On November 1, 2016 Strength United was one of six nonprofits to receive a Halo Award from the Carl & Roberta Deutsch Foundation. The purpose and of the Halo Awards is to strengthen and sustain nonprofit volunteer programs and to recognize and reward volunteers doing exemplary work in their communities. As stimulated by the Halo Awards, $20,000 is awarded to the nonprofit to strengthen, implement, and sustain volunteer efforts and $5,000 is awarded to the volunteer nominated by the nonprofit.
Strength United will use the funds to:
- Strengthen vicarious trauma prevention training
- Provide additional Volunteer Appreciation opportunities linked to self-care
- Increase the capacity of peer mentors to identify and respond to vicarious trauma
- Increase recruitment through redesign of multimedia materials aimed at attracting a broader array of volunteers.
The volunteer who was nominated by Strength United is Ms. Cibele Souza. The volunteers nominated this year were outstanding across the board. What tipped the scale for the winners were their individual strategies to strengthen their volunteer programs in sustainable ways, an important focus for the Foundation. More information about the winners and Selection Committee is on their website.
The Carl & Roberta Deutch Foundation looks forward to hearing what thoughtful ideas next year's applicants have for building their own capacity around attracting, developing, and/or sustaining their volunteers.