/
Change the World RVA
Change the World RVA
51943179760_66b5589290_c

Alex Vanik

Story of Service: Alex Vanik

Alex Vanik first got involved with service and volunteerism through Scouts, working his way from Cub Scout to Eagle Scout during his K-12 years. "I’ve walked so many paths as a volunteer," reflects Alex. "The most permanent impact I feel I've made would be my Eagle Scout Project. I worked with the PTO to raise funds, purchased materials, and recruited Scout volunteers to construct an outdoor stage at my local elementary school so teachers could use one of their courtyards as an additional classroom space." During his undergraduate studies at the College of William & Mary, Alex continued to be...
RICKETTSFRAN10131--C-CAP Director Fran Ricketts 10/24/2013 MATT ARMSTRONG PHOTO

Doug Monaco

Story of Service: Doug Monaco

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam has named Doug Monaco of Prince William County as Volunteer Fire Fighter of the Year. Monaco is one of several recipients of the 2020 Governor’s Fire Service Awards, who were recognized at an awards ceremony last month.  Chief Monaco, with the Little Fork Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company, has dedicated the past 48 years of his life to Virginia volunteer and professional fire and rescue services. This includes service both in volunteer companies and a 32-year career as a paid member of the Prince William County Fire and Rescue system where he retired at the rank...
RICKETTSFRAN10131--C-CAP Director Fran Ricketts 10/24/2013 MATT ARMSTRONG PHOTO

Lowe’s Home Improvement

Story of Service: Lowe’s Home Improvement

Congratulations to Lowe's Home Improvement of Glen Allen - winner of the 2019 Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Corporate Volunteer Program!  For more than a decade, Lowe’s has been committed to serving the communities of its customers. Through the Lowe’s Heroes project, employees adopt a volunteer project with a local nonprofit organization or K–12 public school. Since the inception of the volunteer program, Lowe’s Heroes have participated in more than 1,300 projects and have contributed more than $1.3 million in materials. Last year, 14 stores in the Richmond area teamed up to serve the Virginia Home for Boys...
MH

Maurice Huff

Story of Service: Maurice Huff

Maurice Huff credits his alma mater, Loyola University New Orleans, with instilling an excitement for service in its students, which led him to serve multiple terms in AmeriCorps. "My first AmeriCorps term was in-person as a wellness coordinator at a homeless day shelter in New Orleans in 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic," recalls Maurice. "My second term was virtual as a communications and social media coordinator for a K-12 reading nonprofit in Oakland, California." These two terms were impactful and memorable for Maurice. "I had an amazing experience both times giving capacity to a new organization and also building new...
Ria

Ria Badhwar

Story of Service: Ria Badhwar

Ria Badhwar is the founder of EmpowerNari, a nonprofit supporting women facing mental health issues. "Growing up, I witnessed the struggles my mother faced with severe depression and anxiety," she reflects. "This experience profoundly affected me, and in 2022, when my mother left abruptly, I too struggled with my mental health challenges. Through EmpowerNari, I’ve worked to address the lack of resources available to low-income women and teen girls in my community, where financial strain often exacerbates mental health problems due to the significant wealth gap in Loudoun County and the broader DMV area." To date, EmpowerNari has collected over...
RICKETTSFRAN10131--C-CAP Director Fran Ricketts 10/24/2013 MATT ARMSTRONG PHOTO

Cathie Cummins

Story of Service: Cathie Cummins

Congratulations to Cathie Cummins of Union Hall - winner of the 2018 Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Senior Volunteer!As a pediatric physical therapist for more than 30 years, Cathie Cummins has seen firsthand the needs that exist in the community for assistive equipment for children with disabilities. Recognizing that resources were limited and adaptive equipment was too expensive for many families, Cathie began adaptive equipment loan programs in both Northern and Southwest Virginia. After identifying a successful model and a statewide need, Cathy started Children’s Assistive Technology Service (CATS) which provides for the re-use of pediatric rehabilitation equipment...

What’s Your Volunteer Personality?

Pair your passion with purpose. Take our Volunteer Personality Quiz and find out which volunteer direction is best for you.