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Celebrating 350 Volunteers – Housing + Volunteers = Success

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Clockwise from top left: Nathaniel “Pic Jones, is an eight-year volunteer resident at MonteVerde Apartments, a senior AHC apartment community in Baltimore; Sharon Showalter, a 10-year tutor, has helped several students through the college application process; Leslie Korn wears multiple volunteer hats, including food distribution and tutoring; Caroline Wolford loves making learning fun and engaging – she started volunteering as a freshman in college and is currently working on her masters in education.

Providing services where residents live is AHC’s secret sauce. Volunteers are the key ingredient.

This Volunteer Month, AHC is celebrating the nearly 350 individuals and groups who generously contribute their time and talents annually through our education and social services programs.

“Our volunteers exemplify ‘Housing + Volunteers = Success,” says Laura Jackson, Resident Services Volunteer Coordinator. “AHC is grateful to the many committed individuals and groups who are making a real difference to residents where they live. Thanks to them,  students are achieving academic success and going to college and families and seniors are participating in much-needed services like food distributions and vaccine clinics steps from their front doors.”

The majority of AHC’s volunteers work directly with youth through our multi-tiered education program. Their support is changing lives. Volunteers help build students’ literacy and math skills in our afterschool and teen programs and partner one-on-one with high school juniors and seniors to help them navigate the journey to college and/or careers.

Volunteers also provide invaluable helping hands during community activities, from supporting food distributions to creating nutritious snack bags for youth and seniors.

We are also grateful to generous individuals who live at AHC apartment communities and volunteer their time to help neighbors, including a dedicated group of seniors at MonteVerde Apartments in Baltimore who deliver food to frail neighbors, help at vaccine clinics, and help Resident Services staff provide community events.  Read more.

Making Measurable Differences

Volunteers’ efforts are making a real difference. Our elementary students’ reading is improving measurably. The number of students who are on grade level or above jumped from 25% to 35% this year. All 42 seniors in our College and Career Readiness program are graduating from high school. These determined students, working with dedicated mentors, have already earned more than $4 million in college scholarships and grants – and the amount continues to grow.

At the property level, nearly 500 families at 10 different AHC properties are getting groceries every month. Volunteers are a huge part of the food distribution programs’ success. And countless individuals and groups created more than 3,000 colorful, healthy snack bags this year as study aids for students and special treats to brighten isolated seniors’ days during the pandemic.

Celebrating Long-Time Volunteers

Some individuals volunteer year after year. Their ongoing service provides the continuity and meaningful relationships that help students immeasurably and are the hallmark of our programs. We are deeply grateful for volunteers’ dedication and commitment. As of this year, 51 people have volunteered for more than five years.

In 2022, we are honoring 10 outstanding volunteers who have reached the five- or 10-year milestone. Deep thanks to Patricia Arriagada (5 years), Colin Bracis (5 years), Alyse Gardner (5 years), Alex Hegji (5 years), Lisa Ju (5 years), Leslie Korn (5 years), Peter Pfeifer (5 years), Lauren Rosenthal (5 years), Sharon Showalter (10 years), and Caroline Wolford (5 years).

Different Perspectives; Similar Personal Rewards

This year’s steadfast volunteers come from many different perspectives and bring a variety of skills to the students they support. For some, related jobs are the connection. Alex Hegji, a five-year mentor, works for the Congressional Research Services advising Congress about student loans. She says, “Volunteering as a mentor is a way for me to work on the front end of the issue, helping students before they get college loans.”

Others are committed to education. Caroline Wolford’s volunteer experience has paralleled her interest in a teaching career. She started volunteering five years ago as a freshman on the Marymount Women’s Lacrosse team. Volunteering with AHC’s Afterschool program has been part of the team’s community service activities for years. Now finishing her master’s in education from Marymount, Caroline will be teaching in Fairfax County in the fall. She plans to continue volunteering at AHC.

Some volunteers are drawn by the opportunity to give back to the community. High school senior Lauren Rosenthal has volunteered since she was in 7th grade, following her older brothers’ footsteps. Volunteering is part of their family culture.

Leslie Korn enjoys the opportunity to help a variety of individuals. She wears several AHC volunteer hats. In addition to running the weekly food distribution program for seniors at Hunter’s Park, she tutors AHC elementary students one night and teens another.

No matter what draws individuals to AHC’s programs, the common thread among volunteers is the reward of helping others while building lasting personal relationships.

Sharon Showalter, a 10-year volunteer, started as a teen tutor and helped the same student for several years – through his high school and eventual college graduation. They still keep in touch and Sharon is planning to mentor his younger brother. She says, “I love the awesome relationships with students – learning from them about their interests and world views and sharing in their excitement when they hear back from college.”

Echoes five-year volunteer Colin Bracis. “AHC has done a fantastic job of pairing teens who need a little extra academic help with willing and able volunteers with some knowledge to share. I’ve enjoyed being a part of this community and having the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives.”

Learn More About AHC’s Volunteer Programs

Learn more about AHC’s volunteer opportunities at https://www.ahcinc.org/get-involved/volunteers/ or email volunteer@ahcinc.org. Ongoing training and support provided.

About AHC Inc

Founded in 1975, AHC Inc. is a nonprofit developer of affordable housing that provides quality homes and education programs for low-and moderate-income families. Based in Arlington, VA, AHC has developed more than 7,800 apartments in 50+ properties in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. AHC’s Resident Services program reaches 3,000 children, teens, and adults and seniors each year through onsite education and social service programs and activities. Visit the AHC website for more information.

MonteVerde Apartments Celebrates Volunteer Heroes

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MonteVerde Apartments celebrated volunteer heroes during Volunteer Month. Rear left to right: Willie Warren, Willie Roberts, Louis Woolridge, Nathaniel “Pic” Jones, and Willie Hanna. Front left to right: Gregory Pendleton and Annette “Peanut” Abrams. Not pictured: Calvin Warren.

Pre-pandemic, Friday afternoons at MonteVerde Apartments meant Club Mount – a lively community gathering with DJ Willie Warren spinning tunes and Annette “Peanut” Abrams sharing home-made dishes. Residents and staff alike looked forward to the weekly celebrations – singing, dancing, and catching up on grandchildren, family, and mutual Baltimore experiences. Other regular social events included Sunday football, Bingo, exercise classes, and art workshops.

Once the pandemic hit, all activities came to an abrupt halt. The reduced social interaction and isolation were particularly tough for the MonteVerde community, which provides 301 affordable apartments for seniors in Baltimore’s Park Heights neighborhood.

Enter a group of volunteer heroes. As everything shut down, a committed group of residents jumped into action to help support residents and ensure an ongoing sense of community. They delivered meals to residents’ doors, helped with monthly food distributions, checked on frail and elderly neighbors, assisted with vaccine clinics, and basically pitched in whenever anything was needed. Many were already long-time volunteers at the property and boosted their efforts as needs grew during the pandemic.

In April, during Volunteer Appreciation Month, MonteVerde’s Resident Services staff celebrated these heroes – eight resolute residents whose long-time volunteer efforts have made a significant difference to the community. None show any signs of slowing down their volunteerism – even as the pandemic seems to be ebbing. “This is my home and I like staying busy,” says “Peanut” Abrams.

“We truly appreciate these wonderful volunteers,” said Latrice Goode, Senior Resident Services Manager. “They continue to help residents in so many ways and really foster a sense of family here at MonteVerde.”

 MonteVerde’s volunteer heroes include:

  • Annette “Peanut” Abrams has lived at MonteVerde for eight years. She volunteers in multiple ways, including regularly picking up trash around the building. A proud great grandmother of eight, she also enjoys sewing and spending time with family.
  • Willie Hanna has lived at MonteVerde for six years and has become the face of the Art with a Heart (AWAH) program. A self-taught artist, Mr. Hanna works closely with AWAH volunteers. His artwork (along with other residents’) artwork is featured in the community room – another way of bringing neighbors together.
  • Nathanial “Pic” Jones has lived at MonteVerde for eight years, and has volunteered from the day he moved in. Mr. Jones volunteers in lots of ways, including helping with food distributions, vaccine clinics, resident events, and onsite community programs.
  • Gregory Pendleton has lived in the community for 12 years and has volunteered for at least nine years. He volunteers for everything — from grill duty at residents’ cookouts to food and bread distributions during the height of COVID-19.
  • Willie Roberts, another long, another long-time resident, has volunteered for eight years, including delivering food to residents’ doors, and helping with food distribution and vaccine clinics. He also cleans up the front grounds on the weekends.
  • Calvin Warren is a 19-year resident, and has been an active volunteer for at least 11 years. He has been on the front line delivering meals, assisting with vaccine clinics, and helping the Resident Services team whenever they needed an extra pair of hands. He also helps deliver food to shut-in residents.
  • Willie Warren has lived at MonteVerde for 12 years, and has been a consistent volunteer since he moved in. He is the DJ for all resident events – and happily responds to all requests. He also regularly volunteers his time delivering food to frail and elderly residents.
  • Louis Woolridge has lived at MonteVerde for 17 years and has been a committed volunteer for at least 11 years. He helps neighbors in myriad ways, from delivering food to helping with household chores when needed.

About MonteVerde Apartments

Located in Baltimore City’s Lower Park Heights neighborhood, MonteVerde is a 301-unit community offering affordable housing for seniors and non-elderly disabled residents in two 13-story buildings. AHC Inc., a nonprofit affordable housing developer, acquired the property in 2008 and completed an extensive renovation of the property in 2010 that provided a single entrance to the two buildings, updated kitchens and baths, new windows and heating and cooling systems, and additional communal gathering spaces for residents. AHC’s Resident Services program provides extensive onsite education and social services for residents.

About AHC Inc.

Founded in 1975, AHC Inc. is a nonprofit developer of affordable housing that provides quality homes and education programs for low-and moderate-income families. Based in Arlington, VA, AHC has developed more than 7,800 apartments in 50+ properties in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. AHC’s Resident Services program reaches 3,000 children, teens, and adults and seniors each year through onsite education and social service programs and activities. Visit the AHC website for more information.

365 Days of COVID-19: AHC’s Resident Services Team Pivots to Meet the Challenge

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(March 15, 2021 – Arlington, VA) A year ago, AHC Inc., like most organizations, had to shutter its in-person activities in response to the fast-moving pandemic. At the same time, as a nonprofit affordable housing organization, AHC had to quickly switch gears to respond to new and accelerating needs among the children, families and seniors living in the organization’s affordable apartment communities in Maryland and Virginia.

Thanks to a committed and determined Resident Services team, AHC was able to spring into action to help residents weather the challenges of the pandemic. “In the midst of everchanging protocols and chaos, our team was able to pivot to provide life-giving work this past year,” said Susan Davidson, AHC Resident Services Director. “These efforts brought  joy, relief, and much hope to families facing incredible adversities.”

In the last year, AHC’s Resident Services staff members connected with more than 3,000 residents. This included thousands of outreach and follow-up phone calls to more than 1,000 households struggling with rental delinquencies.  Through hours and hours of one-on-one work, AHC’s team helped access $2,963,374 in rental assistance funds for residents – an immeasurable relief for struggling families. AHC Inc. was also able to help 530 households with gift cards through the organization’s Emergency Relief Fund.

“We’ve always known our Resident Services team excels in connecting community services to those who need them most,” said Jennifer Endo, Community Relations Vice President. ” The pandemic has underscored the value of that role.”

Additional Resident Services’ support during the last year includes:

Fighting hunger

  • Increased food distribution sites from six to 26 communities to provide 2,000 households with much-needed food.
  • Delivered groceries to the doorstep of 20+ households in quarantine.
  • Involved 113 volunteers to help with food distributions.

Maintaining educational opportunities

  • Provided 5,000+ virtual sessions with students including Afterschool Programs, Summer Camp, Teen Tutoring, and College & Career Readiness Workshops.
  • Thanks to generous donor support, 960 AHC students across Maryland and Virginia received backpacks.
  • 31 high school seniors (Class of 2020) graduated and are enrolled in post-secondary education.  They received $1.2 million in scholarship awards. 31 additional seniors (Class of 2021) applied to 194 colleges and universities and to date have received 80 acceptances.
  • 65 residents participated in virtual financial literacy workshops in Arlington and Baltimore.
  • 260 volunteers provided support to elementary and teen students.

Building health

  • Distributed 1,200 masks to children and adults.
  • 140 residents received COVID testing onsite
  • 144 seniors received COVID vaccines in their community room.
  • 4 pop-up vaccination registrations were held at AHC’s apartment communities in Arlington
  • Helped 697 residents (primarily seniors) stay engaged through new resident communiations platform, Resident-Connect.

Connecting to community

  • AHC staff helped coordinate generous community support throughout the pandemic, including distributing 4,000 snack bags to students and families, 135 cozy blankets to students in Arlington’s education program, 600 new winter coats and 400 books to children in Virginia and Maryland, 500 activity bags for senior residents, 47 holiday trees, and 900 gift bags to students and senior residents over the holidays.

Safety Net Nonprofits Provide School Supplies to Students In Need

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Safety Net Nonprofits Provide School Supplies to Students In Need

(Arlington, VA – August 2, 2020) – AHC Inc., a nonprofit affordable housing developer based in Arlington, VA, is proud to announce our participation in the “Buy a Neighbor School Supplies” program, a new community partnership to provide school supplies and resources to students in need in Arlington, VA.

“AHC is delighted to partner with our fellow Arlington safety net nonprofits to help our residents start school with the supplies they need to succeed,” said Susan Davidson, AHC’s Resident Services Director. “Our Resident Services program has a long history of  providing our students with back-to-school supplies. This year, as families struggle even more due to financial strains and complications of virtual learning caused by the pandemic, we are grateful to work with the community to address this immense challenge together.”

The collaborative initiative includes Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network (A-SPAN); Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH); AHC Inc.; Bonder & Amanda Johnson Community Development Corp; Bridges to Independence; Edu-Futuro; OAR of Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church; and Volunteer Arlington.

Neighbors can support children and families for as little as $10. All donations will be combined to provide gift cards, allowing families to purchase their own school supplies, health and safety supplies, and any additional resources they need for at-home or distance learning for the 2020-2021 school year.

Community members can donate on the Volunteer Arlington website until August 23.

For more information and to donate, visit the Volunteer Arlington website at https://bit.ly/buyaneighborschoolsupplies

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About AHC

Founded in 1975, AHC Inc. is a nonprofit developer of affordable housing that provides qualtiy homes and education programs for low- and moderate-income families. Based in Arlington, VA, AHC has developed more than 7,500 apartment units in 50+ properties in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC. AHC’s Resident Services program reaches 3,000 children, teens, adults and seniors each year through onsite education and social service programs and activities. For more information, visit www.ahcinc.org 

Media Contact

Celia Slater, AHC Inc.
571-228-5948
celia.slater@ahcinc.org

 

AHC’s Class of 2020 Tops $1 Million in Scholarships and Aid

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AHC Inc. Celebrates 31 High School Graduates – All the First-Generation in Their Families to Go to College

Contact:
Celia Slater, Communications Director, AHC Inc., 571-228-5948 or celia.slater@ahcinc.org

(June 30, 2020 – Arlington, VA) Celebrating graduation may have looked a little different this year, but we could not be any prouder of the students from our College and Career Readiness (CCR) program who graduated from high school in 2020. All 31 of the amazing young people who participated in the program this year are off to college in the fall. In total, they were accepted into 135 schools and received an estimated $1.24 million in scholarships and aid.

“I’m going to be the first person in my family to go to college in the United States,” said Sosna Marshet “I’m looking forward to all the college experiences.” Sosna, like all of her CCR classmates this year, is among the first in her family to pursue a college education.

Sagar Sapkota echoed Sosna’s sentiments saying, “I’m really happy that I’m going to college because my parents have sacrificed a lot for me and my brothers.”

Throughout the school year, volunteer mentors work one-on-one with the students to study for standardized tests, apply for financial aid and scholarships, and write their college essays. Many of the students in our College and Career Readiness program have been with us since elementary school. And, that is by design. AHC offers after school and summer programming that grows with children, meets their needs at each stage from elementary school to senior year of high school, and helps them build stronger futures.

Students are already planning their next steps. Many are choosing practical majors like Information Technology, Business or Engineering. Others are committed to helping others by becoming teachers, social justice lawyers, doctors, nurses, and social workers. And several are exploring creative careers in journalism and architecture.

“We have such hardworking students in this program. It is so valuable to connect them with another caring and supportive adult who can help them navigate applying for college – especially since so many of them are first-generation college students,” said Milenka Coronel, AHC’s College and Career Readiness Manager. “Thanks to our volunteer mentors and supporters, these students are all taking that crucial next step. I’m so proud of our graduates; they are going to do such great things in college and beyond.”

You can hear from our graduates about their hopes for college in their own words in this video.

Meet the Graduates:

Congratulations again to the class of 2020!

  • Sachin Acharya (George Mason University)
  • Sebirya Ahmed (Lehigh University)
  • Natnael Aklilu (NOVA-Pathways)
  • Erika Amaya (NOVA-Pathways)
  • Melissa Barrera (NOVA)
  • Brandon Escobar-Campos (University of Virginia)
  • Carlos Cordova (Virginia Tech)
  • Sharon Corrales (George Mason University)
  • Michael Dorjsuren (NOVA-Pathways)
  • Jacqui Flakes (NOVA)
  • Alejandra Galdo-Hernandez (Marymount University)
  • Raquel Garcia (Virginia Tech)
  • Netsanet Gurmu (University of Pittsburgh)
  • Celeste Lazo-Villarroel (NOVA-Pathways)
  • Valeria Lopez (West Virginia University)
  • Sosna Marshet (Virginia Commonwealth University)
  • Najae McCoy (University of Delaware – Career and Life Studies Certificate)
  • Mohamed Mohamed (George Mason University)
  • Analy Morales (NOVA-Pathways)
  • Ochirbat Munkhchuluun (George Mason University)
  • Yasna Nasiree (NOVA-Pathways)
  • Jacqueline Ortiz (Old Dominion University)
  • Jamileth Picavia-Salazar (George Mason University)
  • Jennifer Rivera (NOVA-Pathways)
  • Sagar Sapkota (University of Virginia)
  • Michelle Soliz (Old Dominion University)
  • Sabiha Tajul (NOVA-Pathways)
  • Kimberlie Tellez (NOVA-Pathways)
  • Santiago Ulunque (NOVA-Pathways)
  • Brikiti Yohannes (Virginia Commonwealth University)
  • Mahvash Zahid (George Mason University)

Thank you to our 2019/2020 mentors for their dedication to our students!

  • Benjamin Bigelow, Jim Burridge, Terry Burridge, Tara Claeys, Milenka Coronel, Adrienne Eng, Ami Foster, Gregory Frey, Lindsey Guarni, Alex Hegji, Chelsea Jones, Maureen Keeney, Chris Kruckenberg, Catherine Latell, Marjorie Macieira, Zaynab Malik, Gail Markulin, Yehoshua Orozco, Alex Payne, Karissa Ruano, Maureen Strotland, Jeanne Sweeney, Ann Symonds, and Adrienne Wichard-Edds

Visit AHC’s Instagram at @AHC_Inc for individual portraits of our amazing students.

To learn more about volunteering with AHC, please email volunteer@ahcinc.org or visit https://www.ahcinc.org/get-involved/volunteers/.

About AHC Inc.

Founded in 1975, AHC Inc. is a nonprofit developer of affordable housing that provides quality homes and education programs for low- and moderate-income families. Based in Arlington, VA, AHC has developed more than 7,500 apartment units in 50+ properties in Virginia,  Maryland and Washington, DC. AHC’s Resident Services program reaches 3,000 children, teens, adults and seniors each year through onsite education and social service programs and activities. For more information, visit www.ahcinc.org