Stanford Alumni Day of Service
Together, one day can make a difference
March 27, 2010
Volunteer Events
Alumni designed 36 projects for the inaugural Stanford Alumni
Day of Service in 2010.
- Eugene O'Neill House Grounds Maintenance
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Organizer: Chris Symank, '93
All ages. Children require parental supervision.
Volunteers are needed for basic grounds maintenance work performed in the historic gardens of the Tao House in Danville, the home of famed playwright, Eugene O'Neill. The focus will be on habitat restoration and orchard maintenance.
- Beautify the Mural Music and Arts Project
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Organizer: Cynthia Liao, '09
All ages. Children require parental supervision.
Work in partnership with Mural, Music and the Arts Project in East Palo Alto to ready their new facilities for the services they provide to youth and the local community. Volunteers will participate in a number of beautification projects including painting, planting, creating signage, and light carpentry work. This project is presented by alumni of the program in Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity at Stanford.
- Clean Tech for Ravenswood Schools
9:30 am - 1:00 pm
Donna Winston, '04
Ages 12 and up. Children require parental supervision.
Volunteers will help clean out tech closets and computer labs, sorting which equipment is to go to electronic recycling and which can be refurbished and given to community members in need.
- Collective Roots Community Garden Work Day
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Organizer: Andrea Swaney, '06
Ages 8 and up. Children require parental supervision.
Volunteers will help with late winter garden tasks, including tending vegetables, weeding,
mulching, seeding, planting, and preping the chicken coop. Collective Roots is dedicated
to creating healthy communities through garden-based learning.
- Family Health and Wellness Festival
10:00 am - 1:00 pm (shift 1)
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm (shift 2)
Organizer: David Kennedy, '84
All ages are welcome.
The East Palo Alto YMCA is sponsoring a family health and wellness fair for the local
community and needs volunteers to help provide the talent and labor. Volunteers with
general skills are needed to help with health and nutritional education, information
distribution and health screenings. Other volunteers with specific background in adult
education, tax preparation, financial planning, or career planning are also needed;
the project leader will correspond directly with particpants about these needs. Bring
your whole family and your kids can participate in the kid's activities (including
climbing wall, face painting, arts and crafts, etc.) while you volunteer your expertise.
- Serving the Natural World at Hidden Villa
8:30 am - 1:30 pm
Organizer: Nora Sweeny, '74
We will plant, weed, mend fences, irrigate, mulch stream sites and do a thorough spring cleaning for this local preserve/nonprofit that uses an organic farm and wilderness to teach about the environment and social justice. The project will be led by Hidden Villa's horticulturist, William Dudley, '72.
- Flood Park Beautification Project with Students
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Organizer: Daniel Reyes, '02
All ages. Children require parental supervision.
Volunteers will work side-by-side with the students and families of East Palo Alto Academy Charter School for a day of service at Flood Park, adjacent to the school in Menlo Park. Projects include planting flowers, small trees and bushes, and aiding in other clean-up and maintenance projects.
- TLC for Elementary School Library
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Organizer: Cathy Siciliano, '96
Volunteers will label books in this school's collection, to help students participate in the accelerated reading motivation program. If time allows, volunteers will help organize shelves, and document missing books.
- Beautification of Wood Park
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Organizer: Lisa Lemus, '74
Ages 5 and up. Children require parental supervision.
Working in teams, volunteers will: remove invasive plants and weeds; spread mulch to minimize weeks; plant California native and Bay friendly plants; clean of graffiti; and remove dead wood.
- East Oakland Youth Development Center
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Organizer: Ed Goines, '88
Ages 12 and up. Children require parental supervision.
The East Oakland Youth Development Center needs volunteers to assist with the beautification of the center, including light painting, repairs and cleanup, and a discussion with youth on college and career choices. Lunch will be provided.
- Music Conservatory Spring Cleaning
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Organizer: Barbie Wong, '98
Adults only
The Oakland Public Conservatory of Music is in need of organizing, repairs and cleaning. The space is used daily for economical musical instruction, rehearsals, dance lessons and jam sessions. Volunteer for a day of spring cleaning.
- Sharp Park Beach Cleanup
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Organizer: Elizabeth Yin, '04
Adults only
A fun volunteer project for anyone who loves the beach, the outdoors, and keeping the environment clean. Volunteers will collect trash on the beach with the Pacifica Beach Coalition, who regularly organize events to keep trash out of our oceans.
- Family Fun Day at Palo Alto Opportunity Center
1:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Organizer: Maria Kaval, '98
All ages. Children require parental supervision.
Volunteers will help lead an "afternoon of fun" workshop for the children of InnVision, the Silicon Valley's leading provider of housing and services for homeless families and individuals. Tasks include reading, playing games and helping children with arts and crafts.
- Family Gardening Day at Stevenson House
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Organizer: Jamie Barnett, MBA '02 & Jeff Barnett, MBA '95
Bring your family and help seniors in the community! Stevenson House provides a safe and caring environment for a diverse group of low-income seniors. Volunteers will plant and tend gardens and build flower beds for the residents. This is a great opportunity to get your kids involved in service and teach them how valuable an asset seniors are to the community.
- Aquarium Spotlight at the Marine Science Institute
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Organizer: Marilou Seiff, '74
Marine Science Institute is a nonprofit organization that offers hands-on science and environmental education programs to Bay Area students. MSI is opening its doors to the public and needs volunteers who will be trained in the morning to answer questions as people handle and learn about the marine animals in the facility. Volunteers and the public will leave with a greater understanding of how we can be stewards of our local environment. Bring a sack lunch and an open mind.
- Supporting Preschool Literacy
2:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Organizer: JoAnne Wetzel '80
Ages 12 and up. Children require parental supervision.
Help the Redwood City Public Library by making flannel board stories (cutting, gluing, and decorating figures) for The Travelling Storytime. This public library program supports volunteers who read to preschool children in day care facilities and use these materials as part of their storytimes.
- Young Adult Job Seekers Workshop
8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Organizer: Tiffany Thomas, '02
Adults only
Participate in a workshop targeted to young adult job seekers in North Richmond. Volunteer tasks will include serving as breakout session team leaders, conducting resume reviews, and mock interviews. A work-attire clothing drive will also be conducted during the program. This program is presented by the Stanford Black Alumni Association of Northern California.
- Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve Habitat Restoration
8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Organizer: Michelle Jesperson, '97
Ages 8 and up. Children require parental supervision.
Participants will help remove the Purple Star Thistle, an invasive species in the area. Afterward, volunteers will be treated to a presentation on rare snakes and amphibians by Senior Resource Management Specialist, Cindy Roessler.
- Alemany Farm Community Workday
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Organizer: Katy Yan, '07, MS '08
Alemany Farm is an organic farm in San Francisco, dedicated to increasing food security and environmental education. Get involved by planting, composting and harvesting. This project is presented by Stanford PRIDE.
- All Stars Helping Kids: Read & Run
9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Organizers: Kristina Chiu, '06, Cliff Redeker, MS '05, Jimmy Caputo, '06
The event, at Candlestick Park, will introduce children (ages 4-7) to the importance of health and fitness through physical activities, arts & crafts projects, and more. Hosted in partnership with the San Francisco 49ers.
- Elementary School Rainwater Catchment System
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Organizer: Rashel Cordova '06
Ages 14 and up. Children require parental supervision.
Volunteers will help a local elementary school install a rainwater catchment system to help the school water their garden and plants. Tasks include carpentry, gardening, mixing concrete, etc. Partnered with Rebuilding Together San Francisco.
- Golden Gate Park Clean-up
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Organizer: Jeanne FitzPatrick Glennon, '63
Ages 15 and up. Children require parental supervision.
Come help beautify the park by pruning, weeding, mulching, and clearing debris. We will be directed by Park Staff and tasks will be aligned with volunteers abilities.
- Help an Elementary School In Need
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Organizers: Jake Wachman '06 and Elaine Theios '05
All ages. Children require parental supervision.
A struggling public elementary school educating disadvantaged youth in Potrero Hill needs volunteers to organize teaching materials in their Kindergarten through 5th grade classrooms and prepare new equipment for the school's edible garden.
- Mission Economic Development Agency Tax Prep
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Organizer: Rebecca Rangel, '01
Adults only
"Earn It! Keep It! Save It!" is a community project of United Way of the Bay Area providing low-income households with free tax return preparation assistance. Help greet clients or translate (Spanish) at a tax prep session at MEDA (Mission Economic Development Agency).
- Palace of Fine Arts Grounds Beautification
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Organizer: Terry Ou, '98
Children ages 15 and up with parental supervision
Participate in beautifying the grounds of the Palace of Fine Arts, including weeding, planting and spreading woodchips. Volunteers are invited to visit the Exploratorium museum for free after the volunteer event.
- Preserving our National Park at Lands End
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Organizer: Wendy Marinaccio, '00
All ages. Children require parental supervision.
Our volunteer day with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy will involve multiple projects enhancing Lands End, including planting native plants grown by the Parks Conservancy's own nurseries, weeding invasive species, and trail maintenance. Tools, gloves, training, water, and snacks will be provided.
- San Francisco Food Bank
9:00 am - 12:30 pm (shift 1)
12:00 pm - 3:30 pm (shift 2)
Organizer: Julie Whitcomb '77
Join fellow volunteers to prepare food for distribution to soup kitchens, food pantries and other locations that feed people in need throughout the city. Project tasks include sorting donations, repackaging bulk items, cleaning and boxing fresh produce and stocking grocery shelves.
- Supporting Homeless Youth At the Crossroads
2:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Organizer: Anne Geiger, '93
All ages. Children require parental supervision.
At the Crossroads is an organization dedicated to reaching out to homeless youth and young adults at their point of need and working with them to build healthy and fulfilling lives. Volunteers will help support this mission by preparing supplies that the organization gives to homeless youth during street outreach. Tasks will include preparing new clothing, making hygiene bags, cleaning messenger bags, and making birthday and congratulations cards.
- Keep Homeless Shelter Clean and Green
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Organizer: Sue Lempert, '52
Adults only
Volunteers will work with current residents of the County's homeless shelter to clean up and maintain grounds. The Samaritan House focuses on feeding, sheltering and providing free medical care for those most in need.
- Boozle Battle!
2:00pm - 5:00pm
Organizer: Annie Scalmanini, '11
Ages 12 and up. Children require parental supervision.
Help Beat Cal and make Boozle Bears, teddy bears that serve as unique education tools for families that are new to hydrocephalus. The bears have a shunt inserted in them, which is currently the only treatment for hydrocephalus. Sewing machines are also needed for the day if you have one. A group at Cal will also be making bears, so come join the battle!
- First Place for Youth: Career & College Exploration Day
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Organizer: Owen Frivold, '08
Adults only
First Place for Youth, a non-profit organization that helps youth transition to life after foster care, needs volunteers for a Career & College Exploration day on Stanford campus. Volunteers will be paired with a mentee for the day and will participate in various activities with them, including a tour of campus, lunch at the Oval, and a group discussion about the importance of a college education.
- Oak Habitat Stewardship
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Organizer: Ceci Evangelista Faul, '88
All ages. Children require parental supervision.
Activities will include removal of invasive species and/or planting of oak seedlings. Training will be provided.
- Preparation for Spring Planting at Full Circle Farm
9:45 am - 12:00 pm
Organizer: Julius Paras, '91
Full Circle Farm is an 11-acre sustainable, educational farm that is a community supported initiative. Volunteers will help prepare the garden (adults and children) and farm (adults) for spring planting. Tasks include planting seedlings, moving dirt and watering vegetables. This project is presented by SAPAAC (Stanford Asian Pacific American Alumni Club).
- Supporting Education with RAFT (Resource Area for Teachers)
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Organizer: Mo Lei Fong, '95, MA '96
Adults only
RAFT is a non-profit organization that provides educators with the tools they need to engage their students in powerful hands-on learning experiences. Volunteer projects include: unloading, sorting and preparing a variety of materials donated by local businesses and assembling and demonstrating hands-on learning kits.
- The Gardens at Heather Farm
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Organizer: Carla Preisler, '64
Adults Only.
Volunteers will help The Gardens at Heather Farm prepare for spring visitors. Tasks include preparing educational supplies for science based youth programs, exterior painting, and performing garden maintenance in the Native Plant Garden.
