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This month L.A. Works
would like to recognize one of its most enterprising
Project Leaders -- Ed Simon.
Ed is a vice president of Management Applied Programming
(MAP), a company that provides computer services for
other organizations (from the Red Cross to administering
student health plans for UCLA students). He has worked
at the same company for over 19 years.
Ed also does a lot of volunteering for the UCLA Alumni
Association – serving on many different panels
that evaluate and give out scholarships. In his free
time, he likes to play tennis and spend time with his
5 nephews.
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The importance of giving back to the community was instilled
into Ed by his parents. His mother especially set an
example with her volunteer work of typing books into
braille and bringing library books to shut-ins.
About six years ago, Ed joined LA Works as a project
leader - attracted by the diversity of the service opportunities.
His projects included fixing wheelchairs at Wheels for
Humanity, gardening at Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock
House, and many (many) school murals/clean-ups. For
almost 4 years, Ed has been the main project leader
at Midnight Mission Family Housing. Every week, Ed and
the LA Works volunteers provide the children of the
transitional housing facility with a little diversion
by playing games, tutoring and doing crafts while their
parents attend a counseling session.
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Ed’s Views on volunteering:
While it’s nice that the children yell out
my name upon my weekly arrival (usually after
first asking what did I bring for snack), seeing
the children play, interact, and enjoying themselves
gives me greater pleasure. Further, getting to
see them over a period of several months enables
me to see them grow up (both physically and socially.).
The added satisfaction of being a project leader
is providing others with the opportunities to
volunteer and witnessing their enjoyment. Putting
a fresh coat of paint on a wall or pushing a child
on a swing may seem very basic, but the pleasures
these simple tasks do for others is great - and
does make a difference. Getting someone to start
to volunteer is hard; getting them to continue
to volunteer is easy.
Why we're honoring Ed this month:
Ed does more than just lead the Midnight
Mission project -- He takes full responsibility
for ensuring the project takes place every week.
Each month he recruits fellow project leaders
to fill the weeks he is unable to lead the project.
Ed has made a personal committment to the CSP
to ensure that their project is successful and
staffed every week. Rather than rely on the L.A.
Works office to do this -- he holds himself personally
accountable.
Don't Forget -- Project Leaders
are encouraged to adopt CSPs, create their own
projects, and take a higher degree of responsibility
for the long-term health of a project. This "ownership"
can bring you a higher degree of satisfaction
with your volunteer work. Thanks to Ed for his
many years of devoted service!!! |
Past
Project Leaders Recognition Pages
Sept, 2003
Aug, 2003
July, 2003
June, 2003
May, 2003
April, 2003
March, 2003
February, 2003
January, 2003
December, 2002
November, 2002
October, 2002 |
