Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships, University of Pennsylvania

Penn VIPS: Monthly Opportunities

Dear Penn Community,

Thank you for making this one of the most successful holiday gift giving seasons. Your generosity was unprecedented. Many benefited from your willingness to give.

The following is a list of the various efforts:

Thank you to President Amy Gutmann for hosting an Annual Holiday Party where over 400 toys and gifts were collected.

Thank you to the following departments and Lower Merion High School for bringing joy to more than 50 families during the holidays by "adopting" them:

        -Business Services coordinated by Patrick Morgan
        -Center for Bioethics coordinated by Robin Hartley
        -General Counsel coordinated by Helen Logan
        -Gift Planning and International Gifts coordinated by Lynn Ierardi
        -Housing and Conference Services coordinated by Katrina Terrell
        -Penn Publication Services coordinated by Aiasha B. Saalim Graham
        -University Communications coordinated by Heather A. Davis
        -Van Pelt Library Information Systems coordinated by Nancy Rose
        -Van Pelt Library Social Sciences Cataloguing coordinated by
         Jennifer Sweda
        -Vice President for Government, Community & Public Affairs
         coordinated by Linda Satchell and Rita Axelroth
        -Wharton MBA Admissions coordinated by Gabriella Snyder
        -Wharton School Dean's Office coordinated Jennifer O'Keefe
        -Wharton School Publishing coordinated by Teresa Regan
        -Lower Merion High School coordinated by Anmarie Roy
        -Jodi Sarkisian and Family
        -Toni Simms and Family

Special thanks to Anmarie Roy and members of Lower Merion High School for adopting approximately 25 families and making this year's Adopt a Family program spectacularly successful.

Special Special thanks to the Office of the General Counsel and Penn Publication Services for the additional assistance they provided to insure that many more families enjoyed the holiday.

Thank you to the entire University community for donating over one thousand gifts and toys.

Thank you to the Dropsite Volunteers that collected all the gifts and toys and made it possible for us to respond to request for donations from our neighbors listed below:

        -Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell's Holiday Dinner for the Homeless
          -McMichael School
        -Carroll Park Community Council
        -Intercultural Family Services
        -Church of New Hope & Faith, Inc.
        -Women of Peace, Inc.
        -Potter's House Mission
        -The Consortium
        -The LIFE Center

Thanks to Amy Forsyth and Vivian Hasiuk for coordinating the Annual Coat Drive. This year, our Penn Coat Drive benefited the Annual Philadelphia Cares Winter Coat Drive.

Thank you for your generosity!

Please contact me via e-mail ( This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it ) to volunteer for any of the programs. Also, let me know if you would like your name removed from the list.

Thank you for your continued support.

Best Regards,

Isabel Mapp

Click here to volunteer or request more information!

Current Opportunities:

Special Request for Volunteers with Sewing Machines or Sewing Machine Skills for MLK Day of Service Project
THIS MONDAY! - JANUARY 21, 2008!

If you have a portable sewing machine and/or sewing machine skills, please volunteer to assist in sewing pillows and lap quilts for the Helping Hands Project in Houston Hall, Bodek Lounge on Monday, January 21, 2008, 10:00am-12:00pm. The pillows and lap quilts will be distributed to local homeless shelters, senior citizen centers, and hospitals.

You may sign up on the MLK website http://www.upenn.edu/aarc/mlk/ email Pamela Robinson This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or Isabel Mapp This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it to confirm your participation.

You are, of course, encouraged to sign up for this project or any other of the numerous service projects that will be held on Monday, January 21, 2007.

Thank you
Isabel Mapp & Pamela Robinson,Co-Chairs
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Committee

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Have a special talent? Teach it at Community School!!!!!

Volunteer instructors for any class would be welcome. Teach a dance class, yoga, calligraphy, chess, arts & crafts. Your interest can be accommodated. Team teaching, seminars and workshops encouraged.

Join the community school teams at local schools and share your special talent.

Please contact Isabel Mapp at 898-2020/ This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it for additional information.

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Shadowing Day
Wednesday, January 25th, 2008

Volunteers Needed for Shadowing Day Friday, January 25, 2008

Philadelphia area businesses and organizations will welcome high school students from the Philadelphia School District into their workplaces to give them firsthand exposure to the everyday working world. Shadowing is an experience during which students are paired with employee mentors for the day (9:00am - 2:00pm) to learn about careers.

Join other members of the Penn community as they host students from the local High School. Don't miss this opportunity to make a difference in the lives of students.

Please contact Isabel Mapp at 898-2020/ This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it for

Visit the Philadelphia WorkReady Site for additional information:

www.workreadyphila.com

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Volunteer to Tutor Adult Learners!

The Center for Literacy (CFL) has been providing literacy services to adults, youth, and families throughout the greater Philadelphia area since 1968. CFL is considered a leader in the field and has a national reputation. CFL is also a long standing West Philadelphia agency located at 48th and Baltimore Avenue.

Their mission is to help a diverse population of learners, from birth through senior years, meet their needs and achieve personal and employment-related goals by providing reading, writing, math, life, and work skills services free of charge. These services include classes and one-on-one tutoring.

CFL is currently embarking on a recruitment outreach to area universities to assist with the demand for tutors by their adult learners. They are seeking to collaborate with university volunteers with an interest in tutoring adult learners for a minimum of 3 months in the West Philadelphia area.

Please contact Isabel Mapp at 898-2020/ This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it for additional information and to volunteer for this program.

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Do you play golf? Want to teach it to children?

The Youth Golf and Academics Program, established by Garry Maddox is an after-school program being run at Lea and Longstreth schools in Philadelphia. As the name implies, golf is a large component piece that attracts kids to the program.

Instructors are needed one day a week and the 3pm - 6pm hours are flexible.

Contact Isabel Mapp at 898-2020 or send an e-mail: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it for additional information and /or to volunteer for this program.

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THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN'S BOOK PROJECT CELEBRATES READING
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

The 16th Annual African American Children's Book Fair will be held on Saturday, February 2, 2008, at Community College of Philadelphia, 1:00-3:00PM, Gymnasium. The free event is sponsored by The African American Children's Book Project a nonprofit organization and NBC10.

The African American Children's Book Fair began on a cold frosty day at John Wanamaker Department Store in downtown Philadelphia with 250 attendees. Over 4,500 people attended the 15TH annual celebration at Community College of Philadelphia.

The program has been tremendously successful because of the need for literature reflecting the African American experience. The book fair also exposes the Delaware Valley region to the best and brightest children's authors and illustrators. The book fair is important because it provides resources to parents, educators, and children that encourage the love of reading. Studies show that children who read, make more responsible lifestyle decisions.

They are in need of volunteers to support their program. Your help will enable them to continue their mission of making sure that the children have access to positive, empowering books.

They have two shifts 9:30-1:30PM/11:00-3:30PM.

Contact Isabel Mapp at 898-2020 or send an e-mail: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it for additional information and /or to volunteer for this program.

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"An inclination join'd with an Ability to serve mankind, one's Country, Friends and Family...should be the great Aim and End of all learning."

Benjamin Franklin