Harvard Club of Southern California

April 2013 is Harvard's Global Month of Service: 'Harvard Serves' Volunteer Opportunities

Last year, Southern California alumni shared their time, energy and skills to volunteer with 26 local organizations, topping all other cities’ participation. Come join the fun this year!

This April, Harvard alumni, friends and family are again invited to participate in Harvard’s annual Global Month of Service. Last year 230 local alumni volunteered, and this year, for the 5th Anniversary of "Harvard Serves," we hope to double that number.

Our energetic local alumni have organized projects in over a dozen non-profit organizations throughout our region, offering a plethora of opportunities to volunteer during the month of April and beyond.  Whatever your skill, and wherever your neighborhood, we’ve got a volunteer activity for you. Don't miss this chance to give back to your local community, while working alongside fellow alumni.

Please refer to the following list for an overview of participating organizations. To sign up for a volunteer opportunity, scroll down to the organization with which you'd like to volunteer, and click the "register" link to go to the registration page. Once you register, the event alumni coordinator will be in touch with further details.

For questions, contact Liz Ryan, LA Community Service Coordinator, at lryan.ryanworks@gmail.com, or 310-822-6042.

Come have fun doing good!

Scroll down further to see volunteer opportunities by any of the following wonderful organizations: 

826LA
Cabrillo High School Mentorship Program
Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock
Collective Voices Foundation
Community Lawyers
Global Education, Peru
Haven Hills
Harvard Tutors in the Schools
Homeless Healthcare Los Angeles
Ingenium Schools
Inside Out Community Arts
LALESA
Lange Foundation
Minds Matter of Los Angeles
My Beauty is Within
Pasadena Pro Musica
Santa Cecilia Orchestra
The Twilight Brigade/Compassion in Action

826LA: West (Venice) and East (Echo Park) register West or register East
www.826la.org

When:  After-school tutoring, M-Th, 2:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Contact: Rog Wong, 617-448-8233, rog3714@yahoo.com
Drop-in tutoring, after-school workshops, in-school tutoring, support students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills. Hours and dates, depend on activity.

Cabrillo High School Mentorship Program    register
http://lbcabrillo.schoolloop.com/

When:  Last Thursday of each month, 3 PM - 4 PM.
Where:  Cabrillo High School, 2001 Santa Fe Avenue  Long Beach, CA 90810
Contact: Ethel Laczko, 626-429-3138 or etheledu@yahoo.com
Volunteers will speak to students about their high school experiences in the hope that students will want to apply to college. Looking for Harvard, Yale, Caltech and MIT alumni.

Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock   register
http://cfaer.org/

When:  21 April, 2013. Arrival Time - 1:15pm; Departure Time - 6:15pm
Where:  2225 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles, CA
Desired number of volunteers: 10-13 Art Monitors; 2 Absentee Proxy Bidders
Contact: Patrick Koppula, 415.692.6845, patrick.koppula@gmail.com
We create innovative and multicultural art education opportunities through workshops, after school programming, and art camps. We produce six exhibitions per year and showcase over 200 local, emerging, and established artists annually in our art auction. At our April event, volunteers will act as art monitors during the silent auction. At the end of the auction, volunteers will help with the packing and carry out of artwork to winning bidders' vehicles. A few volunteers will also help with our absentee bidders (bidders who came in prior to the auction and filled out a bid-by-proxy form for select pieces they are interested in). Absentee bidder volunteers will then take the forms and act as the bidder during the silent auction. All volunteers will be given a run down with instructions prior to the auction.

Collective Voices Foundation   register
http://collectivevoices.org/

When:  Dates per consultation of volunteers and coordinator
Where:  107 S. Fair Oaks #327, Pasadena, CA. 91105
Contact: Wendy MCulley, 323-456-6561, wmcculley@post.harvard.edu
The Collective Voices Foundation aims to inspire the voice and consciousness of under-resourced youth through innovative educational programs in collaboration with teachers, schools, and community partners.  EVERY voice matters.EVERYONE has a value. Together…EVERYTHING is possible.

When:  Saturday, April 20, 10 AM - 3 PM or later
Where:  1216 East Compton Blvd, Compton, CA 90221
Contact: Eva Plaza, at 213-503-7916 and 310-478-6611 or Evisland@aol.com
The organization advocates for and provides free legal services to Compton and the surrounding communities.  We meet the needs of individuals who do not have resources to hire a private attorney. We need volunteers to help us with administrative tasks.   reorganize a more “open” environment to accommodate more clients, and perhaps take of sell old computers for us.  Please wear jeans of leisure wear and be prepared to help us move desks, books, and files.

Global Education, Peru   register
www.globaled.us

When:  Dates per consultation of volunteers and coordinator
Contact: Ethel Seminario-Laczko at 626-429-3138 or etheledu@yahoo.com
Write fundraising proposals, develop website, develop curricula, solicit book donations to establish children's libraries, California incorporation.

When:  One hour or more/week during school year.  Time of day TBD.
Where:  32nd St. USC Magnet School,  840 32nd St., Los Angeles
Contact: Priscilla Heim at 310-472-4478 or priheim@verizon.net
Alumni are invited to tutor children K - 12 in all subjects. A knowledge of your subject and an understanding of children is helpful.

When:  Because of the nature of the services Haven Hills provides to domestic violence victims, confidentiality and safety are crucial aspects of the work.  There is no one particular date that we require for service opportunity.  Rather, it can be ongoing for the month of April (or even longer).
Contact: Amanda Shanks, amandashanks1@gmail.com, 205-612-9128
It would be great if volunteers can donate or collect donations from their family/friends for the clients of Haven Hills.  Haven Hills primarily serves individuals and families who are low-income or poverty-level who reside at our crisis shelter and transitional shelter.  The majority of our clients rely on public benefits.  Providing clients with supplementary food and household items such as canned foods, dried foods, other non-perishable foods, baby food, diapers, toiletries, etc. is a tremendous way to assist families to get through the month on what they receive in public benefits. Call for information on non-confidential administrative building located in Canoga Park.

When:  TBD
Contact: Michael Lehrer at 323-664-4747 or Michael@lehrerarchitects.com
Homeless Health Care Los Angeles (HHCLA) is a non-profit community-based organization founded in 1985. The organization’s mission is to improve the health of homeless people through direct services, education and advocacy. HHCLA operates several sites in the Downtown area of Los Angeles.  More than 10,000 homeless individuals receive services during the course of the year.

Volunteer commitment is up to one day. Volunteers will be working at our Skid Row needle exchange –harm reduction site distributing food and hygiene items to homeless participants, and will assist in the daily art yoga/social activities planned for the day.

Volunteers will participate in a morning of learning, sharing and art therapy with Downtown’s homeless community at Homeless Health Care Los Angeles’ Healing Arts and Wellness Center. They will fill baskets with hygiene essentials, participate in an art therapy activity and learn about the Healing Arts and Wellness Center.

When:  Ongoing opportunity for tutoring once or twice a week at 3 PM, seeking board members to meet third Sat. each month, 9 - 11 AM. Maximum 4 volunteers/date.
Where:  Ingenium Charter School, 22250 Elkwood Street, Canoga Park, CA 91304; Barack ObamaCharter School, 1726 E. 117th St., Los Angeles, CA. 90059
Contact: Glenn Noreen, gnoreen@ingeniumschools.org, (909) 624-7591
Ingenium Schools operates the above two elementary charter schools. They each have around 350 students. Tutors would tutor children one on, mainly in English or mathematics. The board member would provide governance services.

Any special skills required? It would be helpful but not necessary for tutors to have prior tutoring experience. It would be helpful but not required that the board candidate have governance experience.

When:  Friday, April 5,11 AM - 4 PM, maximum 12 volunteers
Where:  Inside Out Community Arts,  2210 Venice Boulevard, Venice CA 90291
Contact: Alison Forbes, 310-397-8820, aforbes@insideoutca.org
Through visual arts, performing arts and media workshops, Inside Out Community Arts promotes healthy interaction among diverse at-risk and underserved Los Angeles middle-school and high school youth. Led by specially trained teams of professional artists and high school age mentors, Inside Out bridges cultural, geographic, socioeconomic and differently-abled boundaries to support youth in creating and presenting topical theater, art and media. Our goal is to empower youth with the tools, confidence and inspiration to make a positive difference in their communities and the world ... from the inside out.

Volunteers are needed to help build, paint and prepare flats that will become sets for the students' final performance.

When:  Hours M-F 6/7pm to 9/10pm- and weekends. Meeting times vary as needed, however in the past we have met once every two-three weeks in person or group conference calls.  Seeking 10 volunteers in design development, 10 in fundraising.
Where:  149 S. Barrington Ave. Suite 908, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Contact: Sondra Burga, 310-486-2242, sburga@lalesa.org
We are dedicated to bringing innovative and modern design solutions to underrepresented areas of poverty in Latin America and the world that are in desperate need of new community structures such as community centers, libraries and clinics. We provide help with the design concept and design development phases.  LALESA is looking for a volunteer force to help the organization in two fronts: design development and fundraising.  As a young organization, LALESA offers a great opportunity for volunteers to develop their creative ideas freely. We encourage volunteers to bring new ideas and take the lead on implementing them in the project as they fit.

When:  TBD
Where:  2106 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West Los Angeles 90025
Contact: jackie Palumbo, 914-299-1366, Jacqueline.palumbo@gmail.com
Lange Foundation is dedicated to saving impounded companion animals, and preparing them for a journey to a new, safe, loving world. Volunteers are crucial to our organization. The Lange Foundation relies on the time, energy, and dedication of our volunteers!   We are looking for people who can walk dogs, socialize with the cats, and assist with the day to day cleaning, feeding and maintenance of the kennel. We also need folks who are willing to donate their time and expertise to assist in other non-animal or kennel specific work.  In addition to walking dogs or playing with the cats, our volunteers help with the mailings, donate their time at our adoption events, help with outreach to the community, write articles for local press, photograph events, create flyers and posters, organize supplies. Duties will include Dog interaction (walking, playing with, etc) + cleaning of kennel.

www.mindsmatterla.org/

When: Volunteer’s choice of Saturdays, during the school year
Where: Downtown Los Angeles on USC Campus
Contact: Leanne Huebner at (310) 721-6228 or lpyott@yahoo.com
Minds Matter of Los Angeles, winner of NonProfit of the Year 2011 by Los Angeles Business Journal, is part of a nationwide nonprofit organization operating in ten cities across the country.   Our mission is to transform the lives of academically achieving high school students from low-income families by broadening their dreams and preparing them for college success.  Over our 20-year history, 100% of our graduates matriculate to four year colleges and also significantly beat all odds at college completion and post-graduate study.   Our L.A. chapter is 100% volunteer run with several Harvard alumni involved.  We have a variety of volunteer opportunities depending on time, talent and interests; our biggest need is for mentors as we pair our students with two mentors each.

My Beauty is Within   register
http://www.mybeautyiswithin.com/

When:  Dates per consultation of volunteers and coordinator
Contact: Gabrielle Thomas, 323-549-9470, Gabrielle@mybeautyiswithin.com
My Beauty is a mobile, edu-taining and empowering experience for girls age 10-17. 

Pasadena Pro Musica   register
http://www.pasadenapromusica.org/

When:  Multiple dates possible, generally Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday evenings between April 8th and 30th, 7:30 - 9:30 PM, following a concert on April 7 at 4 PM (to which volunteers will be comped)
Where: 301 N Orange Grove Blvd, Pasadena, CA  91103
Contact: David McArthur, 323-533-6109 cell,  dmca @ ucla.edu
Pasadena Pro Musica is a 60-member choral group approaching its 50th anniversary, that performs both ancient and modern works with and without professional orchestras, mostly in the Pasadena area under the direction of one of the LA Master Chorale's most senior members. Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday evenings through the remainder of the month, as volunteers are available, will be scheduled with various Board members and long-term associates of Pasadena Pro Musica to discuss all aspects of optimizing organizational structures and long-term planning, and to address a variety of issues bearing directly on programs and services, staff leadership, governance, finances and fundraising, along with improvements needed in marketing and community awareness.  

http://www.scorchestra.org/

When: Sunday, April 21, 3 PM - 5:30 PM
Where: Occidential College, Thorne Hall
Contact: Leanne Huebner, 323-259-3011, lpyott@yahoo.com
We are a symphony orchestra with a mission to take classical music to underserved communities of color with a specific focus on Latino communities in Los Angeles.  We provide an extensive education program to 20,000 children a year in 16 schools. We need at least four volunteer with musical backgrounds to assist at tables for pre-concert program, four to help usher, and two to assist at mailing list table.  We do need a FEW volunteers with basic musical skills for assisting children on how to use and play instruments: strings (violin, viola or cello); woodwind (flute or clarinet); percussion; and brass (trumpet or trombone). When you sign up, please indicate if you have any musical experience and on which type (strings, brass, woodwind, percussion). As part of this event, volunteers are invited to stay and enjoy the concert to hear the beautiful music of Torke, Hovhaness, and Beethoven.  Last year's event was very fun for everyone involved.

The Twilight Brigade/Compassion in Action   register
www.thetwilightbrigadeLA.org

When:  April TBD, planning/staffing for April hospice training and  for May 29  charity benefit event
Where: West LA and Sepulveda VA Medical Centers, P.O. Box 84142, 11301 Wilshire Blvd., Bldg. 258, Room 106, Los Angeles, CA 90073-0142
Contact: Mitch Metzner, 310-876-4489, mitch@thetwilightbrigade.org
The Twilight Brigade is one of the largest end-of-life care communities operating as an independent agency within VA hospitals and hospice care facilities across America. As a national hospice volunteer training and veteran service organization, we have a hospice volunteer training event open to the public at the West LA VA Medical Center on Apr 26-28,  for which we need both help promoting, and volunteers. In addition, we hope volunteers can help staff our silent auction and other activities at our charity event on May 29, 6 PM - 9 PM at the Hollywood American Legion Post 43.