Community Service Committee
The mission of the Community Service Committee is to provide direct and pro bono service to local nonprofits in the greater Washington area.
Monthly Opportunities for Service
Monthly direct service opportunities for Yale alumni, their families and friends include:
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IONA Senior Services
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Fourth Saturday of each month
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Light the Night Walk benefiting the Leukemia
and Lymphoma Society
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October 22, 2011
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USO
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November 12, 2011
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Hope and A Home
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December 2011 (exact date tbd)
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Carpenter’s Shelter
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January 2011 (exact date tbd)
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Achievement Prep
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February 2011 (exact date tbd)
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2012 Yale Day of Service
On May 12, 2012, alumni, their families and friends will once again join forces to help local nonprofits. This past year, the Yale Club of Washington, D.C. partnered with Achievement Prep Public Charter School; the Animal Welfare League; Casey Trees; Cesar Chavez Public Charter School; Hope and A Home; IONA Senior Services; Ronald McDonald House and aWider Circle.
Nominations are currently being accepted for 2012 sites. If the nonprofit you recommend is accepted as a site, you will be expected to serve as a Site Coordinator. Typically, Site Coordinators duties include:
- Touching base with the contact at the nonprofit organization to introduce yourself and to confirm the details for the Day of Service (times, location, etc.).
- Helping to recruit volunteers for your site. Reach out to your friends, coworkers, etc. and use Facebook to recruit folks. Keep in mind that non-Yalies are also welcome to participate as volunteers.
- Participating in pre-Day of Service site coordinator conference call.
- Sending an email to all of your site registrants with logistical details for May 12.
- Arriving at your site early to make sure everything is ready to go, put up directional signs if necessary, set up a registration table, etc. (You will receive site materials in the mail.)
- Plan a post-volunteering activity (e.g. a picnic) for your site group. (optional)
To nominate a nonprofit as a 2012 Day of Service site, please email either Maria Vera, ‘08 at mariavera27@gmail.com or Vidur Sehgal at vidur_sehgal@hotmail.com.
Community Service Summer Fellowships
On Thursday, May 12, 2011 Dr. Susan Ascher and Dr. Paul Kalb (Law ’90) hosted a Benefit Concert featuring Top of the Seventh for the Community Service Summer Fellowship program. Each summer, this program places outstanding Yale undergraduates with innovative nonprofits for a memorable summer experience combining learning, service and work. The concert raised over $2,700. These funds were used to pay stipends to Amarto Bhattacharyya, ‘12 serving as a fellow at KIPP DC’s Will Academy, Rob Williams, ‘12 serving as a fellow at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop and Aditya Mahalingham-Dhingra, ’12 serving as a fellow at Iona Senior Services.
The tone for the evening was set by inspirational remarks delivered by Alison Gillmeister ’09, a 2008 summer fellow; Dr. Charlotte Hollister (’65 Graduate School), a host to several summer fellows and Amy Moore, the Director of Education and Programs at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop.
Alison Gillmeister spoke movingly about the program. She remarked “The Community Service Summer Fellowship program shows undergraduates that the alumni community exists, is active, and values service. I was proud to tell my co-workers that the Yale Club was funding my presence in D.C.” Gillmeister also expressed her appreciation for her host family who served as mentors and role models during her fellowship. “I am so grateful for the countless ways the Ascher-Kalb family included me in their family life.” Dr. Hollister encouraged other alums to volunteer as host families by reflecting that “Host families get more than they give from the experience. . . hosting summer fellows keeps (alumni) from living in a generational ghetto”.
Amy Moore explained the value of the summer fellow program to a nonprofit. “Our consistently positive experience with Yale interns has caused the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop to implement more internship programs throughout the year. In fact, the bar for internships and all volunteerism has been set high due to the caliber of students from Yale.”
The Yale Club of D.C would like to support four fellows next summer. If you would like to serve as a host family or make a financial contribution, please contact Celeste Bagley, Vice President for Community Service at Celestial1603@aol.com for more information.
Community Service Leadership Award
Beginning in 2009, the Yale Club of Washington, D.C. has recognized high school juniors from the District of Columbia Public School System for outstanding community service. On April 7, 2011, Brooke Young, a student at McKinley Technology High School, and Sophie Kerwin, a student at the School Without Walls received awards at the club’s Annual Reception. Under the auspices of Women in Film and Video, Brooke helped create public service announcements for Make Piece/Peace Inc. and Suited for Change. With guidance from the senior citizen’s organization, Double Nickels, Sophie collected stories from veterans at the Armed Forces Retirement Home for a theatrical production and book.
This year, the Club would like to recognize extraordinary community service by placing a high school student in a summer internship. The internship does not have to be with a nonprofit. If you can help us achieve this goal, please contact Celeste Bagley, ’78 at Celestial1603@aol.com.
Community Service Committee
