| | | | APRIL 2025 Greetings, LVC Insider! Spring has sprung in our Placement Communities, and like the flowers, we've got dozens of applications from budding Fellows for our FY2025/2026 season. Still, that doesn't mean our FY2024/2025 Fellows are finished with their tenure! While you can expect a very special edition of News and Updates in May, ripe with updates about our Fellows' journeys, this edition is blooming with general updates about our organization. Read on to learn about all the new developments LVC has to offer! |
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| | LVC EXPANDS INTO PITTSBURGH AND WILMINGTON |
| Break out your beach towels and Terrible Towels, because LVC is branching into two additional cities for our FY2025/2026 season! Our partnership with The Forbes Funds is ushering us into Pittsburgh, Pennslyvania. (Thank you, The Forbes Funds!) The tireless work of our newly-minted Chief Program Officer, Shae Agee, will see us return to Wilmington, Delaware. |
| | Pittsburgh is an INCREDIBLE city with a small-town feel! Home to dozens of universities, an LGBTQIA+ friendly community, and a bohemian culture filled with museums, thrift stores, and festivals, it's no surprise that Lonely Planet named it one of the top ten places to visit in the WORLD in 2025! (And this born and bred Yinzer can attest, with its low cost of living and tons of entertainment opportunities, Pittsburgh may be the best-kept secret in America.) Wilmington is an alumni-favorite community with strong ELCA values! Within driving distance to New York City, Philadelphia, and many, many Delaware beaches, this is the perfect place for Fellows looking to explore the most exciting parts of America, while still coming home to a close-knit community. Oh, and did we mention that Delaware has NO SALES TAX? (Plus, Delaware is home to one of the country's largest Golden Retriever conventions. Not to brag, but if you haven't been, it's a must-see!) We will continue to offer Placements in DC, The Twin Cities, Alexandria, and virtually! |
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| | | | LVC DEVELOPS NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH SKILLBUILDER.IO |
| The LVC is furthering our commitment to digital stewardship through a strategic partnership with Skillbuilder.io. This Pittsburgh-based AI development company employs an LVC alum you may remember from a previous edition of News and Updates, Colleen Rosshirt! Skillbuilder is cutting-edge nonprofit technology that integrates with nonprofits to enhance the digital experience on their websites. This partnership will revitalize the LVC website and create an AI concierge who will answer questions from prospective Fellows and donors 24/7. We will begin training our staff to use this technology later in the Spring and expect a Summer release date. We thank Ms. Rosshirt and Skillbuilder founder, Adam Paulisick, for attending and presenting at our FY2024/2025 Fellows' Retreat on April 4th and 5th. |
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| | FY 2024/2025 FELLOW SPOTLIGHT | |
| HALIMA ELLAMS: Halima was born in Nigeria and moved to America with my family as a child. Adapting to a new country came with many challenges, but these experiences taught her valuable lessons. Her parents instilled in her a strong drive and determination to reach her goals. She studied Political Science at Hunter College on a scholarship and she am currently working towards a Paralegal Certificate. Before joining the Lutheran Volunteer Corp, she worked as an Estate Planning, Tenant, and Litigation Paralegal for two exceptional lawyers in New Jersey. She aims to pursue a law degree and use her skills and compassion to uplift and support others. She serves as a Casework Intern with the Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington. |
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| | | | DR. CATHERINE KIMBALL-EAYRS, FELLOWSHIP YEAR 1993/1994: Dr. Catherine Kimball-Eayrs was born in Washington, DC, grew up in the DC area, and spent her high school years in Germany. She graduated with a BA in psychology from Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA. She spent the next year as a volunteer coordinator at the Children’s Home Society in St. Paul, MN, as a part of the Lutheran Volunteer Corps program and a follow on three months as a short-term recruiter for LVC. She then received an Army officer commission, matriculated to the Uniformed Services University School of Medicine, and graduated in 1999. She trained in general pediatrics and spent the next 23 years serving in various roles and locations. She deployed twice to the Middle East. She culminated her career by returning to USU as the Commandant for the School of Medicine (the military officer in charge of the pre-medical, medical, and graduate students) and serving as the General Pediatrics Consultant to the Army Surgeon General. Since she retired from the Army in October 2022, she has worked clinically in pediatric urgent care, continued as volunteer civilian faculty at USU, and worked to create a consulting business around leadership and change management. Dr. Kimball-Eayrs lives in Silver Spring with her husband and three children. In her spare time, she runs (almost 20 half marathons and 2 marathons to date!), volunteers and organizes her family! |
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| | FELLOWS' WISHLIST / LVC MEAL TRAIN 2025 |
| As we move into Spring, we are still collecting donations of hygiene products for our Fellows. We are requesting specifically "Platex Super", "Platex Super Plus", "Always Long with Wings", and "Always Overnight with Wings". In addition to hygiene products, our Fellows at our Alexandria house urgently need a lawnmower! If you or someone you know would be interested in donating one, please contact Theresa for more information. For those more inclined to provide physical gifts, please check our full Wishlist for preferred brands and contact our National Program Director, Shae Agee, for more information on delivering these donations. |
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| MORE WAYS TO GET INVOLVED... |
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| - Please communicate with us and share your insights, observations, and suggestions to news@lutheranvolunteercorps.org
- Spread the word! Tell your community why you support Lutheran Volunteer Corps by sharing your support on social media.
- JOIN OUR MISSION! We invite you to become an LVC insider! Click here to join our campaign of inclusion to receive News & Updates, announcements, and invitations for in-person and video gatherings!
- To make an even more significant impact: Make a gift to our "Fellow's Stipend Impact Fund for Life and Learning" by reaching out to our Interim Executive Director, Jean Ahwesh at jahwesh@lutheranvolunteercorps.org or by calling her at 724-316-9507.
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| | A FEW OF OUR TREASURED PARTNERS & BENEFACTORS |
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| | | | Lutheran Volunteer Corps
1226 Vermont Avenue NW | Washington, District of Columbia 20005
202-387-3222 | operations@lutheranvolunteercorps.org |
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