INDIANAPOLIS SELECTED AS A SITE FOR NEW ACTION TEAM
Beginning in the 2007-2008 school year, Volunteers of America of Indiana will work with two area high schools to initiate Action Teams. Mooresville High School and Cathedral High School were selected partners for this inaugural year. The affiliates in Indiana and Volunteers of America Ohio River Valley will partner to work with players from the Cincinnati Reds in this initiative.
The Action Team, an expanding youth volunteer initiative created and administered by Volunteers of America and the Major League Baseball Players Trust, is training the next generation of volunteers. Action Teams of Major League baseball players and area high school students work together to inspire and encourage youth to get involved helping those in need in their communities. Through the support of Volunteers of America’s local offices across the country, Action Teams are currently at work in eleven locations: Boston, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York City, Oakland, Philadelphia, Portland (ME), San Francisco and Seattle. In September 2007, five more Action Teams will be added in Cincinnati, Houston, Indianapolis, Mobile and Washington, DC. To date, the Action Team initiative has inspired more than 9,000 youth volunteers to assist more than 38,000 people in need.
Action Teams, composed of Major League baseball players and area high school students who are selected to be Team Captains, work together to inspire youth to get involved in helping at Volunteers of America programs. The high school Team Captains work through local school districts to recruit other teens to volunteer in projects developed by Volunteers of America’s local offices. Projects have included sorting and distributing donated Scholastic books; reading to children and assisting teachers in day care and Head Start programs; serving meals at homeless shelters and senior centers; working at activities and events at our housing facilities; collecting food, clothing, gifts and other needed items for the people we serve; hosting holiday activities and many other projects. The model is flexible and designed to meet the needs of the local Volunteers of America’s programs.
On September 27, 2007 Volunteers of America of Indiana hosted Mooresville High School students Terry Rady, Taylor Grider, and Ashley Carr; and Cathedral High School students Kate Hendrickson and Blaire Rothberger at the Action Team Captain training conducted in Cincinnati at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. The training involved workshops from Volunteers of America staff and Cincinnati Reds Major League baseball players, Ken Griffey,Jr., Eddie Guardado, and Javier Valentine emphasizing the importance of community service, public speaking tips and leadership skills.
Sponsoring the Action Team is a great way to involve your corporation or organization in this exciting program for Indianapolis youth. Learn more about the benefits of sponsorship.
For further information on youth volunteerism opportunities, contact Sara Pugh at 317-224-2616 or via email at SPugh@voain.org