Three Cheers for our Volunteers: Celebrating National Volunteer Day

In honor of National Volunteer Day, we would like to point the spotlight on our 901 volunteers that have served alongside us since the launch of the TGR Learning Lab in 2006. Our volunteers have been crucial to our success thus far and we are so grateful to each individual that has committed countless hours to our students and our programs.

Our volunteers come from different places and stages of life. We have volunteers that are 16 years old and in high school and others that have retired and are looking for opportunities to give back to their communities. Regardless of where they come from and what backgrounds they have, our volunteers have a passion for making a change and have a lot to teach to both our students and staff.

Bringing with them different interests and areas of expertise, our volunteers help with everything from office and clerical work to golf supervision and classroom instructional assistance. On any given week, the TGR Learning Lab has the support of 10 -12 volunteers, all of whom come to work with a heart for giving back and investing into the lives of the next generation.

Volunteers have the opportunity to work directly with youth, serving as positive role models in their lives and influencing them to strive for success. The volunteers, along with our staff, serve as a support network for the students by expressing care, challenging growth, providing guidance, sharing power and expanding possibilities for our students–five key elements identified by the Search Institute that make relationships powerful in young people’s lives.

Research from the Search Institute also shows that students who experience at least one strong developmental relationship with an adult gain more resilience in the face of stress and trauma, and generally do better in all aspects of life than a student who does not have any strong developmental relationships. With these findings in mind, our volunteers work toward actively building strong relationships with our students in order to encourage and guide them be successful in all that they do.

The TGR Learning Lab is so grateful for all the volunteers that have made an impact in our students’ lives and the achievement of our goals thus far. Without the dedication of hundreds and thousands of hours from our volunteers, we would not be able to achieve half of what we aim to. We consider each and every volunteer to be a huge asset to our programs and we are excited to see how we continue to evolve and grow with the help of our volunteers.

Redefining what it means to be a champion.