Volunteer Appreciation Week 2024

Volunteer Appreciation Week

We are grateful for all of the ways that our volunteers share their time and talents with our students. They offer insights about their career paths, share tips from their college experiences, and more. We were delighted to host a Volunteer Appreciation Night earlier this month to thank our volunteers. Meet some of our champions below and find out how you can get involved!

Students and adult volunteer sit at classroom tables, looking over a stack of magazines the volunteer brought.

Volunteers and students at Cool Careers, Potential Paths

Alumni and staff wearing college t-shirts gather for group photo

Alumni return to share college transition tips at Collegiate Send Off

Sharing a laugh about college and career pivots

Volunteers are seated in groups of 2 or 3, with two adults at front of room giving a welcome speech

Volunteer Appreciation Night hosted at the Skimm

Over 30 adults and students in a classroom, some seated and some standing, facing camera for photo.

Volunteer orientation at TYWLS Bronx

Large group of students and adult volunteers are seated for photo in gymnasium

Student ambassadors and volunteers at TYWLS Manhattan

Over 40 adult volunteers and students in a science lab, some seated and some standing.

Volunteers at TYWLS Queens

Ariadne Reza

Ariadne’s family has first-hand experience of the power of girls’ education. Her sister is a TYWLS alumna and she recalls the feelings of empowerment and inclusion at the school’s events. “I remember helping her fill out her application and being jealous that I was too old to go there!” Ariadne has since volunteered at several Cool Careers, Potential Paths events to share her education and career journey with current students.

Young woman with wavy brown hair in black shirt smiles at camera

Ariadne has volunteered for several career events across the city!

Six adult volunteers gather around a school sign in the gymnasium

Ariadne and other Citi volunteers at a Cool Careers event

Ariadne, center panelist, and other volunteers talk about their career choices

Quote graphic with text "I do my best to remind them they are strong, powerful, and capable because I know I really needed to hear that at their age."

Nora Anzer

Nora, a graduate of TYWLS Astoria, volunteered at a Collegiate Send Off event to share about life at Baruch with high school seniors who were about to transition to college. We’re grateful Nora’s advice helped put the seniors at ease as they began their own college journeys!

Quote graphic with text: "Volunteering as an alumni is incredible. I'm now in a position where I can give advice based on the experiences that I've had."

Eight young women in matching "Collegiate Send Off" t-shirts pose for a photo in an auditorium

Nora, third from left, and fellow alumni volunteers at our Collegiate Send Off for high school students

Young woman with long hair and hoop earrings is seated at a bench, facing the camera

Thanks for volunteering with us, Nora!

Group of alumni seated at front of room talk to students in an auditorium, with projected screen with text "Alumni Panels"

Alumni volunteers share college tips with high school seniors

Jim McMahon

Jim first learned about Student Leadership Network through a friend from the O’Shea Family Foundation. As a volunteer at our career day series, he shared with students about his early part-time jobs and a pivot into becoming a teacher in his 30s. He encouraged students to think about the differences between a job and a career, and to explore their passions. Thank you Jim for sharing part of your special day with us!

Adult volunteer gestures with hands as he speaks with a group of students around a table. Students are looking at yearbooks while he speaks.

Jim talked about the joys of teaching, and shared yearbooks from the school where he taught for three decades.

Two adults and a student practice talking about career paths in the gymnasium

Volunteers Daria and Jim practiced their career conversations with a TYWLS student.

Adult volunteer sits at head of oval shaped table with students

Jim encouraged students to be open to change and finding their passions at different times in their lives.

Quote graphic with text: "I was thrilled to participate in Cool Careers with my wife Liz on our wedding anniversary. The number of volunteers in general and of women volunteers in particular that came to speak to the students about their career journeys exceeded my expectations."

Allison Tanenbaum

Allison first connected to Student Leadership Network through her employer, Apollo Global Management. She has since hosted students at the office, helped alumni craft their elevator pitches, and volunteered at career days at TYWLS. We are grateful for her dedication to our students!

Quote graphic with text: "I really enjoyed speaking with students. Their curiosity, enthusiasm and interest in career opportunities really shines when you meet in person."

Students and adult volunteers talk with each other while seated around school desks

Allison, seated in center, discusses her career path with students.

Woman in a dark shirt and patterned white blazer smiles to camera

Thank you for volunteering with us, Allison!

Four adults present in front of room while students and alumni are seated at small tables

Allison and fellow volunteers facilitate an elevator pitch exercise for students and alumni.

Students are seated on a long couch inside an office, with two adult volunteers seated in chairs on opposite ends

Apollo Global Management hosts students for an office visit.

Want to get involved?

Volunteer with us! Our last Cool Careers, Potential Paths event of the school year is hosted at TYWLS Staten Island on May 15, 2024. You’ll be able to network with fellow volunteers over breakfast, take a brief tour of the school, then share about your college and career choices with our middle school students.

Can’t join us in May? Our volunteer events are updated every Fall. Check our Volunteer page in late September for the latest opportunities. Thank you for your interest and support!