At the Heart of Helping - July 2017 Update

At the Heart of Helping - July 2017 Update

In This Issue:

Letter from the President/CEO | Affinity Group Community Awards Celebration

CVC Supports the Special Olympics | Community Support for Food For Kids

Mark Your Calendars for Two Upcoming Events!

Letter from the President/CEO

...At the Heart of Uniting through Service

Last month, we reflected on the progress we've made during the past year , including the impact the Volunteer Center has had on the local community thanks to the volunteer service hours of many of you.

Service Units Summit at the Conference on Volunteering and Service

Those thoughts and our upcoming plans were on my mind as I attended the Service Unites Summit at the Conference on Volunteering and Service , presented by Points of Light in Seattle. Representatives from thousands of organizations across the country came together to discuss issues related to volunteerism, corporate philanthropy, women's empowerment, and economic and social justice.

Neil Bush speaking at the the Service Unites Summit at the Conference on Volunteering and Service

Many of the conversations centered around the idea that a different kind of social climate change is dividing us and that volunteer service has the power to unite us back together, so we can solve the tough challenges facing our neighborhoods and the world. Points of Light Chairman Neil Bush, son of former President George Bush, Sr., said it best in his opening remarks: "We are united in the belief that every citizen has a role to serve, and that volunteering is a patriotic act. Volunteerism is the essence of our liberty."

Tracey Hoover, CEO of Points of Light, emphasized taking action through service, and she encouraged everyone to unite as agents of change, working together for a common goal. Following the recent Independence Day holiday, I hope you will join me now through Labor Day - and beyond - to commit to serving with the 62 million Americans who volunteer, so that together we can create a better community through being of service to others, which will ultimately benefit us all.

Sara Myers

President/CEO

Affinity Group Community Awards Celebration

...At the Heart of Celebrating Volunteer Service

Affinity Group Community Volunteer Awards

The Affinity Group - a support group for the Volunteer Center's Operation Teddy Bear® program - recently held a celebration luncheon at the Palos Verdes Golf Club to present awards to three amazing volunteers. Special thanks to all Affinity Group members who made this event such a success. In particular, we extend our gratitude to the hard work of event Co-Chairs Jennifer Ryan and Sharon Ryan, and Committee Chairs De De Hicks, Cherri Olsen, Jackie Crowley and Pam Barrett-Hill. We would also like to congratulate to Jean Adelsman, Ann Buxton and Joyce Kochanowski, the honorees recognized for their outstanding contributions to the community.

CVC Supports the Special Olympics

...At the Heart of Corporate Community Involvement

Corporate Volunteer Council Summer Service Project at the Special Olympics Summer Games

The Corporate Volunteer Council (CVC) sponsored a booth at the recent 2017 Special Olympics' Southern California Summer Games in Long Beach as their summer service project. Volunteers from CVC member organizations Green Dart, MOOG and Saatchi & Saatchi helped the athletes from across Southern California decorate crowns and masks to wear around the two-day event.

If you would like to participate in coordinated, multi-organization volunteer service projects like this one, as well as increase the visibility of your business's community engagement, and learn new ways to promote corporate philanthropy and employee volunteerism at your organization, click here to learn more about the Corporate Volunteer Council and become a member today!

Community Continues to Support Food For Kids

...At the Heart of Filling the Food Pantry

Special thanks to Honda, MOOG Aircraft Group, Journey of Faith, Seaside Community Church and Boy Scout Troop 718 for their recent support of our Food For Kids program!

Honda employees collected and donated more than 500 pounds of food
MOOG Aircraft Group employees collected and donated more than 450 pounds of food
Journey of Faith in Manhattan Beach donated 175 boxes filled with 350 bags of food, plus additional food for our pantry, totaling nearly 5,000 pounds of food (see a short video of the delivery here!)
Seaside Community Church in Torrance donated 40 bags containing more than 550 pounds of food
Boy Scout Troop 718 in Torrance donated nearly 1,500 pounds of food as part of their June Scouting For Food Project

We really depend on generous donations like these from the community, so we that we can distribute more than 1,500 pounds of non-perishable food to hungry families each week. We gratefully accept donations at our Torrance Office (1230 Cravens Avenue) Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Mark your Calendars!

...At the Heart of Raising Funds for Future Programs

Coloring Cards for a Cause

Tuesday, August 1, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Join us for our inaugural evening of relaxation and mindful creativity at the Volunteer Center as we color cards for one of our partner organizations.

Save the date for this exciting, new event and stay tuned for more details!