A teacher in everyone
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 Since the June launch of our Volunteer Education Challenge - to engage 10,000 San Diegans as readers, tutors and mentors by 2014 - nearly 1,700 people have signed up to help local children succeed in school...and life. When the Union-Tribune partnered with us on September 15 to promote the U-T Volunteer for Education campaign, our numbers grew exponentially, supported by a weekly Tuesday feature on education. As we suspected, reaching out works and education matters to our community. All around the county, people are volunteering their time, talents and resources to help San Diego's kids learn to read and read to learn. Readers and mentors are the most popular choices, which tells us there's a teacher in everyone.
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| "Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen,
and a push in the right direction."
John Crosby
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Filling the Girl Gap in Math and Science
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Girl Scouts San Diego has long recognized the importance of providing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) opportunities for girls of all ages. Now, it's taking STEM literacy to a new level. "IMAGINE: Your STEM Career," a new Girl Scout program funded by AT&T, is reaching out to 500 high school girls in underserved areas of San Diego and Imperial counties to boost their participation in STEM-related studies.
"We're partnering with the San Diego County Office of Education's AVID program, high schools and universities to offer innovative workshops, events and field trips," said Jo Dee C. Jacob, Girl Scout San Diego's CEO. "Including a leadership component enables teens to 'give back' by leading STEM activities with younger girls."
Volunteers with an interest or position in STEM-related careers can mentor girls (curriculum and training provided) or provide job-shadow opportunities.
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Hit the Deck Reading
| Business leader Phil Blair of Manpower recently took the volunteer challenge by reading to pre-schoolers at South Bay Community Services. "I had a blast and wish I could do it every week," he enthused.
His visit included sitting on the floor reading to young children affected by domestic violence. "I came away re-energized and reinvested in volunteering. You can't watch from 35,000 feet. You have to get face-to-face. You have to get on the floor!"
Equipped with numerous books he left behind, Blair read for 45 minutes and already signed up for more. He challenges other San Diegans to make an ongoing commitment. "Otherwise, you're just this guy who swoops in and reads once and then disappears. These kids have enough of that in their lives."
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UPS Delivers for Local kids
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United Way has had few partners more committed to community change than UPS. Year after year, the organization and its employees donate money and volunteer time to improve the lives of others. "UPS and United Way share a common purpose to build stronger communities," said George Willis, President, UPS South California District.
Recently, UPS kicked off a challenge to mobilize 2,000 of its San Diego County employees and their families as volunteer readers, tutors and mentors. Employees then volunteered at elementary schools by sprucing up play areas and reading to students. Added Willis, "We keep thinking of how many children in our community can be affected by UPSers!"
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Spread the Word
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Post a video or comment stating your personal pledge to volunteer onFacebook.
Post a photo of your participation in volunteer projects on our Facebook page.
Tweet your experiences and tag your posts #liveunitedsd.
Check in at your volunteer location on Foursquare or Facebook. Tell friends what you're experiencing.
Encourage friends, family, and coworkers to sign up for theVolunteer Challenge.
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Tutor with International Rescue Mission
Tutors are needed to foster a safe, supportive afterschool environment for youth, provide homework assistance, and work with international students to improve their reading, writing, and speaking in English. Applicants should enjoy working with children and have dependable transportation. Previous experience working with K-5 children and/or ESL students is desired.
Provide a positive relationship for youth in foster care
San Diego Youth Service's Foster Youth Independence (FYI) is a one-to-one mentoring program that serves foster youth ages 12-18 throughout San Diego County. The program's focus includes goal setting, positive choices, employment connections, education, and positive community activities. A year commitment is required along with bimonthly mentor and mentee outings.
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What's Your Impact?
Recent research backs up what people have anecdotally known for years: reading, tutoring, mentoring and other personalized strategies work.
Reading books aloud with children every day not only builds language and literacy skills, but exposes them to new ideas, builds their social/emotional and problem solving skills and inspires them to become life long learners.
Tutoring a child one-on-one or in small groups has been shown to have positive effects on children's academic performance, especially with those who are "at-risk" and experiencing reading problems.
Disadvantaged youth seem to benefit the most from
mentoring. Typically their communities have limited resources and families are often not available to their children. Benefits include improved attendance, better academic performance and greater likelihood to enroll in college.
"Despite the positive evidence, many promising efforts remain at a smaller scale than what is needed because of a gap in volunteer and other resources."
Nina Sazer O'Donnell
Vice President, Education
United Way Worldwide
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