Volunteer Application Form

Career Guidance and Summer Internships View Descriptions

Yes, I’m interested in:

Career Guidance and Summer Internships

Resume Assistance

Are you good at Branding? Storytelling? Positioning? If so, you can help our students tell their stories to potential employers and see themselves in a new light. Creating resumes with SRA students is actually a great way to get to know the students. Writing resumes the SRA way isn’t just about inserting items into a template, reformatting documents, or checking grammar. It is a creative process to help the students articulate what they have to offer as up-and-coming professionals – and then figure out the best way to organize that information on one page!

Your Commitment:

- Attend a two hour training in the SRA Resume Way (date/location TBD)

- Work with at least one student per month to either create or update a resume – the process includes a phone call to interview the student (approximately one hour) and drafting the resume(two to four hours). Typical turnaround time needed is one week.

Application Essays/Cover Letters

This team will work with SRA students to edit their application essays and cover letters, ensuring students are addressing the questions asked and demonstrating why they are a great fit. It is an interesting balancing act to help the student produce a fantastic, targeted essay/letter while also reflecting his/her writing ability accurately.

Your Commitment: varies, as needed – but turn-around time is typically less than one week

Summer Internships and Shadowing Opportunities

The Internship/Career Guidance Team needs additional volunteers for the following:

- Coordinate an Internship in your company

- Coordinate a Shadow Day in your company

- Generate Leads for Internships (for college students) and Entry Level

- Positions (for new college grads)

- Find New Funding for Unpaid Internships

- Offer a room for a student while (s)he is a summer intern

Fundraising Events View Descriptions

The Gala Committee

Yes, I’m interested in:

2nd Annual SRA GRADWalk

Fundraising Events

SRA Annual Gala—Thursday, March 22, 2012, Chair, Gail Diserens

Do you like to plan parties? If so, you can join the effervescent and creative Gala Committee! The Committee plans and executes all aspects of our major SRA fundraiser including invitations, live and silent auction, raffle and volunteer staffing. Funds raised from the Gala help us determine how many students we can select each year. Thanks to the success of the 2011 Gala, we are able to welcome a new class of 50 students this year—our largest to date! Just think of how many students we might be able to take next year with your help!

Your Commitment: The Gala Committee meets monthly from September 2011 through March 2012. The Gala will be held on Thursday, March 22, 2012 at the Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco.

  • Donations: help secure in-kind donations, auction items and event sponsorships.
  • Live Auction: assist Live Auction Chair with all logistics including auction item, procurement, write-ups for the Gala program book, and event day set-up.
  • Silent Auction: assist Silent Auction Chair with follow up phone calls, item pick up, acknowledgment letters and event day set-up.
  • Raffle: assist Raffle Chairs with prize selection and procurement. Help coordinate ticket sales leading up to the Gala, as well as on the night of the event.
  • Publicity: work with local media to promote the event before and after the Gala.
  • Advertising: assist Advertising Chair to pitch businesses and individuals to place ads in the Gala program book.
  • Table Gift: research and suggest appropriate table gift for 500+ guests
  • Day of Event: help with flower arranging, auction set-up, registration, check-in, live auction spotters, silent auction close-out.

    • 2nd Annual GRADWalk 5K Fundraising Walkathon and Graduation BBQ Saturday June 23, 2012: Chair, Jennifer Kockos

    If you like planning events and enjoy being outdoors, then the SRA Annual GRADWalk 5K Walkathon Committee is just the activity for you . We plan a 5K walkathon fundraiser in Golden Gate Park followed by a picnic lunch honoring our high school and college grads. The event raises funds to allow us to take more students, builds the SRA community and celebrates our students’ success.

    Responsibilities include:

  • Soliciting corporate sponsorships and teams
  • Event registration and t-shirt distribution
  • Publicity and signage
  • Picnic menu, set-up and clean-up
  • Securing award prizes, goody bag contents and raffle items

    • Your Commitment: The Committee meets in person and via conference calls as needed.

    Not sure you have time to join the GRADWalk Committee?

    How about volunteering to:

  • Help sponsor the event
  • Help secure in-kind donations of food, prizes and give-aways
  • Work the day of the walk
  • Create a corporate team, or a team of friends and colleagues, to walk

    • Healthcare Committee View Descriptions

    Healthcare

    Healthcare Committee, Dixie Ruland, Chair

    Do you know a doctor, dentist or specialist who might be willing to help one of our students with a medical issue? Members of the Healthcare Committee contact healthcare professionals in their area as needed, and recruit those who are willing to provide medical, dental and vision services to SRA students pro bono or for a reduced fee. Members work with the Committee Chair to determine specific needs in each area.

    Your commitment: Agree to contact healthcare professionals in your area

    Volunteer Mentoring View Descriptions

    Volunteer Mentoring

    Would you like to join a community of volunteers who offer encouragement and support to our students? The SRA Mentoring program complements the services provided by the SRA Advisors and Staff by pairing each SRA student with an adult Mentor. Volunteer Mentors provide opportunities for fun and enrichment, such as visiting a museum, going to the movies or enjoying a meal together. They also support their students by attending their school events, graduations and sometimes by accompanying them on college visits.

    Your Commitment:

  • Fill out the online Mentor application
  • Meet with the Mentoring Program Coordinator
  • Complete a background check—forms and directions will be provided
  • Attend the Mentor Training Workshop held the first Saturday in October
  • Meet with your student approximately once a month
  • Attend SRA Events and outings with your student when possible such as the Gala and the GRADWalk
  • Be a positive role model and a good listener. Enjoy getting to know an amazing student!

    • Student Outreach View Descriptions

    Student Outreach

    Student Outreach Committee. Lisa Kossiver, Chair

    Last year, the Outreach Committee’s efforts resulted in 325 applications, our largest number ever! We have now chosen a new class of 50 students from around the Bay Area, and we are looking to increase that number every year. Would you like to spread the word about SRA to students, high school counselors and others in your area? Members of the Outreach Committee contact local high schools and youth organizations to promote awareness of SRA. You will be asked to keep records of contacts at each school and organization, and to follow up periodically. The Committee Chair will coordinate which schools/organizations are visited, and will provide informational materials.

    Your Commitment:

  • Attend an organizational meeting, date and location tbd.
  • Contact high schools and organizations in your area starting in October and November. Arrange times for in-person meetings with appropriate personnel.
  • Maintain a list of contacts
  • Follow up 2 – 3 times with each contact before the application deadline, March 4, 2012.

    • Student Essay Team View Descriptions

    Student Essay Team, Laurie

    Parent, Chair

    A compelling personal statement often pulls a SRA student from the crowded applicant field and into acceptance at their chosen university, or to the top of the list in a scholarship competition. A solid essay is especially critical for SRA students because it helps put their accomplishments into context for the admissions committee.

    All of the students have stories to tell, but sometimes they need a second (or third) pair of eyes to read over their essays and to help them organize and edit their thoughts. The editing team works via e-mail with a small group of students, reading and commenting on their essays. The essay editor’s comments and ideas are only suggestions for the student to consider. The goal is to bring forth the student's own unique voice and personality. The editing team does not write the essay but rather assists the students in organizing and focusing.

    If you enjoy reading, writing and editing, the essay team needs you! The essay team will divide up the students into groups, so each volunteer will have no more than five students. Not every student will request help. The normal turnaround time to review and comment on an essay is one week. You can set up your own individual schedule. The time commitment varies but it is busiest in early November. Please join the team that offers wonderful support for students going through the sometimes intimidating writing and application process. Together we can make the process a little easier.

    Your Commitment: varies, as needed – but turn-around time is typically less than one week

    SRA Memories Project View Descriptions

    SRA Memories Project Committee

    Carolyn Carmines, Chair

    Students, SRA Staff, and volunteers enjoy a chance to look back at our events and milestones captured in the SRA scrapbooks. Work with Carolyn to gather, preserve and display photos and other mementos of SRA’s students and activities.

    Prefer to think about these volunteer opportunities? Please let us know what interests you