Helping to make STEM opportunities available for all
Meet Daily Point Award honoree Andrew Gao. Read his story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
The way Andrew Gao sees it, careers in science, math and tech should be available to all. And that starts with opportunities in school. The gifted teen saw clearly that less advantaged students weren’t given the access to STEM opportunities that more privileged students were afforded. This inequity translates to an inequity in the job market as well, which in turn deprives all communities of the brain trust needed to affect change. He decided to change that by founding the Helyx Initiative, a non-profit focused on providing STEM workshops and opportunities to all students. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many families struggling financially, making it even harder for students to get into STEM. Now, more than ever, Andrew believes it is critical to open STEM doors and promote socioeconomic equality to everyone, not just those who can easily afford it.
Describe your volunteer role?
I am the CEO of The Helyx Initiative so I help run the organization and keep everything going smoothly, from our educational blog to our workshops. I also get involved personally by creating science courses, organizing workshops, and more.
Why is it important to you to support your community in this way?
I wanted to provide research opportunities for other teens. I realized last year that so many of my peers are interested in doing science research but they don’t know how to get started. Many science research programs for high school students are expensive or highly selective. Overall, it is important for all students to have access to free science programs. STEM jobs are generally high paying and economic inequality will only be worsened if only wealthy students can enter STEM. I want to use my science knowledge and leadership skills to help those who aren’t as privileged as I am.
Andrew Gao used his non-profit Helyx to run a personal protective equipment (PPE) and mask drive to help local hospitals burdened by COVID-19. /Courtesy Andrew Gao
What’s the most challenging aspect of your volunteer service?
The most challenging aspect of my service is to reach a diverse audience. Initially, we had poor gender and ethnic diversity at our events but through active promotion and outreach, we’ve been getting closer to equality. For example, at our hackathon, more female-identifying students than male-identifying students registered. We have been seeing around 50/50 gender ratios at our recent events.
Why do you think it’s important for others to give back?
I think it’s important for others to give back since we should be appreciative of our privileges and how others helped us. I certainly wouldn’t be where I am today without the help of countless generous people, many of whom I’m not able to directly help in return. I want to pay forward their kindness by giving back and helping others.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
Seeing students who were initially unconfident about bioinformatics finish a lesson or workshop with a smile and feeling like they are on their way to becoming a scientist. Science can seem very intimidating to young people and many think that you have to be a genius or have perfect test scores to become a scientist. This is of course untrue and I enjoy seeing people realize that and become more confident in themselves after attending Helyx events. It’s always very heartwarming to read the event feedback.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
I have learned about empathy and communication. My volunteering work primarily focused on teaching science, including often advanced concepts, to high school students with minimal experience. I learned to be able to boil down complex topics into easy to understand sentences. This has been really valuable to me since it will aid me in the future. Many scientists often have trouble communicating their findings to the public so this training will definitely serve me well.
Are there any future partnerships, programs, or events that you are excited about?
We have a few events coming up, such as the 2nd International Youth Research Summit. This is a three-day virtual research conference hosted by Helyx that provides a platform for teen researchers to present their work. At the last International Youth Research Summit in June 2020, around three hundred people registered and more than fifty students presented their science projects.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
I want other high school students to learn that they can make a difference too if they’re willing to put in the work. Before I started Helyx, I often thought that I would only be able to make a difference when I was an adult. We often hear things like “you’ll do great things when you’re older” which conditions us to think that we can only make change when we’re a certain age, or have a million dollars, or know people in the right places. I want teens to know that this is all untrue; you can make a difference no matter your age.
Teen Volunteer Brings Computer Science Mentoring to the Doorstep of Next Gen Innovators
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Samvit Agarwal. Read his story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
A techie himself, 17-year-old Samvit Agarwal says he often helped younger kids in his neighborhood with technology-related questions. Making these connections, the West Windsor, New Jersey high school senior realized the children were passionate about tech, but lacked the resources to apply their interests.
Launching CS Remastered in 2018, Samvit is bringing free one-on-one computer science mentoring to the next generation of innovators across the United States and also internationally, including in China and India. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Samvit has provided weekly virtual classes for students and has partnered with a handful of organizations to help mentor underserved students. Working alongside more than 250 volunteers, Samvit has connected with more than 300 students thus far, using his technical skills to better the community around him and inspire other youth to volunteer.
What inspires you to volunteer?
I’m inspired to volunteer because of my ability to help kids by doing something I personally love. I’m very interested in computer science and using it to make an impact inspires me.
As the founder of CS Remastered, Samvit Agarwal is bringing free one-on-one computer science mentoring to the next generation of innovators across the United States and internationally./Courtesy Samvit Agarwal
Describe your volunteerism with CS Remastered.
As founder and president, I mentor students weekly. Our classes are free but we fundraise to help support our logistics. We’ve also recently partnered with other nonprofits including HomeFront NJ and Girls Who Code to support their technology efforts. I’m also committed to outreach to grow our organization, and I manage our team of officers.
Share one personal story with me from your volunteerism.
I started working with a student who didn’t have exposure to computer science. I mentored him for almost two years, and now, when he comes to our classes, he’s learning high school level material. He’s told me he appreciates that I was able to teach him to that level, and for me, It’s amazing to see the amount of growth in someone that young just by working with them diligently. It makes me feel joyful that I’ve achieved something so meaningful.
Why do you think it’s important for others to give back?
It’s important, especially for people with my background who have access to resources and opportunities. Volunteering helps you use your resources and what you have access to in a positive way to make a meaningful contribution.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your service?
It’s rewarding seeing each of these kids grow to that level at such a young age and inspire them to expand their knowledge of computer science.
How have you continued to volunteer throughout the pandemic?
Before the pandemic we offered mentorship in person, so we’ve now switched to a virtual learning environment. We’ve continued and established partnerships with organizations like HomeFront NJ and Girls Who Code to bring mentoring to these underserved communities. We’ve also started fundraising for underprivileged students, because some don’t have computers at home.
In one word, what does volunteering mean to you?
Impact.
When you’re not busy with school or volunteering, what do you do for fun?
For fun? (Laughs). I work on a lot of tech related projects. I also participate in My UN debate club at school.
How can readers help?
Please visit our website for more information about how you can help by volunteering or if you’d like to sign up for our classes.
Inspired by Best Friend’s Struggle, Teen Volunteers to Help Pediatric Students Succeed in School
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Akhil Paulraj. Read his story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
When Akhil Paulraj’s best friend was diagnosed with leukemia, the Plainsboro, New Jersey teen says he felt powerless watching his lifelong friend struggle. The now 17-year-old Akhil says he was inspired by how his friend persevered as he battled cancer and then worked to catch up in school, and decided that he wanted to build support for other students with cancer struggling to rebound.
Launching Hope for STEAM Learning (HFSL), Akhil is helping pediatric cancer patients pursue their academic dreams and rekindle their interest in STEAM. Nearly 16,000 children under the age of 19 are diagnosed with cancer annually, and these youth face subsequent stress as they try to balance treatment and catch up in school, sometimes lacking the resources to make up for lost time. Helping dozens of students across the United States through free virtual mentorship, Akhil is relieving stress for cancer patients and their families through his service.
What inspires you to volunteer?
By volunteering, you’re helping marginalized or underprivileged people and giving them an opportunity to succeed. Volunteering is almost like an addiction at that point, because you realize how powerful your super small actions are. Even something as simple as helping a student with a math problem, that drives me to continue serving others.
Your volunteerism is motivated by a very personal experience. Explain.
It was a low point in my life when my friend was diagnosed with leukemia. I felt powerless watching him struggle. He was successful in his fight against cancer, but he had to undergo treatment for over a year which meant he missed his entire freshman year of high school, and he was really far behind in academics. This caused a lot of stress for him and his parents. When he returned to school he had a hard time integrating. Recognizing this challenge motivated me to support other pediatric patients, as they often face a lot of stress, even with academic support systems. My friend is currently in remission, he’s great now. We worked on our college applications together.
Akhil has helped dozens of pediatric students across the country as they fight cancer and also work to reach their academic goals. /Courtesy Akhil Paulraj
Describe your volunteerism with HFSL.
As founder, I manage communications and our social media presence. I also drive outreach to pediatric students through collaborations with community organizations. We have high school student volunteers in New Jersey and Minneapolis that support our online mentoring. Each volunteer works one-on-one with a student to address the various aspects of being a student while battling cancer, both academically and socially. We hope to expand and offer mentorship to international students one day.
Share one personal story with me from your volunteerism.
The first student I worked with joined our program as a 12-year-old. Diagnosed with leukemia, I met with the student’s mother first via Zoom to better understand her situation. Through our conversations, her mom characterized how her daughter was struggling, and told me she was scared for her daughter’s future. I realized that mentorship could not only help with the girl’s academic learning, but also, her confidence. Those two things are really interconnected at the end of the day, and after working with her for two months on topics including math, things completely turned around. She had newfound confidence, and seeing her happiness and her mother’s happiness was really fulfilling for me.
Why do you think it’s important for others to give back?
Giving back is an essential aspect in society given how many people are disadvantaged from the get go. What I experience day-to-day is nothing compared to what these pediatric students have to go through. It’s our responsibility to support people who are disadvantaged.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your service?
It’s been rewarding to witness the power of HFSL learning and see the effects on the students, and also, on their parents. We often overlook how these kind of almost tragedies in pediatric patients affect families as well as the students themselves. Observing the change when they gain happiness and confidence is really rewarding.
How have you continued to volunteer throughout the pandemic?
The pandemic posed a lot of challenges for cancer patients, and that has inspired us to fundraise to increase support for them. We raised more than $1500 for CHOP which went to essential materials including PPE. We also received increased enrollment once in-person learning was disrupted. Imagine students having to overcome what they missed in years of school on top of virtual school during a pandemic. Virtual learning posed a challenge for all of us, even for me!
In one word, what does volunteering mean to you?
Heartening.
When you’re not busy with school or volunteering, what do you do for fun?
I’m really passionate about STEM. I like physics, math, computer science. My dad suffered a heart attack, and as a project, I studied coronary flow. That’s another example of my tendency to address problems I come across.
How can readers help?
We are currently fundraising to support our mentoring efforts. For more information about how you can help, please visit our website.
‘Dream Team’ Travels New Jersey to Deliver Meals to Residents Homebound During the Pandemic
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honorees Ava Reinfeld and Steve Delman. Read their story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Point of Light.
Each week, the homebound clients of Jewish Family Service of MetroWest New Jersey’s meal delivery service can expect a bag full of groceries along with a welcoming smile when it’s coming from dedicated volunteers Ava Reinfeld and Steve Delman.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year, Ava and Steve have traveled twice a week through New Jersey’s Essex and Hudson counties to deliver meals to homebound and isolated elderly residents and Holocaust survivors. The program, which was set up specifically in response to the pandemic, is run through Jewish Family Service’s RSVP [Retired Seniors Volunteer Program] Center, which mobilizes individuals aged 55 or older to volunteer throughout the community.
Steve estimates they have delivered hundreds of meals in the past eight months, with an average of 20 meals delivered each week. Once or twice a month, the duo will also deliver care packages with items such as toilet paper and cleaning supplies.
Steve and Ava, who have been significant others for three years, do each delivery together with Steve driving and Ava bringing the food to the door. She does her best to always wear a mask with a plastic covering over her mouth so each meal recipient can see her smile.
“I think it’s very important that they see most of my face because of the human and emotional touch there,” Ava said. “I feel it’s very important that we have a connection with the people we deliver to.”
A connection has certainly been developed between Steve and Ava and their clients, who will ask questions about their families and wish them a happy holiday or a good Sabbath. One of their usual meal recipients even gave them flowers for the holidays. Steve said for some of the clients who aren’t able to get out of the house for several days at a time, just having someone to stop by for a moment can make a huge difference in their lives.
Steve Delman delivers food to homebound, isolated seniors and Holocaust survivors through Jewish Family Service of MetroWest New Jersey’s RSVP Center./Courtesy Steve Delman
“Even if they only open the door for 10, 15, 20 seconds, you can look into somebody’s eyes and get such a tremendous feeling of welcome and hospitality and warmth,” Steve said. “You can feel that just from making eye contact.”
Stephanie Grove, Jewish Family Service of MetroWest New Jersey’s Senior Director of Volunteer Services, said Steve and Ava are RSVP’s “dream team.”
She said each week, RSVP will release a sign-up sheet online for volunteers to choose which towns they want to deliver the meals to. Steve and Ava always wait until everyone else in the program has signed up so they can deliver to the list’s remaining towns, which are generally the farthest to drive to.
“Steve and Ava are really filling in the gaps where we need them the most and it’s so appreciated,” Stephanie said. “I really can’t say enough good things about them.”
Couple Ava Reinfeld and Steve Delman are active volunteers with Jewish Family Service of MetroWest New Jersey’s RSVP Center, which mobilizes volunteers aged 55 or older./Courtesy Steve Delman and Ava Reinfeld
Steve has been an active volunteer since he was 16 years old, starting as the New York Chairman of Teens Against Polio while he was in high school. His first memory in life was experiencing polio when he was four years old, and ever since recovering from the illness, he has “felt that people who had their health should give back to people who didn’t.” Similarly, Ava’s volunteer spirit was developed at an early age due to her upbringing in the Jewish faith.
Steve has volunteered through RSVP for the past four years, and Ava started volunteering alongside him this year. In addition to the food delivery service, Steve is also a part of RSVP’s Reading Buddies program, which mobilizes volunteers to read to public school children in kindergarten through second grade. Prior to the pandemic, Steve would visit the school each week, but now instead he reads to the classroom virtually through Zoom.
“I pride myself in communicating with people in a positive way,” Steve said. “This gives me an opportunity to do what I do best. Not as full blown as before, but it gives me an opportunity to be useful in the community, and that’s what I always strive to do.”
Ava said the feeling of accomplishment after the deliveries are finished gives her and Steve even more than the duo give to their clients.
“It allows me to complete the mission my parents kind of gave me in life about giving back,” she said. “It makes me feel better.”
“Same thing,” Steve agreed. “I just get that warm and fuzzy feeling. It’s going to be years before we can hug somebody. This is as close as we can get.”
Indian American Teen Connects Passions with Purpose by Serving Children and Adults Worldwide
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Vishruth Nagam. Read his story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
17-year-old Vishruth Nagam is connecting his passions with purpose, as the Folsom, California teen gives back to the many communities who have shared a part in shaping who he is today.
An Indian American, Vishruth serves as a volunteer for Telugu Association of Greater Sacramento (TAGS), an organization that raises awareness of the Telugu traditions, language and culture, most prominent in Southern India. Additionally, the high school senior is a volunteer for the International Youth Neuroscience Association (IYNA), a youth-led organization that is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of neuroscientists. Continuing his volunteerism throughout the pandemic, Vishruth is committed to service for causes he holds close to his heart, connecting with thousands of people worldwide.
What inspires you to volunteer?
The unifying theme in my service is spreading awareness about things I care about. Neuroscience and Telugu culture are things people don’t necessarily see the value of, and it’s really empowering for me to see others learn about the topics I love.
You say the COVID-19 pandemic has made you a more “creative” volunteer. Explain.
Volunteering has changed for me since the pandemic. It’s opened my eyes as to what’s possible and the limit of volunteerism and as a result, I’ve sought creative ways to continue the missions that I believe in. There are a lot of psychological issues that come with loneliness. You don’t have to feel that way if you can see your hard work manifested in other people’s joy.
Share an example of your volunteerism amid the pandemic.
An initiative that started as a fundraiser through TAGS became a passion project for me, as I raised money to help feed nearly 3,000 homeless, unemployed migrant farm workers in India. I noticed that, unlike in the U.S., with active COVID-19 relief efforts, many Indians turned a blind eye to their fellow citizens during the lockdown. My initiative helped to satisfy basic food and water needs for these migrants, and was also a way to honor my Indian agricultural heritage through service. People don’t realize the impact they can have even just with a laptop and an internet connection.
Vishruth has connected with thousands of adults and children worldwide as he volunteers to raise awareness of two passions: neuroscience and Telugu culture./Courtesy Vishruth Nagam
Describe your volunteerism.
As a TAGS volunteer, I serve as a youth advisory board member where I raise awareness about our cause and language, raise money for cultural events that we host, and promote our annual TAGS contest. Since the pandemic began, I’ve been hosting webinars through TAGS, including topics like education and medical awareness. In addition to that volunteerism, I also founded the first regional chapter for IYNA in greater Sacramento, where I serve as a network volunteer, president of the chapter and volunteer journal author for their bimonthly publication.
Share one personal story with me from your volunteerism.
As a TAGS volunteer, I recently conducted a webinar about the education system in relation to COVID-19, and changes in the college admission process. We invited an educational counselor to speak, and the feedback we received was eye opening. Hearing from parents of students aged elementary to high school, we realized that the impact COVID was having was universal. It felt really empowering that a parent with a young child was willing to listen to what we had to say.
Why do you think it’s important for others to give back?
You’re the sum of all the communities you’re a part of. That phrase really motivates me and should motivate everyone to volunteer. You’re contributing to the community that has contributed to you the most, whether that’s your high school sports team or a cultural group of people.
In one word, what does volunteering mean to you?
Selfless victory. You can hyphenate it to make it one word (laughs).
When you’re not busy with school or volunteering, what do you do for fun?
I have a few badminton rackets in my house that we got from our family. My family plays badminton on the lawn. I also play basketball for fun.
How can readers help?
For more information about how you can help, please visit the TAGS and IYNA websites.
Child of Refugees Helps Fight For Educational and Menstrual Equity in the Congo
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Asukulu Songolo. Read his story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Point of Light.
As the child of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Asukulu Songolo said it’s important to him to fight for the Congolese people, who face multiple barriers including systemic sexual abuse, child mining, and government corruption. The seventeen-year-old Portland-native decided to help try to break down some the barriers that they face by bringing together other youth to fight for educational and menstrual equity.
Last year, Asukulu founded the Congo Peace Project, an entirely youth-led grassroots community organization that collects and packages much-needed menstrual hygiene and educational materials to Congolese women and children in need. Over 750 menstrual hygiene packages with items such as pads and tampons have been sent to the organization’s partner, Panzi Hospital, which serves victims of sexual abuse and violence in eastern Congo. The Congo Peace Project has recently partnered with a school in the Congo and will send over the first educational advancement materials in January.
Describe your volunteer role with the Congo Peace Project.
The Congo Peace Project is a grassroots community organization that I founded in August of last year to fight for educational and menstrual equity. We do a plethora of things, but the most important thing to our mission is working to fight for menstrual equity and educational equity, and we do so through hosting work parties. At our work parties for menstrual hygiene, we package anything from tampons and pads, and then for our work parties for educational advancement, we package anything from notebooks to backpacks for youth in the Congo. Primarily our goal is to chip away and attack the barriers that the Congolese people face in bettering their lives.
What inspired you to start this?
I was born in Zambia to refugees who were from the Democratic Republic of Congo, so I feel like as a result I always knew and started to intricately learn the history of the Congo. It’s actually very important to me to fight for the people in the Congo because they are my people. I hope to continue this work. That’s my inspiration. I was at a summer program and learned a lot about nonprofits and the different ways they function and work, and I wanted to do things a little bit differently and directly impact people.
Asukulu Songolo leads several other youth in his Portland community to distribute much-needed menstrual and educational supplies to the Congo through the Congo Peace Project./Courtesy Asukulu Songolo
Can you describe what the issue of menstrual and educational equity is like for the people of the Congo?
Menstrual equity is particularly an issue because armed militias and armed rebels use rape as a weapon to further mass destruction of whole entire communities. When victims of this trauma are reeling from sexual abuse and sexual violence, it’s very important they have those resources to take care of themselves and satisfy their menstrual hygiene. That’s why it’s very important for us to be able to do this. We partnered with Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, which is in eastern Congo. This hospital particularly serves victims of sexual abuse and violence. That’s very integral to our mission. Then because rape is used as a weapon of war, it’s often one of the leading causes for young ladies to drop out of school. It’s very important for us to try to mitigate this risk by on top of providing the products for menstrual hygiene to this hospital, to also do the same for the schools that we are partnering with and looking to partner with in the future, and on top of that, to provide supplies for educational advancement in general especially when these supplies are scarce. These are human rights — a right to an education and a right to menstrual hygiene — so they should be available for all people. Trying to find a way to open up networks for that access to happen is very important.
Are there any future partnerships, programs, or events that you are excited about?
On Sunday, December 13, we’re hosting our first large-scale virtual event which we are calling our Free Congo Teaching. [It is] bringing awareness to the use of rape as a weapon of war, child mining present in the Congo, and then governmental corruption in the Congo, and calling for a truly free Congo. We’re hosting a virtual teaching so it will be in a Zoom webinar format. We’re very excited and hoping to get a good amount of people to tune into that. … We’ll have a suggested donation of $5, but there’s not necessarily any barriers to attending aside from having an internet connection.
Do you have any longer-term goals for this project?
Our longterm goal primarily would be to continue the project’s work, but to continue it in a way that’s sustainable and also increases the impact. Currently I’m a senior in high school, so I’m looking forward to going to college. I’m primarily looking at schools out of my state and a good number of our youth team — because our project is completely youth-led — are also looking at colleges outside of Oregon. Our hope is to create chapter networks across America in different major cities. We’re hoping to expand to Boston, New York, and Los Angeles in the next five years.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
I think above all I learned the power of community — how important community is and how vital it is to a grassroots organization like our own, and then how important community is to the movement to fight for the Congo, and for justice and equity across the world. You must be in solidarity with people. You must be willing to unite to look past differences and seek similarities, and to come together across those differences and similarities, and recognize that those differences make us all unique. We all can contribute to these movements and to this fight.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
I think primarily, to be engaged and seek out more knowledge about what’s happening in the Congo. We’re practically all connected because a lot of our technological devices come from the child mining that’s present across the Congo. Congo is one of the most mineral-rich countries in the world, so educate yourself on where the minerals that produce the backbones for our technological devices are coming from, and then find ways to support the people who are suffering at our expense.
Why do you think it’s important for others to give back?
I think that it’s important because I imagine that we all have been in need before and being able to fulfill that need for someone else really makes that process come full circle. I think that across the board, we’re responsible to each other as people. Striving to be global citizens is very important in our ever-changing world. Fighting in unison with other people, trying to mitigate their struggles, and trying to not just fight for them, but right alongside them, is very important. Doing that can look multiple ways. I think one of the easiest ways can be finding something local, something easy for volunteering, or speaking out or just educating yourself and those around you.
Teen’s Concert Volunteerism is Music to the Ears of Seniors and Greater Community
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Justin Pai. Read his story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Motivated by his musical connection with his faraway grandparents, 17-year-old Justin Pai volunteers to share his musical talents with his greater community, in addition to providing a platform for youth to strengthen their skills.
As the CEO and co-founder of Concerts 4 Charities, the Irvine, California high school senior first started performing with musically inclined classmates at local retirement homes, and the volunteers have since gone on to connect with hundreds of community members through their concerts. Since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic, Justin has added virtual concerts to his volunteerism. Featuring students from middle school to college performing music across genres from jazz to popular music, Justin is powering his service with music to empower youth volunteers and connect with senior citizens.
What inspires you to volunteer?
My grandparents live in Taiwan and I’d miss them a lot. I’m a pianist, and they’d always ask me to send music recordings to them. Their requests made me think that this musical connection I had with my grandparents could extend to other seniors as well.
Describe your volunteerism with Concerts 4 Charities.
As CEO and co-founder, I find new events for us to perform at, including concerts at retirement homes, schools and city of Irvine community events. I organize our performances and the volunteer musicians that participate. Additionally, I fundraise and hold meetings with our fellow musicians.
Share one personal story with me from your volunteerism.
At one of our very first retirement home concerts, we were just getting started and a little unconfident about whether the seniors would like it. We performed Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2, and after the performance, two Vietnam war veterans came up and asked to shake my hand. One of the vets was a former youth pianist and told me that Rachmaninoff was his favorite composer. I was 14 or 15 at the time, and our service was just getting started, so this was very, very positive encouragement to receive, which has kept us going.
Connecting with hundreds in the community through music, Concerts 4 Charities is now offering virtual performances due to the COVID-19 pandemic./Courtesy Lisa Hu Chen
What is your favorite song to perform?
Can I give you two, would that be ok? Rachmaninoff’s 2nd Concerto, and also, Enrique Granados, Spanish Dance No. 5. This song holds a special place in my heart as I was fortunate enough to perform it at Carnegie Hall in 2017.
Why do you think it’s important for others to give back?
Personally, it’s important to give back because I’ve received so many good lessons and memories from music. I credit my music teacher for giving me so many opportunities to perform, and I only hope I can do half of what my teacher has given to me.
Explain how music has influenced your volunteerism.
Music and performing is one of the greater honors I could be given at such a young age. One of my proudest accomplishments with this organization has been being able to connect musician students with the elderly. This service is very beneficial both for the seniors and also, the students who receive exposure and opportunities to perform in unique venues where they would otherwise not. I identify very strongly with music, and I feel very fortunate to connect with the community by sharing something so powerful with so many other young musicians.
How have you continued to volunteer throughout the COVID-19 pandemic?
We’ve been able to continue concerts for seniors by holding them virtually. Each musician volunteer records themselves performing at home, and then uploads the video online to be edited with other performances. We’ve even recruited volunteer video editors to help us edit these performances.
In one word, what does volunteering mean to you?
Dedication.
When you’re not busy with school or volunteering, what do you do for fun?
I’m the captain of my varsity swim team. A few volunteer musicians are also swimmers with me.
How can readers help?
Please visit our website for more information about how you can give back.
Sister, Sister Service Promotes Global Education Equity
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honorees Vanesha Hari and Varshini Hari. Read their story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Vanesha Hari and Varshini Hari were visiting family in India when they made a simple observation that would evolve into a commitment to service. “We noticed a lot of girls who were at their houses,” 14-year-old Vanesha says, “they were cleaning houses when most of us would be going to school.” Discovering the problem – a lack of educational opportunities, the Redmond, Washington sisters are now volunteering to spread education equity to underprivileged women and more broadly, underserved populations around the world.
Launching Joys of Giving in 2016, Vanesha and 12-year-old Varshini are serving up hope, opportunity and resources to children and adults in need, offering educational opportunities to effect global change. Recognizing the need for more educational support as the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted in-person learning, the sisters have started hosting virtual skill building workshops for students. Raising $17,000 to support community organizations and connecting with hundreds in the U.S. and internationally, Vanesha and Varshini are making positive change through joyful volunteerism.
What inspires you to volunteer?
Vanesha:The joy we see in youth and underserved communities inspires us to volunteer. Through our virtual workshops, we have been reaching kids by teaching them skills like coding, baking, intro to computers, and arts and crafts. We experience joy through giving, and that makes our volunteerism fulfilling, and inspires us to do more.
Vanesha Hari: “The joy we see in youth and underserved communities inspires us to volunteer. Through our virtual workshops, we have been reaching kids by teaching them skills like STEM, baking, and arts and crafts. We experience joy through giving, and that makes our volunteerism fulfilling, and inspires us to do more.”/Vanesha & Varshini Hari
What does “Joy of Giving” mean to you?
Varshini:We created that name for our organization because we find so much joy when we give to other people and share our skills.
Describe your volunteerism with Joys of Giving.
Vanesha:As co-founders, we fundraise to donate money to shelters in the area and internationally. When the pandemic began, we started hosting virtual workshops.
Share one personal story with me from your volunteerism.
Varshini:One of the most memorable parts of my volunteerism has been observing and learning unique and special qualities that every kid has. During a recent virtual workshop, a young child explained that his parents worked odd jobs and he didn’t have a laptop at home for remote learning. In the span of a few weeks in our workshop while using a friend’s laptop, he learned how to create and develop his own little game and he was ecstatic. His smile and joy made my day, knowing the confidence he will continue to build by keeping his skills alive.
Why do you think it’s important for others to give back?
Vanesha:We strongly believe that when we’re blessed with more than the basics, we have the responsibility to help others and give back. We can only do so little by ourselves, but together, we can collectively change the world. Everyone should utilize their own strengths and make an effort to use that to make a difference around them.
Varshini Hari: “For me, volunteering with my sister is awesome because we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. It makes it so much easier to know you have a partner. It’s a much more fun experience to share the joy with someone else.”/Courtesy Vanesha & Varshini Hari
What’s it like to volunteer with your sister?
Varshini: For me, volunteering with my sister is awesome because we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. It makes it so much easier to know you have a partner. It’s a much more fun experience to share the joy with someone else.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your service?
Varshini:It’s been rewarding to see the joy on kids’ faces when they’ve learned something new that they enjoy, or whenever they’re proud and happy they can do something because of our workshops.
How have you continued to volunteer throughout the pandemic?
Vanesha: We host virtual workshops for young kids across the U.S. including in Washington, Tennessee and Maryland and even as far away as India. When the pandemic began, we saw that a lot of people were utilizing their skills to better their communities, and that inspired us to teach our own skills. Additionally, as the pandemic has continued, we’ve connected with local organizations to provide funding to support underserved kids dealing with food insecurity and a gap in mental health programs. When kids don’t know whether they will get their next meal, how can they possibly focus on math or science?
In one word, what does volunteering mean to you?
Vanesha: Rewarding. It’s really rewarding to not only help others but volunteering is rewarding to us. Every single time I’m teaching a workshop and see children smiling and joyful, it’s rewarding.
Varshini:Happiness. If a child or one of us is having a bad day, 100% giving back will make it better.
When you’re not busy going to school or volunteering, what do you do for fun?
Varshini: I have many hobbies. I am on the swim team and I really enjoy baking. Recently, I’m enjoying making creme brulee.
Vanesha: I play the violin. I also swim and I like to bike a lot. One of my favorite activities is to code.
How can readers help?
Please visit our website for resources and information on how to give back and donate.
“Hood Santa” helps disadvantaged children turn their lives around by rewarding straight A’s
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Tito Rodriguez. Read his story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
There’s nothing quite like the thrill of ripping open gifts labeled “From Santa” on Christmas morning. But for many kids from low-income families, those gifts from Santa never come.
That’s why for the past 10 years, Tito Rodriguez has put it on himself to be their own “Hood Santa,” providing thousands of children and families in Long Beach and the Los Angeles area with gifts, clothing and food through his nonprofit Local Hearts Foundation.
The struggle that these disadvantaged families face is one that Tito knows all too well. Growing up, Christmastime was anything but merry for his family. When he was just a six-year-old boy, Tito’s father committed suicide on Christmas Eve, leaving his mother to raise five children on the little money she made as a street vendor.
“My mom had to choose, ‘Do I buy a turkey or do I pay the light bill? Do I buy a turkey or do I pay the gas bill?’ And of course, she had to pay the bills so we just ate what we ate,” Tito recalled.
Having his own bicycle was even more out of the question, he said, remembering the times he would go to a friend’s house to ride their bike.
“They’re wonderful memories now that I’m an adult, but when you’re a kid, they suck. You wish you had a bike or a couple of toys. We didn’t have the video games and all the other stuff that my neighbors had,” Tito said.
Growing up in such difficult circumstances led Tito to make some bad choices, ultimately landing him in juvenile hall. But what was more difficult than the jail time or punishment he received was the moment he saw his mother’s face while he was being sentenced, he said.
“I saw my mom cry,” Tito told the Long Beach Post. “I never went back to jail and I changed my life completely from that day forward.”
For the past years, Tito Rodriguez, has provided thousands of children and families in Long Beach and the Los Angeles area with gifts, clothing and food through his nonprofit Local Hearts Foundation./Courtesy Tito Rodriguez
Believing that education is the way to keep kids from following his mistakes, Tito, who became a successful music producer, started rewarding kids with straight As from low-income families with bikes, skateboards, shoes and more. Dressed in a Santa costume, he handed out presents from the trunk of his car, so naturally the kids started calling him “Hood Santa.”
“It goes to show that there’s always somebody watching and that hard work doesn’t go unnoticed,” Tito said, adding that the gifts have motivated other kids in the families and community to get good grades as well.
As the name “Hood Santa” and word of his generous deeds spread around town, companies such as Diamond Supply Co., a California-based skateboard and clothing line, started backing him with their support, allowing Tito to provide even more gifts to deserving children and their families.
“We have kids that are now in college and we’ve been taking care of them for 8,9 years. Now they reach out to me and say, ‘Hood Santa, if it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t have had a Christmas. How can I buy toys and give kids a toy in my neighborhood?” Tito said.
In 2017, Tito made his volunteer work official by creating the Local Hearts Foundation with cofounder HJ Chong and additional financial support from Diamond Supply Co. founder Nick Diamond.
Now in his 10th year, Tito and his organization are helping more people than ever, most recently providing 1,000 turkeys to families in need for Thanksgiving. This Christmas Eve, Tito and other volunteers will be giving out thousands of toys to children at MacArthur Park in Long Beach.
And Local Hearts Foundation is rewarding adults for their hard work too, whether it’s surprising a 66-year-old street vendor with a brand new ice cream cart after his had been stolen or providing a single father named Jesse Alcala with a check so he can pay rent and keep himself and his five daughters from being evicted last December.
After starting the Local Hearts Foundation with co-founder HJ Chong (right), Tito (left) and his volunteers have provided gifts, clothing and food to thousands of families in need./ Courtesy Local Hearts Foundation
“I had a lot of personal things going on at the time. I really needed a boost to help me get on my feet again,” Jesse said. “So when Tito gave me that check, I was astonished. I was stuck in awe. It meant the world to me.”
Since then, Jesse said things have been going much better for him and his family. He even gives back in his own way by volunteering at Local Hearts Foundation’s events.
“Back in the days, Long Beach was not a good place to walk around, but Tito has brought so many people together and he changed the community,” he added.
Tito said he hopes his life can teach people that if he can do it, anyone can do it.
“They might say, ‘Tito’s from the hood, he’s been in jail,’ but that doesn’t mean I have to stay that way,” Tito said. “Now I’m able to do something good in my community.”
Colorado Teen Collects Thousands of Donations for Both People and Animals in Need During Pandemic
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Mikaela Fischer. Read her story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Point of Light.
While many high school seniors are solely focused on finishing their final year of school and getting ready for their post-graduation lives, Mikaela Fischer is doing that on top of running two different donation projects for both humans and animals in need. In March, the 17-year-old Parker, Colo.-native started the project Masks for Hope, which collects fabric and elastic donations for Mikaela to use to sew reusable masks for populations vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the project began, she has donated over 6,000 masks to hospitals, the Navy, Native American reservations, and senior living centers, in 28 different states. With the help of her mother, Mikaela works on the project for hours everyday and makes anywhere from 200-300 masks each week.
In addition, Mikaela also runs Toys & Treats for Homeless Pets, a project which collects toys, beds, food, leashes, collars, and other items for animals living in shelters. Inspired by animals from shelters that her own family has taken care of, Mikaela began the project right before the pandemic hit. So far, she has donated about 200 items each to nine different animal shelters. Mikaela intends to continue both projects for as long as there is a need.
Describe your volunteer role with Masks for Hope.
At the beginning of the pandemic, we started to realize there was a huge shortage of masks, especially in places that really needed them like hospitals and senior living centers. I decided to start this project called Masks for Hope in which we collected donations of fabric and elastic from our neighbors and different corporations, and we started making reusable masks that people could wash to use. We started donating them to hospitals, the Navy, Native American reservations and senior living centers.
Mikaela Fischer sews some of the over 6,000 masks she has donated through her project Masks for Hope, which gives reusable masks to populations vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic./Courtesy Mikaela Fischer
What strives you to make such a big commitment to this project everyday while you’re also attending school?
I would say honestly those donations that I get in person have been keeping me committed to making the masks. We receive a lot of thank you letters from people saying how grateful they are that there is still someone who is keeping in mind those people in need. It is difficult. We all have our own lives, and it is one of those things that it’s really hard to continue with our own lives and still keep those people who are in need in mind. But I would say it is definitely the reactions and the gratefulness of the people who we have donated to that keep me committed to making the masks.
What has it been like being able to work on this project with your mom?
It’s been an amazing experience. It’s definitely been very humbling to see the whole community come together, especially when people are in need. I think one of the good things that’s come out of this pandemic has been the community coming together to help those who need it and those who don’t have the ability to make and sell masks themselves.
Describe your volunteer role with Toys & Treats for Homeless Pets.
I started that and was actually getting it up and running right before the pandemic started. The main places we were collecting donations were in coffee shops and restaurants and hair salons, and then once those started to shut down in the beginning of pandemic, we realized we needed to put that on hold. We started picking that up again once everything began reopening. We’ve collected toys, dog beds, dog food, leashes, collars, and stuff like that. We’ve donated them to a lot of animal shelters who collect donations, because that’s the only way they can really get the stuff that the dogs need.
What inspired you to start that project?
When I was little, we took care of a couple of animals we got from the animal shelter. I guess I never realized the extent to which how many animals don’t have homes and how many don’t live happy lives with owners. It was a project I wanted to start because I finally started to see they can’t do things to help themselves, so I see it as our job to help them get better lives.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
One thing I’ve learned that I would want to share is being a citizen and being a community member doesn’t take having a role in politics, and it doesn’t take even being an adult for that matter — because I’m not, I’m still 17. I think a lot of people think because they’re not old enough, or they don’t have a big enough role in the community, that they can’t make a difference, which I thought before. I thought there’s no way I could make a big impact being how young I am, but that’s one thing I’ve definitely learned — you can make an impact and you can help people no matter what age or role you have in the community.
Why do you think it’s important for others to give back?
I think it is important because we’re all put in this world. If we don’t do things to help, if we all live our own lives in our own bubbles and live for ourselves, then there’s nothing humbling about that, in my opinion. I love helping people. I love doing what I can and giving back because I’m blessed with the life I’ve been given, and not many other people are. I think that’s a big thing, is realizing how great of lives some of us are given and other people don’t necessarily have those amazing lives or see how amazing life can be, so I think it’s really important that those who can, do their part to give back.
