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"Millennials comprise about 30% of our volun- teer pool and our Ameri- Corps members who are largely in their twenties, play a significant role in supporting our volunteer recruitment of all ages," states Delaney. "Dedicated volunteers are the backbone of so many communities. Our community would simply not function at the level that it does without volunteers. It gives me great hope to see the next generation stepping in. e young people we connect with through the Volunteer Center, have such a deep concern for the quality of life of all community members and a strong desire to make authentic, impactful connections," continues Delaney. Volunteer Center AmeriCorps Alumni Odessa Burkett, age 27 couldn't agree more. As a life-long volunteer she finds that volunteering is the perfect way to meet new people, contribute to a meaningful cause, and feel a part of a com- munity working towards something greater. "I decided to join AmeriCorps to give back to others and also find a community of my own. In this day and age, we are more connected than ever before with tech- nology, yet we can also feel detached from real human connections. is paradox led me to pursue a meaningful opportu- nity where I would be able to make a difference in peoples' lives and feel fulfilled by doing impact- ful work," states Burkett. "Before doing Ameri- Corps, I worked in the corporate world, now I work in higher educa- tion supporting non- traditional students and am pursuing my own heart-centered creative projects. My time at the Volunteer Center showed me that a group of passionate kind- hearted people can truly make change," continues Burkett. During her time serv- ing as an AmeriCorps Member, Odessa helped recruit hundreds of vol- unteers for the Volunteer Center Adopt a Fam- ily Project, the Human Race, and local days of service. "Individuals like Odessa, demonstrate that if given the right tools and the opportunity, people are quite effective at making a difference. I look forward to thanking her and other volun- teers during National Volunteer Week," states Delaney. e Volunteer Center will host a National Vol- unteer Week Volunteer Appreciation Party for all of their volunteers on Wednesday, April 17th at the Volunteer Center (1740 17th Ave, Santa Cruz) from 5:30 PM-7:30 PM. All volunteers who would like to connect with Volunteer Center programs are invited to attend and can RSVP on- line at scvolunteercenter. org or call 831-427-5070. Additionally, indi- viduals who want to find the right match for their volunteer interests, can visit the Volunteer Cen- ter website where over 300 online opportunities are offered. e Volunteer Cen- ter provides in-person, phone, and electronic matching services to connect individuals with the perfect fit for their time, skill, and interest. Match Specialists work with individuals to find a volunteer position that is tailored to their indi- vidual need. Last year over 8,000 volunteers were referred to fellow non-profits through their Matching Services. To learn more about National Volunteer Week or to connect with new volunteer opportuni- ties visit the Volunteer Center website at www. scvolunteercenter.org or call 831-427-5070. ...Volunteer Center, continued from C1 The Surfing Magician shares his magic tricks at the Jacob's Heart Kidrageous Golden Carnival photo contributed by Jacob's Heart: I magine hearing the words: "Your child has cancer." e emotional impact is stag- gering. ey tell you that treatment may last for years. Financial worries multiply. You lose plans for your future and the dream of a healthy child. You can't comprehend what the doctors are saying. You contemplate how to get through each passing day, worrying about your other chil- dren. Nobody gets it. Where do you turn? Every caring person appreciates the physical and emotional devasta- tion that occurs when a child is diagnosed with cancer or dies aer a long treatment. But it's the exceptional person who steps up to lend a hand. It's the courageous volunteer whose heart opens and puts their compassion into action. e volunteers at Jacob's Heart show up day aer day, year aer year to improve the quality of life for each child with cancer, their siblings, their parents and their community. Jacob's Heart volun- teers work tirelessly to make sure that when a child is diagnosed with cancer, their brothers and sisters get the special attention they need. Our volunteers ensure that parents have support to help them endure the unimaginable. Packing and delivering groceries so that scared brothers and sisters have food while their siblings spend long days in treatment, making hand-made cards, special holiday gis, quilts, celebra- tions…the list, like the love, is endless. When a family hears those terrifying words, they are not alone; they will be embraced by Ja- cob's Heart from the day of diagnosis throughout the course of treatment, into remission or be- reavement because of our volunteers. Imagine the volunteer making this happen is you. Please join us. It Takes a Special Kind of Person to Volunteer at Jacob's Heart Montserrat Abrego Maria Barba Frank Barba Lorraine Bispo Grace Bos Mary Boyd Doug Brown Holly Browne Melissa Burke, MPH Bobbi Burns Johanna Butterworth Camp Heart + Hands Volunteers Cookie Carson Kathleen Chandler-Eckhardt Harvey Cohen, MD, PhD Lisa Cortese Gail Delorey DJ Stoney and the Autism Family Network Nanci Dobbins Doug the Surfing Magician Leilany Garcia Granite Construction Aimee Grijalva Grupo Folklorico Los Mejicas Coni Hendry Holiday Hearts Volunteers Barabara Igoe Intero Real Estate Bob Jacobson and Family Jordan and Kyra Memorial Golf Volunteers Kappa Zeta from UCSC Ed and Jean Kelly Kidrageous Carnival Volunteers Kidrageous Golden Gallop —5K Run Volunteers Kidrageous Super Fun Run Volunteers Kid's & Art Foundation Norma Linneman Maritza Loyola Becky Mahony John David Mark, MD Megan Martinelli Lee May Mike McClelan Melissa McDill and McDill Associates Join the Jacob's Heart volunteer community and bring hope to local children with cancer and their families Whether you're making a hand-made card for a child with cancer, packaging groceries for families, or volunteering at a Jacob's Heart event, you'll find a community of love and amazing friends at Jacob's Heart. 2019 event and program dates are below. Find out how you can join a community of love and hope by contacting the Jacob's Heart Family Center — 831.724.9100 ❤ jacobsheart.org " The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." – Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi T h a n k Y o u ! 5/17 – 19 Camp Heart + Hands 8/18 Super Fun Run 9/13 Jordan & Kyra Golf Tourney 9/28 Sunrise Rotary Bike Ride 9/29 Kidrageous Carnival 10/20 5K Run / Walk + Carnival Mickey Magic Ryan J. McCormick Monterey Bay Wings Sandy Montes Evelyn Nartates Janice Neil Nurses from LPCH Stanford Ken Olsen Vivian Oscher Pacific Arts Complex Susan Pandolfi Rita Pina Andrew Perez Poppa Bear and Family Daniela Ramirez The Raynor Family Scott Roseman Cole Rossi Linda Rossi Annalee Sater Santa Cruz Outriggers Sher Selner Carol Shapiro Manny Solano Barbara Sourkes, PhD Lauren Stephanoff Sunrise Rotary of Santa Cruz Superior Foods UCSC Tree House Childhood Cancer Initiative Karla Valencia-Fernandez Warehouse Interiors Watsonville Community Band Watsonville High School Cheerleading Team Watsonville Institute of Cosmetology Watsonville Taiko Watsonville White Hawks Victoria Weatherford TO JACOB ' S HEART ' S DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS These volunteers have given more than 100 hours or have volunteered more than 10 years to improve the quality of life for children with cancer.

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