Volunteer Spotlight
Columbia University Salutes Partnership Communications Volunteer
As part of her master’s program in Strategic Communications, Kate Premo volunteered as a pro bono consultant for The Partnership’s Furnish a Future program. Kate’s invaluable assistance helped raise visibility for our furniture bank—winning praise from the university. To learn more about Kate’s work, click here.
1st Annual President’s Volunteer Award Recipients 2004
Donald Fitzgerald
Donald Fitzgerald always has time to help out where help is needed. His ability to encourage and stay connected to the people and places that mean the most to him have endeared him to all who have the great good fortune to know him.Donald divides his time volunteering two days a week at Furnish a Future and at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church’s shelter program. Donald is also a member of Fifth Avenue’s shelter committee.
During the years that Donald has volunteered his talents and his time at The Partnership and at other organizations in the city, he has served these programs very well.
Francesca LaMota
Francesca LaMota serves as the very dedicated volunteer shelter coordinator, at the Church of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine in Flushing, Queens.Going above and beyond the expectations of a shelter coordinator, Francesca was faced with several challenges during the year that would have defeated even the most intrepid and dedicated of volunteers.
During this past winter, when one of the guests at the shelter needed emergency medical attention, it was Francesca who took charge, ensuring that not only he received appropriate medical attention but that all guests that evening at the shelter knew that their health and well-being were secure.
Francesca met this, and several other unanticipated and unexpected challenges during the year, head on with unflinching resolve, showing all of us how a person of grace, warmth, resolve, and strength is able to rise above the most difficult of circumstances.
Her shelter guests describe her as “one of the best.”
Ethical Culture Society
For more than 20 years, The Ethical Culture Society has partnered with The Partnership to provide shelter and community to guests from the Olivieri drop-in center in Manhattan.Despite facing several challenging obstacles, including a decline in the number of volunteers participating in their overnight shelter program, The Ethical Culture Society dedicated itself this year to remaining open year-round and to increasing from four to five its number of weekly shelter nights.
By reaching out to their community and to students at Columbia University, and by rededicating itself to making a difference in the lives of homeless New Yorkers, The Ethical Culture Society has proven to us all, but especially to the women from Olivieri Center, that it is a committed partner in the journey from homelessness to housing and independence.
Manhattan Mini Storage
Without the help of Manhattan Mini Storage, from boxes to sites accepting donations to transportation to storage, Furnish a Future would not, each year, be able to provide furniture and house wares to thousands of formerly homeless families moving from shelter to permanent housing.Without the help of Manhattan Mini Storage during this past year, Furnish a Future would still be moving 42,000 square feet of household goods and furniture from its former location in Brooklyn to its present location in Bushwick.
Without the help of Manhattan Mini Storage, children at the Partnership’s annual holiday party would not have received toys donated and collected by employees, who continue to redefine the meaning of the true holiday spirit.
Without Manhattan Mini Storage’s commitment, enthusiasm, and leadership, The Partnership’s mission and message would not be heard and seen by hundreds of Manhattan Mini Storage customers each year, resulting in an increased awareness of homelessness and opportunities, both practical and meaningful, for customers to make a difference in the lives of others.
Youth Service Opportunities Project
YSOP, founded by Quakers and committed to making young people a part of the solution to societal problems by helping them learn what a difference they can make in the lives of others, literally keeps The Partnership going strong.YSOP volunteers have helped out in many Partnership projects and programs, but perhaps no more significantly than at Peter’s Place and Furnish a Future. When YSOP volunteers arrive on site, their first questions include “how can I help” and “what else needs to be done.” Their energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to working as a team and their dedication to seeing that a project is completed successfully lets us know what a difference they make in the lives of others.
The volunteers in the dark blue shirts from YSOP work hard to keep us organized at Furnish a Future, they work hard to keep us on track and on time with meal services at Peter’s Place, and they work hard to keep us mindful of the extraordinary talents and promise that young people hold for our future.
For more information on The Partnership's shelter program, check out out the Emergency Shelter Network .