KidWorks is thrilled to announce our 2022 Volunteers of the Year. Please join us in warmly congratulating Lance Lew and Vicki Randall.
They are among the 292 active volunteers serving with time, talent and resources in support of the hundreds of students and families we connect with each day.
Our two Volunteers of the Year are selected by KidWorks based on several criteria we believe showcase their spirit of volunteerism:
Truly embody the spirit of volunteerism (proactive, friendly, etc.).
Volunteered 50 hours or more.
Volunteer of the Month nominee.
Staff members gave kudos for their volunteerism.
KidWorks has also nominated Vicki and Lance for recognition by OneOC, an Orange County non-profit who partners with organizations like KidWorks. OneOC’s annual volunteer recognition event is April 22.
We’re delighted to tell you about each of our 2022 honorees.
Lance Lew
“Everyone at KidWorks knows Lance,” says Rachel Cervantes, our Volunteer Coordinator. And that’s not surprising given the many ways Lance is deeply engaged with our students and our programs.
His volunteer activities include:
KidWorks University workshops: Teaching art lessons centered around mental health to elementary and middle school students as part of his own non-profit called Art for Kids OC.
After School Programs: Homework assistance with second, 10th, 11th and 12th graders at our Townsend and Dan Donahue centers.
Love in Music: Help with attendance, classroom set-up and working with students and teachers during lesson time.
Summer programs: Providing support on field trips and spending time with the high school seniors as they prepare for graduation.
Festival of OC Chefs: Fundraising for the event.
“Lance is a delight to work with in every way,” says Vanessa Sedano, our Volunteer Manager. “He’s volunteered for two years and has made such a positive impact during that time.”
Our Volunteer of the Year is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biophysics and chemistry.
He’s applying to medical school and plans to specialize in areas such as pediatrics, psychiatry or a specialty related to the brain.
In fact, volunteering at KidWorks actually helped Lance decide that a career in a medicine is what he’s called to do.
“I started volunteering at KidWorks because I thought I might like working with kids and really craved a youthful perspective,” Lance says.
We also thank Lance for bringing family and friends to KidWorks who have joined him as volunteers.
“In my free time I love doing art, especially watercolors, oil painting, and spray painting and studying art history,” Lance says. “I also like weightlifting.”
Please join us as we congratulate Lance as a 2022 Volunteer of the Year.
Vicki Randall
Vicki Randal has supported our students in so many ways, including working with our youngest scholars at our state-licensed preschool where she’s a definite favorite.
Our Volunteer of the Year retired from Delta Airlines after a 43-year career as a flight attendant. Vicki first heard about KidWorks from a neighbor who volunteers with us and decided to join in on all the fun.
“You can tell that she has a joy for volunteering at KidWorks,” Rachel says. “She genuinely cares for the organization. We are grateful for her beautiful, warm heart.”
In addition to her help at our preschool, Vicki has also worked with our kindergarten students, worked on projects led by our KidWorks Women service committee and supported other events.
“The entire preschool team appreciates Vicki’s caring heart, joyful attitude and humble personality,” says Idalia Galdamez, Preschool Director. “Her mellow personality helps our students stay on task when working in their small group projects. Vicki wants to be part of the change in our community. A quote from Gordon B. Hinckley comes to my mind when I see her serving with a humble heart: ‘Being humble means recognizing that we are not on earth to see how important we can become, but to see how much difference we can make in the lives of others.’"
Vicki is not only a beloved presence the preschool classroom, she’s also dedicated to helping these youngsters in every way possible.
That’s included purchasing graduation gowns for the promotion ceremony where preschoolers go from preschool to kindergarten, plus gifts for Easter and Christmas events.
Vicki has also helped purchase and assemble care packages for our college/university-bound students.
“Vicki always has such a big smile; she’s always smiling!” Vanessa says.
“I’m thrilled to be named volunteer of the year,” Vicki says. “KidWorks does so many wonderful things for the children and the community. I love being part of that.”
Please join us as we congratulate Vicki as a 2022 Volunteer of the Year.
By Glenn Leibowitz, volunteer writer