State of the College / Foundation Annual Report

The Volunteer Office has been an important part of the Foundation for more than half of its years in existence. As the Westchester Community College Foundation celebrates fifty years of helping students achieve their dreams, hundreds of volunteers from the community have assisted students over the past year. Since the inception of the Volunteer Corps 28 years ago, vol- unteers have dedicated more than 250,000 hours toward helping students and enhance our community on the main campus in Valhalla. CONVERSATION PARTNERS. Literacy is the first step in developing skills that can ultimately lead to employment. This past year, approximately 250 students in the English Language Institute improved their speaking abilities through one-on-one weekly meetings with their volunteer Conversation Partners. In addition, for more advanced students, volunteers facilitated a series of small group discussions. These Something To Talk About sessions helped students further familiarize themselves to the English language. TUTORS. Academic support is key to helping students achieve their goals. Volunteer tutors have been essential in providing that assistance in the college’s Academic Support Center, Writing Center, Science Tutorial, Math/Physics Tutorial, and Accounting Tutorial. MENTORING. Corporate mentors volunteer in the Workplace Culture Coaching Program, encouraging our business students’ dreams by sharing information and offering relevant advice on career options and corporate culture. Faculty and staff members volunteer through the Connections Mentoring Program, assisting students and ensuring that they each have a volunteer “point person” on campus. Volunteers also serve as Special Services Mentors working with students with disabilities, helping them learn organizational and time management skills. Other Activities include volunteering for the Alumni Council, Collegium. Cultural Affairs, Gateway to Entrepreneurship (G2E) Program, Project Transition, Westchester Center for the Arts, The Native Plant Center, and at various special events. Volunteers also provide free consulting services and participate as members of the Foundation Board and its many committees. When The Native Plant Center launched in 1998 as a program of Westchester Community College Foundation, its leaders were at the forefront in promoting the use of native plants. This past year, as the Foundation celebrated its 50th anniver- sary, the Center honoredmany local trailblazers at its own 20th anniversary gala. Center honorees included Carolyn Summers, who received the Lady Bird Johnson Environ- mental Award, and Lucille Werlinich, who received the Acorn Award. At the dinner, Westchester County Executive George Latimer announced the issuance of an executive order calling for native plants to be used exclusively on County properties. The Center continues to educate an increasing number of gardeners and other landscapemanagers—more than 1,000 this year—through its annual conference, Workforce Devel- opment and Community Education classes, and events held in partnership with other organizations. The Center also be- came an advisor to the newly formed Environmental Science Club for students at the college. NATIVEPLANT CENTER The 20th annual Native Plant Sale attractedmore than 600 people, who took homemore than 11,000 plants. Students from the college’s Philosophia Honors Society, Pleasantville Lab School, and Veterans Program, along with college alum- ni, were among the scores of volunteers who assisted with this popular event. To further its reputation as a significant regional touchstone for information related to native plants, the Center devel- oped a strategic plan for the future. Goals include enhancing and developing educational programs, community outreach, and demonstration areas. VOLUNTEER OFFICE The Center’s New American Cottage Garden won a Planning Achievement Award for landscape design and environ- mental education from the Westchester Municipal Planning Federation, gaining recognition for the college. 2020 State of the College & Foundation Annual Report 26 www.sunywcc.edu 27