Plenty of Reasons to Celebrate

We’re getting excited for our 15th Anniversary Celebration – just one week away!

With a decade and a half under the CalSERVES belt, we’ve gone through a handful of name changes, have seen programs grow, change, and develop, and have watched our dedicated AmeriCorps and staff alumni move on to be game-changers in the social, public, and education sectors.

As we as a staff look back on our history, we’re filled with a deep sense of all that we have to celebrate. Jacqueline Rocha, a former AmeriCorps team member recently shared a heart-warming story story with us that demonstrates the many aspects of our program that we’re celebrating this year. Take a look:

“I began as a part-time mentor at Taylor Mountain in 2010. I was assigned the fourth grade cool school class and a partner named Kim. My first year I made amazing friends and got to know some incredible kids. I fell in love with those fourth graders. They were so hard to handle but absolutely worth it. Kim and I became friends too. We shared our frustrations and our successes. I followed my students into fifth grade the following year and got to work one-on-one with many of them as a tutor. It never got easy, but the rewards keep on coming. I still visit Taylor Mountain as often as I can. My students still get excited to see me, tell me about the books they are reading and ask if I am coming back for good. I will be volunteering with those once-fourth-graders at their sixth grade camp in just a few weeks. Next month I will attending Kim's wedding with many other past mentors. I could not have predicted how rich my experience with CalSERVES would be and I am so grateful for it.”

We’re proud of the impact and connections we make in our programs. Thank you, Jacqueline, for sharing your great story – we’re excited to celebrate the achievements of program alumni like you Arlene Francis Center next Friday!

If you haven’t yet purchased tickets to our event, it’s not too late! We have just a couple of tickets left. You can register online at www.calserves.org. 

Human Race Follow Up

Consider this blog post an off-brand Hallmark thank you card. It’s a “we appreciate you,” a “we value you,” a “we-couldn’t-do-this-without-you” kind of card to each CalSERVES mentor and staff member who spent the past two months raising money for our 1,500+ students involved in the CalSERVES after-school program. More importantly, this little paragraph is a GIGANTIC nod to the generous donors who shelled out dough that will keep our kids’ noses in books instead of in trouble over the summer.

As of Monday, May 7 CalSERVES has received donations from over 700 people and has raised nearly $19,000. These numbers are remarkable considering that, in an economy bleaker than it has been in decades, we have not only met, but we have exceeded our goal of $15,000! CalSERVES has not seen this kind of success in a couple years. These numbers are humbling. What was an even bigger reality check, though, was the walk itself.

As someone who has never participated in the Sonoma County Human Race, I remained blissfully in my CalSERVES bubble. Before Saturday, my only concern was my kids at my school. Sure, I considered that since the Human Race is the largest fundraising event for Sonoma County non-profits that several other groups—maybe even several dozen more groups—from the area would drop by this event. What I saw upon arrival at the walk, however, jolted me from my 7a.m. stupor. Floods of people gathered on Sonoma Avenue in Santa Rosa, each showing support for the organizations that do so much for this northern California community. 

In true CalSERVES form, members elevated the energy by arriving in themed costumes specific to their sites. Bellevue represented the “nerd” population proudly, Kawana looked colorful in their shorts and tube socks, Wright personified #thefarm with plaid shirts and farmer hats, Meadow View kept it cool in their dark shades, Taylor Mountain and R.L. were ready to run! The office? Well, eat your heart out, Olivia Newton-John. They rocked 80s off-the-shoulder shirts and leg warmers. Each site came with its own motivation. Where did we find it at such an early hour? It wasn’t from a tall cup of coffee or a bowl of Special K cereal. It was from the notion that in only three kilometers we, and those who contributed, could change the lives of thousands of families.

Again, thank you to all who have participated in and donated to the Human Race. 

Lauren Loeffler

Wright Charter VIP

To view pictures from the Human Race, please visit here.

The Human Race 2011

 CalSERVES Runners/Walkers Participating: 110

Money Raised: $13,500.00

 Books for 1400 students: PRICELESS

Students "True Professionals" at Johnny Garlics

Gabrielle O'Neill, CalSERVES VIP Fellow at Wright Charter School

Gabby O'Neill (right) and student Taylor Johnson with Johnny
Garlic's waitress

On Thursday, January 13th Wright Charter’s After School Program teamed up with Johnny Garlic’s Pasta Grill for a dine and donate fundraiser. An added bonus for ten students was the opportunity to train and serve as wait staff. After School students from 5th - 8th grade were selected to participate. They learned the basics of customer service, restaurant etiquette, and food preparation.

The students were so excited to have an opportunity to participate and by the end of the night they looked like true professionals. The fundraiser was such a success and the money we raised will go towards field trips and presenters for our students at Wright Charter’s After School Program.

Bring It! The Human Race is Coming!

Join CalSERVES in our Annual Fundraising Event

Saturday, May 10, 2010

7am- 10am

CalSERVES will be walking to support literacy development for children. We have lots of ways for you to participate with us – from making a cash donation to walking with us and raising funds.

We are walking to support our students this summer. Many children lose ground academically during the summer months, particularly those from economically disadvantaged households, and summer reading loss is one factor contributing to the achievement gap. We want all students to have easy access to books over the summer. CalSERVES’ goal is to raise $15,000 this year to support summer programs and provide books for over 1,500 children to take home over the summer.

Please join us in supporting our children by making a donation and/or walking with us on Race Day, Saturday May 8th. Click below to visit our donation page and make a difference today!

CalSERVES Donation Page

This Year's Theme: Give From the Heart. 

Check back soon to see T-shirt Contest Design contenders! 

Gearing up for the Human Race!

We are getting ready for the Human Race! Every year, CalSERVES participates in the Sonoma County Human Race, a fundraiser organized by the Volunteer Center. Thousands of people raise money for non-profits and participate on Race Day. We will be among the crowd!

Please drop by CalSERVES' Human Race Donation Site to make a contribution and see how we are coming on our goal to raise $15,000! The money we raise goes directly to the children we work with - we buy books for our students and support Summer programs.

Our own talented Jeremy King put this video together. Take a look! You can also view other CalSERVES videos on our YouTube Channel.

The Human Race!

Julie McClure, CalSERVES Program Director


What a beautiful day for a walk….100 of us joined together in the early hours of Saturday morning to walk in support of our kids and CalSERVES. We mixed into the group of thousands making the walk for their favorite program or cause. It is so wonderful to be among such caring and dedicated folks, taking the time out of their weekend to say “This is important and I am going to put my money and my time behind it.” It is very heartening for me. Many of us walked the shorter route, some ran, and some took the long stroll around Spring Lake. I think it is safe to say, all of us took away a great experience from the day! And yes…we have raised over $14,000!


If you would like to join in our fundraising efforts, you can make an on-line donation at our Human Race Page.