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Meet Andrew Ni, an Oak Ridge High School Junior who started participating with Hands4Hope two years ago, and has already accumulated more than 150 service hours! He has truly jumped in to all that Hands4Hope has to offer, including participating in on-campus clubs, after school committees, Community Engagement Opportunities, and leadership opportunities. He is motivated by his desire to help others, but read on to hear in his own words what Andrew feels he gets out of his experiences with Hands4Hope. What club, committees, and community engagement outreaches have you participated in? I’ve participated in the Hands4Hope Fall Festival committee twice, and I led the Games & Activities committee this year. I was a member of the Kids Zone Committee this summer. I also participated in many community outreaches such as the Mercy Senior Dinner and the White Rock Village. How did you hear about Hands4Hope and what motivated you to join? I heard of Hands4Hope through my brother. I started Hands4Hope by accompanying my brother to the Mercy Senior Dinner event. Since then, I’ve participated in more and more community outreaches and committees. Helping others motivates me to continue volunteering for Hands4Hope. Think about what you’ve done with Hands4Hope so far: How have these experiences shaped you into the person you are today compared to when you first joined? Since I first joined Hands4Hope, I’ve become a more responsible, organized, and compassionate individual. For example, I learned so much from the committees that Hands4Hope offered. While I was the Games & Activities chair for the Fall Festival, I learned how to conduct meetings, manage my time effectively, and work in a team together for such a large project. I learned through Hands4Hope that I can make a positive impact on the community and the world, even if I am only a high-schooler. How has Hands4Hope helped you in school, with your friends and family, and in life? Hands4Hope offers a really unique opportunity for youth to be involved within the community that isn’t found elsewhere. I mean, what other organization offers high-schoolers the opportunity to manage over $20,000 and learn how to work professionally on a project? After volunteering for Hands4Hope, I felt more productive and confident in my life. Especially after the pandemic, I felt more connected to my community and also happier because I knew that I made a positive difference in the world. I learned how to become a leader by improving my communication skills and my confidence. What has been your favorite memory so far with Hands4Hope? I’ve made a lot of memories so far with Hands4Hope. In particular, I remember volunteering at the Kids Zone Area at the El Dorado Hills Town Center Fireworks and Freedom Concert with my friend Mason at the popcorn concession stand. It was a really cool and fun experience, and the fireworks were the capstone of the event. Additionally, I’ve volunteered for the Hands4Hope Fall Festival every year since I joined Hands4Hope, and it’s been a fun event every time. I loved interacting with the visitors and running the event. The 2023 Fall Festival was a great success! What would you tell someone who is considering joining Hands4Hope ? How do you see yourself being involved in the future? I would highly recommend anyone to join Hands4Hope. I would encourage them to take risks and get involved with the community. You will learn so much and make great memories. I hope to continue being involved with Hands4Hope in the future through outreaches and committees like the Fall Festival. I want to make the most out of my last two years here. What other activities do you enjoy? Outside of Hands4Hope, I like to hang out with my friends and listen to music. I also volunteer for the Community Observatory in Placerville. I highly recommend checking it out; it’s really cool!

By Andrea Howard, representative of Parker Development and Chair of the Hands4Hope Board of Directors Hands4Hope is so appreciative of your long time partnership! Why do you continue to support Hands4Hope and how does our mission to inspire and empower youth in leadership and service fit your current goals? Serrano – Parker Development has a long history of supporting the communities we build. Youth development is a particular focus for our corporate philanthropy because it provides youth with supportive networks and opportunities for connectedness that boost their social, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral competence. Hands4Hope – Youth Making A Difference does just that. I am so impressed and inspired by the youth in Hands4Hope for the range of their positive qualities. They are inquisitive, good listeners, excel at interpersonal skills and communication, use their passions and strengths to solve real-world problems, possess resiliency and adaptability, and have confidence in their abilities. How do you see our shared commitment to serving the local community so important during these challenging times? Adolescence can be such a challenging phase of life as teenagers develop their identities and experience pressure to conform to their peers. It is a crucial time of social and emotional development that can impact their mental health, but unfortunately, mental health determinants such as emotional and behavioral disorders and risk-taking are on the rise. Stress, bullying, quality of home life and relationships with peers can exacerbate mental health conditions. However, Hands4Hope is a supportive environment that creates a safe space where all youth are welcome and truly delivers on their core organizational values - - youth-driven, inclusion, service, collaboration, and integrity. This positive atmosphere allows youth to find purpose and exercise their voices in meaningful ways for them personally as well as the greater good. What is your favorite thing about Hands4Hope? My favorite thing about Hands4Hope is how it offers a place for youth to connect outside of the usual array of extracurricular activities like athletics, academic clubs, band/choir, and student government. As a teenager, I did not have confidence in my intellectual or physical abilities and did not participate in extracurriculars, leaving me feeling like an outsider throughout most of my high school years. I wish I had a Hands4Hope growing up that would have helped me identify and appreciate my strengths at an earlier age and sparked my passion to lend a helping hand to those in need. If I had felt empowered, I would have recognized my capabilities, had the confidence to try new things, and learned from my mistakes instead of being afraid of them. On the contrary, Hands4Hope provides a framework and mentorship that instills belief in youth that they are capable of extraordinary things! Tell us about your company/organization. Parker Development Company is a third-generation, family-owned business that has created award-winning communities in the greater Sacramento area for more than 60 years. Our early projects were Greenhaven and Riverlake in Sacramento, followed by The Parkway at Folsom. One of our largest, current-day projects is the 3,500-acre Serrano community that we began developing in the early 1990’s. It is hard to believe this much time has passed, but we have had an office in El Dorado Hills for nearly 30 years (initially off Governor’s Drive and currently in the Serrano Visitor’s Center on Serrano Parkway) to house a small, but almighty staff who have overseen the construction of Serrano and its various amenities from day one.

We want to take a moment to put a spotlight on some of them and thank them for their continued contributions

Adult volunteer Dawn Fortino has jumped into essential behind-the-scenes administrative and leadership work for Hands4Hope, most recently taking the reigns to expertly lead the Endless Summer Beach Party Committee. Read on to learn more about how she became involved. How long have you been participating with Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference? After leaving my corporate job at the end of 2022, I was excited to have the time to volunteer in the community I love. My husband and I moved to El Dorado Hills in 1996 and raised our two children here, so giving back to this incredible community was top of mind. In January 2023, the first call I made was to Hands4Hope to see if they could use my help. I was thrilled when Jennifer Bassett called me back and asked when I could start. The answer, of course, was right now. What drew you to Hands4Hope? I was drawn to Hands4Hope because both of my children were involved with Hands4Hope during their middle school years. My son volunteered at a few events, but my daughter really embraced it and not only volunteered, but also took a leadership role. The positive impact Hands4Hope had on my children was invaluable. It's so important for the youth to think about something/someone other than themselves and to have a service mindset. It also provided a tremendous opportunity to develop leadership skills which has served as a fantastic foundation into their adult professional lives. Tell us more about your volunteer roles with Hands4Hope. I started helping in the El Dorado Hills Youth Center doing administrative work and then was asked to project manage the Endless Summer Beach Party. It was a wonderful experience working with a dedicated team of Hands4Hope staff, board members, and adult volunteers. The ESBP was a beautiful, fun, and successful event and I loved being a part of the team. What is a highlight from your experiences? It was incredibly inspiring to listen to the youth speak at the Endless Summer Beach Party and hear the profound impact this organization is making on their lives. It was also wonderful to see the many youth volunteers participate at the event by welcoming guests, serving food, selling raffle tickets, dancing, and having fun! Dawn's leadership and willingness to jump in to help behind the scenes in these essential ways has truly made an impact for Hands4Hope, and we are so grateful for her continued involvement!

Please give a warm welcome to Sydnie Warner who joins Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference as our new Education Program Coordinator, focusing on mentoring the on-campus Hands4Hope Clubs in El Dorado Hills! Welcome, Sydnie! Tell us a little bit about yourself! I grew up in Woodland with my brother and mom. After marrying my husband, we moved to El Dorado County where he was born and raised. I fell in love with the area, community, and people. We have 4 children, two high energy dogs and 2 spoiled cats. Our oldest son is 12. He enjoys playing the saxophone and swimming. Our 9-year-old son is a goofball who loves animals. Next is our 7-year-old son who loves deeply and enjoys riding quads. Finally, the baby, our only girl, is 5. She loves dance and all things girly but can hold her own with her big brothers. Our house is busy and full, but we love every minute of it. In 2020, we bought our second but forever home. It included property, a beautiful home, and an in-law cottage. We are lucky to have my mom living on our property with us. Family is a huge part of who I am. What were you involved with before starting with Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference? Before Hands4Hope I was very involved with Rescue PTC. For the past 8 years I have volunteered as a room parent, Vice President of Events and President. I enjoyed giving back and supporting my children’s school. I loved helping all the students and families make lasting memories and a sense of community. What do you like to do in your free time? I love spending time with my family. You will usually find us playing on our property riding quads and dirt bikes, having fire pits with smores, ziplining, and swinging on our tire swing. During the summer you can find us every morning at swim practice and every afternoon poolside. We love taking family trips to Disneyland, Yosemite, Monterey, Mojave Desert, Sac Broadway to take in a show and we have a big trip to Hawaii planned in September. If I get some free time without children, you will find me enjoying a delicious dinner out with my husband or relaxing Harley ride, enjoying a coffee date with my friends, enjoying a good book or unwinding with a crime drama (my guilty pleasure). What’s something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know or are surprised to learn? I was a Ballerina. I took ballet from the age of 3 all the way into college. I even taught dance for 3 years while I was in college. I was able to perform many pirouettes on pointe. Please don’t ask me to attempt that now, I probably could only manage standing on pointe. What are you most looking forward to in working with Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference? The main goal I have is to make the clubs I mentor be a safe and positive place for everyone who walks in the door and to help everyone feel valued. Anything else you would like to add? I am most looking forward to working with and mentoring the youth. I look forward to getting to know their thoughts, ideas, and feelings and sharing my passion for giving back to the community.

undoubtedly a real job perk, and the growth shown by Marcos is why he was nominated as this month's Youth Spotlight

For El Dorado High School sophomore Sarahi Lopez, Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference is the first time she’s been part of a club and done volunteer work. As a result of her involvement, Sarahi says she has become more confident, better at managing her time and made new friends. In addition to her role as a Hands4Hope Club leader, you can often find Sarahi volunteering at GVCC - she credits Hands4Hope for helping her become more aware of the issues in her community. We love watching our youth grow into individuals who feel inspired to serve others with compassion, respect, humility and kindness. We hope you’ll take a moment to get to know Sarahi! What grade are you in, what school do you attend, and how long have you been involved with Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference? I am currently a sophomore at El Dorado High School. This is my first time being a part of a club and doing volunteer work. I have been involved with Hands4Hope for seven months. What club or committees or community engagement outreaches have you participated in? Please indicate if you’ve held any leadership positions. I am the Treasurer and Public Relations Coordinator for the El Dorado High School Hands4Hope Service-Learning Club. I also volunteer at Green Valley Community Church (GVCC)’s Saturday Cafe. As a volunteer, I help set up and serve the food. I’ve also helped with the grocery check-in system. I really like volunteering at GVCC because everyone is super nice and it is an awesome environment to be in while helping serve people. How did you hear about Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference? What motivated you to join? I heard about Hands4Hope through my mom’s friend and since I wasn’t really doing anything over the summer, I thought it would be fun to join and do some community service before school started. Think about what you’ve done with Hands4Hope so far: How have these experiences shaped you into the person you are today compared to when you first joined? Hands4Hope has helped me become more involved with my community and that has made me a lot more aware and outgoing. I also definitely think Hands4Hope has made me a better public speaker. Because of my experience with Hands4Hope, I am able to speak to more people without being nervous. How has Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference helped you in school, with your friends and family, and in life? Hands4Hope has helped me become more organized in my life, I can keep track of the time I am going to volunteer and any school or outside activity better now. What has been your favorite memory so far with Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference? My favorite memory has been volunteering with my good pal Madeline at the Big Brother Big Sister Auction dinner! We had lots of fun, made a new friend and were glad to help serve. What would you tell someone who is considering joining Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference? I would say Hands4Hope is a great opportunity to volunteer with your friends and connect to your community. It’s fun and a great use of your time! What activities do you enjoy outside Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference? Outside of Hands4Hope, I enjoy a variety of activities like reading, making jewelry, listening to music, spending time with friends and family and taking pictures of my cats.

Born and raised in Placerville, Diane Wilkinson has worn numerous hats throughout her life, including college and high school teacher, real estate broker, and general contractor, but the hat she wears most often when volunteering with Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference is her chef's hat! Diane's catering business is known for its beautifully presented and delicious meals for everything from weddings to corporate banquets and intimate soirées. She has been donating her tasty services for various Hands4Hope events, and we couldn't be more delighted to help everyone get to know this remarkable woman behind the scenes. How did you first come to be involved with Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference? At some point in my involvement with the community and catering, I come across Jennifer Bassett, and well, it is all history from there. She grabbed my soul. Her vision and hope was invigorating and made total sense to me. I see how she interacts with the community and everyone, and it is just pure joy and true love. I was hooked. And for me to say that is huge because over 30 years of catering I have given and donated consistently to various community organizations. Hands4Hope is where I feel safe. People have called me "The hardest working woman in El Dorado County" but I think that Jennifer Bassett is dogging for that title! In what ways have you been involved with Hands4Hope as an Adult Volunteer? I am not wealthy, I have worked hard for everything in my life, so I give and do what I can with my time and little money I have. Often, this is through donating my catering services. My other favorite way to be involved is by bidding on adventures during the Hands4Hope Endless Summer Beach Party! What do you want others to know who might be considering getting involved with Hands4Hope? Society focuses on the less fortunate, and rightly so. But what is the change agent? Well, I believe it is what Hands4Hope is all about: showing the next generation selflessness and what it means to be involved. It should be taught in school as Community Involvement 101! What are you passionate about? Staying fit, world travel, reading and LAUGHING.

Oak Ridge High School rising Junior Sungwoo Cho started volunteering with Hands4Hope in February 2020. He has consistently nurtured his service leadership skills throughout his 3 and a half years of involvement, garnering an impressive 90+ service hours during this time. In addition to volunteering at Community Engagement events like the breakfast and food distribution at Green Valley Community Church, Sungwoo is also active in committees, and recently joined our new Marketing committee. Read more about why Sungwoo enjoys his time with Hands4Hope below! What has your favorite outreach been so far? My favorite outreach has definitely been the Green Valley Community Church. I enjoy it because I get to help people from all walks of life meet their day to day necessities. Seeing the hard work of serving and preparing the dishes being met with 'thank you's and gratitude makes it all worth it. Working with a diverse set of people also helps me gain a better worldview and understanding of what is going on around me. Why do you like volunteering at Hands4Hope? I enjoy volunteering at Hands4Hope because it gives many interesting and awesome outreaches to volunteer with, also, it has amazing staff who are very supportive and helpful with anything. This makes for a fun and rewarding volunteering experience that I'm excited about whenever I sign up for a shift!

Today, I’d like to turn our spotlight to one Aidan Campbell, an alumni of great renown, who joined Hands4Hope

Camerado Springs eighth grader, Jacob Wylie, wasn’t quite sure what he was getting into when he signed up for Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference but he knew he wanted to get involved in some way at school. Two years later, Jacob is now his school’s Hands4Hope Club President, the Middle School Representative for the Youth Board Executive Committee, and he has participated in multiple Hands4Hope events including the School Supply Drive and Fall Festival. Read more about one of our amazing young Middle School Leaders below: What grade are you in, what school do you go to, and how long have you been involved with Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference? What clubs or committees have you been involved in? My name is Jacob Wylie, I am in eighth grade and I attend Camerado Springs Middle School. I have been involved with Hands4Hope for two years. In those two years, I have been able to go up the ranks and become this year's Camerado Springs Middle School Hands4Hope Club President and the Youth Board Executive Committee Middle School Representative! In the previous year, I was the Hands4Hope Club Secretary at Camerado and loved doing that job. Outside of Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference, what activities do you enjoy? Outside of Hands4Hope, I like to hang out with my family and friends. I love to play games and hang out with my new kitten Salem! Sometimes my cat loves to eat my Hands4Hope papers, but I make do! How did you hear about Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference? What motivated you to join? In sixth grade, Hands4Hope was brought up at my school. Even though I wasn't sure I wanted to join, I did because I wanted to get more involved in my school and now Hands4Hope plays a significant role in my life. Reflect on the experiences you have with Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference that shaped you into the person you are today compared to when you first joined. How has Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference helped you in school, with your friends and family, and in life? My life has been greatly impacted by Hands4Hope! When I started in the sixth grade, I had much less self-assurance than I do now. Over the summer break in 2021 and 2022, I attended the Hands4Hope leadership camp, where I gained confidence and enhanced my communication skills. In sixth grade, there is no way I could have had the confidence to give presentations and assume such significant leadership roles. Now that I'm in the eighth grade and have had more experience, I can give them with ease and enjoy doing so. If not for Hands4Hope, I'm not sure that I would even consider taking on the task to lead the Hands4Hope Club at Camerado, let alone becoming the Club President there. What has been your favorite memory so far with Hands4Hope? My favorite Hands4Hope experience thus far is attending Club meetings at Camerado Springs. I enjoy being a part of it and supporting the community. In the Club, we’re all comfortable with each other and it’s easier to say things in front of friends. Sometimes we get off-topic, but we always try to have fun and stay on task. What would you tell someone who is considering joining Hands4Hope? If someone were thinking about joining Hands4Hope, I'd encourage them to give it a shot! It's quite difficult to put Hands4hope into words. There aren't enough descriptive words to describe what they do. When you're there to assist the community, it feels so good to see veterans, kids, the elderly, and anyone have a good time when you’re there helping them!

Tell us a little bit about yourself! What grade are you in, what school do you go to, and how long have you been involved with Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference? I am going into my senior year at Folsom High School. I have been in Hands4Hope since my freshman year, so about three years. For the upcoming school year, I will be Vice President of the Folsom High School Hands4Hope Club and Public Relations Coordinator for the Executive Youth Board. How did you hear about Hands4Hope and what motivated you to join? At school, there is an event during lunch called Club Rush. This is where all the clubs come out during lunch and promote their clubs. My friends and I saw the table and signed up. I wanted to join to make an impact on my community and be more involved in school. How has your experience with Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference shaped you into the person you are today, especially compared to when you first joined? How has Hands4Hope helped you in school, with your friends and family, and in life? Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference has helped me become a well-rounded person. It has really helped increase my confidence while speaking to my peers, time management and working with others. I have also had many opportunities to grow as a leader because of the many opportunities I have had to step into a leadership position. What value do you think Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference adds to the community? I think Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference adds the value of leadership in the community. Youth involved in the organization always have opportunities to grow their leadership skills. Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference is a youth-led organization. Of course, there are adults but they are there to mentor us. The organization allows youth to input their ideas into projects and provides a safe place to explore the real world. Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experiences with Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference? While being a part of Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference, I have learned to overcome challenges that we might face in our lifetime, like COVID-19. In February, the Folsom High Club wanted to host a dance for the Special Education population. Unfortunately, this did not happen due to the peak in COVID cases. Instead, we took the candy donations we received to create Valentine's grams and held a Spring Fling later in the year for the Special Education students. This year I am taking on the PR Coordinator role for the Executive Youth Board. I will use the platform I have to let more people grasp the ideas about Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference. Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference is truly a blessing in disguise, it has helped me come out of my shell and grow to my greatest potential.