DuPage Foundation honors volunteer groups

Family Shelter Service, Fair Lady Productions and Naperville CARES have received the DuPage Foundation's 2015 Spirit of Volunteerism Awards.

The DuPage Foundation launched the Spirit of Volunteerism awards in 2011 to recognize organizations that have implemented successful volunteer programs and leveraged volunteers to enhance organizational outcomes.

Since the inaugural awards, six organizations have received the award: CASA of DuPage, DuPage PADS, DuPage Senior Citizens Council, Loaves & Fishes Community Services, People's Resource Center and RE: NEW.

The Spirit of Volunteerism recipients were selected through an application process. The foundation received 33 applications, which were sorted into three categories (small, medium and large) based on the size of the organization's annual operating budget.

A committee comprised of community volunteers spent hours reviewing each of the applications to select the organizations that best demonstrated that volunteers are an integral part of their organization and that their volunteers go above and beyond with their efforts. One recipient was then selected from each category.

"We are delighted to be recognizing these organizations for their vibrant volunteer programs," said Barb Szczepaniak, the foundation's director of programs. "And thanks to the generosity of a foundation donor/adviser who values the importance and impact of volunteer services, these awards are even sweeter because they are accompanied by grants of $30,000, $20,000 and $10,000, respectively.

"The economic challenges over the past few years have forced not-for-profit organizations to become more creative in their utilization of resources," Szczepaniak said. "As a result, volunteers have played an increasingly integral role in helping organizations better serve their constituents."

The following summaries indicate the volunteer programs for which each Spirit of Volunteerism Award winner was recognized:

Family Shelter Service

The vision of Family Shelter Service is to create a community that is free of domestic violence and safe for all. Its mission is to transform lives by offering help and hope to those affected by domestic violence. Family Shelter Service recognizes that volunteers are a valuable resource and their best ambassadors.

In 2014, Family Shelter Service volunteers provided more than 17,000 hours of service, which is equal to eight full-time employees. These volunteers facilitated Family Shelter Service's participation in the International Housewares Show, where vendors of the show donate their products to a not-for-profit organization. A team of 100 volunteers packed and pelleted housewares products, which provided updates to Family Shelter Service's shelter kitchens, with the remaining items sold.

Two hundred volunteers worked 700 hours to help make the holidays a little brighter for Family Shelter Service clients. A "Holiday Shoppe" was offered for clients with toys and gift cards that were solicited by volunteers. In addition, the entire project was managed by one volunteer and the setup, assisting clients and cleanup was fulfilled entirely by volunteers.

A 24/7 hotline, the backbone of the Family Shelter Service offering, is staffed by volunteers. The volunteers are trained and mentored throughout the process and are valued and critical members of the Family Shelter Service team.

Family Shelter Service's Spirit of Volunteerism Award grant will be used to develop a Community Ambassador program. This program will allow the agency to better leverage volunteers to help increase awareness of domestic violence and the impact it has on the DuPage community.

"We cannot meet the growing numbers of domestic violence victims in DuPage County without the support of our community and volunteers," said Robbie MacRoy, director of resource development for Family Shelter Service. "We are honored to receive the Spirit of Volunteerism Award in recognition of our dedicated volunteers."

Fair Lady Productions

Naperville-based Fair Lady Productions makes theater available to everyone who has a passion for the stage. Its flagship program, Kidz Kabaret, a non-audition children's theater group, is partnered with Center Stage Players, an audition-only youth community program, and the Center Stage Theater, a community performing arts center.

Volunteers work more than 20,000 service hours per year to accomplish the mission of the organization. They are in key roles such as costume director, office manager, IT manager and grant coordinator. Volunteers also help with ticket sales, concessions sales and ushering guests at performances. They aid young actors with costumes, makeup and hair.

Outside of the theater performances, volunteers take the lead on daily staffing of the office, answering phones and processing student registrations. All of these tasks are undertaken by just 30 volunteers with specific functions - IT manager Jim Kartalia, fundraising support Susan Vulich and costume and box office support by Susan Love - that contribute to the organization's success.

Naperville CARES

The mission of Naperville CARES is to help local families in financial crisis meet their essential needs by providing emergency financial support and resources. With only one full-time executive director and two part-time positions, Naperville CARES' client program services and office administration functions are performed by volunteers.

The Naperville CARES Car Program, which is managed by a team of volunteers who either work on receiving the car donations or the car repair aspect of the program, help low-income families obtain or maintain working transportation needed to get to work.

One longtime volunteer developed and implemented a new computer database system that helps to streamline the client application process. This also has enabled volunteers to spend more hours assisting clients rather than entering data.

The value of Naperville CARES volunteers also has increased with the implementation of a more involved volunteer event, which included a professional development speaker. This professional development training is one area that will be funded by the Spirit of Volunteerism Award.