Ripple
Fall 2016
Be sure to check out
our open volunteer
opportunities on
page 4!
Volume 7 Issue 1
Did you know?
RSVP now offers volunteer opportunities in four counties:
Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia?
Volunteering has never been easier and
more convenient, and volunteers have
never been more essential to shore up
needs in local communities.
Even an hour from your office to tutor
an algebra student virtually or an hour
during the weekend to shop for a
senior makes a huge difference.
www.rsvpmc.org
In This Issue
Programs Expanding. . . . . . . 1
Staff Directory,
Welcome Staff,
Welcome Board . . . . . . . . . . 2
Letter from ED,
Board Directory . . . . . . . . . . 3
Learn about Volunteer
Opportunities. . . . . . . . . . . . 4
11th Annual 5K . . . . . . . . . . 5
Meet our Corporate
Partner Sponsors. . . . . . . . . . 6
We THANK our Donors . . . 7
Giving Tuesday &
Feedback from Two
New Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . 8
If you are currently a volunteer you
know how great the needs are and you
know how profound the feeling of
Disadvantaged Head Start Start preschoolers show
satisfaction is that you come away with.
off their new gift books
Volunteers are the backbone of strong
communities. Volunteers recognize they, through the power of one, can help change and
improve lives. We salute you for your dedication and effort!
Whether you tutor a child struggling with reading, help a senior unable to get to critical
doctor appointments, step up to help an at-risk student waiting for a mentor, give time to
a local nonprofit providing crucial services to their communities, tutor students or veterans
virtually in algebra ensuring they can advance, deliver warm meals and a friendly smile to
a homebound senior, tutor an adult struggling with literacy, counsel seniors on the most
affordable and comprehensive Medicare coverage, provide capacity building counseling to
local agencies or read storybooks to wide-eyed preschoolers helping to launch their journey
into literacy and success, you know how much your time matters. Every moment you
dedicate helps strengthen someone’s ability to succeed.
And here’s the proof!!
“I learned more from my volunteer in two weeks than I learned in three years in high school.”
Adult Literacy program participant
“I love having someone I can talk to without being judged. My
mentor is very optimistic and that’s a trait I’d like to have.”
Mentored student
“When Joe brings his books home he shares them with his brothers
and sisters and they all read together.”
Parent of Head Start preschooler
“I can’t begin to express how grateful I am for the time and
friendship my volunteer provides me with.”
Homebound senior
Why not tell a friend about your undeniable role in
improving lives and making a difference.
Help on Call volunteer shops
for groceries
RSVP Staff
Directory
To contact a staff member call (610)
834-1040 and dial the extension or
send us an email by using the entire first
name and the first initial of the last name
@rsvpmc.org unless otherwise noted.
Visit us online at www.rsvpmc.org
Jacqui Baxter
Director of Community
Engagement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ext 24
[email protected]
Margaret Brenner
Community Links
Coordinator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ext 12
Ruth Cella
VEC Program Manager . . . . . . . . . . ext 35
Marguerite Cunning
Volunteer Coordinator. . . . . . . . . . . ext 10
Barbara Fitzgerald
Development Coordinator. . . . . . . . ext 13
Mo Ganey
Special Events/Promotions
Coordinator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ext 30
Tony Giunta
Director of Operations. . . . . . . . . . . ext 17
Janis Glusman
Family & Adult Literacy. . . . . . . . . . ext 16
Judith Mantle
Bookkeeper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ext 36
Jane McGowan
Development Associate. . . . . . . . . . ext 38
Michele Moll
Executive Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ext 14
[email protected]
William Paraskewik
My Free Tutor Support. . . . . . . . . . . ext 32
[email protected]
Sandra Rollins
Literacy Program Coordinator. . . . ext 37
Ruth Saks
Protégé Coordinator. . . . . . . . . . . . . ext 21
Marion Silver
America Reads Coordinator. . . . . . ext 27
Jane Storman
Links Program Support
Assistant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ext 28
Maria Strohl
HOC Coordinator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ext 29
Anabella Tracy
My Free Tutor Program
Coordinator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ext 26
[email protected]
Donna Uhler
Apprise Coordinator. . . . . . . . . . . . . ext 20
Tina Weaver
PR/Communications Manager. . . . ext 23
2
Welcome New Staff
Mo Ganey, Special Events/Promotions Coordinator
Mo brings 18 years of experience in not-for-profit program
development. She designed greeting cards for 25 years and produced
That’s So Philly – a site that showcases teen musical talent.
Anabella Tracy, My Free Tutor Program Coordinator
Anabella joins RSVP with over ten years of program management
experience in the field of social enterprise. She has a background in Child
Development and Entrepreneurship, and is excited to use her unique skill
set to grow and cultivate new and existing partnerships for our program.”
Jane Storman, Links Program Support Assistant
Jane joins RSVP to promote RSVP programs and recruit volunteers.
She has spent 45 years in the Senior Care arena developing
relationships with people, her passion. She held several different roles in
Geriatrics Case Management & Director of Provider Relations in both
Pennsylvania and New York (her home town).
Welcome on Board
Kyonia Mitchum joined the board in January 2016. She brings a
wealth of experience in business development and marketing. She
presently serves as an ambassador of Citadel Bank extending public
relation opportunities in communities such as Phoenixville, Exton
and Montgomery Chamber of Commerce. Kyonia graduated
from Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Business
Administration/Marketing and Management.
Jolie Karp joined the board in September 2015. Jolie is a CPA
and partner at Stephano Slack LLC. She is an active participant on
our Audit Committee and joined the board because she wants to
help support community efforts through volunteerism, focused on
helping our most vulnerable populations.
Save the Date
for our 2017 5K – October 1, 2017!
of Montgomery County
Greetings from the Executive Director
Dear Friends,
President................................. Ron Gawel
Vice President.......................Robert Leib
Secretary....................... Noah Borenstein
Treasurer......................... Richard Singer
Assistant Treasurer..........Ron Williford
Past President........................Alan Kober
It was a great year; it was a busy year.
In the coming weeks, you will receive our Annual Impact Report.
Please take a moment to read about the impact your support has
provided. Without you, our services would not have been able to
reach the most vulnerable groups we target with support.
BOARD MEMBERS
I invite you to follow our accomplishments on our Facebook page (@RSVPvolunteer,) and
volunteer to help in programs where support is desperately needed, participate in our surveys
so we know the human impact of service, make a donation – if you can, sign up for our
E-Newsletter so we can update you on the great things we are doing and bring a friend to a
Volunteer Information Session to help spread the word!
Here are just a few of the things we have accomplished together. Thank you!
9,000 Children, adults
and the elderly benefited from
RSVP programs
4,425 children have
a chance to succeed due
to program participation
2016 Board
of Directors
5,000 books were
purchased and distributed
to disadvantaged Head Start
preschool students
Michele Moll
of Montgomery County
Michael Carney
Brooke Cheston
Walter Fisher, Jr.
Durante Footman
Linda Gedney
John Heiberger, Jr.
Deborah Hong, Esq.
Jolie Karp
Donna Middleton
Kyonia Mitchum
Robert Perkinson
Bernard Roseman, Esq.
Barbara Rutberg
Martha Simelaro
Jim Szakacs
ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
Ron Gawel
Gordon Lawrence (discontinued mid-year)
Sandy Thomas
Oscar Vance (discontinued mid-year)
3
Where
Volunteers
are Needed
Most:
Even 15
Minutes Can
Change the
World!
Chester County:
• Reading coaches needed
for elementary school
students
• Meals-on-Wheels drivers
and packers
• STEM and other career
exploration presenters
• Virtual math tutors (great
for corporate employees)
• Management assistance for
nonprofits
Delaware County:
• Reading coaches needed
for elementary school
students
• Management assistance for
nonprofits
• Read to preschool children
• Food Pantry and Mealson-Wheels
• Virtual math tutors
• Adult Literacy tutors
• Medicare Counselors
• Tax preparers through
VITA
• Thrift shop staff
• Blood drive assistants
Montgomery County:
• Tax preparers
• Virtual math tutors
• In-home senior assistance
• Mentors
Philadelphia:
• Read to preschool children
• STEM and other career
exploration presenters
• Virtual math tutors
Learn about Volunteering or Share
your Experiences as a Volunteer
Limited supply of gifts available at each session to thank
you for attending! Aren’t you curious?
Bring a friend along and enjoy light refreshments as you learn about exciting and
valued opportunities in your community through our friendly information sessions.
Presentations provide an overview of RSVP, outline various programs and provide an
opportunity to discuss assignments with program coordinators and staff. You never
know what you might find!
Please check website for last minute changes & updates and please let us know if
you can make it!
Bala Cynwyd
November 3
and December 1
from 10:30 am Library,
to 1:00 pm
131 Old Lancaster Rd.
Blue Bell/
November 9
Wissahickon
from 1:00
to 2:30 pm
Eagleville
November 5
from 1:00 Lower Providence Library
to 3:00 pm
50 Parkview Dr., Eagleville
Eddystone
December 12
from 1:00
to 2:30 pm
Library,
650 W. Skippack Pike
COSA,
206 Eddystone Ave, 2nd floor
*Now in Chester County!
*Exton
December 7
from noon
to 2:00 pm
Exton Chamber of
Commerce (in Exton Mall),
185 Exton Square Mall
*Kennett Square November 30
from 11:30 am The Market at Liberty Place,
and December 14 to 1:30 pm
148 W. State St.
King of Prussia November 29
from 10:00 am 901 E. 8th Avenue, Suite 200
to noon
Kulpsville
November 8
from 3:00
and December 13 to 4:00 pm
North Penn United Way,
1715 Sumneytown Pike,
Suite 203
Media
November 17
from 1:00
to 2:30 pm
Municipal Center,
301 N. Jackson St.
Media
December 21
from 11:00 am Rocky Run YMCA,
to 2:00 pm
1299 Baltimore Pike
Pennsburg
November 9
from 8:00
and December 14 to 11:00 am
Upper Perkiomen Valley
YMCA, 1399 Quakertown Rd.
Pottstown
from 9:30
November 15 to 1:00 pm
and December 13
Pottstown Hospital,
1600 E. High Street.
Souderton
December 15
Generations of Indian Valley,
529 N. Second St.
from 1:00
to 2:30 pm Please let us know if you can make it by calling Marguerite Cunning, Volunteer
Coordinator (610) 834-1040, ext. 123 or email [email protected]
See page 8 for comments from attendees
4
of Montgomery County
More than 300 runners, walkers and their
families joined us for our 11th annual Run
Wild helping to support our children’s
programs!
All race day proceeds benefit RSVP’s children’s
programs reaching 4,600+ individuals
throughout our area by providing new gift
books six times each year to 669 disadvantaged
preschool students and
read-aloud workshops for
their parents; supporting 100+ reading tutors who assist more than
1,300 elementary school children. Several classrooms of local students
communicate with corporate pen pals to revive the art of letter
writing; 1,000+ disadvantaged students receive individualized virtual
math tutoring and interactive STEM career presentations to advance
learning, 40+ at-risk students are matched with long-term dedicated
mentors; volunteer tutors reach 1,000 youth as they support classroom
teachers, work as aids and presenters at museums, judge science fairs
and help juvenile offenders through a youth aid panel.
RSVP would like to thank and recognize our Corporate Sponsors:
Diamond: Citadel; Silver: Boomerang, Bryn Mawr Trust and KicksUSA; Bronze: AXA
Advisors, Elmwood Park Zoo and TagenPoint Consulting; Race Sponsors: Citizens Bank,
The Carney Group, The Gedney Group, PA Trust, Stradley Ronon and Stephano Slack,
LLC; In-Kind Sponsors and Donors: Herr’s, KIND, Starbucks of Plymouth Meeting,
Trader Joes of Wayne, Whole Foods of Plymouth Meeting, Wegmans of King of Prussia,
Wawa, Yorktown Dental Group, Norris Sales Company and the Borough of Norristown.
And a special thank you to the many dedicated volunteers, including RSVP board members,
students from Plymouth Whitemarsh High School and Ursinus College Phi Alpha Psi Sorority
who helped to make this a memorable and fun event.
(Top) RSVP’s Run Wild 5K Female
and Male Overall Winners. Heather
Hinkle of Gaithersburg, MD with a
time of 24:25 and Derek Reinhold
of North Wales, PA with a time of
17:54
(Above) Medal winners: Agecategories enabled 5K participants
as young as 6 and as old as 70 to
compete among their peers and
receive recognition for their efforts.
FOULKEWAYS AT GWYNEDD
Setting Standards of Excellence in Retirement Living Since 1967
Volunteerism is a way
of life at Foulkeways!
Guided by Time-Honored
Quaker Values
1120 Meetinghouse Road, Gwynedd, PA 19436
215-643-2200 • www.foulkeways.org
Foulkeways® at Gwynedd does not discriminate on the basis of race,
color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap or sexual orientation.
SELECT APARTMENTS NOW AVAILABLE
of Montgomery County
5
Our Corporate Sponsors are our Partners!
Together we are having a profound effect on the people in our
communities who need help the most. We salute these socially
responsible partners!
6
To Our Supporters . . . Thank You, Thank You, Thank you!
We are deeply grateful to the following foundations, corporations, government agencies, community organizations and individuals for
their support for the period August 1, 2015 to September 30, 2016. We could not exist without you! If we have inadvertently omitted
anyone who donated at this level during the time period please let us know and we will acknowledge you in a future RIPPLE.
Is Your Name on this List?
Leadership Circle
Annual Funding of $100,000+
Corporation for National & Community Service
Montgomery County Aging and Adult Services
Visionary
$50,000-$100,000
North Penn United Way
United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey
Patron
$20,000-$49,999
Philadelphia Foundation (Malinda R. Farrow Fund, Henry Griffith & Anna
Griffith Keasbey Fund, Jane Ann Krause Trust)
Advocate
$10,000-$19,999
Citadel Federal Credit Union • Claneil Foundation • Delaware County Office of
Services for the Aging • BNY Mellon Mid-Atlantic Charitable Trusts (Helen D.
Groome Beatty Trust) • Janssen Pharmaceuticals • Patricia Kind Family Foundation
• Pew Charitable Trust • The Charter Foundation • The Lenfest Foundation, Inc.
• The Nelson Foundation • VNA Foundation of Greater North Penn
Innovator
$5,000-$9,999
Child Development Foundation • DOW Chemical • Genuardi Family Foundation
• Skilling Trust • Sandra Thomas
Pillars
$1,000-$4,999
Accolade • Allstate Foundation • AmerisourceBergen • BARD Foundation •
Boomerang, Inc. • Bryn Mawr Trust Company • CCRES, INC. • Rosalie S. Cohen
• Corinne R & Henry Bower Trust (PNC Charitable Trust) • Elmwood Park
Zoo • Emergency Aid Foundation of PA • Walter and Linda Fisher* • George
Rentschler Foundation • Greentree Community Health Foundation • Ronald
Harrisonm (includes match from AXA Foundation and Karr Barth Assoc.) • Hyatt
House • KicksUSA • Jako Enterprises • Robert Leibm (includes match from USB)
• Louis Cassett Foundation • Maximus Foundation • Meridian Bank • Timothy
and Allison Merrellm (includes match from GSK) • Merrill Lynch – Bank of America
• Donna Middleton • Morgan, Lewis & Brockus • Paul Kelly Foundation •
Perkiomen Valley AMBUCS • Plymouth Township • Quaker Chemical Foundation
• SEI • Martha Simelarom (includes match from Lexis Nexis) • Stradley, Ronon,
Stephens & Young, LLP • Tayganpoint Consulting Group LLC • TD Charitable
Foundation • The Beneficial Foundation • North Penn Rotary • Wells Fargo Bank
Benefactors
$500-$999
Anonymous • Church of the Messiah – Belfry Bargains • The Carney Group •
Citizens Bank • Durante Footman • John Heiberger* • Bethany Holsendorff uw
• Deborah Hong • Harry Kahn • Jane McGowan and William Unrathm (includes
match from Exelon) • Robert Perkinson • Connie Richeym (includes match from
Verizon) • Barbara and Michael Rutberg • Samuel P. Mandell Foundation •
Stephano Slack, LLC • The Gedney Group • The Pennsylvania Trust Company •
Ron Willifordm (includes match from Allstate)
Sustainers
$300-$499
Antczak Insurance • Arbor Group • Stephen Averbuchm (includes match from
BMS) • Susan Bass • Ruth and John Cella • Alan and Mary Frankel • Friends of
Kate Harper • Judith and John Maines • Joseph Watson • Yorktown Dental Group
Friends
$100-$299
Mildred Abraham • Sam and Cindy Auslander • Thomas Bailey uw • Caris Balilies uw
Gerald Bapst • Joseph Benz uw • Marjorie Berger • Joseph Bohovic • Deborah
Bonk uw • Noah Borenstein • Patricia Braucht • Brett Webster Insurance Agency
• Jeanne Burd • Lynne Byckm/uw (includes match from Pfizer) • Brooke Cheston
• Joel Chinitz • Christopher L Rotz & Assoc. • Citizens for Greenleaf • Dorothy
Cohen • John Coleman • Dresher Dental • Ingrid Dressler • Maureen Ebel •
Paul Eitner and Denise Rose Roy • Christina Faris • Robert Field • Robert and
Susan Forman • Ron Gawel • Richard Getz • Janis Glusman • Phyllis Goldberg
• Goldman, Sachs & Co. • James Green • Marvin Greenbaum • Jerry Greiner
• Steven Handler and Cindy Solot • Robert Harries • Tasha Holland • Wendy
Hunt • Bernard Johl • Donald and Jacqueline Kahn • Harvey Kaufman • Alan
and Joan Kober* • Madeline Kohler uw • Ted Lafair • Dugan Lawrence • Gordon
Lawrence • Steve Lember • David Low • Lynn Marie Mack uw • Laura MellonWoelbl uw • Michele and Ken Moll • Mary Lou Reich • Eileen Roseman • Jeremy
Rosenau • Joan Ryder • Dennis Sprecher and Hillorie Applebaumm (includes match
from GSK) • Narasimhan and Sejal Srinivasan • Adelaide Sugarman and Martin
Greenberg • Richard Sundheim • Denise Sutton uw • Suzanne Scott uw • Bob T.
• The Carol H. Axelrod Memorial Blood Drive* • Francis Vithayathil • William
Zeuner and Courtney Doloway
Donors
Gifts under $100
Richard and Susan Ackland • Anonymous uw • Ruth Aschmann* • Judith Baca
• Marie Bade • Paul Barrow • Jacqueline Baxter • Judy Beck • Diane Becker •
Linda Belinski • Priscilla Belsinger • Arnold and Diane Bender • Renee Bernett
• Howard Brouda • Charles Brown • Thomas Brunner • Victoria Budroni • Sara
Burd* • Clarence and Rhonda Burden* • Regina Cafferella • Phyllis Carter •
Robert Cichocki • Alan and Harriette Cohen • Herbert Cohen • Randy Costin
• Marguerite Cunning • Sylvia Davis* • Theresa Deckebach • Delaware County
Community College • Bob and Doris Deporter • Arlene Dewalt • Tom DiEmidio
• Ruby Dinkins* • Mary Dolan • Michael Drennan • Jane Dubowchik • Delores
Dutill • Kathleen Eirich • Robert Eisberg • Lynn and Ronald Fegley • Judi
Field • Douglas Finkel • Carole Fisher* • Barbara Fitzgerald • Renee Fleisher
• Lore Foster • Pamela Friday • Ruth Friedman • Patrick and Catherine Galardi
• Winifred Gillespie • Anthony Giunta • Herbert Green* • Ann May Greene •
Lawrence Hausman • Dr. Raymond Heath • Marla Hexter • Anne Hipp • Joseph
Hochreiter Jr. • Marilyn Hosang • Arlene Hummel • Marc Jacobs • Andrea KahnKothmann* • Jolie Karp • Jenna Karwoski • Brenda Kaufman* • Charles Koenig,
V.M.D. • Legnola & Marcussen Chiropractic Assoc • Spencer Lempert • Jeanne
Lewis • Marian Lewis • Thomas and Maxine Livingston • Laretta Madill • Mario
Maiale • Jessica Martin • Wallace Martindale III • Judy McNeal • Jeff Michetti •
Mary Miller • Rhonda Miller • Millers Greenhouses • Martin and Linda Millison
• Ted Morse • Wesley O’Brien • Garrett Page • Phyllis Patton • Lynn Peay •
Sharon Pennock • Frank Pileggi • Donald and Joan Robinson • Ronald Robinson
• Sandie Rollins • Bernie Roseman • Nathan Rosenthal • Mary Ann Sabokbar •
Arthur Scherr • Paul Schick • Frederick Schuetz • Barry Schwartz • Michelle Serota
• Burt Siegal • Bonnie Silberman • Genie Silver • Richard Singer* • Barry Smith
• Thomas and Lori Snader • Jan Sortman • Charles Sowers • Laurence Spitzer •
Ron and Karen Steinbrecher • Maria Strohl • Asher and Maxine Stutman • James
and Marie Thompson • Claudia Timbo • Sandra Timinski uw • Al Tozier • Upper
Perkiomen Library Assoc • Jane Urban* • Kenneth and Judith Vail • Joseph Van
• Gail Vandenberg • Deborah Walsh • Tina Weaver • Joyce Weitz • John Welte
• Mary Weychert • Glen Williams • Stacy Williamson uw • Ellen Witman* • Steven
Wolaniuk uw • Nancy Zucker
In-Kind Contributions
Art Reach • Automobile Dealers Association of Philadelphia • Bala Cynwyd Library
• Kelvin Beckworth • Cabrini College • Community Partners Building • COSA
• Exton Area Chamber of Commerce • First Book • Generations Senior Center •
Giant Food Stores • Herrs • Jack Maines • KIND • Meadowood Senior Living
• Media Borough • Upper Perkiomen Community Thrift Shop • Upper Perkiomen
Valley Public Library • Upper Perkiomen Valley YMCA • Pottstown Library
• Pottstown Memorial Medical Center • Starbucks • Sunrise Senior Living •
Trader Joe’s • Trinity UCC Church, Collegeville • WAWA • Wegman’s • Whole
Foods • Wissahickon Valley Public Library
These donors doubled the impact of their contributions by securing a matching donation from their previous or current employers, donating companies are noted.
* These donors recognized someone significant with a gift in their honor or memory. uw These donors provided funding through the United Way Donor Options (#1993)
m
of Montgomery County
7
Electronic Service Requested
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
of East
Montgomery
901
8th Avenue, County
Suite 200,
King of Prussia, PA 19406
Southeastern, PA
Permit No. 335
Scan to check out our video
of Montgomery County
Mark your
Calendar!
Giving Tuesday is on
November 29th.
It’s our annual day of giving and will focus
on purchasing books for disadvantaged
preschoolers. Each $5 donation will
provide one book for one preschool
student. Watch for details in our
E-Newsletter or on our Facebook Page.
Please help if you can! Help spread the
word by sharing our Facebook posts.
Volunteer Information Session led by Jacqui Baxter
We asked two attendees of recent sessions what they learned:
“I was most inspired by the positive impact RSVP has in communities, especially the
Family Literacy program that reaches children who may not have the same exposure
to books as others due to economic or cultural barriers.”
Carmen Phillips
“I left the meeting impressed by the quality of information, level of engagement,
passion and collaboration of the members of this office. I was very happy for the
opportunity and am certainly looking forward to working with the RSVP team to
volunteer in a couple of their programs.”
Shila Roohi
see page 4 for dates