News and Notes:
*2010 CAN Softball Tournament School Supply Drive a Huge Success!
On behalf of CAN's Community Service Committee, thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you who donated school supplies and/or money this past weekend at the softball tournament!! We filled about 16 big boxes with everything from pencils to notebooks to backpacks. Your generosity was amazing and the kids and staff at Ketcham and Edgewood Elementary Schools are going to be thrilled at the number of items CAN's softballers donated. We very much appreciate all of your support and we hope to continue the school supply drive each year during the tournament.
The 2010 tournament's ceremonial first pitch was thrown out by Special Olympics/Best Buddies athlete Terrel Limerick and his appearance was featured as the "Power Pic of the Week" by The Cotillion, a new resource and membership organization. Click here to see it.
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Arlington Police, Fire and Sheriff 9-11 5K
The Arlington Jaycees are looking for volunteers to help serve food after the upcoming 9/11 5K in Arlington on Saturday, September 11. The race’s proceeds will benefit several 9/11 related charities, including the Fisher House Foundation, the Wounded Warriors Project and Operation Purple. What we know right now is that you will need to arrive at the hotel around 5:45 p.m. for a shift that starts at 6.
If you would like to volunteer, please contact Amy and Melissa and we will put you in touch with the Jaycees for more information.
Also, if you have any interest in participating in the race, registration is still open. The race begins and ends at the Crystal City Double Tree Hotel (300 Army Navy Drive). Check out: http://www.arlington911race.com/
National Book Festival, Saturday, September 25
The 10th annual National Book Festival, organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., between 3rd and 7th streets from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The festival, a celebration of the joy of reading for all ages, is free and open to the public. As of June 1, here is a list of authors who will be at the 2010 National Book Festival.
The 10th annual National Book Festival, organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., between 3rd and 7th streets from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The festival, a celebration of the joy of reading for all ages, is free and open to the public. As of June 1, here is a who will be at the 2010 National Book Festival.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver Challenge, Saturday, October 23
On October 23, Eunice Kennedy Shriver's legacy will be commemorated by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Challenge: a 20-mile bike ride, 5K run, 3K walk, Youth Fun Run, and a series of Criterium Friendship Races all hosted on the National Mall. In addition to friends and admirers of Mrs. Shriver, hundreds of Best Buddies participants and Special Olympics athletes are expected to take part in this recreational event that will celebrate Mrs. Shriver's love of sports and friendship. The day will conclude with an awards celebration and private luncheon at the foot of the Washington Monument.
Mrs. Shriver had one vision – to show the world that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) could achieve and thrive in society. Her vision and legacy live on through two organizations – Best Buddies and Special Olympics. To further ensure Mrs. Shriver's legacy lives on, Best Buddies and Special Olympics are partnering in 2010 on an event in the nation's capital, the inaugural Eunice Kennedy Shriver Challenge sponsored by Audi. Through this event, the two movements will build more communities of inclusion.
To start a team for your alumni chapter, business, church, school, or to simply sign-up as an individual, please visit www.ekschallenge.org or contact Participant Coach Ted McCartan.
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Community Resources
Adams Morgan Main Street Group: Goal is to enhance the local business area and preserve its multicultural dynamism. Strategies include coordinated design elements and beautification, targeted promotional activities, transportation improvements, and advertising to capitalize on the area’s singular eclectic, ethnic small business vitality. For more information or contact Janet Lugo, Executive Director: 202-232-1960.
Alexandria Mentoring Partnership-Mentors Needed
iMovie Mentors is needing to find 20-25 men to serve as mentors. For more information about iMovie Mentors go to: www.alexandriava.gov/imoviementors
Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless, Inc: Founded in 1985, The Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless (AACH) is a private non-profit organization that provides transitional housing and support services to homeless families and women in Arlington County and the City of Alexandria in Virginia. AACH is looking for volunteers for various events and initiatives. For more information, visit: http://www.aachhomeless.org/about/ or contact Katie Tressel, AACH's Volunteer & Community Outreach Coordinator at ktressel@aachhomeless.org. Also be sure to look for AACH on Facebook.
Arlington Jaycees provide young adults the tools they need to succeed in the areas of business development, management skills, individual training, community service, and international connections. Through the Jaycees, members have the opportunity to meet and learn from other creative young adults and expand their creativity skill-set by leading projects. For more information, click here.
Capital Area Food Bank: Founded in 1980 CAFB is the largest, nonprofit hunger and nutrition education resource in the Washington Metropolitan area. They are committed to uplifting those in need, providing the best services possible and helping those who are without the means to help themselves. Info on Food Drives contact the Food Resources department at mcglinchym@capitalareafoodbank.org and for info on volunteering or to sign up to be a volunteer contact volunteer@capitalareafoodbank.org or 202-526-5344.
College Bound: Become a volunteer Mentor! College Bound works with students in grades 8-12 in Washington, DC who are interested in attending College. Each student is matched with a volunteer mentor, who works with him/her for two hours a week at one of our four community based sites. We are seeking volunteer mentors who can volunteer during this school year, from Sept. until May. If you are interested in working with one of our promising youth, please see our website for an application (www.collegebound.org)or contact Ebony Lea at 202-842-0858 or info@collegebound.org.
DC Central Kitchen: DC Central Kitchen began its first phase of operations on January 20, 1989, redistributing the excess food from the Presidential inauguration. The Kitchen is founded on the premise that when fighting poverty, one must fight to win by using every resource available. Be it food, money, or people, we at the Kitchen hate to see wasted potential. Since its inception, DC Central Kitchen has used the kitchen as a central location to recover unused food, prepare and deliver meals to partner social service agencies, train and employ homeless men and women for the food service industry, and intellectually engage volunteers.
DC College Success Foundation: The DC College Success Foundation’s Hometown Mentor Program is looking for committed and supportive adult volunteers that value higher education and enjoy working with high school juniors and seniors. Hometown Mentors (HTMs) meet with Achievers Scholar Candidates (ASCs) at least once a month during their high school junior and senior years to develop one-on-one relationships. HTMs model positive behaviors such as integrity, punctuality, work ethic, compassion and open-mindedness and assist ASCs in navigating the tasks and the processes necessary to gain admission to colleges or universities. HTMs assist ASCs with the completion of college admission, discuss career and academic goals, serve as role models for students, as well as network with other dedicated professionals at trainings and special events. For more information or to apply to be a Hometown Mentor, please contact Brett Lowitz at (202) 207-1811 or lowitzb@dccollegesuccessfoundation.org.
Food & Friends provides nutrition counseling and prepares, packages and delivers meals and groceries to more than 1,400 people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses throughout Washington, DC, seven counties of Maryland and seven counties and six independent cities in Virginia. Food & Friends' services are made possible with the help of more than 11,000 volunteers annually who have fun while giving just a few hours on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis. For more information about volunteering you time, visit Food & Friends. or contact Abe Saffer.
Literacy Council of Montgomery County: Can you help promote literacy in Montgomery County? One out of eight adults in the county cannot read, write, or speak English at a functional level. The Literacy Council of Montgomery County (LCMC) seeks volunteers to teach adults to read, write and speak English. LCMC offers two programs: (1) Basic Literacy, for adults who already speak English; (2) English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), which offers conversational help as well as reading and writing instruction. The number of students receiving our services is directly dependent on the number of volunteers willing to serve as tutors. Currently, over 200 adults are waiting for a tutor; most will wait 6-12 months to get one. Our tutors provide free one-on-one or small group tutoring to adults who live or work in Montgomery County. No foreign language skills are necessary. Tutors complete an orientation session and a training workshop, where they learn a proven, easy-to-use teaching method. For more information, please call 301-610-0030, email
info@literacycouncilmcmd.org, or visit our website at www.literacycouncilmcmd.org.
Make a Wish Foundation of the Mid-Atlantic: A nonprofit organization that fulfills the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. The Foundation serves children who reside in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland and Northern Virginia. A wish fulfilled creates a memorable experience for a child fighting a life-threatening medical condition and gives him or her something positive to think about instead of medical treatments and hospital visits. Please note, to be a Wish-granting Volunteer, you must be 21 years of age and submit a signed Conflict of Interest/Ethics Agreement (annual) and have a cleared Background Check. To learn more about volunteering for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-Atlantic, Inc., please contact info@midatlantic.wish.org or 571-323-2117.
Miriam’s Kitchen: Since October 1983, Miriam's Kitchen has been serving people who are homeless in the District of Columbia. Every weekday morning from 6:30 to 8:00am Miriam's Kitchen opens for breakfast. Their clients receive a breakfast Monday-Friday including holidays and despite weather conditions. Miriam's has over five hundred volunteers that come in as individuals or groups, weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly. Volunteers cook and serve breakfast in the morning, sort food at the Capitol Area Food Bank, and help with special projects as well. If your chapter is interested in volunteering, visit http://www.miriamskitchen.org/ and select the "How You Can Help" link to download the Volunteer Application Form. If you have any questions about volunteering, contact Steve Badt at 202-452-8927 or email him at steve@miriamskitchen.org.
N Street Village, Inc.: A non-profit social services community founded in 1973 by Luther Place Memorial Church in response to the explosion of the homeless population after the de-institutionalization of chronically mentally ill patients. N Street Village is a caring community that provides a spectrum of services to meet the needs of homeless and extremely low-income women as they move to stable housing and maximum self-sufficiency. Every day we provide food, clothing, showers, transitional and permanent housing, mental and physical health care, and support to re-enter the workforce. Our primary responsibility is to help homeless and low-income women gain and maintain their highest possible level of self-sufficiency and satisfaction in their lives. To learn how your chapter can help this great cause visit the website at www.nstreetvillage.org.
Volunteer Fairfax: For more than 25 years, Volunteer Fairfax has been the heart of volunteering in Fairfax County. With a personal touch, we match the skills and interests of volunteers and donors to the needs of local nonprofit organizations, helping to build a better community through service. As a respected leader of community volunteerism, Volunteer Fairfax works to connect volunteers with more than 700 organizations. Opportunities are available year round but CAN officially participates in the annual Volunteer Fest in October. Visit http://www.volunteerfairfax.org for more or contact Emily at 703-246-3809.
Volunteer Arlington: promotes civic engagement and active volunteer participation to meet local needs and enrich the lives of Arlingtonians. We welcome the opportunity to help you or your organization become more involved in the Arlington community. For more information contact 703-228-1760 or EMAIL volunteer (at) arlingtonva.us.
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Together we CAN make a difference!
We are working to update the CAN web site with a variety of resources, both small and large, for your chapters to reference should you need help finding a community service project or group to work with in the coming year. But we cannot do it alone. If you are interested in joining the CSC or have suggestions for organizations to add to the web site, we welcome you and your ideas! Please contact us at commserv@dcalum.org.