Outreach Highlights: Explorability

Learn More About Explorability - Hands4Hope's Newest Outreach Opportunity!

Explorability is a special program at the Sacramento Children's Museum in Rancho Cordova for children with special needs and their family and friends. This event occurs on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month from 10-11pm. Volunteers will help lead various stations, help set and reset exhibits, and interact with the children! High School students are welcome to help with this outreach.

If you are interested in working with children with special needs, meeting new people, or just having a fun weekend experience, this is a great outreach for you! As a new event to Hands4Hope, we are always looking for more volunteers to participate in the event. We would love your help in growing the program as an outreach opportunity! For more information, please contact Yoko Kono at yoko@hands4hopeyouth.org.

2017 Ryan Christopher Hersh Scholarships Awarded to Six Deserving Youth

NEVER SELFISH, ALWAYS LOVING AND KIND;

THESE ARE MEMORIES YOU LEAVE BEHIND.

The Ryan Christopher Hersh Memorial Scholarship Fund is a fund that has been initiated by the grandparents of Ryan Christopher Hersh in memory of their grandson Ryan, who passed away at the age of 18. Ryan was an active participant in Hands4Hope for many years, assisting with food collection and distribution, homeless outreaches, and mentoring children at a local food and clothing distribution site. Ryan was a kind and gentle young man who served with love, respect, and an open heart.

In honor Ryan and his love of serving, his grandparents Nancy and Darwin Myers and Sharon and Dick Tietgens created this fund so that others may explore needs in their community and have the opportunity to take action in their own way, as Ryan did through Hands4Hope. “It means a great deal to all of us that Ryan's legacy continues. He cared deeply for Hands4Hope and its mission in our community.  He had such a profound impact on our lives, we are grateful to see that he can continue to positively impact the lives of others,” described the Hersh family.

The fund is designed to benefit youth in grades K-12 with financial hardships. A portion of the fund is specifically designated for scholarships for youth wanting to participate and serve in Hands4Hope’s outreach programs by paying the cost of registration. In addition, funds are available to be used for other summer camp scholarships that allow young people to be able to explore their own strengths, whether it be sports, art, music, leadership, or something else, through local summer camps. Recipients of the scholarships are chosen through an application process by the Ryan Christopher Hersh Scholarship Committee. .

“We truly hope that all the recipients cherish their camp experiences.  Most importantly, we hope they have the opportunity to enrich their lives and grow from the experiences they all have,” the Hersh’s furthered.

Emma Burrows, the Ryan Christopher Hersh Scholarship Committee Chair, explained this year’s successes with the Ryan Christopher Hersh Scholarship. “The Committee set a budget of $2,000 to $2,500 that we felt comfortable taking from the account.  With these funds, we were able to assist 6 youth in attending camps of their choosing. Their ages ranged from 6 to 14 with a variety of camps including a 4-H camp, dance camp, two selective football camps, and two all-summer day camps for children in a transition home.”

“The committee was very impacted to hear the stories of these applicants’ hardships as well as determination to enrich their lives.  It was truly an honor to be able to work on this committee in Ryan’s memory these past two years,” concluded Burrows.

Hands4Hope is proud to be the facilitator of this scholarship program. Please visit our website for additional information at http://www.hands4hopeyouth.org/hands4hope-ryan-christopher-hersh-memorial-scholarship-fund.html.

EDH Senior Center Crafts & Games Outreach

Once a month, a group of Hands4Hope youth and adult volunteers visit El Dorado Hills Senior Center to lead the residents in crafts and games. Anne Rhea, a regular adult lead for the outreach, described the event, “When we arrive at 3 p.m., it’s snack time, so the kids help the Senior Center staff serve the snack, then spend some time chatting with the seniors. After that, it’s time for some fun and games. Typically, one of the H4H kids is tasked with coming up with an activity that we can do with the seniors. Past visits have included finger painting, playing board games, and batting a large ball about with some foam noodles (this one seems like a very popular game).”

The Senior Center Outreach at EDH Senior Center occurs on the second Monday of each month from 3:00 to 4:00pm, and usually has about four to six youth and two adult volunteers. The youth are generally middle to high school aged.

Not only do Hands4Hope youth get the chance to lead activities and assist the activity staff, but, according to Rhea, something else happens when the volunteers interact with residents; cross-generational communication occurs, and youth and senior citizens come together through shared interests and hobbies. “Unlike some of the other outreaches that are geared towards providing basic human necessities like food and clothing, this more intimate outreach is about the kids spending face-to-face time with senior members of the El Dorado Hills community—talking with them and playing games [. . .] All the seniors we visit have various levels of dementia but, regardless, the kids figure out how to connect with them on a personal level. I think everyone involved gets something out of these visits,” Rhea explained. The outreach encourages sharing experiences that offer teachable moments to both the youth and senior center residents.

“I am awed by the compassion and caring the kids bring to this outreach,” Rhea explained in describing her impressions of Hands4Hope volunteers who regularly assist with the event. “One time a few months back, one of our volunteers was a shy-looking little girl. As we gathered before going into the activity room, I wondered if maybe she was too young for this kind of outreach where knowing how to interact with seniors with cognitive issues can be challenging. But she absolutely blew my mind when I saw her running one of the board games with four of the seniors. She was kind, patient, and joyful. You can’t ask for more from a volunteer.”

The Senior Center Crafts & Games Outreach is a regularly occurring event available every month to both youth and adult volunteers. If you are interested in learning more or getting involved with this outreach, please contact Yoko Kono at yoko@hands4hopeyouth.org.

Adult Lead Spotlight :: Cathy Simko

Our spotlight is on Cathy Simko for this month’s newsletter! Cathy has been a great help to H4H this year through her participation as an adult lead for the Oak Ridge Even Club’s Women’s Committee, her presence as a representative at Parent Advisory Council Meetings, and continued support of Hands4Hope through her daughters’ involvement in the organization. Read on to learn more about Cathy’s experiences with H4H.

How long have you been participating with Hands4Hope?
I’m not quite sure. Maybe 3 years?

Why did you join Hands4Hope?  
[My daughter] Madeline is the one who found Hands4Hope, and I became involved because I think it’s important to support your kids through the activities that they are involved with. Turns out, Hands4Hope is a pretty awesome group!

What outreaches do you usually volunteer with? Which do you enjoy the most?
To be honest, I volunteer wherever Madeline tells me to. I’ve volunteered at various outreaches and my favorite so far was the community cleanup day with Grace Network at Grace City.

What is your impression/experience with Hands4Hope youth?

It always impresses me how the youth are so willing to get involved in outreaches. I love seeing the impact the outreaches have on them as they volunteer in activities that are outside their normal life.

Overall, what has your experience been like since joining?

My impression and experience with H4H is based on the influence and impact it’s had on Madeline, which is immeasurable.  H4H gave Madeline the opportunity to develop into a leader through participation in activities that she was interested in. I remember the first time Jen called Madeline to ask her to help out with something.  I don’t remember what it was, but it had such an impact on Madeline; that there’s another adult out there besides her parents who believes she has talents and gifts to offer.  And that’s what I love about H4H; that it recognizes youth can do extraordinary things if given the chance and support to succeed.   

Hands4Hope Youth Board Collaborates With Sweet Dreams Foundation

Hands4Hope Youth Board hosted their 6th annual benefit event, A Brunch’a Dreams, raising money for their service project supporting The Sweet Dreams Foundation in their mission to “improve the quality of life for children who have been diagnosed with a life threatening disease through the creation of their dream bedroom."  

Nine members of the Youth Board along with another three ) H4H youth participants and  six Sweet Dreams volunteers designed a gymnastics-themed dream bedroom for a Sweet Dreams recipient, 7 year-old Reese.  

Welcome Mary!

Mary Riley is joining Hands4Hope as part of Intel’s Encore Fellowship Program and will assist us with our Human Resource needs, including creating training material for staff, adult volunteers, and youth leadership on diversity and conflict resolution. She will also work with us on leadership development and will act as an adult mentor with our Folsom-based clubs.

Learn more about Mary:

I'm a native Californian and graduated from San Jose State University. After college I was hired with Intel and worked in various Finance & Human Resources positions.  My last Intel position was HR Manager supporting Intel's New Technology Group (NTG).  Definitely one of the highlights of my career as I had the opportunity to partner with the Sr. Leadership team on various HR business initiatives. Overall, working for Intel was a great experience!

       

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, reading, and traveling. Some of my favorite vacation spots include: Hawaii, Barcelona, Italy, and Paris.

Throughout my life I've always been involved in giving back to the community, so upon retiring from Intel I expressed interest in doing an Encore assignment.  Intel connected me with an Encore Fellowship. I learned about Hands4Hope and was very impressed with their Mission/Vision, and all the great things they are doing in the community. They happened to  have an HR Encore Fellowship assignment available which aligned with my skill set.

I hope to learn from the Hands4Hope leadership team, lend support to help drive Hands4Hope goals forward, provide HR Consultation (as needed), develop training material, mentor youth, and assist with fundraisers. I look forward to meeting new people and having fun!

Sponsor Spotlight :: Gift of Kids

We would like to thank Gift of Kids Daycare and Preschool for their continued support as one of our sponsors.  The Gift of Kids offers preschool, daycare, as well as before- and after-school care from ages 6 weeks to 10 years old.  They have an advanced successful curriculum with warm loving teachers that care about the needs of our little ones.  They also offer field trips during the summer months for school agers and Infant care for moms returning to work.

Owner Jennifer Kelly says, “The Gift of Kids started as an in-home daycare in 1999 when I couldn’t find "good daycare" for my son and pregnant with my daughter.  My in-home daycare has gone from 8 kids to now 200 kids and a beautiful large daycare center with 32 wonderful teachers.  

I sponsor Hands4Hope because I believe in our community giving back.  Hands4Hope is local and works with all ages to show support where it is needed.”