YPC

The Young Professional Committee (YPC) is a group of like-minded individuals, usually under 40, committed to promoting volunteerism in New York City especially among young people to continue the traditions of volunteering and philanthropy.

You can experience the YPC at your own pace. You can just be part of our mailing list and be informed when we have an event or activity, like a one-time team volunteering event for which you can sign up. Or you can also become more involved and help organize our events and activities by becoming a member of the YPC steering committee and getting involved in fundraising, event planning, marketing & public relations to promote volunteerism.

Whatever you chose, VRC’s YPC offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a great cause, meet new people with similar interests, as well as an opportunity to hone your leadership skills and become involved with a non-profit agency at a substantive level.

If you are interested in joining VRC’s YPC, or want more information, please give us a call at 212-889-4805. We will be glad to get into more detail with you and see what role would fit you best.

Upcoming Events

2008

GROW INVOLVED ON MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY
P.S. 57, 176 East 115th Street at 3rd Avenue, Manhattan

Children for Children^® (CFC), a New York not-for-profit founded by parents to foster community involvement and social responsibility in young people, offers opportunities for young people from preschool through high school to "grow involved," through hands-on service and philanthropy programs that teach the value of volunteering and giving.  On January 21, Children for Children will hold it’s Fifth Annual "Grow Involved on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day."  Honoring Dr. King's legacy of a lifetime devoted to service, participants will complete over 14 hands-on service projects to benefit numerous New York City community-based organizations.  VRC volunteers will assist youth participants in doing their service projects and in teaching them about the importance of community service. Last year, several VRC volunteers participated in this event, which turned out to be one of the most fulfilling, active, and interesting of the year.

PLEASE EMAIL BRETT ROBERTSON AT BRETT@VOLUNTEER-REFERRAL.ORG IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN ANY OF THESE EVENTS

Past Events

Saturday, June 23^rd, 2007 – The All Stars Project – “All Stars Talent Show Network”
On select Saturdays during the year, you can experience the energy of Hip-Hop and the creativity of New York City's young people in the developmental environment of the All Stars Talent Show Network.  VRC volunteers will be assisting young people from New York's inner-city communities in putting on a fabulous show.

The All Stars Project, Inc. creates outside of school, educational and performing arts activities for thousands of poor and minority young people. It sponsors community and experimental theatre, develops leadership training and pursues volunteer initiatives that build and strengthen communities.

Sunday, June 3rd, 2007 – Green Chimneys: “With Wings of Prayer: Birds of Prey Day”
Take a short trip to the country-side this summer and volunteer with us at Green Chimneys’ annual celebration dedicated to children, the environment and birds of prey. There will be a fabulous stage show with celebrated animal experts, celebrities, pony rides for the kids, farm tours, a BBQ and much more.

Green Chimney's is a multi-service, non-profit agency that focuses on children with emotional, behavioral and learning challenges. To this end, they operate a school and use their farm, animal-assisted therapy and offer specialized treatment and education opportunities to help restore possibilities and create futures for these children as well as for other children in the community.

Saturday, May 5th, 2007 – The Children’s Aid Society
Come join us as we celebrate Derby Day with The Children's Aid Society (CAS). Derby Day is an annual community enhancement day when volunteers work together to help beautify and improve CAS community centers and schools through projects such as gardening, painting, and organizing street fairs. (Time/Location TBA)

The Children's Aid Society is a lifeline and a safe haven to New York City's children and families most in need of assistance. We carry out our mission through a broad range of essential health, education and social services.

Monday, March 5th, 2007. Networking/ volunteering/ social event at West. Volunteers worked to distribute a mailing for the League of Women Voters to increase voter awareness while meeting new people and having fun at West Lounge.

Saturday, February 10th, 2007. Volunteers worked with students at Children for Children to send art and school supplies to children who desperately need them in South Africa.

2006

In January 2006 , theYPC organized a Pizza and Bingo Party at a Service Center for Homeless People at the Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter. Our volunteers arranged a pizza lunch, which the clients of the center appreciated very much. After lunch, there was time to play bingo and award prizes to the winners.

In February 2006, the YPC joined a project from Free Arts NYC and Children's Aid Society. YPC volunteers were each paired with a child ages 5 to 12. Together they would go through several theme based recreational activities.

In March 2006, our event was at the Sarah Powell Huntington House, a family reunification residence of the Women's Prison Association. The residence is for homeless women who have been in the criminal justice system and one of the goals of the program is to reunite these women with their children. The event, an Eggstravaganza, included the decorating of eggs, making baskets, and an egg hunt.

In April 2006, VRC attended the NYC Youth Volunteer Expo, "Dare To Be Involved" which was sponsored by ELLEGirl Magazine and WB11. The cause was getting young people involved in volunteer work and thus helping to create the next generation of volunteers and ultimately philanthropists and civic leaders. YPC volunteers helped staffing the information table at the entrance to the Expo and provided general information to attendees about the Expo. Our volunteers also promoted VRC.

In May 2006, the Young Professional Volunteers helped out at the "hottest sale in town": Lighthouse's POSH sale, where savvy New Yorkers pick up all their gently used designer clothes at bargain rates. The YPC helped organizing and setting up tables of clothing for sale. It was a great opportunity to help the Lighthouse which supports programs and services for the visually impaired while also being part of this NYC fashion event!

In July 2006, YPC organized a Picnic in the park for residents of Carnegie East House for Seniors. YPC volunteers took the residents to a park nearby and had a nice lunch. The residents enjoyed the time outside, the attention and the lunch.

On July 2006, Volunteer Referral Center’s Young Professional Committee organized a happy hour at West Lounge. The turnout was great, as thirty-one people enjoyed socializing and watching the sunset over the Hudson. Look for our next social events on this website and make sure you'll be able to attend!

More information

If you want more information, want to participate, or want to be on the mailing list of the YPC to be invited to participate in our team-volunteering activities, please send an email to ypc@volunteer-referral.org, or give us a call at 212-889-4805.

We respect your privacy and your information will be used only to assist your search for a volunteer position, or for the VRC to get in touch with you. It will never be sold or released to other organizations. Click here to read our Privacy Policy.

VRC's Newsletters

Twice a year VRC publishes a newsletter. The newsletters contains interesting articles on volunteering, our Young Professional Committee, VRC, and so on. You can read the newsletters online (PDF) by clicking on the links below.

1. 2005 Spring Newsletter

2. 2005 Fall Newsletter

3. 2006 Spring Newsletter