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Volunteer Spotlight: Mary Wallis
BVU’s Summer of Service
Volunteer Spotlight: Mary Wallis
Mary Wallis took part in the 2021 Summer of Service. This year’s project was a garden clean up at the Ben Franklin Community Garden in Old Brooklyn. Sixteen people showed up on a sunny July morning to pick up fallen branches from a storm the night before, weed, and beautify a 10-acre space of land in Cleveland’s south side.
“Everyone was immediately engaged in the Summer of Service community garden clean up.” stated Wallis, Marcum LLP Director Of Operations “I was able to interact and work with my coworkers in a different and unique way.” she continued.
Wallis has been volunteering since she was young, from being a young candy striper to serving on the Meals on Wheels Board of Directors. This volunteer experience inspired her because she saw her company’s young professionals eager to jump into volunteer work. “I learned that this garden wasn’t just a place for families to take a plot of land to grow vegetables but it served a school that taught students about farming and gardening.”
This was a 3 hour project for a group of Marcum employees that bonded, taught, and brought coworkers together outside of work.
Encore Careers: A Second Act Can Be More Meaningful
Expanding Nonprofits: Access to Knowledge, Experience and Skills
“We had somebody who could dedicate their time and energy to an initiative that we just weren’t ready for from an internal standpoint.” — Ron Soeder, Former President, Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland
“We get someone of exceptional quality at an amount that we can afford. We can focus on projects that are high priority that we don’t have the professional resources to complete.” —Jean Polster, Former President and CEO of Neighborhood Family Practice
“I wouldn’t have been able to fill the position, hire somebody who had the depth and breadth of knowledge and have the ability to truly be an independent and functioning person. I wouldn’t have been able to afford that level of person.” — Melanie Hogan, executive director of LEAP
Fellows help nonprofits build capacity, grow strategically and ultimately, have a broader impact on the community. Here’s How It Works.
Step 1: Identify the Need
With guidance from BVU, the nonprofit will identify and outline the strategic project and skills required. The nonprofit will complete a project request form.
Step 2: Recruitment
BVU will recruit, screen and interview candidates to learn more about their background, skills and fit for the project.
Step 3: Selection
The nonprofit will interview candidates from BVU and make their selection.
Step 4: Engagement
BVU will bring together the nonprofit and candidate to review project details and finalize the engagement.