gardens, distributing school supplies or packing meals for families in need. Recently, the family took on two big events as project leaders, Night On The Streets and the Florida AIDS Walk. Due to inclement weather, the two events were rescheduled to the same day and, without hesitation, the Nepolas kept their word to handle both, despite the extra work this would require. This example, and many more like it, shows the family’s dedication to serving their community and making the world a better place!
The Nepolas were one of thousands of families across the country nominated for the
featured on GMA this week, sharing the stories of their incredible volunteer work, followed by a nationwide online vote starting on Oct. 11 where you will be able to vote for your favorite family!
The winning family will be announced on GMA on Nov. 1 and will receive a dream vacation to
on Nov. 23. The nonprofit or school that nominated the family will also receive $10,000 to continue their important work in the community.
Make sure to tune into every day this week to meet the rest of the incredible Top 5 families, and stay tuned for more updates on the competition and details on how you can vote!
If you and your family would like to get involved with family volunteering, you can
and earn Disney Parks tickets by hosting volunteer family events.
Meet the Jeevanayagams: Finalists for the Disney and Points of Light Volunteer Family of the Year!
The Jeevanayagam family from Suwanee, Georgia, were announced today on Good Morning America as one of the five finalists in the running to be named the Disney and Points of Light Volunteer Family of the Year!
The Jeevanayagams have been volunteering with
for more than six years. Parents Nicky and Jacob, along with twins Luke and Hannah, exemplify what it means to give back and are always the first to show up whenever there is a need in their community. Including their son, who has autism, in their volunteering work not only provides him with valuable experience, it also helps others see that everyone has the power to make a difference, regardless of ability. The Jeevanayagam family’s volunteer work includes fundraising, organizing events, recruiting new volunteers and leading the way by inspiring others in their community with their commitment to service.
The Jeevanayagams were one of thousands of families across the country nominated for the
featured on GMA this week, sharing the stories of their incredible volunteer work, followed by a nationwide online vote starting on Oct. 11 where you will be able to vote for your favorite family!
The winning family will be announced on GMA on Nov. 1 and will receive a dream vacation to
on Nov. 23. The nonprofit or school that nominated the family will also receive $10,000 to continue their important work in the community.
Make sure to tune into every day this week to meet the rest of the incredible Top 5 families, and stay tuned for more updates on the competition and details on how you can vote!
If you and your family would like to get involved with family volunteering, you can
and earn Disney Parks tickets by hosting volunteer family events.
Meet the Aguirres: Finalists for the Disney and Points of Light Volunteer Family of the Year!
The Aguirre family from McAllen, Texas, were announced today on Good Morning America as one of the five finalists in the running to be named the Disney and Points of Light Volunteer Family of the Year!
The Aguirre family’s journey to volunteering began almost five years ago, when daughter Emily noticed a homeless person for the first time outside their local grocery store. Emily had lots of questions about the man and, after her father, Rick, explained that he did not have a home and lived on the streets, she asked if they could give him some food because he looked hungry.
That week, the Aguirres decided that instead of giving up something for Lent, they would instead feed a homeless person every day for the following 40 days … and they have not stopped yet! Today, the
team feeds 40 people every day, rain or shine. They also link individuals experiencing homelessness to numerous local health services, social service agencies, and even help coordinate pet care.
The Aguirres were one of thousands of families across the country nominated for the
.
Now five amazing finalist families will be featured on GMA each day this week sharing the stories of their incredible volunteer work, followed by a nationwide online vote starting on Oct. 11 where you will be able to vote for your favorite family!
The winning family will be announced on GMA on Nov. 1 and will receive a dream vacation to
on Nov. 23. The nonprofit or school that nominated the family will also receive $10,000 to continue their important work in the community.
Make sure to tune into GMA every day this week to meet the rest of the incredible Top 5 families, and stay tuned for more updates on the competition and details on how you can vote!
If you and your family would like to get involved with family volunteering, you can
and earn Disney Parks tickets by hosting volunteer family events.
Meet the Orlandos: Finalists for the Disney and Points of Light Volunteer Family of the Year!
The Orlando family from Castro Valley, California were announced today on Good Morning America as one of the five finalists in the running to be named the Disney and Points of Light Volunteer Family of the Year!
The Orlandos volunteer together at
where they organize a clothing closet for children and teenagers entering the foster care system. All of Rendy and Don Orlando’s children were adopted and at one point received a bag of clothing similar to the ones they now help prepare for other children in need. Every one of the Orlando children help in the clothing closet, from the 18-year-old college student who volunteers on her school breaks to the 6-year-old who comes along to help her mom pack the bags. Together the Orlando family truly embodies the spirit of giving back to their community!
The Orlandos were one of thousands of families across the country nominated for the
.
Now five amazing finalist families will be featured on GMA each day this week sharing the stories of their incredible volunteer work, followed by a nationwide online vote starting on Oct. 11 where you will be able to vote for your favorite family!
The winning family will be announced on GMA on Nov. 1 and will receive a dream vacation to
on Nov. 23. The nonprofit or school that nominated the family will also receive $10,000 to continue their important work in the community.
Make sure to tune into GMA every day this week to meet the rest of the incredible Top 5 families, and stay tuned for more updates on the competition and details on how you can vote!
If you and your family would like to get involved with family volunteering, you can
and earn Disney Parks tickets by hosting volunteer family events.
The Future is Bright: The George H.W. Bush Points of Light Awards Gala
I love the feeling after you’ve been to an amazing party, where you’ve really connected to something meaningful. Your soul feels full – it’s the kind of good vibe that stays with you for days.
On Thursday evening, we celebrated The George H.W. Bush Points of Light Awards at a beautiful gala at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. It was a gorgeous event, honoring the legacy of our founder, President George H.W. Bush, and three incredible honorees who exemplify his legacy through their own work.
It was a brilliant evening. Overlooking the New York City skyline at sunset, the excitement and energy of the guests was palpable when entering the space. Everyone in the room seemed to be buzzing, and with the story of each honoree, the pride and awe in the room grew.
My main take away?
The future is bright.
The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum provided the perfect space for the inaugural gala celebrating The George H.W. Bush Points of Light Awards.
Our honorees seemingly had not much in common. A country music legend. A millennial from a rural Iowa community. A 12-year-old from Los Angeles. But what they did share was a passion and a belief in the power of people to change the world.
, a superstar country music legend, was honored with The Inaugural George H.W. Bush Award for Caring and Compassion. In 1999, Brooks co-founded the Teammates for Kids Foundation with the mission of giving all kids, all around the world, an even start. Additionally, alongside wife Trisha Yearwood, Garth has also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity for more than a decade.
, inspired by her experiences as a food pantry volunteer, created the MEANS Database as a freshman at American University. The innovative nonprofit has rerouted more than 2.2 million pounds of excess food to communities in need across the United States, getting it into the hands of hungry people instead of into the trash.
was just 8 years old when she was inspired to start Khloe Kares to address the issue homelessness in her Los Angeles community. Now 12 years old, Thompson has distributed more than 5,000 handmade “Kare Bags” filled with socks, underwear, and a two- to three-month supply of toiletries and other necessities.
These three individuals – from completely different backgrounds, generations, locations – all saw an issue, and took action where and how they could. They didn’t wait or think it was too big. They made a change, where they could, how they could, one day at a time.
President Bill Clinton opened the evening by sharing personal stories about his relationship with President George H.W. Bush, and their shared commitment to service. We also celebrated our global impact. A special message from Boris Johnson, prime minister of the United Kingdom, highlighted the U.K. Point of Light Award and the Commonwealth Point of Light Award, and the profound impact recognition has in motivating and inspiring individuals to do good. And we were joined by dignitaries from many countries around the world, demonstrating that what unites us is far greater that what divides us.
Points of Light believes in the power of people to create a world where empathy defeats apathy – where it is impossible for people to sit on the sidelines.
After this wonderful evening, I believe, now more than ever, that the future is in the right hands to make this vision a reality.
Natalye Paquin was the president and chief executive officer of Points of Light from 2017–2022.
She is a visionary and results-oriented leader, with more than 20 years of experience providing strategic, operations and fiscal leadership in the nonprofit and public sectors.
Meet the 2019 Cabot Community Celebrity Cruise Honorees
When you do amazing things, people notice. That’s why we were so excited to honor these five incredible individuals on the
affiliate. While their projects range from literacy programs to food services, what these honorees have in common with each other is a desire to give back and make a difference in their community.
That impulse is shared by our Cabot farmers, too, and that’s what inspired
. It’s the heart and soul of Cabot, powered by the values of the co-op farmers, who also volunteer in their communities and want to encourage others to do the same.
These five Cabot Community Celebrities can inspire us all to do more:
Earl Dizon, volunteer with HandsOn Greater Portland.
Initiative and the Children’s Book Bank, Earl ensures children receive reading support and access to books early in life When asked why he volunteers, Earl said, “At first, it was just a way for me to pass the time. But once I realized I was able to help others in a way that reinvigorated me, I was hooked.”
, managing volunteer teams and special events. But even more important, she shepherds new volunteers – more than 5,000, so far – helping them get started. Those 5,000 volunteers have gone on to work on 12,000 projects for New York Cares, so you could say that Phara is a volunteer x 5,000!
Steffen Strayer (left), a volunteer with United Way of Northeast Florida.
to make his community better. He got the impulse to give back close to home from his grandmother, who also worked hard to serve her community. His focus at United Way is to help lift people out of poverty by providing support for basic needs, education and financial services. The best part about volunteering? “I like interacting with our clients,” Steffen says. “They have the most interesting and compelling stories to tell and the most love to share.”
both to give back and make new friends. Those connections are as invaluable as the connections she makes for network members with her work at Boston Cares, fulfilling a wide range of community needs, from ushering community concerts to judging student debates. Melissa makes sure affordable, healthy food can be had by all at
. She points out the importance of these connections: “A community depends on the strength of connections – between neighbors, community groups, public servants, and everyone in between,” Melissa said. “Volunteering builds those connections.”
, where she provides a wide range of services for various organizations. Her New York Cares experiences often inspire her to volunteer directly with a local organization, which is what happened with Bike NY, Road Runners and University Community Social Services, otherwise known as Meatloaf Kitchen.
Improving Lives Through Technology and Mentorship, Volunteer Supports Rural Education and STEM Initiatives for Youth in India
Naveen Prathapeneni is committed to changing the world in small, impactful ways. A lifelong volunteer from Hyderabad, Telangana, in India, who began giving back to others at an early age, he focuses on skills-based volunteering and works with multiple organizations to support rural education and STEM workshops for students.
Naveen believes that education is a fundamental right for everyone, and that a person’s background should not affect access to quality, affordable education. Outside of his job as a cloud solution architect with
, he helps nonprofits and organizations scale their operations through technology, mentors high school and college students and has developed a mobile application to help small-scale farming businesses.
Reaching more than 10,000 students annually, Naveen is devoted to improving lives through education, mentorship and technology. He believes in the power of people, and understands that it is the actions of individuals that have the power to change the world.
In recognition of his dedication to service, Naveen received the “Volunteer Hero” award from
a Points of Light Global Network affiliate in India that brings together volunteers and organizations to share time, skills and passion to promote social development. We spoke with Naveen to learn more about his work in rural development and education.
What inspires you to volunteer?
I come from a rural background where most of my schooling was done at rural schools that had minimal access to information and less exposed to career opportunities. After schooling, I could not choose a career path to align with my interests and passion. I had to face several challenges in positioning myself in the market in align to my interests. This experience had motivated me to focus on rural education and helping students.
Tell us about the organizations you volunteer with, and how you are involved
.
I work with several nonprofits and schools. I have been working with Nirmaan since 2011, helping them scale up their operations with technology adoption. I adopted one primary school and work with 12 rural high schools, one junior college and one degree college in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana.
Nirmann Education Helpline: I am considered a social ambassador, and motivate rural students and connect corporations. I have participated in several initiatives and flagship programs and have mobilized volunteers and conducted train-the-trainer workshops.
Remote Volunteering: I have been a service lead and remote mentor at a college in the Khammam, Telangana, district. I initiated remote mentoring programs and conducted career workshops, code camps and spoken English classes.
Old Alumni Alum Lead: I Initiated alumni setup at 12 high schools located in Mamidikuduru Mandal, East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh. I worked to improve rural schools, conducted career counseling, led train-the-trainer workshops, science fairs, science and engineering workshops and STEM sessions.
How did you become interested in education and sustainable agriculture? Why are these causes so important to you?
Naveen is devoted to improving lives through education, mentorship and technology, and works with multiple organizations to support rural education and STEM workshops for students.
My primary work areas are focused on rural education, improving schools and livelihood support. I also worked extensively in sustainable agriculture, promoting STEM careers, disaster management support and supporting people with disabilities.
Education is a fundamental right and everyone in society needs to have access to quality and affordable education to fulfill their aspirations
I strongly believe that a “do2Learn” orientation works better for students in rural areas, hence I focus on STEM education and conduct STEM workshops and prepare reusable kits. Every year I conduct STEM works workshops for 500+ students, and so far I have addressed more than 10,000 students.
I got an opportunity to work with nonprofits focusing on rural development while working with rural schools. This has created interest to explore the agriculture field. Voluntarily, I have developed a platform and mobile application to help small business and small-scale farmers to connect supply and demand, and access advisory support with minimal cost.
Tell us about the mobile application you developed, and how it helps users.
I proposed and initiated the development of the mobile/kiosk based app to help the Nirmaan Education Helpline to scale up their operations in disseminating career information to students, teachers and even counsellors with minimal effort.
This kiosk is touch-based and allows students to connect to the Education Helpline through a toll-free number. Student can register and complete the pre-assessment form and choose two careers choice of interest. The system asks a few questions – a psychometric test – and based on certain parameters, suggests a preferred career. Student can browse the careers and see videos related to the career, know about the path to achieve that career and other information like availability of hostel, total cost of the course, scholarships, etc., including list of colleges and entrance exams.
I was responsible for architecting, designing the solutions, training interns, day-to-day interactions with the development team, and conducting the pilot. I also made further enhancements to add cognitive features like a chat bot to answer career-related queries.
How are you involved with iVolunteer?
I participated in mentoring workshops conducted by iVolunteer and worked closely with the iVolunteer team in conducting STEM workshops as part of a STEM campaign organized by my organization.
What has been the most rewarding part of your volunteer work? Do you have a favorite memory or story to share?
Of course, there are many. In one incident, one student who studied in a rural school contacted me two years ago to express her gratitude for motivating her to pursue engineering, and mentoring her to overcome her career challenges. She updated me that she joined in a start-up company in Gujarat.
What have you learned from your experience as a volunteer?
Volunteering is not just a giving process or just giving. As I mentioned, it is both giving and receiving. I have learned how to face social issues, challenges, and some solutions and how technology can help in solving some of those. Lastly, often people tend to change the world, but my experiences made me stay focused on one of two areas where I can work long-term and see the benefit and impact that I can bring,rather than trying to address every problem of the world. This approach has given me an opportunity to apply my skills in specific societal problems and work at a grassroot level.
Why do you think it is important for others to volunteer in their community?
Enjoy in giving back to society, you will get a lot in return, like satisfaction, network, new learnings, new skills, new people, new relations, new stories, different dimensions in thinking … a lot.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
Always do what you like and like what you do. Choose your area of interest and stay focused.
Honestly, what you are going to gain will be more than what you give.
Time management and work-life-balance used to be a big challenge. I started involving my family members in my activities, and they started enjoying the work. I tried to pair some of my field activities with family trips so that they are also engaged and feel the difference.
What’s next for you as a volunteer?
Continuing my focus on education in rural areas, my key projects are:
Study Circle at Government Degree College Khammam: I will strengthen the study circle by strengthening alumni and motivate them to be part of this initiative and help more than 600 students to achieve their dreams and goals. I will also help empower them with livelihood skills and work-readiness aspects. When I started working with this college, 80 percent of the students expressed fear, lack of guidance and moral support as major challenges.
Extend classroom at Government Primary School, Pochammabasti: This school is operating in 2.5 class rooms with 140 children from first to fifth grade. There are several proposals to government officials but, no progress. I am planning to crowdsource funds along with my contributions to set up temporary classrooms by the beginning of next academic year in 2020.
Operational Efficiency at Nirman Vidya Helpline: Continuing my support to Nirman Educaiton Helpline, I plan to enhance the mobile application with psychometric tests and cognitive capabilities. This will help counselors to quickly access information and learn the processes at call centers, and students can access information by asking queries in natural language.
