Martin Novak was recently retired and looking for opportunities to volunteer in Northern Virginia when he discovered Volunteer Fairfax and their AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Northern Virginia program through a Google search. He applied to the program and recalls, "I was initially overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices of volunteer activities available. Ultimately, I settled on the four that I’ve gotten involved in: Farmers Market, Junior Achievement Finance Centers, providing music therapy at Insight Memory Care Centers, and Welcome Wednesdays at Volunteer Fairfax." A resident of Fairfax County for the past 32 years, Martin enjoys giving back to his community. He reflects,...

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...

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,...

Having offered years of service and expertise to Serve Virginia, Mark Fero recently concluded his term on the Governor’s Advisory Board on Service and Volunteerism (GAB). Mark first got involved in service and volunteerism in 1988 when Robert Eggar asked him if he wanted to volunteer and help him start the DC Central Kitchen, an iconic nonprofit and social enterprise that combats hunger and poverty through job training and job creation, which opened in 1989. Mark reflects, "Since then, DC Central Kitchen has became one of the most respected and emulated nonprofit agencies in the world, producing and distributing more than 4,000...

Trails to Recovery is a volunteer-led nonprofit that emerged in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene to bring hope, stability, and rebuilding to Southwest Virginia communities including Alvarado, Damascus, Green Cove, Konnarock, Taylors Valley, and Whitetop. The organization has spearheaded the construction of eight new homes and the repair of 95 additional homes damaged or destroyed by the storm, partnering with the Baptist General Assembly of Virginia/Impact Mission, Mennonite Disaster Service, and Storm Aid. Motivated by the needs of friends, neighbors, and even strangers, Trails to Recovery raised over $1.8 million, developing volunteer teams to restore homes, acquire land, and provide...

Congratulations to the SecureTech360 - winner of the 2020 Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Small Business! SecureTech360, a cybersecurity and IT consulting firm located in Springfield, has a small staff of less than 20 employees making a huge impact. Employees have committed to serving more than 300 hours mentoring students and participating in several walks to raise funds for a variety of causes. SecureTech360 has also donated more than $30,000 to several different local charities and provided more than $15,000 in scholarships monies to several nonprofit organizations dedicated to educating and serving underrepresented communities. SecureTech360 has made a...