Congratulations to VCU Richmond Alumni Chapter of Richmond – winner of the 2018 Governor’s Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Education Organization! From leading the charge against hunger in Virginia to supporting veterans, the VCU Richmond Alumni Chapter is continuing to make an impact on the community every single day. The Richmond Chapter, comprised of more than 65,000 alums of Virginia Commonwealth University who currently live in Richmond, continues to make volunteering a key priority in their initiatives to help make Richmond a better place to live. Every year, hundreds of VCU Alums volunteer – from collecting enormous amounts of canned goods for an Alumni Charity Challenge event to serving as mentors to help VCU students enhance their time at the university. Volunteers also take Richmond City students back-to-school shopping, write cards for overseas military troops, and deliver hot meals bedside at McGuire Veterans Hospital.
One of their largest efforts, the Alumni Charity Challenge, benefiting FeedMore, raises hunger awareness and engages the community during Hunger Action Month and Day to Serve. Since 2013, the Alumni Charity Challenge has collected nearly 79,000 pounds of canned goods. One of its latest projects, Operation Veterans Appreciation, brings together nearly 100 students, alums, VCU faculty/staff, and area residents for a day of recognition and appreciation to veterans recovering in the Spinal Cord Division of McGuire Veterans Hospital. Other schools are following their lead and modeling their own programs after the VCU Alumni Richmond Chapter. This organization is much more than a group of former students – it is a group of ambassadors, organizers, energizers and mentors to their institution and their community.
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Miriam Farris
Story of Service: Miriam Farris
Igniting a Passion for Learning for Struggling Students Miriam Farris is an AmeriCorps member and tutor with The Literacy Lab - Virginia Reading Corps program at Elizabeth Redd Elementary School in Richmond. Redd is a Title I school, which means that a high percentage of its students come from low-income families. Miriam reflects on a recent experience she had working with a struggling student. "I serve fifteen students each day, some of whom are immigrants and English language learners (ELL)," explains Miriam. "My ELL students speak Spanish at home, and they rarely have the benefit of parental reinforcement when it...
Justin Hu & Shayla Young
Story of Service: Justin Hu & Shayla Young
When Lawrence Jia saw someone close to him experience a financial crisis and face homelessness, he was moved to make a difference. He had an idea that if you could create a resource to help individuals become better informed consumers, better investors, and wiser savers…
Sarahbeth Vernon
Story of Service: Sarahbeth Vernon
AmeriCorps State Member of the Year (Robert E. Wone Award for Exemplary Service) Sarahbeth Vernon, Virginia College Advising Corps, Charlottesville Sarahbeth Vernon serves the Northern Neck communities of Richmond and Westmoreland counties by advising high school students to develop and enact their post-secondary plans. Although she grew up in Richmond, she had several family members who resided in Northern Neck and was excited about giving back to this community. As a college advisor, Sarabeth provides one-on-one admissions and financial aid advice to any student or family seeking assistance; organizes group workshops that encourage students and families to consider, plan for,...
Averett University
Story of Service: Averett University
Congratulations to Averett University of Danville - winner of the 2019 Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Educational Institution! Service is woven into the fabric of Averett University. Averett’s mission is to prepare students to serve and lead as catalysts for positive change. The university’s Center for Community Engagement and Career Competitiveness (CCECC) is a primary example of their dedication to service. CCECC is an innovative program which serves as a facilitator for pairing volunteers from Averett, Danville Community College, and Piedmont Community College with local organizations such as God’s Storehouse, the Boys & Girls Club of the Dan...
Kim Martin
Story of Service: Kim Martin
Bruce Lamond
Story of Service: Bruce Lamond
Bruce Lamond is a second-year Virginia College Advising Corps adviser at Mecklenburg County High School, which just opened in 2022. He served in the Marine Corps for several years before graduating from the University of Virginia in 2022. During his military service, Bruce became passionate about youth mentorship, prompting him to pursue a degree in Youth and Social Innovation and to step into several student support roles at UVA. “I learned about AmeriCorps and VCAC in my senior year of college when an assistant director of VCAC presented on the program in one of my classes,” recalls Bruce. “As soon...