Mayor Dean Announces Seven Excellence in Volunteer Engagement (EVE) Recipients

57 Nashville-area Nonprofits Now Formally Recognized for High-quality Volunteer Management

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Today, Mayor Karl Dean announced that seven nonprofit organizations have been formally recognized for their high-quality volunteer management programs, and have received Excellence in Volunteer Engagement (EVE) certification. This brings the number of Middle Tennessee nonprofits that are EVE-certified to 57.

Excellence in Volunteer Engagement, the first such certification effort in the nation, was developed in 2011 by the Mayor’s Office, in partnership with Hands On Nashville and the Center for Nonprofit Management. The program seeks to recognize nonprofit agencies with effective volunteer programs and to encourage other organizations to join them in improving volunteer opportunities for the community. Dean recognized the recipients at an event this morning at the Center for Nonprofit Management’s office in the Trolley Barns/Rolling Mill Hill.

Mayor Dean commends the newly EVE-certified nonprofit organizations on May 2.

“I have always been proud of the strong volunteer spirit that Nashville has,” Dean said. “I commend these nonprofits for providing the types of meaningful volunteer experiences that engage the passion of our volunteers and put their skills to the best use in serving those in need. These organizations have also been important in increasing the number of volunteers in our city, helping Nashville achieve its highest-ever volunteer ranking.”

In early 2013, it was announced that Nashville ranks No. 14 of the 51 largest cities in the United States in terms of volunteerism, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service’s Volunteering and Civic Life in America 2012 report.

A Nashville Humane Association volunteer working an information booth at a local Farmers’ Market.

The seven organizations that achieved certification include Christian Community Services, Inc., Coalition for Healthy Aging at Vanderbilt, Nashville Conflict Resolution Center, Nashville Humane Association, Project C.U.R.E., Sexual Assault Center, and The Junior League of Nashville.

A panel of judges representing the community determine which agencies qualify for a two-year certification. Certified organizations showed effectiveness in specific areas of volunteer management, including a defined volunteer program with an identified, dedicated and trained manager; a screening process that aligns volunteers’ skills and abilities with appropriate tasks; orientation for all volunteers; and an evaluation process to affirm a volunteer’s impact on the community and agency.

Application is open to all nonprofit agencies in Davidson County with no restrictions on the size or budget of the organization and no application fee. EVE applications are accepted twice a year, and the next application period will begin June 4 with certifications being awarded in August 2013. Applications can be found on the Center for Nonprofit Management’s website, www.cnm.org, or Hands On Nashville’s website, www.HON.org.

Excellence in Volunteer Engagement is part of the Mayor’s Office “Impact Nashville” initiative, which Dean launched on Sept. 30, 2010, as part of the national Cities of Service movement. Impact Nashville directs volunteerism toward two top priorities, public education and the environment. Aligned with the goals of the Cities of Service national coalition, Impact Nashville strives to improve the impact of volunteerism across our city in four areas: the impact for those being served, the impact for the volunteer, the impact on the agency’s mission and the impact on our community.

About Hands On Nashville

Hands On Nashville’s mission is to meet community needs through volunteerism. For more than 20 years, Hands On Nashville (HON) volunteers have been addressing critical issues facing the Middle Tennessee community such as hunger, homelessness and environmental protection. In 2012, HON connected or referred more than 117,000 volunteers to service opportunities, making it one of the largest volunteer resource centers of its kind in the world. Offering more than 400 volunteer opportunities to the community each month at HON.org, Hands On Nashville challenges everyone to find a way to give back and to … Be the Change. Volunteer. For more information, visit www.HON.org or call (615) 298-1108.

Media Contact: 
Becca Wilson, Hands On Nashville
(615) 298-1108 Ext. 406, becca@hon.org

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Nonprofit Partner Spotlight: Sports 4 All Foundation

Adam getting ready for an aerobics class to begin.

It’s a little past 9 a.m. and Adam Holland is already jumping around, anxiously awaiting a dip in the pool. He’s learned that combining a strong kick with some hand pulls can really get him ahead of the crowd, and he can do it on his own. Swim class starts in an hour and and he’s proud to be a leader among over 20 of his peers. Adam is 28 years old and lives with Down syndrome, a disorder resulting in developmental disabilities that typically deter him from participating in activities similar to others his age. Thanks to Sports 4 All Foundation, he has no problem participating in sports and activities. Twice a week, Adam joins 20 to 50 of his peers, all people with various disabilities, in group exercise ranging from yoga to aerobics to swimming. He’s one of the most flexible people in the room and continues to motivate others with his character and excitement.

The aerobics class at Project Health brings over 30 participants each week.

Sports 4 All Foundation works to improve the lives of those with disabilities by providing equipment, programming, and education to enable full participation in sports and activities. But, of course, the organization would not be nearly as successful without the help of volunteers. Three to four volunteers often accompany a room of Project Health participants like Adam’s class mentioned above, having fun cheering them on and sharing new skills. Volunteers are also involved in planning events, working at events, and sharing information about Sports 4 All Foundation.

Austin Griffin, a Sports 4 All Foundation work study volunteer, comments, “I didn’t know exactly how to act or how to treat them, but I thought to myself ‘They are people just like me. We all have a disability of some sort. Whether that is not being talented at sports or not being able to sing any song on key. So just treat them as you would anyone.’

“So, that’s what I did. I was timid at first, but as time went on, I became more and more comfortable. I moved from just taking pictures and videos to leading parts of the class. Now every time I go to that class, people come up to give me hugs, handshakes, and high fives. Each person has their own unique personality, and it is a pleasure to see that every week.”

If you’re interested in getting involved, check out the Sports 4 All upcoming volunteer opportunities mentioned below.

> Hoops 4 Health 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament: April 27, 2013 

> Foam Fest: May 4, 2013 

Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities:
> Project HEALTH Coach

> Equipment Endowment Assistant

If you have any questions, please contact the Sports 4 All Volunteer Coordinator, Anna Dannibale at anna@s4af.org.

> Learn more about Sports 4 All here.

Volunteer Spotlight: Josh Angel

Josh Angel has a quirky sense of humor, is a big Green Bay Packers fan (he’s originally from Wisconsin), is a practicing Muslim, and spends his free time volunteering in the community with Hands On Nashville.

Josh with his daughter, Jailyn. They are all smiles! “We as individuals can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone,” says Josh.

Since he first got involved with Hands On Nashville one year ago, he’s racked up an impressive 60 hours of service, helping out the community at volunteer opportunities ranging from Helping the Hungry and Thriftsmart Assistant to Home Energy Savings projects.

“My first volunteer opportunity ever was serving dinner at the Safe Haven Family Shelter,” explains Josh. “A co-worker of mine at Asurion encouraged me to try it out, and I had such an incredible experience that I just haven’t been able to stop. Volunteering is kinda like Lays Potato Chips, you can’t have just one!” (See what we mean about the sense of humor?)

Josh has a big heart for helping others. In his spare time, he also likes to read The Qur’an, spend time with his daughter and his family, and try to live an honest, humble, and wholesome life.

When it comes to advice about getting involved and helping others, Josh encourages people who may be timid about jumping in to “just try and experience new things. Get involved with your community. Especially youth – they have such a powerful influence these days… So just get out there, and lend a helping hand wherever you can, because we as individuals can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.”

Josh says the best part about volunteering is the pay. (Ha! We love Josh’s jokes.) “In all seriousness,” says Josh, “the best part of volunteering is just feeling as if in some small way you’ve impacted someone’s life for the better. You’ve shown that there are still people in this world who care, who are concerned. Whether it’s a friendly smile, a warm embrace, or a hot meal.”

We would like to thank Josh and all of those who are so giving of their time, compassion, and willingness to help others. What an amazing community this is!

The Bear Hug that Reminded Me Why We Do This

By Elizabeth Madsen, HON’s Director of Nonprofit and Volunteer Relations

The group serving at Hope Lodge.

I work at a volunteer resource center – which is amazing and allows me to connect people who want to help our community to other people who could use a helping hand. What it doesn’t allow me to do is spend a lot of time volunteering. Usually. One of my roles at HON is to train and manage the dedicated Volunteer Leader (VL) corps. They are the folks you usually see at projects, making sure that you have the tools that you need, getting you signed in and generally making sure that you’re having a good time AND a meaningful experience. (It’s a big job, isn’t it?) Last month, I was blessed to volunteer four times in one week. The following is an experience I had at one of the projects.

Monday – Dinner at Hope Lodge

Hands On Nashville closes on President’s Day. We run around like crazy men and women on MLK Day, making sure that everyone else’s day off can be put to good use. By mid-February, we are all ready for a little R&R. I started my day off with a workout, then showered and signed into work email to make sure everything was running as it should.

There was an email from Keitha, one of the VLs for Dinner at Hope Lodge. She was emailing to let me know that a number of people were dropping out that afternoon and that she didn’t think we would have enough food for the Hope Lodge residents. She had already called Hope Lodge to manage expectations and was writing just to let me know.

So, I emailed her back, put on my sneakers, and headed to Kroger for brownie mix and veggies to roast. Several hours later, I had made three batches of brownies and two batches of roasted veggies. It was time to head out. In the rain. On my day off.

But, we had a great time. We had enough people and plenty of food, as it turned out. I was glad I went. It’s always nice to get out from behind my desk to see the service that we help make possible come to life. And then, it happened. I first noticed this young couple when we welcomed everyone into the kitchen to serve themselves dinner. They were about my age – I’m 33. They were staying at the Hope Lodge, a free place to stay for people getting cancer treatment who don’t live near Nashville.

It didn’t seem right. People my age shouldn’t be at the Hope Lodge. I put them out of my mind and continued on, making sure everyone had what they needed, bagging up leftovers, getting closer to a little down-time with each step. After all, this was my day off. I hadn’t planned to devote most of it to work. Finally, at 7:15 we were done. Keitha thanked us all and sent us home.

And as I walked out of the kitchen, the guy my age came over, wrapped me in a bear hug, and thanked me. He had expressed his thanks all evening, but this was it for me. My coworkers can tell you that I value my personal space. But as Alex squeezed me tight, thanking me for feeding him and his companion, I fought back tears. Six hours of standing, cooking, serving and cleaning disappeared and all I felt was thankful. I am thankful for my health and thankful that at HON we make these moments possible every day.

A native Texan, Elizabeth Madsen serves as HON’s director of nonprofit and volunteer relations. She helps HON’s Nonprofit Partners think about ways to engage volunteers in meaningful service work, manages the Volunteer Leader Corps, and sends you an email every time you sign up to volunteer. (Okay, fine.  A computer does that last part.) Elizabeth is training to complete her first half marathon in June.

Celebrating Corporate Service

Emdeon and its employees believe that doing good in the community is an important part of being in business. That’s why the company remains committed to providing opportunities for employees to give back through numerous charitable organizations’ events year round.  Emdeon employees lend their time and talent to schools and many charitable organizations including Hands On Nashville, American Red Cross, Second Harvest Food Bank, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

“Because Emdeon takes corporate service so seriously, we are honored to be a part of celebrating other company’s volunteer efforts,” said Susan Byrd, vice president of human resources at Emdeon. “We look forward to presenting the Corporate Service Project Award to one of three amazing companies: Advance Financial, Deloitte, and Schneider Electric.”

Emdeon is the Corporate Service Project Presenting Sponsor for the Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards.

Powering Volunteerism Through Innovation

First Tennessee employees are committed to empowering and improving communities across Middle Tennessee.  That commitment is best reflected through our investment of time, talent, and resources in innovative programs promoting financial literacy and empowerment, economic development, education, quality healthcare, and the arts.

“We support our employees when they volunteer because we believe that investing in communities makes our success possible,” said Doyle Rippee, Middle Tennessee Market President for First Tennessee Bank. “Great people build great communities, and great communities allow great financial services companies to thrive. That’s why we are honored to salute the finalists for the Strobel Volunteer Innovator Award, whose time and talent make such a difference: Andrew Bishop, Richard Patton, and Dr. Roy Thompson.”

First Tennessee is the Volunteer Innovator Award Presenting Sponsor  for the Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards.

Promoting Compassionate Care Among Young Volunteers

Most volunteerism starts from a small seed of hope and compassionate care. And from tiny seeds, abundant gardens can bloom. The Baptist Healing Trust knows that young people who volunteer serve as an inspiration to others, and can cause a great ripple effect in communities. The Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards’ longest-serving award sponsor of nine years, Baptist Healing Trust once again will honor youth volunteers at the 2013 awards luncheon.

“Each year, we are inspired by the young people nominated for the Strobel Youth Volunteer Award,” said Catherine Self, president and CEO of Baptist Healing Trust. “Each of them is driven to volunteer by a sense of compassionate care for those who need it, and serve as powerful examples for all of us. We are truly honored to recognize Youth Volunteer Award finalists Caroline Hoffman, Iris Levine, and Ben Rosenberg at this year’s Strobel Awards.”

Baptist Healing Trust is the Youth Volunteer Award Presenting Sponsor  for the Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards.

Giving Time, Talent, and Heart

Direct service is all about hands-on efforts that further an organization’s mission. For the past eight years, the work of the talented individuals at McNeely Pigott & Fox Public Relations has embodied the heart of the Mary Catherine Strobel Direct Service Award. Through the company’s generous gifts of time and expertise, MP&F artfully tells the HON story to media, volunteers, and other stakeholders, allowing HON to recruit more volunteers and make a bigger impact in the community. And HON isn’t the only charity that benefits from MP&F’s generosity: In 2012, MP&F provided more than 2,600 hours of pro bono service to 26 Middle Tennessee nonprofit organizations.

“We have seen the power of direct service and what it can mean for nonprofits,” said MP&F founding partner Mike Pigott. “We are proud to honor finalists for the Strobel Direct Service Award who are doing life-changing direct service work in our community: Colleen Dowd, Steve and Deb LaForge, and Richard Lloyd.”

McNeely Pigott & Fox Public Relations is the Direct Service Award Presenting Sponsor for the the Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards.

The Engine Behind Community Impact

C3 Consulting knows that teams are more innovative and productive when they are in an environment that is designed specifically to allow teams to gather, dream, plan, and grow. That’s why the management consulting firm opened the engine, a creative collaboration space adjacent to the firm’s consulting offices in the heart of Nashville. The space is used not only for C3 to lead teams through important change, but also for any professional or community organization to use for problem-solving, strategic planning, team building, and connecting.

C3’s strong commitment to the community makes it a perfect match for the Mary Catherine Strobel Community Impact Award. “We are pleased to recognize volunteers who make a difference in their neighborhoods by presenting the Community Impact Award,” said Beth Chase, president and CEO of C3 Consulting. “Rob Crittenden (1943-2012), Susan Hatfield, and Creely Wilson have made significant contributions to the community through their work, and we are honored to recognize their achievements.”

C3 Consulting is the Community Impact Award Presenting Sponsor for the Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards.

Volunteering Together for a Cause

When employees volunteer together to address an issue or benefit a cause, amazing things can happen. U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company (USSTC) and its parent company, Altria Group, have seen this first hand. In 2012, USSTC employees in Nashville built on their already strong culture of teamwork and caring by adapting toys for children with disabilities; building bikes for kids in foster care; supporting Metro Nashville Public Schools during Hands On Nashville Day; and more.

“Employees at Altria’s companies are committed to being involved in their communities,” said Amber Roos of Altria’s Corporate Contributions and Community Relations Department. “We foster an environment that supports our employees as they work together to contribute their time, energy and talents to our communities, and we are pleased to invest in Hands On Nashville as a Presidents Circle Corporate Partner. We are proud to honor all the volunteer groups who do incredible work in our community, and the finalists for the Civic Volunteer Group Award: Backyard Leaders, Maury Regional Medical Center, and Unity Build.”

U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company is the Civic Volunteer Group Award Sponsor for the Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards.