ISBE celebrates the Year of the Volunteer
Effingham volunteer recognized at October Board meeting
SPRINGFIELD, IL – Kim Varner was honored by the State Board of Education for the month of October as part of Illinois’ “Year of the Volunteer” program. The initiative, established by a Senate resolution, aims to “engage all generations as participants, planners, organizers and leaders of the volunteer infrastructure.”
“As a tireless advocate for mentoring, it is an honor to be able to recognize Kim for her work in the community,” said Board member Craig Lindvahl. “The Unit 40 Mentoring Program at Effingham Community Schools would not be what it is today without her vision and dedication.”
During 2015, Board members are choosing to honor individuals within their communities for their dedication and volunteer service. Lindvahl selected Varner for her outstanding work with the Unit 40 Mentoring Program, which started in 2000 with funds from an urban grant. The goal of Unit 40’s Mentoring Program is to give support to students as well as their parents and caregivers so that students can be successful in both school and life. The program started with a goal of 10 mentor/mentee matches the first year at one school and ended that year with 30 matches. The program has now grown to 150 matches per year at five different sites, including alternative education settings.
Varner has served as the mentoring program director for the past 15 years in addition to her position as school social worker at Central Grade School in Effingham. Although Varner is now retired, she is still available as a problem solver and consultant for the program. She is also a member of the Effingham Advisory and Sustainability Mentoring Committee that funds 50 percent of the Mentoring Program yearly through fundraising.
“I am humbled, surprised, and honored to be recognized for my volunteer work and encouraging and facilitating others to volunteer,” said Varner. “This program would not have been possible without Effingham Unit 40 Schools’ support, the Advisory Sustainability group, and the loving community of Effingham.”
Varner has also served as a volunteer member of the Advisory Leadership Council for the Illinois Mentoring Partnership since 2013. The Illinois Mentoring Partnership has helped connect Unit 40’s Mentoring Program to current resources and research and offered extensive support as the program has continued to develop and grow.
The Senate established the Year of the Volunteer in response to the “Volunteering and Civic Life in America” report by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the National Conference on Citizenship that showed only about a quarter of Illinoisans volunteered in 2013. According to Senate Resolution 1002, research shows that “Illinoisans who do not volunteer would like to, but simply do not know how to get connected to service opportunities.” In cooperation with fellow organizations, ISBE urges community members of all ages to explore volunteer opportunities, particularly those related to children and their education.
ISBE supports the initiative in cooperation with Generations Serving Generations, the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, the Illinois Department on Aging, the Serve Illinois Commission, the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Illinois Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Community College Board, and the Illinois Senate via Senate Resolution 1002.
For more information on how to take part in the Year of the Volunteer, go to www.serve.illinois.gov.
