Dear volunteers and friends of the volunteer program, |
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You're invited our inaugural Volunteer Summit! Mark your calendars for
THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 3:30-8:30pm
We’re bringing volunteers together for an evening of community building, appreciation and learning. Drop in as you’re able for any or all of the events, including dinner provided by our own Good Works Community Catering and interactive workshops focusing on promoting learning and discussion.
We hope you'll leave feeling connected to your fellow volunteers and Goodman community, as well as with valuable ideas and perspectives to inspire your important work here at Goodman.
This is a free event. Please RSVP by Thursday, April 14, so our amazing catering staff knows how much food to prepare.
Thank you for supporting our work. I can't wait for us to all come together in person.
See you soon,
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Susan Ramspacher
Volunteer Manager
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Passing of two dear volunteers |
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According to Gayle, GCC’s older adult program manager, and many of the regulars at senior meals, Paul Hand was best understood through what he did for others. Frequently on his way into the center he’d pick up donuts from Greenbush, his favorite bakery, to brighten the seniors’ day. Any time you would walk in the room, Paul would greet you by name, followed by a genuine, “How are you?”
One of the most amazing ways Paul shared of himself was through connecting people with Goodman and himself. If he met someone who was hungry out in community, he’d bring them to the center for a meal or take them shopping for food. If he heard of a need for a ride to an appointment, he was the first to volunteer. All he’d ask is what time, and he’d be there.
Paul wanted to see more good in our community and country, and he modeled this through both his words and his actions. He kept abreast of community and social issues that affected seniors’ lives and found ways to advocate for change every chance he could. Paul passed away in February, and Goodman hosted the celebration of his life with his family and friends. His friends chose this quote for his celebration announcement, as it spoke to who Paul was to all of us. Rest in peace and community love, Paul.
"As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others." - Aubrey Hepburn
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A good friend of Goodman and the food pantry, John Wagnitz, passed away last month. John volunteered in the pantry on Wednesday nights for several years and lived near the center on Ohio Street.
John’s easy-going nature and bright smile made everyone he interacted with in food pantry feel comfortable. His presence always helped remind us volunteers to not take things too seriously 😊
If you ever saw John outside of the pantry, he was probably riding his bike around town or walking around the capitol building, where he worked for many years. He was a wonderful man and we’re glad he was part of our volunteer family at Goodman.
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A Few Ways to Get Involved |
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Summer is around the corner and Girls Inc. of Greater Madison is gearing up for two exciting camps – STEM Camp for elementary girls and Adventure Camp for middle schoolers. Volunteers are need for at least three hours a week between June 20 and August 4. Check out details on our website.
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The Fritz Food Pantry is looking for a Spanish-speaking volunteer on Wednesday evenings from 5:45 – 8:00 pm. Please reach out to volunteer@goodmancenter.org if you are interested. |
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Huge thank you to Nancy Resch who volunteers with Scratch Club, the world’s largest coding community for children! Scratch uses a simple visual interface that allows young people to create digital stories, games and animations. Our Scratch Club is led by UW students, and Nancy helps with set-up and computer support. She is great at making the space feel welcome to the students and she is very supportive of their creativity. We are so lucky to have her!
- Linday Kulow, Childcare Program Administrative Coordinator
Sending a big shoutout to Keith Heimforth! He took several piles of daily attendance records and manually entered everything into our spreadsheet! This helped fill a gap in our program data, and now we’re able to better evaluate our programs, from preschool through high school! I so appreciated Keith’s time, thoughtful questions and his attention to detail throughout this process.
-Sara Nowakowski, Director of Mission Impact
Kudos to Jane Ippolito, who is always willing to go the extra mile in the senior meal program, whether that be picking up last-minute shifts or staying late to help when we have too much on our plate – always with a great sense of humor. She also contributes innovative ideas and suggestions when we need them most!
-Abby Sibiliski, Older Adult Program Assistant
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We have two new LOFT Teen Center staff for you to meet! |
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Alex Wright, Academic Coordinator (right)
Hi, I’m Alex, and I was most recently working in the private sector, but I’ve also worked at universities in Oregon, Arizona and Wisconsin. My focus at these institutions was mostly as a student support service specialist.
Having grown up in sunny California, I never envisioned the Midwest as a place I could call home. But, nearly a decade and two children later, I can proudly say Madison is home! My wife Bethany, son Parker, and daughter Mariah enjoy the four seasons — and I like summers the best! In my spare time I coach track and field. I like all sports and enjoy a competitive game of chess. Go Goodman!
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Chong Thao, High School Coordinator (left)
Hello, my name is Chong, and I am Hmong American, born and raised in Wausau. My passion for working with youth began when I started working at a nonprofit serving youth ages 7-18 while also studying at UW-Madison. My wife and I recently moved back to Madison from Dallas to be closer to our families. Madison always had a place in my heart because it's a lively city that isn't too big or too small — just right. I especially love the bike trails that run through the city and the beauty of the lakes.
I am so excited to share in the work that GCC does for our community. My vision is to foster the growth and development of tomorrow's future leaders through academic, spiritual and socioemotional opportunities. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family plus my dog. I also love playing soccer and volleyball, sketching/drawing, reading manga, watching movies and playing video games.
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Wishing you all a very happy birthday! May you be able to find safe and healthy ways to celebrate with your loved ones. |
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Kevin Welch, April 7
Karen Faster, April 8
Ally Snell, April 11
Michelle Kowalczyk, April 11
Julianne Smith, April 13
Renee Li, April 13
Sabryna O’Brien, April 15
Ken Rineer, April 17
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Rose Lewis, April 18
Michael Tenamore, April 20
Patrick Rynes, April 22
Brian Langtim, April 22
Christina Larson, April 24
Pam Wilson, April 26
Etas Carria, April 28
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Happy anniversary to these individuals who started with GCC in April and continue to commit to putting their best foot forward to strengthen lives and futures! We are glad you’re here! |
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Stuart Baker, 9 years
Carey Karabis, 6 years
Carol McCann, 5 years
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Barbara Chusid, 2 years
Allan Moore, 1 year
Brock Shilling, 1 year
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If you’d like to include a shout out for a fellow volunteer or have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
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GOODMAN COMMUNITY CENTER
214 Waubesa Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53704
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