Thank you for the “E” in AMERICORPS!

A huge thank you goes out to the Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation for their generous donation of $100! This gave us the “E” in AMERICORPS! For every $100 in donations, we are able to add one more letter. To date, the “Amass for AmeriCorps” program has raised $1,300 for Nevada’s AmeriCorps programs!

Words cannot express how grateful we are to each of you for your contributions.

Our next fundraising goal is “R.” “R” is for receive – without our Nevada AmeriCorps programs, our Nevada communities would not receive help in core areas such as education, human needs, environment or public safety.

The end of the year is quickly approaching. The last day to give to the “Amass for AmeriCorps” is December 31st at 11:59pm. We know that we can spell AMERICORPS one more time and $10 from 10 friends will get us closer to that goal. Plus your end-of-the-year donation will earn you a tax deduction! (more…)

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM NEVADA VOLUNTEERS!

“Amass for AmeriCorps” has struck a chord in our hearts, reminding us that the true spirit of the holidays comes from people who continue to give of themselves to improve communities throughout Nevada.

As the State Commission that promotes volunteerism, Nevada Volunteers sees the variety of avenues to contribute to our communities. This made us wonder, what are you doing this holiday season to give back? How are you giving of your time, talent, or treasure to those in your community?

This holiday season, Nevada Volunteers is grateful for all the volunteers in our great state. Without these everyday heroes, our communities would no longer continue to prosper and grow. And because of these individuals, our communities are able to offer those in need a special holiday.

From all us at Nevada Volunteers, we thank the great volunteers in Nevada and wish you a happy Holiday! We look forward to hearing of your wonderful contributions to our communities! (more…)

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Amass for AmeriCorps – Field Update 8

One person CAN make a difference…

AmeriCorps Alum Zenaida Solano did it by breaking language barriers!

Zenaida Solano served as Nye County community’s AmeriCorps Hispanic Advocate, taking on large tasks to help the Hispanic community of Pahrump, Nevada receive the aid and services they deserve. She provided over 700 translations and/or interpretations for the Spanish-speaking community. Her primary role was working with the Nye County School District to help parents deal with the school system in areas of truancy, suspension, special education planning, parent-teacher conferences, behavior intervention, and registration. She helped parents get immunizations for their children starting kindergarten, helped secure medical appointments, and helped complete tax forms all through breaking the language barrier and being their translator. Throughout all of her efforts, she served as a resource for her own workplace to ensure cultural sensitivity when collaborating with the Hispanic Community by improving the knowledge and skills of fellow staff members. (more…)

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Amass for AmeriCorps – Field Update 7

What inspires Celinda Pena to volunteer? “It’s the faces and the reactions I get from the people that I touch the lives of.”

Celinda was born in San Isidro, Cabañas, El Salvador. Her family relocated to Las Vegas in 1993 when she was 4 years old. After graduating from Desert Pine High School in 2007, she began classes at UNLV and joined AmeriCorps to serve through the United Way of Southern Nevada program. “AmeriCorps is a perfect opportunity for me to develop and grow as an individual. I started when I was 17 and now I am 21. I have really seen a big difference in how I touch people’s lives.”

Celinda decided to serve a second AmeriCorps term because she enjoyed being able to make a difference. She became a Luz Community Development Coalition AmeriCorps member in October 2009 and is currently the volunteer coordinator at Luz, where she recruits and manages a diverse group of volunteers that serve a number of area nonprofit organizations. Many of her volunteers are college students. (more…)

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Amass for AmeriCorps – Field Update 6

A willingness to work hard and a great attitude – that is what Amanda Schwantes brought to her AmeriCorps year with the Parasol AmeriCorps Team in Incline Village, Nevada. Amanda took charge of her assignment as a volunteer recruiter for the Tahoe Rim Trail Association with gusto.

For the Rim Trail, a scenic trail system along the crest of the mountains surrounding Lake Tahoe, it was a time of major expansion. That meant finding more volunteers, lots of them. It was a huge job. Amanda understood she had to get out of the office and get her hands dirty—literally, working side-by-side with the volunteers on the trail, getting grubby, sharing blisters and jokes and small talk. She realized the secret to finding and keeping volunteers was the personal touch, letting volunteers know their effort would be recognized and appreciated. Attending every tabling event available in the Reno-Tahoe area, she reached out with a big smile and passion for the hard but gratifying work the volunteers would find if they signed up. The result: Amanda recruited more volunteers than ever. (more…)

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We Have a Winner!

Nevada's Parasol Foundation AmeriCorps program has taken first place honors in the national 2010 AmeriCorps Getting Things Done Video Contest! We are so proud of them! We want to congratulate Jaime Olive, Vince Camiolo, Katy Washington of the PTCF AmeriCorps…

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Roadpost #14: Impacts

How do you describe it? The impact volunteering has—not on the person who receives the help, but on the volunteer. Volunteering is good for your health, good for your resume, but there is also an emotional charge that comes with service which can uplift you in profound and transformative ways. That feeling is at the heart of one of the stories a young volunteer named Kevin told me.

Kevin, one of our UNR student work group participants, was an AmeriCorps member before entering college, working with inner-city kids in Philadelphia. He was fresh out of high school and had no idea what to study, so he decided to give back through a national service program. One of the boys Kevin had worked extra hard to encourage took him aside one day to ask his advice, and in the course of the conversation, the boy told Kevin, “Wow, you are so smart. You are my hero.” (more…)

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Roadpost #9: The 2010 Nevada National Service Awards Recipients

Every year, Nevada Volunteers, the state commission on national and community service, honors outstanding National Service volunteers in Nevada. These awards are given in observance of National AmeriCorps Week, which runs May 8th to 15th this year. All of these award winners are great examples of the promise of National Service programs. “We are very proud of them all,” said Shawn Lecker-Pomaville, CEO of Nevada Volunteers. “Their service makes Nevada a better place for all of us.” Nevada Volunteers is pleased to announce the following winners and share a little of their story:

1) 2010 AmeriCorps Member of the Year: Dannyn Smith , Nevada Conservation Corps, from Sparks, Nevada

2) 2010 AmeriCorps VISTA of the Year: Natalie Minev, Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada, from Las Vegas, Nevada

3) 2010 AmeriCorps Program Director of the Year: Michelle Redmond, United Way of Southern Nevada AmeriCorps Program, from Las Vegas, Nevada (more…)

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Roadpost #8: National AmeriCorps Week

National AmeriCorps Week runs from May 8 to May 15. AmeriCorps and VISTA programs will be spotlighted nationwide. Nevada Volunteers administers five AmeriCorps programs that provide services all across Nevada. 249 AmeriCorps members serve 62 Nevada agencies statewide. Here are some photos of Nevada's AmeriCorps members getting things done!
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