• Equality
  • Community
    • Health
    • Youth
    • Seniors
  • Voices
    • From the CEO
    • Take Five
    • Why I Give
  • About the Center
  • Galleries
  • Calendar
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • Slice, Slice Baby!
  • LGBTQ+ Youth, Seniors, and ‘Drag Race’ Queens Celebrate Chosen Family at Inaugural Intergenerational Thanksgiving Dinner
  • Dispensing Culturally Competent Care: The Center’s Patient-Centric Pharmacy Does Much More Than Fill Prescriptions
  • Get to Know the Center’s New Leadership Team
  • The Center Looks Back on 25 Years of Senior Services
  • Center CEO Joe Hollendoner: “Our Work Is Never Done”
  • Trixie Mattel Inspires LGBTQ+ Youth to Be Their Best Selves at Models of Pride: “You Are All the Main Character”
  • From Poetry to Tap Dance, Seniors Flaunt Their Talents at Fall Showcase 
Twitter Facebook Instagram YouTube
LGBT News Now
Learn about career opportunities at the Center
  • Equality
  • Community
    • Health
    • Youth
    • Seniors
  • Voices
    • From the CEO
    • Take Five
    • Why I Give
  • About the Center
  • Galleries
  • Calendar
LGBT News Now
You are at:Home»Community»Volunteers are the Center of Attention at Joyous Appreciation Party

Volunteers are the Center of Attention at Joyous Appreciation Party

0
By on December 19, 2019 Community

By Greg Hernandez

Their only assignment at this special event was to have a good time.

More than 150 of the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s volunteers had the night off on December 13 when they were treated to an annual appreciation party that included dinner, drinks, and dancing inside Pride Hall at the Anita May Rosenstein Campus.

“I feel the love,” said Leka Romao, one of 20 volunteers who received special recognition from various Center departments for their service . “To be a guest and an honoree at this party, it just feels nice. It’s just beautiful.”

Historically, the Center was founded and sustained by volunteers and, over the years, has registered more than 14,000 of them. During 2019 alone, nearly 1,300 volunteers invested more than 49,000 hours of their time which equals to a whopping ‘in-kind’ value of over $1.2 million to the Center if the volunteers had been paid.

Volunteers support the Center’s programs, services, and events through such activities as data entry, monthly newsletter mailings, and assembling safe sex kits. They also assist with special events support: setup, guest registration, and breakdown.

“Our volunteers have seen us through every step of the way, and we thank you for that,” Volunteer Program Manager Camille Araullo (pictured, right) told the guests. “We thank you for giving of your time to those who need your help, your guidance, and your encouragement. You help us create a safe space for all people who come to the Center.”

This year’s event was bittersweet for Araullo, who helped to grow the volunteer program and is leaving after 22 years.

“It has always been an honor to work alongside all of you.” she said, fighting back tears. “The Center is looking forward to many, many great days ahead, and you’re going to make that happen.”

Some of the evening’s guests, such as honoree Sarah Adams, support specific Center programs with their specialized skills and experience.

“To volunteer in such a warm and welcoming environment has just been amazing,” said Adams, who has volunteered for the past two years as a clinical navigator for Health Services at the Jeffrey Goodman Special Care Clinic. “This is the first volunteer appreciation event that I’ve been to. It’s so great to have everyone come together, especially during the holidays, to celebrate our family here at the Center.”

In addition to Adams (Health Services) and Romao (Marketing & Communications), volunteers honored with special awards by the departments which they have done work for include: Robert Alvarado (Policy & Community Building); Jim Armitage (Legal Services); Sam Baumer (Legal Services); Julia Callahan (Volunteer Resources); Steve Cannell (Development); Samer Fawaz (Children, Youth & Family Services); Lauren Flans (Cultural Arts); Dani Marzouca (Policy & Community Building); Kenny Navran (Human Resources; Lauren Peterson (Senior Services); Becki Pine (Development); Michael Pratt (Volunteer Resources – most dedicated Special Events Support); Gualy Ramirez (Volunteer Resources – Information Desk Specialist); John Sposito (Human Resources); Jenna Stelmar (Health Services – Trans Wellness Center); Dianne Taylor (Volunteer Resources – Special Events Support); Sylvia Weisenberg (Senior Services); and Conrad Woolfe (Children, Youth & Family Services).

“I’ve volunteered at a lot of organizations, and no one has made me feel as special as the Center has,” Pine said after receiving her award. “I honestly did not expect anything like this when I started volunteering. I did it because I love the mission, I love the Center, I love the staff here. I started with one event and just kept going because everyone was so great and so welcoming.”

Navran (pictured, right, with HR staff) described himself as “very moved” after being recognized for his time volunteering for Human Resources.

“It’s rare for me to be recognized for things I do. Usually I’m ignored,” he said. “HR is very special to me. I’m just honored and delighted that they feel the same about me. This is one of the nicest events that I’ve attended at the Center—ever.”

Staff member Daniel Perez was recognized for his many hours spent as a volunteer while staff members Alicia Billalobos and Daniel Garcia were recognized as “Outstanding Volunteer Engagement Leaders.”

Honored as Outstanding Corporate Volunteer Teams were Capital One Café and Sabio.

For more information about the Center’s Volunteer Services, visit lalgbtcenter.org/volunteer.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

Related Posts

Slice, Slice Baby!

LGBTQ+ Youth, Seniors, and ‘Drag Race’ Queens Celebrate Chosen Family at Inaugural Intergenerational Thanksgiving Dinner

Dispensing Culturally Competent Care: The Center’s Patient-Centric Pharmacy Does Much More Than Fill Prescriptions

Comments are closed.

Upcoming Events

Feb 4
5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

The Future is Black 2023: Renaissance

Feb 9
February 9 - March 4

Cock

Mar 16
March 16 - April 16

Menstruation: A Period Piece

Apr 29
April 29 - June 24

A New Brain

May 13
May 13 - June 12

The Bottoming Process

View Calendar
About Us

LGBT News Now

LGBT News Now is a publication of the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019, the Center is the largest LGBT organization in the world, dedicated to building a world where LGBT thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society. Learn more at lalgbtcenter.org.

Follow Us on Instagram

lalgbtcenter

The Los Angeles LGBT Center is building a world where LGBT people thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society.

Los Angeles LGBT Center
This is not a drill: There are active legislative This is not a drill: There are active legislative threats against our freedoms going up for vote across the country. We know most of these fights are not happening in California—but that’s precisely why our Center community can be of help. Join the Resistance Squad today by texting ‘RESIST’ to 33339 to help win this fight, and swipe through the slides to understand what’s happening. —>
Did you know that the Center hosts a Senior Prom f Did you know that the Center hosts a Senior Prom for our #LGBTQ+ #elders each year? A few years ago, we were visited by filmmakers who wanted to document the event in all its glory—and now their film is airing tonight on @PBS at 10PM PT. Please tune in to celebrate the amazing work of our Senior Services team and our real heroes, our incredible clients! And stay tuned later this year for more from our next installment of the Prom.
Our community at the Los Angeles LGBT Center exten Our community at the Los Angeles LGBT Center extends our deepest condolences to the loved ones of those we lost in the tragic mass shooting in #MontereyPark, and our well wishes to the survivors who are recovering. We remain committed to our hope for a peaceful and prosperous Los Angeles—without guns and hate.
We’re honored to join the @academymuseum as a Co We’re honored to join the @academymuseum as a Community Partner for the upcoming screening of Pat Rocco's Signs of Queer Life on January 26 at 7:30pm.

The trailblazing LA-based filmmaker and gay rights advocate, #PatRocco, captured seminal moments of LGBTQ history, joy and upsets. Check out a preview of his film #WeWereThere. Use discount code LGBTQ+ to get $2 off tickets to the screening! Link in our bio. 
 
#AcademyMuseum #LGBTQstories
The Center is proud to announce our inaugural thea The Center is proud to announce our inaugural theatre season! This year, we are partnering with local theatre companies to present nearly 100 showings of four remarkable plays to lift the depth and diversity of LGBTQ+ narratives. The line-up includes world premieres, an award-winning comedy, and a radically reimagined musical. Performances begin Feb. 9—Get your tickets now at lalgbtcenter.org/theatre, or at the link in our bio! 🎭 🎟️
SHE DID NOT COME TO PLAY! The one and only @bigfre SHE DID NOT COME TO PLAY! The one and only @bigfreedia, Queen of Bounce, is coming to the Los Angeles LGBT Center for #TheFutureIsBlack — our #BlackHistoryMonth event — and tickets are FREE to the public at the #linkinbio. Hear from Freedia and a dynamic roster of other Black talent, then dance the night away in our Renaissance-themed afterparty. Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 4th and get on that list at the link in bio before it closes.
Today we commemorate one of our nation’s most pr Today we commemorate one of our nation’s most preeminent civil rights leaders— the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.— who left us a transformative legacy rooted in service and community. His noble actions blueprinted monuments of unity across the country, and especially, here at home in Los Angeles. On this #MLKDayofService, we are reminded of our ability to champion equity and justice for all.
 
#DrKing #MLKDay
We at the Los Angeles LGBT Center are deeply distu We at the Los Angeles LGBT Center are deeply disturbed by the videos depicting the tragic deaths of three Angelenos, and join the Mayor in calling for urgent police reform and accountability. Swipe through for our full statement.

#TakarSmith #KeenanAnderson #OscarSanchez
Get ready, LA! Join us in community as we ring in Get ready, LA! Join us in community as we ring in Center South’s 3rd Anniversary Celebration on January 21st from 12-4PM! The joyous afternoon event will offer self-guided tours, dynamic performances, food, prizes, health services, and more. Register for free at lalgbtcenter.org/centersouth3year or with the link in bio! We can’t wait to see you there 🏳️‍🌈☀️
 
PS: Did you know Center South is located in the heart of #SouthLosAngeles, just steps away from historic #LeimertPark? The site offers free (or low cost) year-round health services and STI testing for all #Angelenos. 

#LosAngeles #LGBTQ
Load More... Follow on Instagram
Stay Connected
Subscribe
Copyright © 2022 Los Angeles LGBT Center
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy
  • Contact Us

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.