Stories
Project Summary
Impact on Society
Student’s Role
Impact on Student
by Moshe Roberts
Pipe Dream Club
Boys and Girls Club
Students Volunteer Time
by Marybeth Smith
1/26/2011
It is with pleasure and complete confidence that I write this
letter nominating Mr. Moshe Roberts for the Students-in-Service Award.I have known Mr. Roberts for over 4
years and I watched as he brought the Volunteer Program to life for the Boys
& Girls Clubs of Binghamton and the students at Binghamton University.Moshe is responsible for one of the
most successful and valuable programs we have at the Club today.He started with an idea and he made it
a reality that the Boys & Girls Club depends on for our members and the
program/services we offer daily.
Moshe brought two very important groups together – Binghamton
University students and members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Binghamton to
form a dynamic team that together has met our goals and objectives - to change
the lives of our children and to help them succeed.
The Volunteer Program started in 2007 with 45 members and
today, because of the hard work and determination of Moshe we have over 150
volunteers who so far put in over 4,000 volunteer hours and still going
strong.To increase the number of
volunteers over the years was no easy task with the busy schedules of the
students, but Moshe had a vision and knew our programs needed strong volunteers
and he went to work and he made it happen.He spend hundreds of hours organizing & structuring this
program and prepared goals and objectives so everyone would understand what
this program was all about and so together we would follow our mission.Then the real work began, Moshe
recruited, trained, and scheduled the volunteers, as well as making sure that
all appropriate paperwork was completed timely, he check references of
volunteers, did background checks and he implemented this creative and well
needed Volunteer Program to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Binghamton.
Not only did Moshe get the volunteers working at the sites he
planned, organized and implemented several other functions including fundraisers
for the Volunteer Program;fundraisers included:poker tournament, bake sales, bottle/can
drive, t-shirt sales, and a date auction with all proceeds going to purchase
healthy snacks and supplies for the programs.Other events included Volunteer Appreciation Program, Spring
Carnival at the Boys & Girls Club, Halloween Carnival, Pumpkin Decorating
and helping with many other parties and specials for the kids.All of these activities, special events
and fundraisers were under the guidance and leadership of Moshe Roberts.His organizational skills, leadership
skills and ability to motivate and encourage young volunteers is impressive as
well as his willingness to apply all his abilities to achieve excellence in an
array of endeavors.
As the Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of
Binghamton, I have witnessed youth development, resulting in both success and
failure for over 25 years.On any
scale, the sheer number of Moshe’s accomplishment in academics, community
service & volunteerism is again very impressive.For me, however, the true indication of Moshe’s worth is
found in the way he approached all he has done, and all he continues to
do.He is never arrogant, or
prideful, yet he has in recent years developed a quiet and sometimes playful
confidence that makes all around him more comfortable.
For Moshe, I believe with all my heart that he made the
decision that life itself is an honor, and that his life is to extend, and
inspire that gratitude and optimism to all – and he has over and over at the
Boys & Girls Clubs of Binghamton with this worthy and successful program.
In times of deep concern on so many fronts, Moshe Roberts is
truly an inspiration to me, and to all the volunteers & children he has
worked with over the years and an anchor of hope for our future.In short, he sets an example of
character and decency we so desperately need today and tomorrow.
This Volunteer Program has and continues to change the lives
of hundreds of children and college students every day – and for this we are
very thankful for Moshe Roberts and his accomplishments.
Thank you and please feel free to contact me if you need
additional information.