Volunteering at the oldest daycare in Virginia.

I spent the day at Barrett Early Learning Center, a daycare established in 1935.  I can not show pictures of the kids (trust me, they're cute!) due to privacy laws but I can show you the fruits of my labor. As you all know, Pre-K teachers are extremely busy and often have to work at home or off the clock to be prepared for their classes.  I was able to free up some of their time for the next months by cutting out seemingly endless amounts of craft materials (think bats and witches hats for Halloween and wreaths and Christmas trees for the holidays).  It was hard work and my scissor hand is sore but it was well worth it.  I adore this daycare and the hard work they do for the kids.

Kim Lauter, Custom Education Developement Consultant

Sheree Bowen Helps Underprivileged Kids Be Super Prepared for the Start of School

Sheree Bowen , representing Service Business Development, built backpacks for under-privileged children.  “As a mother of two children, I never enjoyed shopping for school supplies but since I was shopping for those in need, it made all the difference in the world. As summer days were narrowing so did our timeframe for getting the supplies gathered and packed.  So, over the weekend, I invited the volunteers to my home for some food and beverage as we put student and teacher supplies into 20-plus cute red bags.  Some of the ladies were unable to attend the evening event due to a much needed flash-flooding in Texas but that didn’t stop all! I was truly impressed that several of the ladies not only showed up with umbrellas in tow but they brought with them a number of supplies! The ladies from the group really embraced the idea and I was excited that Kronos hours were available to me.  While the evening event that occurred at my home was on my time, I was able to use Kronos hours to attend the luncheon, shop for supplies and later…deliver the bags to the two designated schools (one of which is in a district where 90% of students are at poverty level).  I appreciate the company time that enabled me to share my passion for volunteering and truly participate (not just coordinate) in a rewarding event!”

Kathy Reddin Gives Back thru the Houston Rodeo

For 80 years, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ has been the world's largest livestock exhibition and world's richest regular-season rodeo.  Since its beginning in 1932, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has committed approximately $283 million to scholarships, research, endowments, calf scramble participants, junior show exhibitors, School Art participants, and other educational and youth programs. Of that total, the Show has committed more than $165 million in direct educational program support, since the first scholarship was awarded in 1957.  Because college is only a dream for so many students, the Show has made an extraordinary impact on the lives of countless young men and women in its quest to benefit the youth of Texas and support them through education. Currently, more than 2,000 students are on Show scholarships, attending more than 100 different Texas colleges and universities.

The other unique aspect to the Houston Rodeo is that it is supported by a volunteer staff of 27,000 people, serving on more than 100 committees, who annually contribute their time, resources, and talent.  For the last 5 years I have been one of those volunteers, serving on the Gatekeeper committee.  My committee is responsible for scanning tickets at the various entry points to the rodeo.  Each year we work 5-6 shifts, 8 hours each shift (standing 8 hours on hard concrete makes me appreciate my desk job!).  While the volunteers get some fun perks (like free entry to the rodeo and concerts), it is never far from our minds that what we are doing is in support of helping kids get a college education.  The best shift to work is the night of the scholarship dinner and seeing the recipients and their families enter the show to receive their awards. 

The rodeo lasts for 3.5 weeks every March so if you are ever in Houston during that time and want to see the world’s largest rodeo, catch a concert or possibly eat something fried (oreos/twinkies/red velvet cake or my favorite, chicken-fried bacon), let me know and I’ll show you around!  Every dime spent goes to a very worthy cause….educating the next generation.

Saw an interesting quote yesterday

Service and Volunteering are the rent that you pay for your earthly home...

 

Keep up the great work Kronos GiveBack Team!  Don't forget to check out the links of the right side of this page for ideas of places you can volunteer!!!

Optimization Services and Keith Koberna Give Back to Cleveland Inner City Schools

(Couldn’t take any pictures for this worthy event because the entity was a school and it would have required permission from parents.)

Here’s a few comments from the experience from Keith.

The students in this school come from low-to-no income households.  When you talk to the kids, you learn that most of them live with their grandparents or mother.  Few know their father and of those who do, many of them say their dad’s in jail.  My goal for the day was to provide them with a positive male presence in their life while helping them to have some fun.

Upon arrival in the kindergarten class, I was introduced and said hello.  Many of the children’s eyes grew wide and many of them sat up straight in their little chairs and leaned when they heard my voice.  One little girl said, “Your voice is really, really deep.” I couldn’t help but smile; my smile seemed to put them at ease. 

As the day progressed with me doing a variety of fun activities with the kids, they asked me lots of questions about what I did (they guessed I was a fireman). I told them I worked for a company that helps companies with paying people like their parents and grandparents.  Some of them told me that Family Services pays their mom and some told me that I should help get money to their mommy.  I felt a lump grow in my throat when they said heartbreaking things like this.

We ended up walking to a neighborhood ice cream parlor and bought all of the kids cones and sundaes.  We spent time at the playground and played a little basketball, kickball, and a few games with water balloons and donuts on a rope.  The day was filled with smiles and fun. While the kids had a good time, the day was very rewarding for me and made me realize that I should definitely spend more time visiting kids who are less fortunate.  Thank you Kronos for giving me an opportunity to spend time with such wonderful kids.”

Service Business Development and Kronos Chicago Give Back Through People's Resource Center - So Many Fantastic Kronites to List - See Below

Thank you Kronos Chicago!  You are committed to your local community. Wonderful work. As Susie wrote - **SPECIAL THANKS TO MY COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS – IT WAS A GREAT DAY - MADE BETTER BY SHARING IT WITH ALL OF YOU**
  • Cheryl Johnson, SSC
  • Fred Miller, PM
  • Robin Platt, SSC
  • Kathy Reszel, Optimization Consultant
  • Susie Salins, SSC
  • Marc Epner, Sales

Since 1975, People’s Resource Center has been bringing neighbors together to respond to hunger and poverty in DuPage County (Illinois).   Today they serve 32,000 individuals through their various programs (offering services to meet basic needs and transform lives).   On May 3, some local Kronites got to see firsthand how PRC is making a difference at our 1st annual Chicagoland Kronos Cares event. 

Please visit www.peoplesrc.org and learn about all of their amazing programs

·         Food Pantries

·         Clothes Closet

·         Homeless Prevention

·         Computer Access and Training

·         Adult Basic Education (ESL and GED)

·         Art Therapy

·         Internships

·         Job Assistance



Service Business Development Gives Back to St. Jude's with a Radiothon and Terra Johnson, ESC

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with pediatric cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Greensboro, NC has been actively involved in radiothons for St. Jude Children’s Hospital since 1989. On December 12-13, 2011, the event raised $155,000 for St. Jude. Terra volunteers every year and it is always a great experience. This year, the most memorable call was received at 5:30 am on December 12th. The caller wanted to donate $2000. The moment the first call was completed, I received a second call from an individual who had heard the first donation. They matched the first caller’s donation and added an additional $1000 to send out a challenge to their fellow employees. What a great day! It was very fulfilling.        

Service Business Development Gives Back Through Junior Achievement and Mike Reed, SSC

Mike Reed volunteered time last week at Doe Run Elementary for Junior Achievement. Here is a brief snapshot of what he covered in 5 – 45 minutes sessions and his feedback on the event. 

A highlight of the day was allowing the children to create their own business, defining the region it would be located in as well as the product they would sell. They determined if transportation was needed from another region to supply their business with a product not available in their area. There were a wide variety of business types! The most unique, a slaughter house! Yes, a slaughter house from a very intelligent young lady who you would not expect that to come from!!!

 

The final activity (pictures attached) was to break the students into groups of 6 and give them a game where they had different business roles and decisions that need to be made by taking risks. The group (business) that was most profitable was awarded with the “Golden Pencil”! I am happy to say that my daughter Mia was in the winning group!