January 11, 2007, 9:47 pm

VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME & TALENT

There are many ways you can put your talent and time to work. Whatever form your gift may take, you’ll be an important part of helping youth who need it most.

Be an Art with Heart Ambassador: Connect with your local community and represent Art with Heart by visiting nearby children’s hospitals, clinics, youth organizations, schools, annd bookstores to tell them about our therapeutic books.

Host-A-Fundraiser: Plan a small or large-scale event to educate others about us as well as raise funds for our outreach to kids in crisis.

Use Your Artistic Skills with Kids: Through local partnerships, Art with Heart is offering opportunities for artists who are willilng to use our books with high-risk children:

Griffin Home Residential Treatment Center in Renton offers a caring, therapeutic environment where troubled adolescent boys can build new hope for the future–by gaining responsibility, making healthy choices and demonstrating self-sufficiency. They need artists to either meet with boys individually or lead a group of 8 or more kids once a week at the Home (located near Gene Coulon Park). All volunteers will need to complete a background check and a brief and informal orientation (approx. 45 minutes). Please contact Sarah Pemble, Clinical Program Manager, 425.228.5776, ext. 112.

Swedish Medical Center is very excited to begin working with Art with Heart volunteers! The volunteer in this role will provide pediatric patients at Swedish Medical Center with creative opportunities for artistic expression. The ideal volunteer for this role has excellent interpersonal/communication skills and possesses enthusiasm for working with children. The hours and schedule for this role are very flexible. The policy at Swedish requires that you fill out a volunteer packet (which they can mail to you) as well as a Health History Questionnaire (2 MMR vaccinations are required + PPD skin test). You will also go through a brief interview with their volunteer manager and a Child Life Specialist (roughly 1/2 hour each), as well as a four-hour volunteer orientation and an orientation with the Child Life Department (which would happen on your first day of volunteering). If you are interested, please contact the Child Life Department at 206-386-6283.

You can also connect with your favorite children’s organization (school, camp, hospital, nonprofit, clinic) and use our books as curriculum for after-school workshops or one-on-one relationships with kids in your area. Remember that any opportunities that involve direct access to children require a police background check, training and paperwork and are available in the Seattle area only.

Special Events & Activities: We have behind-the-scenes needs for volunteers for one-off projects such as collating, day-of-event help (serving, check-in, check-out, etc.). Watch our e-newsletter for announcements!

Online Research: Projects are available at different times covering different topics and can be done from home.

Computer Support/Web Maintenance: Assist staff with in-house information technology needs.

Graphic Design/Video Editing: Design firm needed to create a direct mail campaign consisting of branded materials. Also help securing printer/paper donation. Video editing needed to help us communicate our message.

Administrative Office Support: Volunteer on a regular basis in the Seattle office – filing, organizing, mailings, etc. Must be detail oriented, self-motivated and proficient in Word and Excel.

Publicity/Marketing: Help us spread the word by writing articles, contacting local press and pitching stories to folks our story and the unique way we are helping youth in crisis. Public relations professionals with strong media contacts and a portfolio of national successes are needed to help create awareness for our services to youth.

Speaker’s Bureau: If you are a professional counselor, therapist, Child Life Specialist or case worker who has used our books and would like to speak about them at conferences, tradeshows, etc., let us know!

Organize a workplace giving opportunity: Ask your company if we can come and make a presentation. Make it even more meaningful by asking your company to match the day’s contributions.

Please note: not all opportunities are available at all times, so be sure to check with our volunteer coordinator at info@artwithheart.org