Organization: Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership – National Capital AreaMessage: HOBY-NCA’s (hobynca.org) purpose is to recognize and develop leadership potential in high school sophomores. Each public & private DC high school selects two sophomores, who show exceptional leadership skills and potential, to attend a three-day seminar this summer. Seeking energetic volunteers for a variety of positions.We have gotten at least 10 requests for more information on volunteering for the DC Chapter of the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership program from our listing on HillZoo — and several have turned out to be great assests to our program! We really appreciate being listed on your site.
– Suzanne Struglinski, Co-Alumni Adviser, DC HOBY
Advocates for Justice and Education
Advocates for Justice and Education, Inc. serves as the premier support for families and children with disabilities in Washington, DC. The mission of Advocates for Justice and Education (AJE) is to educate parents, youth, and the community about the laws governing public education, specifically for children with special needs. We seek to empower youth and parents to be effective advocates and youth to self advocate to ensure that children receive an appropriate education. It is also our mission to make the public aware of the consequences of institutional negligence of children with or without disabilities and to promote school accountability. This year Advocates for Justice and Education will sponsor our 3rd Annual 5K to support anti-bullying efforts and AJE’s ongoing work for children/youth with special needs in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.aje-dc.org
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf
You might remember Alexander Graham Bell for such accomplishments as say, inventing the telephone. If that doesn’t ring a bell (no pun intended), then surely you remember that in 1890 he founded the largest organization in the US focused on the needs of hearing-impaired children who use auditory approaches to communicate. AG Bell is looking for volunteers to help at their national headquarters in Georgetown. For more information, contact Elissa Brooks at 202.337.5220
Alexandria Jaycees
The Alexandria Junior Chamber of Commerce, or Jaycees, is a leadership development and community service organization for 21-39 year olds. This chapter is very active, and there is usually something going on four or five nights a week. However, they do not have any mandatory activities, so there won’t be an enthusiastic “Membership Chair” stalking you at home or overloading your ‘In-Box.’ You choose what interests you from the wide variety of things they offer. For more information, contact the Membership Vice President at 703.866.7171
Alexandria Volunteer Bureau
The AVB is an independent, nonprofit volunteer center serving Alexandria and the Northern Virginia area. AVB hooks you up with volunteer opportunities in the area that match your interests, skills and schedule (for those of you with bosses that call a 12-hour day a “half day.” They act as a referral source and clearinghouse for interested volunteers and the over 450 registered nonprofit organizations and programs that rely on their services. For more information, contact Kim Sheridan at 703.836.2176
Amigos de las Americas
No, it’s not a Mexican restaurant. Amigos is one of the oldest and largest volunteer public heath organizations in the country. Their volunteers work during the summer in communities, schools and health clinics in eight Latin American countries where they are invited to provide public health and environmental education activities. For more information, contact DC Amigos at 202.331.4999
Arlington Red Cross
A volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that responds to local and national disasters and trains others to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Everyday in Arlington County, we provide vital programs and services like: 24-hour disaster response and relief; health and safety education; emergency preparedness consultations; support to military families; international messaging and tracing; eldercare transportation; youth community services; and Spanish translations. With over 25 volunteering opportunities, there is bound to be something for everyone. Contact: Sally Cooney at scoonery@arlingtonredcross.org or call (703) 527-3010 ext. 735.
Capital Animal Care
Capital Animal Care, a local nonprofit organization, serves the animal and human communities of the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia. Our mission is to promote humane and responsible stewardship of companion animals in low income communities and to reduce pet overpopulation in the Metro Area. On September 20th, Capital Animal Care will formally launch the Capital Area Mobile Spay Neuter Clinic. The first of its kind in our area, the mobile clinic will offer subsidized spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations and other wellness services to pets of families with little or no income. Capital Animal Care is staffed exclusively by volunteers. In addition to veterinarians and technicians, we are always looking for volunteers to assist with clinic intake, distribute pet food to the needy, foster surrendered animals (dogs/cats) until adoption, and help out with special events. For more information, check us out online or contact Barbara Cozzens at bcozzens@capitalanimalcare.org or 703.920.1695.
Capital Partners for Education
Capital Partners for Education (CPE) works with motivated, low-income high school students as they strive to reach their goals of attending and succeeding in college. Most will be the first in their families to do so. By becoming a mentor, you have the opportunity to show our youth a window into worlds beyond their neighborhoods. Since inception, 99% of Capital Partners for Education (CPE) graduates have gone on to college, and an amazing 70% have graduated. We need your help—will you become a part of this success? CPE mentors help students attending area private high schools fulfill their academic potential in preparation to attend the college of their choice. Through weekly phone calls and monthly meetings, CPE mentors offer students academic and personal guidance, support, and companionship. For more information and a mentoring application, visit our website at www.cpfe.org.
For more information contact: mentor@cpfe.org; 202-682-6020 ext. 228.
Capitol Kids
This tutor/mentor program is a perfect match for the conscientious hill staffer with no time for volunteering. Capitol Kids, a subsidiary program of the World Kids Foundation, Inc., brings a group of third grade students to a Senate office building once a week for one-on-one tutoring. If you can give up one lunch hour a week, you can make a difference in a child’s life. For more information, please call Elizabeth Collier at 202.224.8818.
College Bound
Since 1991, College Bound has served hundreds of public school students in a tutoring/mentoring program, awarded college scholarships, and boasts a 95% college matriculation rate for College Bound scholarship students. College Bound is proud of its history of making students’ needs our #1 priority. Currently, College Bound meets at four different sites: Gonzaga High School on Monday nights, Cesar Chavez Public Charter School on Wednesday nights, and St.Matthew’s Baptist Church, and Beacon House on Thursday nights. These tutoring/mentoring sessions meet from 6-8 pm (or 6:30-8:30 pm) and are designed to keep our students focused on what it takes to prepare for, apply for, and attend college. College Bound pairs each of their 140 DC public school students with volunteer mentors who help the youth with their homework and SAT preparation. For more info, visit the website or call 202.842.0858.
Davis Memorial Goodwill Industries
Since 1935, Davis Memorial Goodwill Industries has served the District of Columbia, southern Maryland, and northern Virginia. Each year, they serve thousands of Washington area residents with disabilities and barriers to employment. You can help provide these individuals with the opportunity to learn, work, earn and become contributing members of the community. For more information, contact Judy Sklar at 202.715.2611.
DC Habitat for Humanity
It’s Hammer Time (without the obnoxious pants)! DC Habitat for Humanity builds affordable homes with people in need in partnership with the greater DC community. DC Habitat sells homes to families who are ineligible for conventional financing. They offer no-profit, no-interest, 20 to 30 year mortgages for buyers. Prospective homeowners make a $500 down payment and contribute 300 hours of sweat equity which must be completed in one year toward construction of their own and other homes. For more information, contact Diane Faires at 202.610.2355.
DC Outfitters
“That outfit is so last season.” So why don’t you do yourself and somebody less fortunate a favor by donating it to D.C. Outfitters. This organization, made up mostly of University of Maryland students, distributes clothing to homeless people in Washington, D.C., and volunteers at homeless shelters and soup kitchens. For more information, contact Ramiro Lindado at 301.486.0172.
DC VolunteerMatch
Having a hard time finding a volunteer opportunity that floats your boat? VolunteerMatch’s powerful online database enables you to search thousands of one-time and ongoing opportunities by zip
code, category, and date. You can signup automatically by email for those that fit your interest and schedule. Contributing organizations post their own opportunities, giving you easy access to an accurate
and diverse source of activities including, walk-a-thons, beach day cleanups, tutoring, home building, meal deliveries and more. For more information, call Volunteer Match at 415.241.6868.
Doing Something
No, you won’t meet that guy from Melrose Place. Doing Something is an all-volunteer non-profit organization which seeks to address the community service needs of Washington DC and adjoining areas of Maryland and Virginia. They offer a variety of flexible, project-oriented volunteer opportunities to individuals, who despite facing significant demands from career and family responsibilities, remain committed to finding a place for public service in their lives. For more information, contact Stacy Bush at 202.393.5051.
Everybody Wins!
Ready to turn in that Congressional Record for a little Cat in the Hat? Everybody Wins is one of the most popular volunteer organizations among Hill staff. Their ‘Power Lunch’ program pairs adult volunteers with public elementary school students for one-on-one reading during the lunch hour each week. For more information on how you can help change the life of a child in DC, contact Everybody Wins at ebodywin@erols.com
or 202.624.3957.
Feline Foundation of Greater Washington
The Feline Foundation of Greater Washington, Inc. Are you a friend of felines? If so, the Feline Foundation could sure use your help! We are a nonprofit 501(c)(3), all volunteer organization dedicated to the care, rescue, and adoption of homeless cats and kittens in the Washington DC area. We need your help most in the following areas: answering hotline voicemail messages, processing and mailing printed materials, providing foster homes for cats and kittens until we find them a loving permanent home, adopting our adorable cats and kittens, and trapping/neutering/returning feral (“wild”) cats. Come visit our website to find out more about this purrrrfectly wonderful organization dedicated to helping our homeless feline friends!
For Love of Children
Volunteer Tutors Needed in SE and NW – Make a difference in a child’s life! Nearly 75% of DC students perform at or below basic levels in reading and math. YOU can change that! For Love of Children’s one-on-one tutoring program helps students achieve grade-level competency in reading and math. In just 22 hours of tutoring, students improve an average of 1 year in reading and math skills while gaining confidence in their abilities. Each new tutor allows us to impact the life of one more child. Training in our structured curricula and ongoing professional support from staff are provided, so no experience is necessary. Programs are available on Saturdays, weekday evenings, and weekday afternoons. We have a critical need for tutors at our two sites in SE (Thursday afternoons in Barracks Row/Eastern Market, Saturday mornings in Congress Heights), but we also have plenty of need at our NW sites (Columbia Heights and Adams Morgan) as well. Get started by completing an application online at www.floc.org or contacting Elizabeth Metz or 202-349-3512. We hope you’ll join us in our mission to teach, empower, and transform the lives of students in DC this year!
Friends of Tyler School
Friends of Tyler School serves disadvantaged children and youth ages 6 to 18, and sponsors a one-on-one tutoring program, after-school classes, pre-teen and teen discussion groups and a Computer Center that is trying to close the Digital Divide by teaching computer courses to youth and adults. FOTS currently serves 50+ students, ages 6 to 18, who live in or near two public housing projects on Capitol Hill. An award-winning program, FOTS exposes students to the world outside their immediate neighborhood through reading, searching the Web and outings with their tutor and FOTS groups. For volunteering opportunities, contact Jan Eichhorn at 202-547-8855 or fotsdc@aol.com.
Food & Friends
Food & Friends prepares, packages and delivers meals and groceries to more than 1,100 people living with HIV/AIDS and other life-challenging illnesses such as breast, lung and colon cancer throughout the DC region. For more than 14 years, Food & Friends has provided food and companionship to our clients, their loved ones and caregivers. Writes one Hill staffer/volunteer: “They’re just down South Capitol, so it’s easy to go volunteer during lunch or after work. They especially need people (with cars) to deliver the meals.”
If you’d like to get involved, visit our website or call 202.488.8278.
Gilda’s Club Greater Washington
1 in 4 People Will Be Touched By Cancer. Do You Have 1 Day To Volunteer? Gilda’s Club is a social and emotional support community for men, women and children touched by cancer. Named after Saturday Night Live Comedian Gilda Radner, Gilda’s Club is nonprofit and free of charge. Gilda’s Club will offer support and networking groups, lectures, workshops and social events in a nonresidential, homelike
setting. GCGW is working to open a Clubhouse for the community of Greater Washington so that no one ever has to face cancer alone. For more information, please contact 202-362-2900 or info@gildasclubgreaterwashington.org.
Hands On Greater DC Cares
Do you have a bleeding heart? Do people refer to you as “the sensitive staffer?” Greater DC Cares is the largest volunteer coordinator in the Washington, DC area, connecting individual, family and business volunteers with nonprofits in the District, Maryland and Virginia. Programs and events include Greater DC Cares Day, a Servathon, the Greater Washington Business Philanthropy Summit, Business Shares and Family Matters. For more information, contact the Volunteer Coordinator at 202.289.7378
GreenHOME
You don’t have to be a Democrat to want to conserve natural resources! GreenHOME is a non-profit all-volunteer organization dedicated to demonstrating and promoting affordable, sustainable design, construction and landscape practices for homes and communities throughout the Washington, DC area. For more information, contact the Volunteer Recruiter at 202.24.GREEN
Hands on D.C.
Hands On DC is an annual, all-volunteer project that creates better schools and brighter futures for students in the District of Columbia. Thousands of volunteers have a great time each spring as they join together for a one-day work-a-thon that improves conditions in the public schools and raises money for college scholarships. You don’t need any special skills to become part of the event — just a desire to make things better. To find out more, check out our website or call 202.667.5808.
Higher Achievement Program
Are you ready to make a difference in the life of a DC student? Then volunteer as a mentor for the Higher
Achievement Program! Higher Achievement has a 25-year history of challenging under-served 5-8th graders in the District of Columbia to achieve their highest potential for academic excellence and community leadership.
Spend one night a week mentoring three gifted students in English, math or technology. They run two Neighborhood Learning Centers: one at Hine JHS (across from the Eastern Market Metro stop), and the other at Cesar Chavez Charter School (three blocks from the U Street/Cardozo Metro stop). For more information, contact them at 202.842.5116.
Hogar Immigrant Services
As a program of Catholic Charities, Hogar Hispano’s goal is to help immigrants to become self-sufficient and productive members of American society through bilingual outreach programs, including a continuum of networking, immigration legal services, citizenship classes, and English as a Second Language classes.
Home Alone Feline Adoption & Rescue
Cat lover? Make a difference and save a life. Foster homes are urgently needed to provide temporary
shelter and care for homeless cats/kittens until a permanent home can be found. All you need is some extra room, a little time, and alot of love. We are a small, private rescue group in Arlington specializing in making the “purr-fect” match. Visit our website (linked above) or call 703.671.5504
Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund
The Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund was started by Susie Kay, an American Government teacher at the Academy
of Business and Finance and H.D. Woodson High School in Washington, D.C. Miss Kay started Hoop Dreams as an effort to raise scholarship money and work toward racial reconciliation by bringing together D.C.
public high school students and the Washington, D.C., professional community. For More Information on Hoop Dreams, see their webpage
or contact Mike Arlinsky.
Horton’s Kids
Horton’s Kids is a tutoring and mentoring program for inner-city DC children, most of whom live in the Wellington Park area of Anacostia. Horton’s Kids’ volunteers meet at the Capitol South metro every Tuesday evening at 7:00pm to hop on a rented school bus to go tutor the children at the Anacostia Public Library and every Sunday afternoon at 1:00 to take them on field trips in and around D.C.. Horton’s
Kids also offers a Monday evening tutoring program for congressional staff and provides emergency health and dental care, scholarships, Christmas trees, Thanksgiving baskets, and birthday presents. Contact: kern@hortonskids.org or call 703-820-2800.
Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership
National Capital Area HOBY-NCA’s purpose is to recognize and develop leadership potential in high school sophomores. Each DC high school will select two sophomores, who show exceptional leadership skills and potential, to attend a three-day seminar this summer. We are looking for energetic, active volunteers. HOBY Alumni and anyone interesting in volunteering should email David Morrison
ISO Volunteers
Do you work on Capital Hill? If so, are you willing to help open some doors by spreading the word about our Girl Scout Council? We are In Search Of individuals who live anywhere in our council area but work on
Capital Hill, to help display posters and leave flyers in businesses, offices, and other locations. This is part of an effort to recruit new volunteers in the Capital Hill Area, where there’s a great need for
help. If you work on the Hill and can help out, please contact infocenter@gscnc.org or call 202-237-1670 x297. Girl Scout Council of the Nations Capital www.gscnc.org
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Team In Training Program Volunteer to do good… AND Have fun, make great friends, and get in shape at the same time. Team In Training is the country’s largest and most successful endurance training program for walkers, runners, run/walkers, cyclists, and triathletes. As a Team In Training Member, whether novice or experienced, you will be training to complete the endurance event of your choice while raising needed money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in its mission to find cures for leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Call (703) 960-1100
Serve DC
Serve DC is the District Government agency dedicated to promoting service as an innovative, sustainable solution to address community needs. Serve DC engages District communities by facilitating public, private and government partnerships and providing meaningful service opportunities.
National Capital Area: Big Brothers/Big Sisters
Relive your college days, minus the keg parties. Big Brothers/Big Sisters is dedicated to building One-To-One mentoring relationships that unite children from single-parent families with caring and committed adult volunteers. Agency programs aim to positively and profoundly affect a child’s self-esteem, self-confidence, academic performance, and relationship-building skills, while instilling new hope for the future. For more information, contact the Brother/Sister Recruiter at 301.794.9170
Peace Corps: Washington D.C. Regional Office
You don’t have to be a liberal to get involved in The Peace Corps, one of our nation’s first volunteer organizations. Their dedication to giving back since 1961, has composed a legacy of service that has become part of America’s history. For more information, contact the Peace Corps at 703.235.9191
People Without Borders
Habla Espanol? Or any other language? PWB offers free classes in English as a Second Language, citizenship, and computers to the international community in Washington, DC. A great opportunity for foreign policy gurus, or anyone that wants to interact with the rich cultural community in our nation’s capital. For more information, contact PWB at 202.237.5711 or visit our website.
Public Allies
Public Allies envisions communities where people of different backgrounds, beliefs and experiences work together and share responsibility for improving their own lives and the lives of those around them. In 1992, a group of young social entrepreneurs and established community and national leaders created Public Allies, believing that there were many energetic, talented young people who wanted to address critical issues in their communities and many organizations and communities who could benefit from their contributions. Through our signature AmeriCorps program, Public Allies identifies talented young adults from diverse backgrounds and advances their leadership through full-time, paid apprenticeships in nonprofit organizations, weekly leadership trainings and team service projects. Recognized by
the Bush and Clinton administrations as a model for national service, Public Allies has grown to 10 cities (including DC) through which more than 1,000 Allies have served. Through our advanced leadership programs, we continue to support our Ally network as they continue their work to strengthen communities, nonprofits and civic participation. For more info, visit our website or email us.
Red Cross
It put Elizabeth Dole in the running for the White House. Who knows what it could do for you? Red Cross has volunteer opportunities ranging from program development, to fundraising, to social work, to providing health and safety instruction, to greeting people at the front desk. The Chapter has more than 12,000 volunteers reflecting all ages, a wide range of incomes, and many ethnic groups in other words, a virtual Benetton ad. For more information, contact Red Cross at 202.728.6400
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC)
The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is to create, find and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children. We believe that when you change a child’s life, you change a family’s life, which can change a community, and ultimately the world. We strive to be part of that change and part of the solution in improving the lives of children and their families by providing programs that strengthen families during their most difficult or challenging times. For more information, please visit our website http://www.rmhcdc.org/ or contact Dean Caivano at 202-529-8204.
Sierra Club Inner City Outings
The Sierra Club Inner City Outings program (ICO) provides wilderness adventures for people who wouldn’t otherwise have them, including low-income youth of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, and the physically disabled. ICO promotes personal development by linking cultures, fostering respect of self and others and providing leadership skills. Most of our current groups run primarily day trips with 10-20 at-risk children between the ages of 6-12. No prior experience needed!
For more information, visit the http://ico.sierraclub.org/dc/ web site.
Single Volunteers of DC
You mean you don’t consider being “walked home” after dollar-beer night a romantic date? You shop every
week at the Social Safeway, but have yet to leave with digits? Why don’t you do a good deed (while also attempting to secure a dirty deed) by volunteering with the Single Volunteers of DC. They have all kinds of success stories, and worst case scenario: you’ve helped out somebody less fortunate than yourself.
Teach for America
So you’ve decided there is more to life than constituent mail and bill summaries, but you’re unsure of your next career move. Teach for America matches recent college graduates, of all academic majors, with teaching positions in schools across America with chronic teacher shortages. Teachers earn a regular teacher’s salary and benefits. If you’ve always wanted to teach, but didn’t want to major in Education, this is a perfect opportunity for you! For more information, visit the TFA website at www.teachforamerica.org.
The Reading Connection
The Reading Connection, a local non-profit, is looking for new volunteers for its Read-Aloud program. TRC conducts Read-Alouds in homeless shelters and affordable housing complexes to provide children with positive and fun interactions with books and books to keep. If you love kids and books and can commit to reading once a month for a year, please go to TRC’s website at www.thereadingconnection.org and complete the volunteer application under the heading “How you can help.” Volunteers must be 18 years of age, complete a background check and able to commit to one year of service and training sessions throughout the year. Opportunities are available in Arlington, Alexandria, and DC.
The Washington Animal Rescue League
It’s a big job to take care of all the animals at The Washington Animal Rescue League, the city’s oldest animal shelter, so we welcome your help! WARL depends heavily on volunteer support to care for the shelter animals and to help us find their forever homes. Currently, our greatest needs are for foster parents and dog walkers (specifically Monday – Friday in the early afternoon). However, please go to www.warl.org to see the many ways you can help or call us at 202-726-2556.
The Washington Area Clinic Defense Task Force
An all-volunteer, non-violent group that provides escorts to ensure a peaceful and reassuring presence for patients, their companions, and staff at women’s health clinics in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. We welcome volunteers willing to be trained and abide by the WACDTF goals and guidelines. Clinics need escorts Saturday mornings and in some cases on weekdays. For more information visit http://www.wacdtf.org or call 202-797-6577.
Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter High School
Want to make a difference in the life of a teenager? Ever thought about becoming a tutor, but not quite sure? Try it out for just one month! Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter High School (“TMA”) is a law-related public charter high school located in Southeast, DC. TMA provides a high-quality education to underserved, low-income youth, preparing them to succeed in college and become active participants in society. Volunteers work individually students on homework and remediation in our after-school tutoring program. Start and end dates flexible. Longer-term commitments welcome, but not required. For more information call 202-563-6862
TouchDC
TouchDC is an online giving and volunteering tool where you can help nonprofit organizations doing great work throughout the greater Washington, DC region. Make a donation or find a volunteer opportunity
that’s right for you and know that it will help people in your community. for more info : www.TouchDC.org
Volunteer Fairfax
Volunteer Fairfax mobilizes people and resources to meet regional community needs. Working with over 700 nonprofits in the Washington metro area, Volunteer Fairfax holds quarterly Family Volunteer Days, an annual VolunteerFest, and also runs great flexible group and evening/weekend volunteer programs. Check out website or contact us at volsrus@volunteerfairfax.org or 703-246-3460 for more info.
Washington Area Bicyclist Association
Lance Armstrong ain’t the only one ridin’ a bike. Help us promote bicycling for fun, fitness and healthier transportation. Advocate better cycling conditions and transportation choices for a healthier environment. Educate children, adults and motorists about safe cycling. Volunteer opportunities include: bike rides, kid’s bike rodeos, Safe Streets Campaign, and more. For more information call 202.628.2500 or e-mail us at waba@waba.org.
Washington Humane Society
Volunteers are at the heart of the Washington Humane Society’s dog and cat adoption program, and they help out in many different ways as well. Visit our site to view brief descriptions of the various volunteer opportunities with WHS. To find out more, schedule an orientation, or sign up, please call 202.576.6839.
Washington Literacy Center
Volunteers are an integral part of the Washington Literacy Center (WLC). Whether teaching, tutoring, planning events, or helping with the day-to-day needs of the center, our volunteers are vital to our success. New volunteers join a vibrant and supportive community, dedicated to adult basic education. Get more information at our website or call 202-387-9029.
If you have pictures of yourself or other Hill staffers volunteering for these or other great community organizations, please email ’em to info@hillzoo.com.
