Congrats to our December Volunteer of the Month: Pam Crutchfield! We couldn't do what we do without the help of our incredible volunteers like you.

Pam has been a dedicated volunteer in our TOV Reads program for the last two years. TOV Reads brings volunteers to Lozano elementary school every week to work one-on-one with elementary school students in need from October through May. We wanted to get to know Pam a little bit more, so she answered some of our questions below.

1. How did you first get involved with TOV/JUF?
I have a trusted friend that I asked about reading opportunities working with children. He suggested the JUF sponsored program working with WITS.

2. What makes it important for you to volunteer with TOV/JUF?
I really appreciate the high quality of organization at JUF and their caring attitude. They make the volunteer experience seamless and I feel valued for my contribution of time. I have also enjoyed meeting many of the other people I volunteer with and we have formed bonds around our experiences. Helping young school-age children with their reading skills is so much fun. They run into the room so happy to see you. It’s a joy.

3. Are there any fun facts about you that we might not know? 
I collect contemporary Japanese baskets and sculptures. I have 60 of them. I've met all of the artists of the baskets in Japan. The Art Institute of Chicago has ten baskets that I have donated in their Asian Wing.

I also co-founded a dance company about eleven years ago called DanceWorks Chicago. We train and pay young adult dancers for approximately two years and then send them on to other companies. We have dancers in Alvin Ailey, The Lion King, The Color Purple, and many contemporary dance companies throughout the US and Europe.

 We are so lucky to have Pam as part of our TOV family! To learn more about JUF's important work in the community, sign up to volunteer, or make a donation in Pam's honor, please visit  juf.org/tov .

Mensches in Motion is TOV's ongoing volunteer program that gives young adults the opportunity to make a difference at a variety of organizations with the same group of peers over a three month period. We work in collaboration with the Young Leadership Division. Through this six session program, participants learn about and volunteer at different agencies and see firsthand the impact the JUF campaign has on those in need. There are two sessions per year, one in the fall and one in the winter/spring. We are just finishing up our fall session. Michael Iberkleid, a volunteer participating in the current fall session, gave us some feedback on the program. 

"Being part of Mensches in Motion was truly an amazing experience. The program is as humbling as it is eye opening and is hands down one of the most enriching things I have been a part of.

 I decided to join Mensches in Motion after discussing it during LEADS; when I first heard, in detail, of all the great service initiatives that the JUF is involved in. However, I did not expect to be as impressed with the quantity and quality of the programs as I was after having participated in them. It's hard to highlight only one, because they were all fantastic, but the one that has had the most impact on me was getting to help out at the JUF Uptown Cafe and both serving and sharing a meal with the remarkable people who participate in the program.

I highly recommend Mensches in Motion to anyone interested as it gives you an opportunity to do good while also meeting great new people and getting to see firsthand the impact our community has on Chicago."

To learn more about Mensches in Motion, and register for our winter/spring session beginning at the end of January, please click here.