Meet Our Volunteers
Lori Tomaszewski, Manufacturing Analyst, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Lori co-leads her daughter’s Girl Scout troop with 24 members, volunteering several hours each week planning lessons, organizing meetings, choosing service events and chaperoning field trips. Lori has witnessed the shyest girls step out of their comfort zone and become leaders and girls who have never been in the same class in school become best friends. Lori explains, “It is many hours of work, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world!”
Afonso Celso Martins, Alumar, Sao Louis, Brazil
Afonso volunteers with children at Sociedade Voluntária de Assistência ao Menor (SVAM or Help for Minors Voluntary Society), an organization that works with abused and abandoned children. Celso uses his expertise in technology to teach the kids how to use computers and to tell stories through photographs and written word. His volunteer work also led him to Nina, a baby girl he adopted. Nina is now three years old.
Mario Methot, Manager, Baie-Comeau, Canada
The time and energy volunteers commit to make a difference in the lives of others is priceless. Through a program with Casira, Mario visited Guatemala and engaged in several service projects addressing critical needs of the community. Throughout the three-week project, he completed renovations at a school, orphanage, and food distribution center. To conclude the mission trip, Mario also presented underserved youth with socks.
Frank Eikemeier, Process Manager, Alcoa Fastenings Systems, Hildesheim, Germany
As a trained group leader for the voluntary firefighters unit at Freiwillige Feuerwehr Neuhof, Frank is responsible for 13 volunteer firefighters. They meet regularly for safety training and offer emergency assistance for fires, floods, and accidents. Having volunteered more than 80 hours, Frank is always on call, even during his spare time.
Andrea Spence, EHS Superintendent, Jamaica
Bravo! volunteer Andrea Spence helps her mentee and Vere Technical High School student Paula Buchanan with her mathematics homework. Andrea gave her unreserved support to the Jamalco Mentorship Programme’s Excellence Club held at Vere Technical High School. She said, “I enjoyed working with the Excellence Club and my mentee, because I had the opportunity to share my experience and knowledge with the young people and to positively influence my mentee to achieve her full potential.”
Cindy McDermott, Communications Manager, Davenport, Iowa, USA
There’s a huge benefit to working with conversation groups to form a coalition to enhance environmental education. Through Big Brothers and Big Sisters and other organizations targeting at-risk youth, Cindy volunteers her time to educate families on conservation issues in Iowa. The wetlands program focuses on bird watching and conservation of soil and water through natural processes and planting grasslands that are environmentally friendly to the habitat.
