AUBERLE VOLUNTEER HONORED BY YWCA AS GREATER MON VALLEY WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

On Friday, October 6, 2006, Marcy Cendroski, tireless and dedicated Auberle volunteer was honored by the McKeesport YWCA as the Greater Mon Valley Women of Achievement Volunteer of the Year. Marcy's acceptance speech explains so well how so many of Auberle's volunteers feel about the children that Auberle cares for, and the difference that they make when they tutor, raise money or connect with a child in any way. Hopefully this is a good reminder to all of us to not only congratulate Marcy, but to thank all of Auberle's volunteers for their help.

Marcy’s comments, which touched the emotions of many in attendance that evening:

“Congratulations to all the women being honored today for their achievements. There are some thank-you’s I need to take of. I would like to thank Peggy Frye, Coordinator of Volunteers at Auberle, for my nomination -- it is an honor just to be nominated. Thank you to the YWCA Women Of Achievement Judging Committee for this recognition. And thanks to my husband, family and friends for being present to share in this recognition.

I accept this award on behalf of volunteers everywhere, but especially on behalf of all the dedicated volunteers at Auberle - men and women who are always ready to take on a new task that will benefit the children, volunteers who are creative and innovative in working with the children and who often reach into their own pockets to benefit those children, volunteers who nurture, mentor, and help educate the young residents. In the six years I’ve been volunteering there, I have learned that there are few things that the Auberle volunteers achieve at Auberle that are accomplished alone

I have been part of several successful volunteer activities at Auberle: the junior boys tutoring/homework help program; the Santa’s Workshop held in December where the children learn the joy of giving not just receiving; monthly birthday parties with cupcakes, chicken wings and pizza, games and small presents; the annual Make a Difference Day Bingo, where profits have purchased a new scoreboard for the gymnasium and are targeting construction of a large outdoor pavilion. Through these activities I’ve been able to spread the Auberle story to family, friends, co-workers, and community - and have been affirmed by their willingness to help. And that is why our house is oftentimes overflowing with material donations for various activities!

The rewards for volunteering at Auberle are sometimes large: helping a young man qualify for a college scholarship, helping a young woman set up her first apartment, seeing successful adoptions or foster care placements, knowing a child has been successfully reunited with his family. But sometimes the rewards are small: helping a child get an “A” in school, or be on the Honor Roll for the first time; watching a little girl have her FIRST birthday party - at Auberle; having a child thank you for helping him master his multiplication tables or learn how to read or spell better; or simply having a child thank you for just showing up every week. The tutoring sessions are one example where the young boys ask if we’re coming the next week - to help them with homework and play educational games and crossword puzzles. They have come to look forward to “learning!”

Every social service agency welcomes your monetary contributions. But sometimes the time we donate is as valuable as the money we donate. I encourage each of you to volunteer somewhere - and I invite everyone here to consider volunteering at Auberle. There are a multitude of volunteer opportunities during the day or evening, weekdays or weekends, in groups, one on one, with boys or with girls.

But - I must warn you - you will likely be involved in a crime while at Auberle:
Some child will steal your heart!”

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