I started volunteering in March when we first moved here. It’s a great way to meet people! Everyone at SAY is nice and friendly. I have enjoyed being part of the Guiding Coalition Committee where members shared creative ways to improve and support the volunteer organization. Administrative support is a great opportunity to gain experience in an office environment or develop new skills that can enhance a career.
SAY also shows gratitude to their volunteers through their Volunteer Appreciation Day.
SAY offers a wide variety of programs for families, youth, children and the community where you can volunteer at a time that fits your schedule. There are many different opportunities to get involved and provide support.
Volunteering at SAY has been truly a rewarding experience.
SAY San Diego has been a wonderful partner throughout the years. Every staff person I have interacted with has been friendly, courteous, and made us feel welcomed and appreciated. It is refreshing to work with an organization that shows their commitment to their team by encouraging intentional professional development. Lastly, they have been very generous with their time, space and support.
I have worked closely with SAY San Diego on communicating their successes and engaging donors for nearly 7 years, and I am also a donor myself. They do amazing work for youth and families, and I see firsthand how donations are reinvested into the communities SAY serves. I feel like I learn something new about SAY all the time because they offer so many different programs and ways to help. I also admire how they are on a continual path to improve services and address community needs. I have served on committees where SAY invites stakeholders to give feedback and guidance, and this approach keeps their programs responsive. San Diego is fortunate to have a charity like SAY in the community because they are committed to their work and excel at partnering with other organizations to make a difference. I love cheering them on!
I have been volunteering at SAY for about 8 months now and it has been the experience. I have been lucky enough to work with the Volunteer Engagement Manager, Agnes. She makes the volunteer process fun and interesting, and truly cares about every volunteer having a meaningful and fun experience with SAY. I highly recommend SAY to anyone is looking to get involved and volunteer!
I volunteered with SAY tutoring with local schools, as well as volunteer teaching yoga at the Military Family Resource Center. It was such a treat volunteering my time and energy with this organization. The staff was kind and professional, as well as open to me creating my own programming that worked around my interests and schedule. I would 100% recommend SAY San Diego to anyone interested in making an impact on the local community.
I was born in San Diego and love this community, and have had a long-time relationship with SAY San Diego. At every opportunity, I encourage co-workers to get involved with helping SAY with things that help youth and families every day. We collect school supplies, holiday gifts, and even prom accessories, and I also put in company match requests to further invest in SAY financially, too. Kids, adults, and families face challenges every day, and sometimes you need a little help to get through a tough situation. I like how SAY provides so many different types of help for this, and that’s why I support them however we can.
I volunteered with SAY by teaching dance classes after school and during the summer. I had a lot of fun designing engaging classes for the kids! I enjoy volunteering for SAY because I can see how much of a difference they are making in the lives of San Diego youth, and because they provide a welcoming and positive environment for their volunteers.
I currently volunteer with the Teen Court Program and it has been an amazing experience so far. This program gives youth the opportunity to take responsibility and accountability for their actions in a trauma informed way. The experience further enhances my understanding of restorative practices and utilizing them to better the lives of others. This program has been very pleasant and truly practices what they preach. I am honored to be apart of a program who supports youth at such a vulnerable time.
There are not enough available characters in this "review" box to properly praise and thank SAY San Diego for their wonderful programs/services, as well as the organization's sincerely superb staff and volunteer members.
I feel genuinely grateful to have been selected as a MSW Graduate School Intern at SAY San Diego, focusing on an Administration and Community Development track. Even since day one, interviewing for the internship position with SAY's VP of Organizational Planning, the warm and inviting atmosphere made me feel comfortable, inspired, and eager to be a contributing team member to the cohesive organization.
As I am merely one month into my internship at SAY, I am beyond humbled to proudly wear the SAY San Diego badge, representing a united community, comprised of individuals and groups who genuinely aim to elevate humanity in a plethora of ways. The team here at SAY San Diego make me feel empowered, competent, capable, validated, accepted, and challenged. I see a future with SAY, far beyond this 9-month internship. And I hope that you do, too.
There is nothing that SAY San Diego cannot do - the organization and its team members are absolutely incredible.
I encountered SAY San Diego when I was searching for my internship placement. From my very first contact, I knew SAY San Diego was a nonprofit with a difference and committed to the welfare of children within the community. SAY SD went above and beyond to package school supplies for schools within their program and military families. I was amazed at the quality of school supplies issued to these student. SAY staff members are amazing and dedicated to exploring new possibilities to ensure overall welfare of children within their system. SAY San Diego are test running a new daycare program to bring succor for working parents. I believe this project will have a spiral effect, which will be beneficial for parents, employers, and the baby's emotional growth. I am grateful for the wonderful opportunity given to me by SAY San Diego. I would like to thank Agnes Zsigovics, Suzie Colby and all the wonderful staff members I had the opportunity of interacting with. SAY San Diego is the go-to nonprofit.
We recently had our first child, and being parents made us realize more than ever before how important SAY San Diego is for our community. SAY has so many programs to help children and families, but I love their commitment to early childhood learning for all. Raising a child is so rewarding, and it can also be challenging. In my volunteer service with SAY as a participant at several events and heard from impacted families, I have seen that many parents have the added stress of poverty, and SAY is there for them with parenting classes, early childhood education, after-school care and activities and so much more.
I always tell people that SAY San Diego is really a big deal because they are making positive impacts everywhere. They provide early education and academic enrichment after school at over 40 San Diego schools, and they also provide behavioral health services to more than 1,400 kids every school year. SAY also supports parents and families through events, education, and peer mentoring. My company, Cox Business, is very community oriented, and I love the unique way SAY supports the diversity of communities in San Diego. They have resource centers in military, refugee, and other communities where youth and families have unique challenges, and SAY also partners with other nonprofits to make everyone more effective. My colleagues love joining me in support of SAY because they know that SAY makes a difference!
I currently volunteer with SAY San Diego in their Teen Court program. This opportunity has taught me a lot about reformative justice and the second chance it can give to those who need it. I am able to foster my own learning regarding the innerworkings of people similar and different to me. The ability to play an active role in bettering the lives of children my age in situations of hardship is mutually beneficial. My experience with the staff and other volunteers has always been pleasant.
I have volunteered with SAY and it's programs over the past 3 years. Specifically with its Dads Corps program, which has done wonders for my relationship with my children, and also allowed them to make friendships with other children.
SAY's other programs, such as holiday Hope's, contribute greatly to the local community!!!
This is a wonderful organization. I volunteered weekly for the Dads Corp program, working with and entertaining the kiddos while the dads held workshops. They provided ample guidance but also allowed for the volunteers to come up with creative ways to entertain the kids, which helped foster the trust and relationship development with a large portion of the kids who attended weekly.
I also volunteered with the Holiday Hope Drive, which helped to give holiday gifts to those less fortunate. The event organization, both internal and external, and dedication really spoke to the character of all of those involved. I unfortunately moved out of state and thus stopped volunteering, but they are truly a great group of people that I hold in high esteem!
I have volunteered with SAY from its very tiny beginnings! (1970’s) SAYs programs really make a difference in the lives of children teenagers and parents in our community! I have worked as a college student in a “big sister program “ with SAY , involved my special education class in SAYs toy drive, to now volunteering as a retiree for the Prom dress program...Super fun! The Christmas toy drive and the Play for Say fundraiser. Every experience has been very fulfilling and fun and it is obvious that SAY is making a difference which feels so good! If you have an opportunity to volunteer for SAY do it!
I volunteered for SAY San Diego for about 2 years. I loved my time there and always looked forward to coming in to work with the kids and staff. I was a homework helper during after school care and worked primarily with kids ages 5-7. I enjoy coming up with arts and craft ideas to do with the kids and the teachers allowed me the opportunities to do just that. The staff provided such a warm learning environment for the kids and they were all friendly and great to work with. I also really appreciate how flexible and understating they were with my schedule as well since I was also working full time. Overall, my experience with SAY was amazing.