In my two years working at the Centre, I have had the privilege of working with a truly amazing group of volunteers. I’ve witnessed the care and kindness with which they approach our learners, the resilience as they work through challenges, and the growth as they learn more about themselves and their community. As part of our National Volunteer Week celebration, I am overjoyed to recognize a few of our volunteers for going above and beyond.
This year, we have established the Ripple Effect Award, our highest honour that is given to the volunteer(s) who demonstrate excellence in their volunteering and also champion literacy outside of CFL. We have selected two recipients of the Ripple Effect Award in 2024:
Heather-Jane Au is our current Chair of the Board of Directors. Since joining our Board in 2017, Heather-Jane has been dedicated to the success of the CFL. She has shared her passion for literacy with her personal and professional networks, welcoming new volunteers, donors, and advocates to our team. She has taken steps to ensure that our Board is diverse and representative of the communities we serve. And she works tirelessly to support our staff, ensuring we have the tools we need to succeed. Heather-Jane’s ripple effect is a product of human connection: she inspires each person she connects with to become an advocate for literacy.
Ashley Parkes began volunteering with the return of our in-person family programs last Fall, but that is far from the beginning of her journey with literacy! She has been involved in community literacy programs since 2013 and attended her first Rhymes that Bind program with her own children in 2018. With many programs having stopped in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, she worked with her community league to establish her own literacy program – something she continues to this day. Ashley is always willing to lend a hand – from putting up posters, to leading songs and stories in programs, to helping another CFL learner create a new community literacy program. Ashley’s ripple effect is fully hands-on: she gets involved in any way she can, building opportunities for learning inside and outside of the CFL.
We would also like to congratulate these 7 volunteers on showing excellence in their roles:
- Adrielle Soriano Kraushar – Best In Class for Adult Tutors
- Aroosa Ahmad – Best In Class for Adult Tutors
- Sheridan Mahoney – Best In Class for Adult Tutors
- Kathy Holubitsky – Best In Class for Family Group Programs
- Cynthia Hui – Best In Class for Adult Group Programs
- Jen Taylor – Best In Class for Group Programs
- Connie Yuen – Best In Class for Board of Directors
It has been an honour working with these and our many other volunteers. Whether working directly with learners, or providing support to the entire organization, every single volunteer has changed lives. I think I can speak on behalf of our entire team when I say: Thank You!
~ Claudia Selles, Volunteer Coordinator
Feeling inspired? You can join our team! Get started at famlit.ca/volunteer.
