You guys all know the story of Lion’s Heart right? A young man by the name of Spencer was about to begin his 7th grade year in school. He wanted to volunteer in Orange County, California, but didn’t know where to get started. He found a lot of organizations for teen girls to get involved in the community, but he couldn’t find much out there for boys. So he decided change that. In his senior year of High School, Spencer said, “A fellow leader once told our group, ‘Those who serve in life are winners,’ and that’s something that I’ve always believed, to my very core. I have learned that when you give back, you are part of the community.”
Spencer and his mother, Terry Corwin, recognized the importance of giving back, so they worked together to create Lion’s Heart. Lion’s Heart, founded in 2004, offers teenagers a special connection with their communities by providing volunteer opportunities for teens across the nation. Teen volunteers gain a lot from their experiences as they learn, grow, and mature. Lion’s Heart is dedicated to organizing, inspiring, and empowering teens to serve the community in fun and meaningful ways while promoting leadership, accountability, and teamwork.
We’ve all been taught that giving back is important, and some schools even require students to volunteer before graduating. But why should your teens want to volunteer?
Here are 5 benefits of volunteering (believe me, there are more):
- You get to help those who need it. This is the obvious benefit, right? But it’s also the most important part. As a volunteer, you have a great opportunity to give back in any area that is important to you. For Spencer, making sure that all teens had the opportunity to volunteer was most important to him, so he started a volunteering organization. What passion could you pass on to others?
- Volunteering is great for your mental and even physical health. Not only does volunteering boost self-confidence and happiness, but it has also been found that people who volunteer have lower mortality rates than those who don’t.
- Volunteering can teach you the social and networking skills that you will need as an adult. Volunteering can teach teens how to network and build a list of important contacts. The people you volunteer with are also great candidates for recommendation letters. These are the people who have seen how you interact with others in social situations and how you handle new challenges.
- Volunteering lets you see how others experience the world and opens your eyes to something new. From volunteering with animal shelters to serving food at soup kitchens, volunteering can expose you to many experiences that you may not have known otherwise. Having new experiences can help you discover a new passion you never knew you had, while continuing to develop empathy and compassion for others.
- Make your resume shine. Volunteer experience can set you apart from other applicants for job and school applications. Your volunteer experience shows that you are ambitious, that you care about your community, and that you are willing to work to affect change. These are great college and career ready qualities that recruiters and admissions officers look for in a potential student or employee.
So how can you get started volunteering? Join the Lion’s Heart team!
We are not a fundraising organization, and most of our staff are volunteers. All of their volunteers are enthusiastic about serving the community, and teens can be involved with or without parent participation. It couldn’t be any easier to make a difference!
Lion’s Heart is for all teens across the nation. We invite you to join an existing volunteer. Spencer and his mother were able to change their community and communities across the country with their passion for community service. What will your passion lead you to change?
“Lion’s Heart gives me the opportunity to aid those in need and allows me to make a better connection with fellow classmates in the community.” Trevor C., Lion’s Heart Member, Class of 2011
“I have watched the kids grow, learn and expand their compassion and respect for people and their community. Debbie Powell, Class Coordinator
Sign up with Lion’s Heart today, and see how you can affect your community for the better.
For more information on Lion’s Heart see our website lionsheartservice.org.
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