The Bronx Volunteer Coalition is seeking nominations for a few of the borough’s most remarkable volunteers.
The group will recognize four Bronxites whose efforts to help improve their communities serve as an example of the importance of volunteerism and mentoring.
The goal of the coalition is to boost volunteering in the borough by acting as a hub for residents and member organizations, allowing them to share information and opportunities to contribute to their neighborhoods.
An official for one of the coalition’s core organizations says the group aims to help make up for a shortage of volunteers in the borough.
“Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC is currently facing what we call a mentoring gap in the Bronx, where 29% of the children we serve reside in the Bronx, but just 5% of our mentors do,” said Michael Coughlin, that group’s Chief Quality Assurance Officer. Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC is a citywide one-to-one mentoring organization that plays a lead role in the coalition.
“Thousands of volunteers contribute to hundreds of organizations throughout the Bronx. Their work has a profound effect on the lives of many Bronxites. We want to celebrate their contribution and achievement,” says Marlon Molina, a founding member of the Bronx Volunteer Coalition.
Four categories for Bronx Volunteer of the Year will be nominated: “Young Volunteer Leader”, “Neighborhood Impact”, “Lifetime Volunteer Service”, and “Organized Volunteer Impact”.
The nomination process is open to the public through March 31. Voting is open to the public and will run through April.
Awards will be presented during Bronx Week in May.
To nominate a Bronx Volunteer of the year, visit www.bxvc.org/votya.
For more information on the criteria for each award category as well as the nomination process please contact Samara Weiss at [email protected].