Action Teams
The Partnership:
The Major League Baseball Players Trustand Volunteers of America joined together as national partners in 2002. A major part of the partnership is the personal involvement of Major League baseball players in raising public awareness of Volunteers of America and the needs its services are meeting in local communities. The signature initiative of the partnership between Volunteers of America and the Major League Baseball Players Trust is the Action Team. Action Teams are currently at work in eleven locations: Boston, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York City, Philadelphia, Portland (ME), Oakland, San Francisco and Seattle.
Action Team — a Youth Volunteer Initiative:
Action Teams, composed of Major League baseball players and area high school students who are selected to be Team Captains, work together to inspire youth to get involved in Volunteers of America programs. The Action Team also delivers an important message to their peers from Major Leaguers — volunteering is cool, fun and personally rewarding!
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High School Involvement:
Through the Action Team, Volunteers of America works in cooperation with local high school administrators and teachers to encourage students to volunteer while helping the students meet community service requirements for graduation.
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Locally, Volunteers of America Michigan has Action Teams at Fraser High School, Warren Woods Tower High School, Ferndale High School and Mumford High School.
Students and Team Captains who volunteer benefit by:
- Gaining a feeling of satisfaction when helping a neighbor in need / Developing important life skills from their volunteer work / Fulfilling their community service requirements for graduation / Obtaining valuable community service experience to include on college applications
Two or three players from the local Major League team are recruited by the Players Trust to work with each Action Team. From the Detroit Tigers, Austin Jackson and Johnny Damon support the Action Team. Players may, depending on their schedules, participate in local media events with the Action Team at projects to promote the Action Team’s efforts to encourage youth volunteering.
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Community Activities:
Community projects vary in each location but may include:
Sorting and distributing new books to low income children
Reading to children and assisting teachers in day care and Head Start programs
Serving meals at homeless shelters and senior centers
Working at activities and events in Volunteers of America’s Senior affordable housing facilities
Collecting food, clothing, gifts and other needed items
Working with Adopt A Family
Participating in other appropriate projects — either single events or ongoing opportunities.
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For Further Information Please Contact:
Emilie Rohrbach
Volunteers of America Michigan
21415 Civic Center Drive, Suite 210
Southfield, MI 48076
248-945-0101 ext. 6032
erohrbach@voami.org
The Action Teams are proudly supported by:
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