Harvard Club of Southern California: "Harvard Serves" Volunteer Opportunities!

"Harvard Serves" Volunteer Opportunities!

Take part in Harvard's Global Month of Service this April by volunteering with one of our sponsored service opportunities in Southern California! Don't miss this chance to give back to your local community, while working alongside fellow alumni.

Get Involved in Public Service!

If you are interested in receiving more information about the "Harvard Serves" Global Month of Service, as well as updates and information about community service opportunities in the Southern California area, please join the community service interest group now!

For "Harvard Serves", our energetic local alumni have organized projects in 18 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.

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 contact person 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.

We hope that your participation with "Harvard Serves" leads to a rewarding and fun April of service!

826 LA, Venice and East LA    register
www.826la.org

When:  After-school tutoring, M-Th, 2:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Contact: Liz Ryan at 310-822-6042 or lryan.ryanworks@gmail.com
Drop-in tutoring, after-school workshops, in-school tutoring, support students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills. Hours, dates, depend on activity.

Barack Obama Charter School   register
www.barackobamacharter.org

When: After school tutoring 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM. In-school tutoring anytime from 8:00 AM to 2:50 PM.
Contact: Glenn Noreen at 909-624-7591 or Gnoreen@ingeniumschools.org
Website development, soliciting donated books to establish children's libraries, drop-in tutoring, after-school workshops, in-school tutoring, supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills.

California Native Plant Society    register
www.cnps.org

When: April 2, 2010, Malibu Bluffs Park, 2:00 – 5:00 PM
           April 4, 2010, Malibu Bluffs Park, 3:00 – 5:00 PM
           April 11, 2010, Tapia Park, Malibu State Park, 8:45 AM -  12 noon
Contact: Peggy Nguyen at 310-617-7436 or Peggynguyen@hotmail.com
Malibu Bluffs Park – help set up CA wildflower cuttings in vases (4/2). Take down the exhibit (4/4). Tapia Park, Malibu State Park – remove periwinkle choking native plant community.

Center for the Pacific Asian Family   register
www.nurturingchange.org

Contact: Peggy Nguyen at 310-617-7436 or Peggynguyen@hotmail.com
Range of community outreach activities – raise awareness of the issue of sexual assault

Global Education, Peru   register
www.globaled.us

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

Go Green   register

When: April 11, 2010 from 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Contact: Thania St. John at 818-784-1874 or VRMother@aol.com
LA River clean-up education, tree and shrub planting.

Knitting for Charity   register

When: April 18, 2010 from 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Contact: Thania St. John at 818-784-1874 or VRMother@aol.com
An afternoon of knitting/crocheting instruction with the proceed from projects made going to benefit charitable organizations.

Levitt Pavilion-MacArthur Park    register

www.levittpavilionlosangeles.org

Contact: Liz Ryan at 310-822-6042 or lryan.ryanworks@gmail.com
Seek volunteer concert management help for upcoming benefit concert. Marketing, printing, website creation, outreach into the Latino community, donations for silent auction are also sought.

Los Angeles Conservation Corps    register
www.lacorps.org

What: Tree Planting with the Los Angeles Conservation Corps (LACC)

When: Sunday, April 25th, 1p-4p
Where: Balboa Sports Complex, Encino, CA (just off of the Balboa exit of 101N)

Contact: Peggy Nguyen at 310-617-7436 or Peggynguyen@hotmail.com
Volunteers will work alongside LACC staff who are at-risk youth and adults involved in a job skills development program that emphasizes local environmental stewardship - beautifying and greening their own communities.  The trees will be planted at a City of Los Angeles park for all to enjoy.  You will be as inspired by the accomplishments of these youth as they will be by yours and your commitment to public service.  Come lend a helping hand Sunday afternoon with your fellow big-hearted alumni.  Gloves, hats, water, snack, and sunblock recommended.

L.A. County Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure    register
www.komenlacounty.org

When: 7 days a week, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Contact: Angela M. Sousa, Esq. at 310-650-0293 or ang.sousa@yahoo.com
Volunteers will work closely with the Director of Mission Programs to raise awareness about breast cancer early detection and treatment, as well as inform the community about our programs. We will work with volunteers one-on-one to match them to projects that will best utilize their skills and expertise.

Los Angeles Maritime Academy    register
www.lamitopsail.org/LAMI/topsail.html

When: April 10 and/or 24, 9:45 AM - 5:00 PM
Contact: Grace Cho at 310-279-0677 or Grace.cho@fox.com
Men and women of all ages and physical ability are invited to learn the skills needed to operate LAMI's fleet of tall ships and deliver the TopSail Youth Program message to underprivileged kids in our community.

Los Angeles Regional Food Bank    register
www.lafoodbank.org

When: April 10th, 8:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Contact: Melinda Hsu Taylor at 310.916.6140 or melindahsu@aol.com
Food donations serving nearly one million individuals in LA County. Either open or break down boxes, stock goods for packaging, assemble the individual boxes or carry the finished packages onto pallets. It's pretty tough work with a decent amount of reaching, bending, and lifting.

North East Trees    register
www.northeasttrees.org

When: April 17th, 2010, 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Contact: Stacy Cohen at 818-954-7438 or helps@harvardwood.org
To celebrate Earth Day 2010, Harvardwood is collaborating with North East Trees on the California State Parks Foundation’s Wetland Restoration Project at Los Angeles State Historic Park north of downtown LA & next to Chinatown.  We will be planting 150 native trees to establish a baseline wetland habitat that will eventually connect with the Los Angeles River.

Peace4Kids    register
www.peace4kids.org

When: Saturday activities program 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM, mentoring progam.
Contact: Liz Ryan at 310-822-6042 or lryan.ryanworks@gmail.com
Provides programs and services for over 200 foster and at-risk youth ages 5-24 in the South LA neighborhoods of Watts, Willowbrook, and Compton. Seek volunteers with legal, accounting, printing, public relations, or other professional skills.

Southern California Special Olympics    register
www.sosc.org

When: April 13, 2010 , LA/San Gabriel Valley Region, 7:30-AM - 1:30 PM
           April 17, 2010, Santa Clarita Golf Tournament, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
           April 17, 2010, Santa Clarita Aquatics Competition, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
           April 20, 2010, Cabrillo HS, Long Beach, Track Meet, 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Contact: Grace Cho at 310-279-0677 or Grace.Cho@fox.com
Los Angeles & San Gabriel Valley Regions: Provide athletic and exercise opportunities to individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Venice Community Housing Corporation    register
www.vchcorp.org

When: After-school study lounge, M-F, 3:00 - 6:00 PM 
Contact: Warren Adler at 310-289-2003 or Warren@DGA.org
VCHC works to maximize affordable housing and economic development opportunities in Venice and provide needed social services to the area’s low-income population. Volunteers are needed for study lounge, field trip chaperones, workshop facilitators, Young Professionals Board membership. 

World Child Project, Mexico    register
www.worldchildproject.org

When: April 3-4, 2010
Contact: Vladimir Manuel at 310-773-6030 or vlad@worldchildproject.org
Our project requires a two day commitment. We will leave from Los Angeles at 7am Saturday morning 4/3 and return on Sunday evening 9pm on 4/4. We will spend two days in Baja, Mexico building a greenhouse for the Casa del Paz orphanage, retrofitting a community-based school, and networking computers.

YMCA, San Gabriel Valley    register
www.sgvymca.org

Contact: Jay Chen at 626-534-3544 or jaychen@gmail.com
The San Gabriel Valley YMCA owns and operates two camps in Wrightwood, with over 80% of the campers coming from the county foster care system. Volunteers are needed to paint camp buildings and help do some general repairs and reconditioning, depending on the skills and abilities of the volunteers. Food and lodging will be arranged at the camps.

Zeitgeist Community Learning Center    register
www.zclc.org

When: After-school tutoring, M - F, 3:00 - 7:00 PM       
Contacts: Robin Diakhate at 323-299-2194 or robin@zclc.org, or Jake Phillips at 310-454-9604 or jake@zclc.org
Provides after-school and summer programs to elementary school children and families in the Crenshaw District of Los Angeles. Activities include homework help, technology training, science experiments, yoga, career and college workshops, educational field trips, and workshops for parents.