Each year at the end of April we have a chance to recognize our incredible Mary’s Center volunteers during National Volunteer Appreciation Week, this year held from April 21-27. Through the combined efforts of individual volunteers, school groups, community organizations, and corporate partners, Mary’s Center’s volunteers help make the scope and reach of our mission possible. Read below to hear from one of our board members, high school volunteers, and corporate service day participants about their experience with Mary’s Center as we celebrate their dedication to our community!
Dr. Phillippe Rouchon – Board Member since 2021
“Serving on the board of Mary’s Center allows me the opportunity to give back to something much bigger than myself. This organization impacts over 65,000 people in the DC region and having the ability to reach so many people is greater than what any one individual could do. The board has representation from so many people with a variety of backgrounds and I am proud to serve alongside some of the best and brightest in their respective fields.
With a variety of other organizations in the area, Mary’s Center stands out among the rest given the mission they have with serving immigrant populations with respect to maternal and child health care. Mary’s Center has come from humble beginnings which speaks to the vision and commitment of the organization’s founder, Maria Gomez. Seeing how this growth has fueled other developments in terms of our affiliated programs including Briya Charter School and just seeing how we can firsthand create healthier future generations is important. Healthcare is such a vital part of life and being a general dentist I am a witness to the transformational effect of optimal healthcare.
Being part of this organization represents something that I wholeheartedly believe in, the social change model, and how it takes all things into consideration with respect to nurturing the development of the entire person. The power of being able to shape the trajectory of one’s outcome in life is amazing and having so many people that believe in our model is what gives me the strength to continue serving on the board. Also being the child of immigrant parents, I can see myself in the faces of the people we serve. Having this organization support so many while helping them get additional stability in life and opportunities themselves to give back is key and I look forward to supporting the organization for many years to come.”
Gabi Green – High School Volunteer
Gabi Green has volunteered with Mary’s Center since she was a little girl, but now as a junior in high school at Sidwell Friends, she’s taken it a step further to engage her school across grades and clubs to get involved with Mary’s Center. This past holiday season, Gabi led a coordinated effort between the fifth graders, student government, and the Latin American Society at Sidwell Friends to donate items and assemble 100 meal kits for Mary’s Center’s annual Thanksgiving Drive.
“I was grateful for this opportunity to be able to give this exposure to the 5th graders and other students in my school. My family has always made community engagement a priority, and it was really special to be able to share that with my classmates. This experience allowed me to transition from participating in a community event to leading one. For me, this experience wasn’t just about bringing awareness to Mary’s Center, but also actually doing things to make a difference. Mary’s Center is only a 15-minute bus ride away from our school, so everyone was excited to be able to make an impact so close to home and helping those in need. At school, I feel like there is a gap between learning about something and doing it, but opportunities like this help me and my classmates actually put into play what we’re learning. When I started the project, the goal was 100 meal kits, and I was nervous we wouldn’t hit it. But seeing how excited the 5th graders got about it and how we were inspiring each other gave me hope. We were able to hit that goal and are planning do it again this year!”
Clark Construction Women’s Insight Network Employee Resource Group (WIN ERG)
Lauren Evoy: “Volunteering at Mary’s Center with Clark’s WIN ERG is always a highlight for me. One of my personal favorites happened last summer with a few of our Summer Associates and WIN members when we visited Mary’s Center to sort donations for the upcoming fall/winter season. We not only had a fantastic time getting to know one another better, but we also were fortunate enough to see the full facility that serves so many families in the region. We’re looking forward to another memorable year of volunteering with Mary’s Center in 2024.”
Sydney Greenspan: “I always look forward to volunteering at Mary’s Center as a member of Clark Construction’s WIN ERG. Mary’s Center embraces all individuals and provides support in essential functions such as healthcare, education, and social services. These core values, such as an inclusive community, are rooted within our mission at WIN. I have enjoyed taking part in volunteering events such as book and clothing sorting, closet restocking, and our annual holiday tour drive. My favorite memory at Mary’s Center was being able to tour the full facility and learn more about their high-quality services. I am looking forward to many more volunteering events to come!”
Rebekah Wynn: “Volunteering with Mary’s Center has been incredibly rewarding. Their dedication to community well-being and impactful change are values we also share. Our annual Mary’s Center Toy Drive has become a cherished tradition for many of our employees. Held during the holiday season, the drive allows our regional office and jobsite teams to donate gifts for deserving children. We look forward to continuing our partnership and support of Mary’s Center in the future.”