February is Love of Reading Month
Click here to view or download a suggested list of books for elementary school children.
February is Love of Reading month, a time to focus on the importance of literacy and education in our community.  To celebrate, Young Leaders Society is coordinating a month-long book drive for our partner, Project ACHIEVE thru Holaway Elementary School. Throughout January and February, we are asking Young Leaders to lead book drives at their places of business. Click here to view or download a suggested list of books for elementary school children. If you're willing to lead a book drive, please notify us at youngleaders@unitedwaytucson.org.
On Friday, February 15th, YLS volunteers are invited to read to classes and present the books collected to the children at Holaway (located at 3500 N. Cherry Avenue). Volunteers may sign up to read for half-hour sessions between 8:00am and 2:00pm. If you are interested in volunteering or have any questions, please email youngleaders@unitedwaytucson.org.
If you would like to volunteer, indicate what time you would like to come.
Reading sets the foundation for lifelong learning.
Thank you for your support!
____________________________________________
Volunteer with United Way Young Leaders Society
If you care about your community and want to make a difference in the life of a young person,volunteer your time and talents to help local after-school programs. Volunteering benefits the whole community:
Benefits for Youth
- Improve their learning and achievement
- Learn healthier habits, such as improved nutrition and physical activity and avoiding drugs
- Explore career opportunities
- Develop socially and emotionally by watching less television, learning how to handle conflict and by increasing their self-confidence
Benefits for Volunteers
- Make a difference in someone’s life
- Learn team-building skills
- Develop leadership and decision-making abilities
Benefits for the Community
- Receives volunteers who have specialized skills and expertise
- Becomes stronger and safer
- Experiences improved quality of life
If you would like more information about volunteering with Young Leaders, please click here!
How employers can get involved in after-school programs:
Employers have a vested interest in after-school  programs. After-school programs help develop a more-capable workforce by offering students new learning opportunities. They also assist employees with children who otherwise might have to leave early, leave their children at home alone or pay for childcare, thus increasing employee morale. Support of after-school programs also increases positive public image by showing that businesses care about the quality of life of their employees and their communities.
______________________________________________________
Past YLS Volunteer Events
In August 2007, Project ACHIEVE was selected as the Young Leaders Society’s after-school program partner.
Project ACHIEVE is a partnership between the Amphitheater Public Schools and the Volunteer Center of Southern Arizona. The program works with elementary and middle school students that are considered “at-risk,” both socially and academically. Homework help is an essential component of the program, and students also participate in arts and crafts, board games, outdoor activities and English language assistance.
Young Leaders Society will volunteer at special events with the program, such as Love of Reading Week, Thanksgiving and National Mentor Month. A kick-off event will be held September 12 at Holaway Elementary School.
Volunteers will read to children, conduct hands-on science activities and discuss the important of community service with kids.
Holaway Elementary has also received a grant to build an interactive wildlife habitat at the school, which will be part of a Days of Caring project on October 6. Volunteers, students and staff will work together to build a ramada and plant a garden.
_________________________________
Past YLS Volunteer Events
To view all photos click here
“Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them.” ~ Lady Bird Johnson.
On April 24, the Young Leaders Society participated in volunteering by read to children, and playing learning games at two locations in Tucson, Chapparal Middle School and Tucson Urban League. _________________________________
TUCSON URBAN LEAGUE
Sister Mary Anne McElmurry, coordinator of the Tucson Urban League/Project YES after school program wrote the following about YLS volunteering at Tucson Urban League:
."We have approximately 75 to 80 children coming to our program each afternoon. We help them with homework from school and we like to try and read with each of them for badly needed practice. Most of the time, we only get to half of these students due to the lack of enough tutors and volunteers.
Last month, the United Way Volunteers came one  afternoon and read to our students. We had about eight of them and OH! what a difference that made.
They talked to the students for a few minutes and then listened to or helped them to read a book of the students choice. A couple of the volunteers brought their favorite book, shared it with some of the children and then donated it to our library.
We got to every one of the students for the first time  this year and the children loved the attention and experience.
We were so grateful to these special adults who gave of their time and made a difference in each of the children’s lives they touched that day."
____________________________________________
CHAPARRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL
The Young Leader’s Society Volunteer Kickoff at Chaparral Middle School was a great time for all involved. The students especially enjoyed spending time with some cool new grown-ups and they appreciated all the different activities that they were able to try. One of the main goals of the Chaparral After School program is to provide a diverse learning experience and the opportunity to connect with caring adults. Through donating their time and energy, the Young Leader’s Society Volunteers very directly made a positive difference in our students’ day.
As you can tell by the quotes below, we really hope to have them back for another event in the future.
“The circuits were awesome.”
“Maybe if they’re not busy they could visit us next year.”
“I want to show my parents how good I was at the gyroscope.”
“Next time they come, can you take a picture of me with the circuit I built?”
“Is that dude with the bowling game going to come back again?”
For cooking, our most popular class, we were able to include more students than usual because we had a second adult to help teach. Both students and staff alike appreciated the new and exciting experiences brought by the volunteers. Thanks so much to the Young Leader’s Society!!!!!!
More volunteer events to come! Keep checking back and watch your email for details. Not receiving our YLS e-newsletter? Click here to sign up now!
|
