Get Involved!
Since its inception in 1989, the Smithsonian Young Benefactors has built a rich tradition of volunteerism and giving back to the Smithsonian and the Washington community. Over the years, YB members have volunteered tens of thousands of hours at Smithsonian museums, offices, and festivals such as the Folklife Festival and the Smithsonian Kite Festival, attended by millions of children and families. In addition, for more than six years, YBs have supported the Smithsonian Office of Accessibility Services, mailing tapes of Smithsonian magazines every month to people who are visually impaired. But that is not all!
The 44th annual Smithsonian Kite Festival Needs Your Help!
The 44th Annual Smithsonian Kite Festival will take place Saturday, March 27, 2010, on the Washington Monument Grounds (rain date Sunday, March 28, 2010) in Washington, DC. This year’s theme is “CRAFTed for Flight” to celebrate the art and craft of kite-making. It will be an exciting day filled with kites and kite makers, in addition to our usual demonstrations and kite-making activity tents. As always, the Festival features our handmade kite competition. This year we continue some changes presented in the past, including Peer Choice Awards chosen by competitors themselves and a format using guest judges featuring museum staff and local personalities. For additional details please visit www.kitefestival.org.
As you know, putting on a kite festival takes work. The Kite Festival Committee, which coordinates the Festival, needs your help! Volunteers are needed to: assist with set-up and break-down of the fields, help competitors get registered, escort them to the competition field, as well as fill in a few other key festival positions. All volunteers will be awarded a commemorative button and are invited to a post-festival reception to take place in the Ripley Center starting at 6 p.m.
If you are interested in volunteering for the 44th annual Kite Festival, please contact Jaime Hollingsworth at hollingsworthj@si.edu or (202) 633-8636.
Volunteer help is needed at the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur
Nowruz: A Persian New Year Celebration!
Sunday, March 7th, 2010
10 AM–5 PM
This year’s Nowruz celebration is bigger and better than ever, with expanded spaces for programs in the Discovery Theater and on the concourse of the Ripley Center (connected underground to the Sackler Gallery). Welcome the return of spring early with Persian food, music, storytelling, games, and more—and watch out for Haji Firuz!
Events will include: food, displays, greeting cards and fortunes for children, backgammon, fire jumping, video and storytelling.
Volunteers are needed to greet visitors, give directions, serve as
program assistants, and more. Volunteers will be needed 9AM – 1
PM (Morning Shift) & 1PM – 5 PM (Afternoon Shift)
Volunteers receive their very own Nowruz tee shirt and meal.
If you are interested in this opportunity or have questions, please contact Lyz Bridgforth: bridgforthe@si.edu or (202)633.0521.
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center’s (SERC) annual Open
House on the Bay-- VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Saturday, May 15th, 2010
Ongoing Volunteer Activities
YB Link Program
The YBs are beginning a Link Program to provide new members with immediate
contacts in the organization and are currently looking for volunteers
to serve as “links.” Links will be responsible for attending
one new member dinner throughout the year and serving as a liaison
for the new members in attendance. The Link is meant to essentially
be a mentor for new members, invite them along when you plan to attend
a YB Happy Hour or event. We believe the Link Program will not only
introduce members to one another, but has the capacity to further connect
our members with the aims of the Young Benefactors and the Institution.
Voices to Access Volunteer Project
Location: National Museum of American History (have
link to NMAH website)
14th
Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington DC
Metro:
Federal Triangle or Smithsonian Metro (Blue and Orange lines)
The Voices to Access Project provides cassette recordings of the Smithsonian magazine
and other printed materials to more than 800 people who are visually
impaired.YB members volunteer in the packaging and mailing process,
allowing the Smithsonian to offer the recordings free to those who
need them. It is a wonderful way to give back to the Smithsonian while
meeting other YB members in a small group setting. The group may go
to lunch afterwards.
Please see the Event Calendar or the monthly eNewsletter for specific dates.
For more information or to sign up, e-mail voicestoaccess@yahoo.com.
YB Culture4Kids Fund
In 2006, the organization created the YB Culture4Kids Fund, providing DC-school children with access to the diverse educational and culturally enriching experiences offered by the Smithsonian. Funds are raised through donations accepted at all YB events and via the web, through YB membership at the Benefactor, Sponsor, and Director’s Circle levels, and through proceeds from YB fundraising events.
The YB Culture4Kids Fund provides:
- Funds for local DC-school children to attend the Smithsonian Summer Camp
- Support for classrooms to attend the Smithsonian’s Discovery Theater
- Operations funds to support the Smithsonian Scholars in the Schools Program, which sends Smithsonian scholars to school communities across the country.
The Young Benefactors are always interested in reaching new audiences and helping more schools. Click here to share a deserving school with us.