Newspapers / Philanthropy Journal of North … / May 1, 1997, edition 1 / Page 10
Part of Philanthropy Journal of North Carolina (Raleigh, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Volunteers 8 Philanthropy Journal of North Carolina Promoting voluntarism State summit to follow presidents’ conference When the Philanthropy Journal went to press, communily leaders from throughout the U.S. were con verging on Philadelphia for the Presidents’ Summit for America’s Future. As they prepared to attend the April 27-29 national summit on volun tarism, North Carolina officials already had tentative plans to hold a statewide summit this fall. “The objective is to have more people in more communities doing more things to help more people in need,” says LesUe Boney III, director of community involvement in the gov ernor’s office. Gov. Jim Hunt met in Raleigh with delegates from four Tar Heel commu nities who planned to attend the national summit. He hopes each dele gation will hold a regional summit this summer that will pave the way for a statewide session in the fail. As part of the national summit, four organizations in the state pledged to increase their philan thropic commitments; • First Union Corp. in Charlotte by 2000 win double — to 1.2 million hours — the time its employees spend volunteering. That will involve one-fourth of the hanking company’s 45,000 workers on the East Coast. • Glaxo Wellcome Inc. in Research Triangle Park will spend $15 million over three years to pro vide employee volunteers to tutor stu dents in kindergarten through third grade in reading and science; to recruit 1,000 college students in the Trian^e to serve as tutors and men tors in local schools; and to support schools and groups that emphasize school-to-work initiatives, higher academic standards, child health and teacher training for children with special needs. • Rex Healthcare in Raleigh will provide heat for 1,000 apartments and houses by 2000. • Communities in Schools of North Carolina, a statewide dropout- prevention program, will double — to 48,000 — the number of adults serv ing as mentors for at-risk youngsters. The national summit was sched uled to highlight 50 programs in the U.S., including North Carolina Public Allies, an apprenticeship program for young people. “The young adults in our pro grams are practicing a new style of leadership that brings together peo- Former President Bush and Gen. Colin Powell team up again to lead the national summit. pie and organizations, mobihzes their resources and strengthens the com munity for children and youth,” says Meredith Emmett, the group’s execu tive director. Delegations were selected to rep resent Asheville, Charlotte, Pitt County, the Triangle and the gover nor’s office at the national summit; Look for SUMMIT, page 22 Pitching in Volunteer works to prevent teen pregnancy By Judy Russell Burlington In high school, Stephanie Hyde realized that teen preg nancy was a growing problem for her school. Wanting to make a difference, she joined the teen-to-teen program of the Alamance Coalition on Adolescent Pregnaney Prevention. The program involves about 200 high school volunteers each year in a theater group. Students produee skits for other middle- and hi^-school students that deal with problems facing teens today; drug abuse, sexuality, preg nancy and AIDS. Teen-to-teen volunteers rehearse each Monday and Tuesday and perform their skits two or three times a month. The program reaches students throu^out North Carolina, although most of its performances are in Alamance county. Teen-to-teen will respond to ealls from anyone; schools, civic groups and churches. The troupe currently is planning a tour of Western North Carolina. Because of her experience in the program in high school, Hyde, 19, has continued volunteering for the coali tion after graduating from high school. Currently out of work and not in school, she volunteers 20 to 30 hours a week on a computer in the group’s office, and gives speeches at middle schools in the county on sex education. Hyde’s continued interest in the eoalition’s work comes from her experiences in hi^ school. “About half of my graduating class was pregnant,” she says. She saw students drop out of school, and some of her friends had health problems because of pregnancy Hyde wanted to be involved with the coalition because “I Uve in this eommunity and I want to help make it a better place.” The coalition’s major goals are to reduee the number of teen pregnancies in Alamance county and to assist teens already pregnant to become produetive members of soci ety. Its main program is the teen-to-teen theater group. In January, the coalition merged with the Alamance Coalition Against Drug Abuse to form the ACADA/ACAP Alliance. The merger took place in the face of cuts in finan cial support to both groups, and with the support of the United Way of Alamance County The combined group still offers its Workplace Alliance program that assists local businesses in putting aware ness and education programs into effect in the workplace. Call (910) 570-3351. Fighting hunger The Christian Coalition is lobbying Congress to adopt tax credits of up to $500 for anyone who gives time and money to nonprofits that help the poor. May 1997 A new phase Day care program helps kids ‘soar’ An after-school and summer day camp program in Jacksonville helps children achieve better grades and teaches them the importance of self-esteem. By Ashley Peay Jacksonville A few years ago. Market Street was so infested with drugs and crime that simply attending Sunday ser vices meant being accosted by deal ers in the church parking lot. “Now, chOdren and their parents are in the streets, the elderly are out of their houses and feel comfortable leaving their doors open at night,” says the Rev. Ernest Perry, pastor of Beth’ei Ministries. “People are actu ally moving into the community rather than away from it.” One group that has helped turn the neighborhood around is Project PHASE, which provides after-school tutoring and mentoring, as well as a summer enrichment camp for chil dren ages six to 18. Priscilla Dingle, the group’s exec utive director, founded the nonprofit three years ago after working tor sev eral years as a day care director. The group has worked with more than 450 children. PHASE — Positive Help Achieving Self Esteem — Is run by volunteers and offers workshops that focus on self-esteem, character, money management, nutri tion, goal-setting, decision making and motivation. Denise Conway Nixon, a mother of two who schools her 15-year-old son at home — from which she also runs a day care program — is astounded by her son’s improvement since he began working with Project PHASE two and a half years ago. “You know that old saying, ‘It takes a village’?” says Nixon. “I cer tainly could never do it alone and my son has made a complete turnaround and his self-esteem has just soared since he began working with PHASE.” Children must apply for the after school program, where they meet weekdays from 3 to 5;30 p.m. at the Phase Community Building on Market Street to work on homework, make crafts and attend workshops. Twenty-five children participate in the after-school program and 150 take part in the summer enrichment camp. ^en at a young age, the children know the program is good for them, says Din^e. Ten-year-old Brittany Wells, who has attended the after-school pro gram since it began three years ago, like the way it makes her feel about herself and her school work. “It’s helped me to get better grades and concentrate more on my work,” she says. “I’ve been able to get more B’s and S’s on my report card and have learned a lot about helping other kids and about self-control.” Eight-year-old Corey Eaton says he likes being rewarded for doing his homework by being allowed to make crafts and work on other activities he enjoys. Without PHASE, which is funded by the state of North Carolina and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation in Winston-Salem, these children would be on the streets, says Dingle. The program emphasizes learn ing rather than recreation. The goal is to provide youngsters with a foun dation strong enough to help them Priscilla Dingle founded the after-school program PHASE three years ago. overcome temptations such as drugs, alcohol, crime, teen-age pregnancy, peer pressure and dropping out of school, Dingle says. Perry of Beth’ei Ministries says, “The total problem is not solved, but I’ve seen an extremely positive change. The church looks at PHASE as a mission area for change. If we can’t change our community, we cer tainly can’t change the world.” Self-esteem, says Mikhala Dingle, the seven-year-old daughter of PHASE’S executive director, “means feeUng good about yourself.” Call Dingle at (910) 346-5254. BRIEFLY Smart Start supports voluntarism Durham's Partnership for Children has launched a new program aimed at recruiting volunteers to help serve chil dren's needs. The project, operated by the Volunteer Center of Greater Durham, is supported by Smart Start. Call Sarah Bacon, (919) 688-8977. Ronald McDonald needs volunteers The Ronald McDonald House in Greenville needs volun teers to run errands, help with special projects, fold laundry and cook meals. Volunteers usually work one two-hour shift per week. Call (919) 830-0062. Host families sought The American International Youth Student Exchange Program is seeking host fami lies for high school students from foreign countries. The nonprofit exchange program operates around the globe. Students will arrive in the US in August and return home next June. Volunteers needed for state games North Carolina Amateur Sports is looking for volun teers to help make the tenth annual State Games of North Carolina a success. The games will be held in Greensboro June 20-29, and include a 27-sport Olympic- style competition for residents of all ages and skill levels. Call (800) 277-8763 or (919) 361-1133. Schools program expands in Charlotte Support Our Students, a pro gram for at-risk youth, has opened two new sites in Charlotte with the help of increased state funding. The after-school mentoring pro gram is administered by the YWCA in Charlotte. Call Corsha Caughman, (704) 522-8510, ext. 219. Playboy Foundation seeks nominations The Chicago-based Playboy Foundation is accepting nominations for its 18th annual Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Awards. The awards program aims to educate the public about First Amendment issues and to honor individuals who have helped protect free speech. Call (312) 751-8000, ext. 2657.
Philanthropy Journal of North Carolina (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 1, 1997, edition 1
10
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75