4699 Murphy Canyon Road
San Diego, CA 92123
Telephone: (858) 636-4131• Fax: (858) 492-2016
Email: info@volunteersandiego.org
Web Site: www.volunteersandiego.org
Executive Director: Wanda Vevia Bailey

Branch Office: None

Programs and Services:

Volunteer San Diego is the premier provider of volunteer programs and services in San Diego County. Annually, Volunteer San Diego helps over 38,000 individuals, families, corporate and community groups find volunteer opportunities at nearly 750 diverse nonprofit agencies and schools. Its programs and services help these organizations by building their capacity to impact the San Diego community. Volunteers of all ages are mobilized to feed the homeless, serve seniors, beautify the environment, read to youth and make numerous other invaluable contributions. Together, San Diego is a better place to live, work and play. Volunteer San Diego is a local 501c3 non-profit with national affiliations with the Points of Light Foundation and Hands on Network.

• Flexible Volunteer Program
  Volunteer San Diego offers 75-90 team volunteer projects each month that serve our environment, youth, seniors, animals, HIV / AIDS and many others. Volunteers attend a one-time orientation, and then they can volunteer for whichever projects fit their schedule each month. All volunteer projects are designed to accommodate the busy professional's work schedule. Projects are scheduled after working hours on weeknights and weekends.
  Contact Person: Sarah Adams (858) 636-4136 or email
  sadams@volunteersandiego.org
  
  
• Volunteer Referral Services
  The Volunteer Center recruits and connects individuals and groups interested in volunteering on behalf of more than 750 community organizations in need of volunteers. San Diegans can get connected through our volunteer hotline, our interactive website or by receiving our newsletter that highlights urgent volunteer needs. In addition, we publish a Youth Opportunities directory and an annual Holiday Guide.
  Contact Person: Linda Fisher (858) 636-4130 or email
  lfisher@volunteersandiego.org
  
  
• Corporate and Employee Volunteer Services
  Providing opportunities for employees and their families to volunteer has become a positive activity in the workplace. We assist corporations and other groups in starting or revitalizing employee volunteer programs. In addition, through our Employee Volunteer program, we provide companies on-site volunteer orientations, their employee access to our flexible program and provide monthly statistics on the employee involvement. In addition, we coordinate one-time teambuilding projects based on a fee for service structure.
  Contact Person: Sarah Adams (858) 636-4136 or email
  sadams@volunteersandiego.org
  
  
• San Diego Board Connection
  Many San Diego professionals are interested in utilizing their expertise by volunteering on a non-profit's board of directors. Through a partnership with Nonprofit Management Solutions we recruit, train and place San Diego professionals who are interested in serving on nonprofit boards throughout the County.
  Contact Person: Sarah Adams (858) 636-4136 or email
  sadams@volunteersandiego.org
  
  
• Youth Service and Leadership
  SAVY (Students Actively Volunteering for You) has focused on empowering and assisting young people in becoming volunteers and leaders in their communities for 20 years. SAVY provides students with opportunities to volunteer, develop and demonstrate leadership skills, make a difference in the community and much more.

  Ongoing Calendar of Events – SAVY participants have access to a calendar of monthly service projects. Projects include cleaning the environment, creating art projects for seniors, serving meals, socializing animals and much more. All projects are team based and require no on-going commitment.

  Grants –- Individual youth, educators and youth groups can apply for community service or service-learning grants to create service projects with other youth, their school, or another organization.

  SAVY Leaders – Students from high schools all over San Diego County create large scale service projects, review and award grants, plan and attend the annual youth leadership conference, and learn many competitive skills such as project planning, identifying resources, and assessing community needs.

  Leadership Trainings – The annual youth leadership conference is organized by youth for youth and features a series of interactive workshops, which teaches leadership and team-building skills, impart an understanding of how youth can make a difference in their communities.

  Each summer, thirty teens spend a week participating in the Points of Light Youth Leadership Institute. The Institute incorporates the latest methodology for teaching key leadership skills - such as goal setting, team building, project planning and decision making - while emphasizing the importance and means of applying these skills to community service endeavors. The students complete the week by implement a service project that they planned.

  Service-Learning – Volunteer San Diego is the California Department of Education’s Lead for Service Learning in San Diego County. Training, technical assistance, and resources are provide to educators both in school and after-school on to support incorporating intentional learning objectives into service projects.

  Stories of Service – Young people interview veterans to make short movies about the veteran’s memories. The students work with adult mentors using computers to create memorable “mini-documentaries” that tell the story of a unique, defining moment or event during the veterans’ service.
  
  Contact Person: Jennifer Hamilton (858) 636-4137 or email
  jhamilton@volunteersandiego.org
  

• Agency Services
  Any nonprofit or public organization that utilizes volunteers may register their volunteer needs with us, including heath and human services programs, urban and civic projects, cultural, recreational and educations groups. Currently, over 750 nonprofit organizations have registered their volunteer needs with the Volunteer San Diego. The volunteer needs are promoted on our website, our newsletter and through our volunteer referral services. In addition, organizations that register with us receive ongoing technical assistance around issues related, to volunteer program management and working with special population volunteers including youth, families and corporations.
  Contact Person: Debbie Krakauer (858) 636-4184 or email
  dkrakauer@volunteersandiego.org
  
  

• Community Heroes Award
  The Community Heroes Volunteer Award is presented to individuals and groups who have performed outstanding volunteer service in their communities in San Diego County. The San Diego Padres Baseball Club and Volunteer San Diego sponsor the award. Awards are presented at select home games of the San Diego Padres throughout the season. The presentation is made on the field prior to the start of the game by a representative from the San Diego Padres and Volunteer San Diego. Tickets to the game will be provided to the winner.
  Contact Person: Lynda Eccles (858) 636-4134 or email
  leccles@volunteersandiego.org
  

Annual Special Events:

• Hands On San Diego
  Hands On San Diego is an annual weeklong volunteer event, traditionally held during the third week of September. Thousands of volunteers from local businesses, corporations and the community participate in various projects at nonprofit organizations throughout the county. There are activities for people of all ages and skills. If you are involved with a nonprofit, school or community organization that has a project needing volunteers, let us know. If you are part of a group of volunteers from your place of work, service club, school, etc., and want to sign up for a group project, let us know.
  Contact Person: Sarah Adams (858) 636-4136 or email
  sadams@volunteersandiego.org
  
  
• Annual Youth Service and Leadership Conference
  Each year over 300 youth educators come together to learn new skills to help change the communities they live in. Planned by youth, events include workshops, recognition luncheon and awards ceremony, and volunteer fair and projects.
  Contact Person: Jennifer Hamilton 858-636-4137 or email
  jhamilton@voIunteersandiego.org
  
  
• National Days of Service
  Volunteer San Diego promotes and coordinates these days of service as an opportunity for corporations, families, young people and others to come together to improve the San Diego community and to be part of a national event. These days include: Martin Luther King Jr. Day and National Youth Service Day.
  Contact Person: Jennifer Hamilton 858-636-4137 or email
  jhamilton@volunteersandiego.org
  
  
• A Visit from St. Nicholas
  Saint Nicholas Feast Day is a children's holiday celebrated throughout the world. On December 6th, Volunteer San Diego also shares in this magical day through a special program known as "A Visit from Saint Nicholas." On this day, thousands of school children from kindergarten through second grade receive an anonymous gift "delivered" by St. Nicholas. Volunteers in San Diego participate by secretly visiting under-served children in pre-selected schools throughout San Diego County. Children will arrive at school on this magical morning to joyously learn St. Nicholas has visited and left them each a backpack filled with toys and books. Volunteers will be on hand to read the legend and share in the joy.
  Contact Person: Stan Miller 858 636-4133 or email
  smiller@volunteersandiego.org

Other Information: Volunteer San Diego is involved with several strategic initiatives including: 211, VOAD, Citizen Corps, EITC, Service-Inclusion.