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Each year, Swift recognizes three dedicated volunteers that have gone above and beyond in their involvement in the organization as well as taken great initiative and generated a lasting, positive impact on Swift. Please help us congratulate Hillary Lorsch, Alyssa Manzo, and Teanna Pilkinton for their hard work and dedication to furthering the mission of Swift! Come celebrate with us at the Swift Appreciation Event on Tuesday, April 2, 4-8pm. Awards presentation will begin at 6:30pm. Meet the award RECIPIENTS!
Don't forget to register for the Swift Appreciation Event!  Meet Teanna! Our 2019 Outstanding Teen Volunteer. We sat down with Teanna and talked about her volunteerism and the value of Swift for her. Find the full interview below! Help us congratulate Teanna at the Swift Appreciation Event on Tuesday, April 2, at 6:30pm. More info and to register-Click HERE! Involvement Q: How have you been involved and (how long) with Swift as a volunteer? A: "I was introduced to Camp Swift as a camper all the way back in 2013, and I had the time of my life. Years passed and I found Swift again and instantly started volunteering at Club Swift and Swift After School during my sophomore year two years ago. I then interned for Mike in 2018 during the summer and learned the back works of a nonprofit. Also last year, I joined Team Swift and was able to go to both sessions of Camp Swift; I am still on the teen-board this school year as well." Q: What do you see as the most valuable aspect of your experience as a Swift volunteer? A: "Starting when I was only 11 when I attended my first session as a camper, Swift has been teaching me core values and important skills like teamwork, communication, and respect for others. All of these *ethics* teach me on how to be a better role model for not only the kids, but for my peers, like other volunteers." Impact Q: Please tell us about any specific success that your involvement with our organization helped you achieve, and how. A: "The Swift Youth Foundation opened my eyes to the nonprofit world and inspired me to start my own hobby of volunteering all the time and even started looking into creating my own foundation in the future. In the mean time though, I started bringing suitcases of clothes to Kenya every other year to orphanages and volunteer weekly with my National Honor Society." Q: Can you tell me about a specific event or experience that exemplifies why Swift Youth Foundation is such an impactful organization? A: "I can’t choose. The pool at Camp Swift is something so basic and simple, and usually as a counselor or lifeguard, you get to teach one or two of these kids how to swim but it’s not just that. these kids learn how to trust you and themselves in the water and the whole experience strengthens your relationship with that child. That child will remember camp and that moment and will carry it with them. Not only Camp Swift has those sentimental moments, Swift After School is an opportunity for kids to grow with the volunteers through the school year and simply watching this kids follow your footsteps and being able to teach them these values shows how impactful Swift can really be." Q: How has your experience with Swift impacted the person you are today? A: "Social work is what I want to do in my life, mainly because of Swift, but also importantly because of the people. I want to love what I’m going to be doing for the rest of my life and I love the people who volunteer and try to better our communities and help our youth grow up into this world, while having fun." Initiative Q: How has Swift inspired your volunteerism? A: "I’ve been volunteering weekly now for all of high school and don’t plan on stopping in college, as I’m minoring in sociology so I can continue to work in social work professionally. I am now on my school’s NHS board so that I can spread and lead others into the world of volunteering." Q: What creative or innovative ways have you volunteered with Swift? A: "I interned for a summer for Mike Evans so I can learn the day-to-day work for a nonprofit organization." Help us congratulate Teanna at the Swift Appreciation Event on Tuesday, April 2, at 6:30pm. More info and to register-Click HERE!  Meet Alyssa! Our 2019 Outstanding Support Staff Volunteer. We sat down with Alyssa and talked about her volunteerism and the value of Swift for her. Find the full interview below! Help us congratulate Alyssa at the Swift Appreciation Event on Tuesday, April 2, at 6:30pm. More info and to register-Click HERE! INVOLVEMENT Q: How have you been involved and (how long) with Swift as a volunteer? A: "I have been involved as an adult volunteer at Camp Swift and mentor at Swift after school programs and Swift Saturday’s. My first time being involved with Swift was last Summer 2018 as an adult volunteer." Q: What do you see as the most valuable aspect of your experience as a Swift volunteer? A: "The most valuable aspect of my experience as a Swift volunteer is being able to mentor the youth in these programs and make everlasting positive impacts. Implementing college education is something that I believe is important and showing youth that if I can do it they can too." Impact Q: Please tell us about any specific success that your involvement with our organization helped you achieve, and how. A: "Through my involvement with the Swift Youth Foundation I have been able to start a first ever Swift Youth club at ASU along with other ASU students. Through this club ASU students who want to volunteer with youth have been able to attend Swift after school programs and Swift Saturdays. Through this club we have been able to pitch a new program idea called “Swift University”. This is where ASU will completely fund a Swift Saturday program and we will be able to implement different college subjects into education stations. These range from Psychology, Physics, English, and Chemistry." Q: Can you tell me about a specific event or experience that exemplifies why Swift Youth Foundation is such an impactful organization? A: "For me going to the after school programs and seeing the 3rd graders have fun, work together, and learn new things during these programs exemplifies to me why Swift is so impactful. A lot of kids go home after school with no fun activities to do but this program keeps these kids entertained and keeps them out of any trouble. Camp Swift is also amazing because the ability to just go to camp for free has never crossed my mind. As a youth attending this camp you are exposed to experiences that make you more social, learn team building skills, leadership skills, and long lasting mentor relationships." Q: How has your experience with Swift impacted the person you are today? A: "Swift has impacted the person I am today by making me more responsible and has made me successful in college. As president of the Swift Youth Club I have a big responsibility in making sure everything is going smoothly, that people are volunteering and having a good experience with the club. Managing a successful club takes hard work, dedication, and responsibility. Swift has helped me in college because I feel more connected with my university and the people there. I have met many new amazing people from all different types of backgrounds that want to volunteer with youth just as much as I do." Initiative Q: How has Swift inspired your volunteerism? A: "Swift has inspired me to spread the love for volunteering with other ASU students. It has also made me more dedicated in spreading higher education to youth. It is important to start young and tell kids that they can do whatever they set their mind to if they just work hard, get good grades, and have a set goal in mind." Q: What creative or innovative ways have you volunteered with Swift? A: "As mentioned before ASU colleagues and I founded a first ever chapter of Swift at Arizona State University called the Swift Youth Club. I have been able to drive ASU students to Swift after school programs every Wednesday at Crockett Elementary. I have also been able to bring them along to Swift Saturday events. In this way I have been able to expose a lot of students to Swift and we will only keep growing as the club gets more exposure." Help us congratulate Alyssa at the Swift Appreciation Event on Tuesday, April 2, at 6:30pm. More info and to register-Click HERE!  Meet Hillary! Our 2019 Outstanding Alumni Volunteer. We sat down with Hillary and talked about her volunteerism and the value of Swift for her. Find the full interview below! Help us congratulate Hillary at the Swift Appreciation Event on Tuesday, April 2, at 6:30pm. More info and to register-Click HERE! Involvement Q: How have you been involved and (how long) with Swift as a volunteer? A: "I started volunteering with Swift my freshman year of high school. My first event was the Swift Carnival. After years of hearing about my brother attending Camp Swift, I finally was old enough to be a Swift counselor during the summer of 2011. Since then I have spent 8 summers volunteering at Camp Swift. I have been a counselor, support staff member, unit head, and admin member. I also have had the opportunity during the last year to work with Swift Youth Foundation on fundraising campaigns and graphic design work." Q: What do you see as the most valuable aspect of your experience as a Swift volunteer? A: "Swift Youth Foundation taught me to be a mentor in so many ways. I was 14-years-old during my first summer as a Camp Swift counselor. There was a lice epidemic that summer and I was placed as the counselor for the girls that caught the lice. When it was time to put the girls to bed, one of the campers started to cry. It had been a very long day for these campers, they were taken from their cabin, had to have their hair washed and picked at by a stranger, and then finally once the day was over, they had to sleep in a new cabin with other campers of various age groups. The young girl who started to cry that night happened to be only a year younger than me. I had to forget the fact that I was only 14-years-old and be there for this camper who was scared and missing her family. Swift gave me a different perspective on life and privilege, something every teenager should experience." Impact Q: Please tell us about any specific success that your involvement with our organization helped you achieve, and how. A: "Swift Youth Foundation gave me the confidence to take on leadership roles throughout college and as an adult." Q: Can you tell me about a specific event or experience that exemplifies why Swift Youth Foundation is such an impactful organization? A: "During one summer session at Camp Swift, I had a camper who didn’t want to get into the pool. She sat on the side with her feet dangling in with a smile on her face hiding what really underlyed why she wouldn’t join her cabinmates in the pool. I asked her why she didn’t want to go swimming. She told me when she was only a few years old, she started to drown and she is scared if she gets in the pool it will happen again. I asked if she would start by taking one step in the pool at a time. By the end of our swimming hour she was practicing swimming in the shallow end by holding my hands. Learning to face our fears is one of many ways Swift helps campers to grow." Q: How has your experience with Swift impacted the person you are today? A: "Swift Youth Foundation taught me to be a mindful listener, that sometimes all anyone needs is for you to listen or even to just sit with them." Initiative Q: How has Swift inspired your volunteerism? A: "Swift has made me realize how important it is to volunteer with organizations in your community. Being able to meet the people the nonprofit is benefiting is way more meaningful than sending money off to places you’ve never even been to." Q: What creative or innovative ways have you volunteered with Swift? A: "One of my greatest talents is my eye for graphic design. As Swift develops and grows as an organization they are always looking for ways to enhance their image through media and marketing. After graduating from college, I had more time to lend my graphic design talents to help build the Swift brand while I also am getting some great real life experience. There really are a million ways to get involved with Swift!" Help us congratulate Hillary at the Swift Appreciation Event on Tuesday, April 2, at 6:30pm. More info and to register-Click HERE!
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