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Greetings!
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Thank you for your continued support of the HandsOn Inland Empire (HOIE) initiative of Inland Empire United Way!
This eNewsletter provides you with an update of the HOIE initiative and its impact, available volunteer opportunities and how you too can be a part of the change!
To learn more about HOIE, please visit our website.
Thank you!
HandsOn Inland Empire
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HandsOn Inland Empire
Volunteer Update |
Since its launch, HandsOn Inland Empire attained over 17,000 volunteer hours worth about $374,000.
There are:
- 3,061 active and dedicated volunteers
- 124 trained volunteer project leaders
- 349 partner agencies
- 123 registered teams
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2009 National Conference on Volunteering and Service
We continue to "be the change" |
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This year's National Conference on Volunteering and Service took place in San Francisco, CA and was host to hundreds of people serving in the non-profit sector who were given the opportunity to learn, connect and be inspired by the many workshops, speakers, stories, and special events that were offered over several days.
Those in attendance were given the opportunity to attend a dynamic opening session that featured such speakers as First Lady Michelle Obama, Gov. Schwarzenegger and a special performance by singer Bon Jovi.
Attendees were also given the opportunity to serve by participating at a KaBoom! Playground Build at Brete Harte Elementary school on the outskirts of San Francisco.
The conference left many inspired to return to their communities and continue to "be the change."
Michelle Obama speaking at the 2009 National Conference on Volunteering and Service in San Francisco, CA.
 Gov. Schwarzenegger speaking at the 2009 National Conference on Volunteering and Service in San Francisco, CA.
Jon Bon Jovi performs at the 2009 National Conference on Volunteering and Service in San Francisco, CA. |
Season of Service
Summer Fun and Ice Cream Socials |
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We kicked off the summer with Season of Service: Summer fun and ice cream socials!
This project series will focus on providing ice cream socials and games for families at three local homeless shelters within the Inland Empire.
The first project took place at Inland Temporary Homes on June 26th. Volunteers provided an ice cream potluck and played games with the children.
Once a month, volunteers will gather at a different non-profit organization to provide and enjoy an ice cream treat and social time with residents.
Each project will provide sustenance, fun and companionship for families, children, and seniors.
The next service opportunity will occur on July 24 and August 29.
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TeamConnect: Service 101
Environment and Sustainability |
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This round of Service 101 proved to be a success with projects that focused on creating sustainable communities through environmental volunteer action with projects that addressed recycling, reducing water consumption, reusing and recycling materials.
The last project was culminated with clean-up collaboration between the Inland Empire Resource Conservation District and HandsOn Inland Empire at the North Etiwanda Preserve in Alta Loma to address removing trash and invasive items from the preserved land for natural habitat.
Volunteers reclaimed over three tons of garbage and cement, rock, concrete combined from the park.
 Volunteers plant California Native plants in bio-degradable planters at the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park aftering taking a tour of the park and learning more about water conservation.
Volunteers Dionna Houston (L) and Amanda Escalante (R) fill bio-degradble planters with soil. The plants were donated to the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational park and were transported to a nursery and will be later planted at the park.
Dolly Aguirre (R) Santa Ana Watershed educator and tour guide for the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational taught volunteers including Ana Dominguez (L) about water irrigation systems and the importance of California native plants for conservation. |
TeenConnect
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TeenConnect gave teen volunteers the opportunity to volunteer at four non-profit agencies over the course of four months.
These projects focused on healthy lifestyles aimed at empowering youth to make positive decisions in their lives with respect to nutrition and fitness.
The final project of the TeenConnect series was held at the HandsOn Inland Empire office where volunteers gathered to create healthy cookbooks for families at a local homeless shelter.
These cookbooks will give families options for healthy and inexpensive recipes that they can make for their family.
Volunteers also had an opportunity to reflect on all four projects and the difference they made in the community.
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HandsOn Inland Empire 2008-2009 |
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TeenLinks
The TeenLinks program recognizes the amazing work teens do in their community. Teens are encouraged to volunteer and track their hours, and they are then invited to the Teens Make a Difference Ceremony to be recognized for their commitment in the local community. Over 800 high school students volunteered 79,000 hours in the past year.
Read to Kids!
In November 2007, the Read to Kids! program began to inspire children from underserved communities and motivate them to read, enriching their lives and providing opportunities for future success. One Saturday each month, about 60 volunteers read to approximately 80 kids at an elementary school in Fontana.
School Revitalizations
School Revitalizations coordinate volunteers and resources to improve local schools. In November, 180 volunteers encouraged literacy through a themed renovation project at Palmetto elementary school by painting a literacy based mural, planting reading gardens, and creating new and colorful spaces within the school library.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, over 300 community volunteers served across the Inland Empire. These volunteers helped to transform lessons learned from Dr. King's Poor People's Campaign into community service projects that addressed the limitations of poverty and provided the opportunity for all to live with dignity, respect, justice, equality and freedom. These projects ranged from mural paintings, school clean ups, neighborhood revitalizations to community conversations. This day of service had several components that served to bring awareness and help various populations of
people.
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| Become a Project Leader
It's easy and FUN! |
Each month HandsOn Inland Empire (HOIE) offers training to our volunteers who are looking for a deeper commitment to service. This fun, informative two-hour training will tell you everything you need to start leading HOIE Projects. It's easy! If you're enthusiastic, enjoy people, like to organize, and want to make a difference here in the Inland Empire, sign up today!Interested in leading a project? To find out what projects we need leaders for click here.
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Teens Make a Difference (TMAD)
Over 800 high school students recognized! |
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Teens Make a Difference (TMAD) is a program that recognizes the amazing work that high school students do for their community.
This year, a total of 837 students received service awards.
Students from Redlands, Redlands East Valley, Arroyo Valley, Pacific, Carter, San Bernardino, Cajon, and San Gorgonio High School participated this year.
The ceremony took place at the Inland Center Mall in San Bernardino on May 14th.
837 students served 80,132 hours to their communities.
According to the Independent Sector, the value of volunteer time in California is $20.25 an hour. Therefore, $1,622,684.14 was contributed to local nonprofits in the Inland Empire.
Congratulations to all the students! |
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Our Sponsors
Thank you!
Anheuser Busch
Build-A-Bear Workshop
Starbucks Coffee
Target
Union Bank of California
Our newest sponsor: Anheuser Busch
A check on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Anheuser-Busch Foundation. Pictured (from left to right): Al Byron - Director of Sales, Pomona; Michelle Cha - Marketing Coordinator; Dawn Kasnick - IEUW - Director of Resource Development; Bud Crisp - Director of Sales, Pomona |
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Join us on Facebook
and follow us on Twitter
Stay Connected!
One of HandsOn Inland Empire's goals for the year is to create a sense of community among our volunteers. Our Facebook group, Twitter updates and blogspot are ways to share volunteer experiences, to meet other like-minded individuals who are creating change in their communities, and most of all to inspire others to serve.
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Forward this eNewsletter
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Help us spread the word. Imagine how many people we could reach if everyone forwards this to five people.
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| HOIE Advisory Board |
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Greg Brittain
Attorney-at-Law
Christy Campbell
Enterprise Rent-a-Car
Richard Granados
RDS Insurance Brokers
Lowell King
Goodwill Industries of the Inland Counties
Peggy Long
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Diane Podolske, Ph.D.
California State University, San Bernardino
Terri Relf
The Macerich Corporation
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