Just days after arriving on campus four years ago, Charlene Fernandez spent a blazing-hot September day with fellow freshmen clearing away tangled overgrowth on the hills of Griffith Park. Fernandez has been hooked on UCLA Volunteer Day ever since, now serving as a project leader for incoming freshmen. Similarly, UCLA staff members Penny Menton, Frank LeDoux and Sabrina Youmans signed on for the inaugural Volunteer Day in 2009 and are still at it five years later. All four of them volunteer in additional projects throughout the year, too. Here, they talk about the motivation behind their dedication.
Charlene Fernandez
Physiological sciences major in the College of Letters and Science; also a clinical research study coordinator in the division of nephrology at the David Geffen School of MedicineHow it started: My entire floor from Dykstra Hall was assigned to a weeding and beautification project at Griffith Park. I met people that day who became some of my very good friends — so Volunteer Day, in a way, serves as our friendship anniversary.
Over the years: My second Volunteer Day, I served as a task captain for the UCLA Lab School, also doing a weeding and beautification project. Last year, I served as a project leader for 50 volunteers at Leo Politi Elementary School [west of downtown L.A.]. I also participate in the Volunteer Center’s Westwood Organized Meaningful Project. I planted a tree my first year — it’s still standing near the parking lot by Diddy Riese.
This year’s Volunteer Day: We will have 200 students [again at Leo Politi] planting on the plot of land that we weeded last year, and reorganizing the library.
Teaming up with new Bruins: I believe Volunteer Day serves as one of the many windows that new students can look through to get to know UCLA, a way to realize the many opportunities available here. UCLA is not just a university; it is a community.
Why she does it: Growing up in the Philippines, I know the value of giving back: The poverty-stricken communities appreciate every little bit of help that others can give. I look forward to Volunteer Day every year so I can serve as an ambassador of UCLA to the community.
Penny Menton
Senior associate director for events & transportation in the UCLA Transportation Department
How it started: I have been involved with service projects since I was a teenager, so being able to do a project with UCLA was a welcome opportunity. My first Volunteer Day project was beautification of the Cedar Grove area of Griffith Park. I grew up in Southern California so was a frequent visitor to Griffith Park. When the opportunity presented itself, I jumped at the chance.
Over the years: I have participated in the Griffith Park Tree People project, the Union Rescue Mission and Hope Gardens. Beyond Volunteer Day, I also coordinate the annual campuswide UCLA Food Drive benefitting the UCLA Food Closet and the L.A. Food Bank.
This year’s Volunteer Day: We’ll have 200 volunteers at Hollenbeck Middle School [in Boyle Heights]. We will work with students in the school’s leadership and PE classes, doing interactive exercises with Los Angeles Team Mentoring. Also, in coordination with Enrich LA, we are doing a garden project that will teach the children how to grow and eat healthier foods.
Teaming up with new Bruins: Many of the incoming freshmen already have participated in service projects throughout their high school careers. Some are international students and this is their first time volunteering in America. I think all of the students are deeply moved. I’ve heard comments from them like, "My mom would be so proud of me," and "It feels so good to help others."
Why she does it: I feel the need to constantly acknowledge my good fortune and give back whenever I can. To quote the legendary John Wooden "You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
Frank Le Doux
Human resources specialist at UCLA University Apartments, UCLA Housing and Hospitality Services
How it started: When I saw the email announcing the first UCLA Volunteer Day, I was intrigued with the opportunity to serve the L.A. community as well as UCLA. For my first project at University High School, I led 30 student volunteers excavating the garden beds, planting day lilies and then mulching the entire area.
Over the years: We’ve done gardening projects on the grounds of historic Lummis House in Highland Park and painted murals and buildings at Selma Elementary School [in West L.A.]. Last year, I led 20 task captains and 200 students working in the vast rock garden at the historic Los Angeles Police Academy in Elysian Park. We removed fallen trees and mounds of leaves to create a pristine and beautiful oasis.
This year’s Volunteer Day: We’re taking 100 volunteers to Palms Middle School to weed flowerbeds, clean up planter boxes and install drought-tolerant plants. Our team will also clean up a park-like "storytelling" area, and paint tables and benches.
Teaming up with new Bruins: I find that incoming students lack a bit of enthusiasm at first. However, with encouragement and a "you can do it" reminder from team leaders, the students are off and running. It’s amazing to see this incredible change take place.
Why he does it: As a project leader, one of the things that I enjoy most is the initial site visit, which provides an opportunity to get to know the community-based partner and see an area of L.A. that I might not be familiar with. And as a volunteer, I, too, am excited to get my hands dirty. The satisfaction of completing tasks on our community partners’ wish lists and helping them fulfill dreams that may at first seem impossible — this is astounding.
Sabrina Youmans
Senior learning specialist in academic and student support services in UCLA Athletics
How it started: My first project was at the VA's National Cemetery, a cool opportunity because I drove by the beautiful green space every day on my work commute and I always appreciated the sense of honor the memorials evokes, but I’d never visited it. I led students in cleaning up the Women’s Memorial, a circular garden full of geraniums. To this day, as I drive by the cemetery, I look to see how the flowers are doing.
Over the years: My teams have spruced up school lunch courts, painted hallways and cleaned gardens. One year I was at a middle school in the Compton area, a school that I learned one of our standout football student-athletes, Datone Jones [now with the Green Bay Packers], had attended. I was struck by the difference in economic prosperity and resources in that neighborhood compared to the community around UCLA. Ever since, I have a better understanding that our students come from vastly different backgrounds and we somehow all come together at UCLA.
This year’s Volunteer Day: We’re beautifying the community garden at Carver Middle School [in South L.A.]. We will also work with the students on garden journals so they can reflect on what the garden means to them, how they feel out there in the soil and vines, what it smells, tastes and sounds like. My hope is the students will return to the garden throughout the year and reflect and write about the changes they see in the garden and even in themselves.
Teaming up with new Bruins: I think of UCLA Volunteer Day as UCLA Community Day. This is a beautiful starting point for our incoming students. I see the future when I see how hardworking and compassionate our students are.
Why she does it: Volunteer Day has become my tradition to welcome new students to UCLA, and a way for me to transition into the new academic year refreshed and filled with gratitude.
Click here for details on this year's Volunteer Day, Tuesday, Sept. 24. For links to more stories and news releases on UCLA students returning to campus, visit this page at UCLA Newsroom.