"I think that Hands4Hope offers a great outlet for youth around the community to get involved and help those in need by encouraging

a strong sense of community and aid to those who need it most.

It is both fun for volunteers and beneficial to members of the community

that might need some assistance."

Patrick Whelan, Oak Ridge High School Senior

& Hands4Hope Youth Leader

UPCOMING EVENTS & FUNDRAISERS

• Sept. 24: Endless Summer Beach Party (Tickets On Sale Soon!)
• October 8-9: Fall Festival (Sponsorships Available!)

WHAT'S INSIDE:

• Get Involved! August Community Engagement Calendar
• 11th Annual Youth Recognition Event Recap 
• School Supply Drive: Operation #SOS (Support Our Students) Update
• Youth & Sponsor Spotlights: Patrick Whelan & Fergerson Financial
• Endless Summer Beach Party is next month! 
• Fall Festival: Meet The Planning Committee!
• WORK WITH US! Community Engagement Assistant (NEW)
• New Program Year! Join a Club or Afterschool Committee today!

Thank you to our esteemed guests who attended

Hands4Hope's 11th Annual Youth Recognition Ceremony!

During this celebration, Hands4Hope said goodbye to a group of

graduating seniors, many of whom started volunteering with Hands4Hope

in elementary or middle school.

We also presented the prestigious President’s Volunteer Service Award to

38 individual youth and highlighted the accomplishments of all of our

youth participants who, this year, logged 9500 volunteer hours

and raised $42,000 to support the mission of local agencies.

You don't want to miss reading all the details about what

our youth have accomplished in the 2021-22 program year!

Last week, we put out an #SOS (Support Our Students) to our community

who immediately stepped up to answer our call for more backpacks!

School Supply Committee volunteers have been busy sorting through donations, working with our partner agencies, and setting up for Distribution Days.

Our Distribution Days will take place this week (8/3 & 8/5)

where School Supply Committee volunteers will help students pick out

a backpack and fill it with school supplies donated by YOU,

our generous Hands4Hope community! 

To the businesses and agencies who served as collection sites,

the individuals who sent in checks and made donations online,

and who purchased school supplies via our Amazon Wishlist,

and our youth and adult volunteers for donating their time and talent:

THANK YOU!

You make what we do possible!

We will send out an official update after we wrap up this week's 

School Supply Drive activities!

Incoming Oak Ridge High School Empower Club President,

 Patrick Whelan, has held several leadership roles in his club and

on multiple committees during his two years being involved with Hands4Hope.

Because of his experience with Hands4Hope, Patrick "now [has]

no problem reaching out to business owners, mentors, and other adults

in the community that I may have been hesitant in contacting before."

Visit our blog to find out more about Patrick, our August Youth Spotlight,

and why he feels Hands4Hope is a valuable part of our local community.

For close to 8 years, Rick Fergerson, longtime Hands4Hope sponsor

and financial advisor has been "investing" in Hands4Hope's mission

to inspire and empower youth in leadership and service.

"I think it is important for people to step forward and support youth/leadership organizations of this community either financially or through volunteering."

Click to read how the support [Rick] received through mentors, teachers,

and the community influenced his decision to sponsor programs like

Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference.

Meet the The Fall Festival Planning Committee!

Operations & Finance - Patrick Whelan

Games & Activities Lead - Ian Hunt

Marketing & Fundraising Lead - Mishti Shah

Volunteer Management - Navy Morrison 

Since our July update, the Fall Festival Committee has held four meetings

to plan for our highly anticipated event in October. Most meetings take place in-person at the EDH Youth Center but for those who are unable to attend live,

we have the ability to stream them in live via Zoom. 

We asked Navy Morrison, Youth Chair of Volunteer Management,

about her experience being a part of the Fall Festival this year:

"Being a part of the Fall Festival Committee has taught me important leadership skills including communication, patience and assertiveness. I have learned how to have a good balance of these skills and contribute to the conversation in a helpful yet polite way."

"I have contributed to such an amazing group and gotten to work on a project I am incredibly passionate about: youth being given the opportunities to lead and serve in their community."

"I am so thankful to be part of this project and I can’t wait to see this project through to the end!"

We're excited to continue sharing updates about our popular Fall Event!

Thank you to our donors whose donations support our Youth Centers

which provide a central place for our youth and their adult mentors to plan for service-learning projects like the Fall Festival. 

If you are interested in getting involved with the Fall Festival

or learning more about sponsorship opportunities,

please email: Kathy Gerstle at kgerstle@hands4hopeyouth.org.  

Thank you to our Event Sponsors, Silent Auction Donors, 

and "Buccaneer Bail" participants who have signed up to

be involved in our Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference

ENDLESS SUMMER BEACH PARTY BENEFIT FUNDRAISER

on Saturday, September 24 from 5:30 - 10 PM

at the Serrano Village Green Amphitheater.

All the details are falling into place as we prepare to close out the summer

and kick off a new program year with our Hands4Hope community!

Tickets will be available soon for this adults-only event!

For sponsorship opportunities,

please contact: Kathy Van Saun

(kathy@hands4hopeyouth.org)

To donate to our Silent Auction,

please contact: Jennypher Doan

(jennypher@hands4hopeyouth.org) 

Our Community Engagement team is looking for a part-time assistant

to support Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference Community Engagement activities and events, including participant/volunteer management, event coordination, youth-led committees, and associated administrative duties.

For a detailed job description and to apply,

please visit  https://www.hands4hopeyouth.org/jobs.

“As a Hands4Hope alum, and recent college graduate,

I cannot emphasize enough how much my success in my early career

is attributed to my experiences in high school as a youth volunteer

and leader in Hands4Hope, as well as to the internship opportunities

I had as an undergraduate college student."

-Marin Cross, Hands4Hope Alumni

We have multiple paid internship opportunities open to young adults age 18-23.

If you are interested in learning more about working with Hands4Hope,

please email Jbassett@hands4hopeyouth.org.

6th-12th Graders interested in gaining valuable life skills, and

making memories with their peers while impacting their community:

JOIN A HANDS4HOPE CLUB!

To get involved, locate your school under the “Clubs & Committees” section at www.hands4hopeyouth.org and submit an online application today!

Earn community service hours, make new friends, and have fun!

Interested in joining a Hands4Hope After School Committee?

Click below to find out more about how to get involved:

ASPIRE Outfitters Committee Interest Survey

Children's Committee Interest Survey

Emergency Food Pantry Committee Interest Survey

For questions regarding our committees, please email

Melissa Placek (mplacek@hands4hopeyouth.org)

Thank you to our Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference Community:

- our donors, sponsors, volunteers, board, staff -

for providing our youth the opportunity to grow in leadership & service.

#WhenYouGiveWeGiveBack #MadePossibleByDonorsLikeYou

Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference

is a youth-driven non-profit charitable 501(c)3 organization whose

mission is to inspire and empower youth in leadership and service. 

Our vision is to develop a community of civic-minded and

socially responsible citizens for generations to come.

THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY!