Announcing our Volunteer of the Year Award Winners
We are so excited to announce and celebrate our five Volunteer of the Year award winners at Girls Empowerment Network. This year, we chose to honor volunteers from five unique categories: Volunteer of the Year, Philanthropist of the Year, Board Member of the Year, Outstanding New Volunteer, and Emerging Leader of the Year. We asked our staff to nominate outstanding volunteers from each category and then concluded the process with a staff-wide vote to find our winners.
Volunteers are an integral part of advancing the mission at Girls Empowerment Network. We are so lucky to have talented, diverse, and dedicated volunteers who directly help us ignite the power in girls. Please join us in celebrating these five, dynamic female leaders who embody our core values at Girls Empowerment Network and have been awarded, Volunteer of the Year!
Volunteer of the Year: Rachel Johansen
(for the second time!)
A Girls Empowerment Network volunteer who has been reliable, relatable, and compassionate in their role as a volunteer.
When did you first start volunteering for Girls Empowerment Network? What got you interested in the mission?
I started volunteering for Girls Empowerment Network about 6 years ago at the Houston We Are Girls conference. After that, the organization started offering Girl Connect in the Houston area so I started volunteering on a weekly basis from the very beginning. I actually just randomly saw an ad asking for conference volunteers and decided to try it on a whim but I loved the experience so much I kept coming back!
Why is empowering Texas girls important to you?
I had a very rough time in junior high that had a lasting impact and it is important to me to give other Texas girls a better experience and the tools that can help them for the rest of their lives.
Do you think volunteering one's time is an impactful way to give back to your community? Why?
Volunteering is an amazing way to give back to the community. You provide a service that might not be offered otherwise such as teaching girls skills and empowerment. The biggest impact, though, is the simple act of giving your time and attention to another person. It tells them that they matter and are cared for.
What is one piece of advice you would share with your younger self?
To be kind - to friends and people you don't like so much and, most importantly, to yourself.
“Rachel was able to volunteer both semesters with me and always went above and beyond in her role! Her vast amount of knowledge of the world from books and experiences inspired girls to use their critical thinking skills to make their own decisions and ideas. I am forever grateful to have had an opportunity to work with such an incredible volunteer and female leader!” —Staff Member
Kimberly Hurtarte: Philanthropist of the Year
A Girls Empowerment Network advocate who has gone above and beyond to get folks excited about our work and raise dollars to support our programs.
Who is a philanthropist you admire and why?
My mother. I don't think she's ever called herself a philanthropist, but she gives selflessly every day. Whether she's picking up strays and finding them homes, upcycling packaging to reduce her footprint, making meals for neighbors in need, or translating for elderly friends, she's always giving.
What are your top three philanthropic interests? Why are each of them meaningful to you?
I am passionate about defending human rights, advocating for mental health, and protecting animals. As a child of immigrants, I've witnessed what it is like to be treated as a second-class citizen. That is why I support organizations that champion the rights of groups commonly disregarded, such as domestic workers, women, and the LGBTQIA community.
I also invest in organizations that tackle mental health/wellness. As an adult, I was fortunate to learn how to care for my mental health. Doing so has allowed me to thrive and find an invaluable sense of tranquility. It is my hope that mental health becomes something we speak about regularly without stigma and that services be accessible for all.
Growing up on a farm, animals secured a special place in my heart from day one. They remind us who we are in our simplest form, and our domesticated furry friends show us love even when we think we don't deserve it.
Why does gender equity and the mission at Girls Empowerment Network matter to you? Why now in particular?
Gender equity plays a critical role in the overall betterment of the world. When we can respect, value, and consider one another regardless of gender, we can bring diverse perspectives to the table to advance in the world of medicine, technology, and all the life-changing spaces in between. Girls Empowerment Network has created such a special and warm place for young people to find their voice, and in a time where the world feels so unstable, knowing and loving yourself is key to moving us forward.
Is a culture of philanthropy important to you and/or the team at Rodan & Fields?
Yes, like Rodan + Fields, I believe philanthropy should be weaved seamlessly into day-to-day priorities. In my mind, philanthropy is synonymous with community, and by investing in young people across the globe, R+F is strengthening communities and building toward a more equitable future.
What is one piece of advice you would share with your younger self?
Hey little me, it's not all your responsibility. Your life will drastically improve when you realize the value of saying no and setting boundaries.
“Kimberly first got involved with our organization last fall when she moved into her new position as Rodan + Fields’ Manager of Social Impact. Kimberly quickly became one of my favorite ever corporate connections to work with, always upbeat and supportive, she leads with a ‘trust-based’ approach.” —Staff Member
Eboni L. Calbow PhD: Board Member of the Year
Girls Empowerment Network Board Member who has engaged with other board members, staff, and/or external partners in leading the organization through meaningful work.
What is your earliest memory of giving back? How did that experience influence your philanthropy as a Board member?
My earliest memory of giving back was going with my grandma and parents to feed people forced to live under bridges and underpasses. They would make things like chili and spaghetti, and pack up individual meals with dessert like cake or peach cobbler and drinks. There were people who showed up regularly just to speak to my Grandma, who talked to them about compassion, love and being human beings. Those experiences influenced me to put those ideas first in philanthropy, and as a Board member, I commit to agencies and causes that show that compassion and deep love for the human beings that they serve and the work that they do, which is really a gift of their own humanity.
What impact do you believe Girls Empowerment Network is having in your community?
The Spark Change partnership with the Excellence and Advancement Foundation has raised the bar on community impact, and I am so glad Girls Empowerment Network has partnered up to be leaders in policy work. Seeing those high schoolers stand up and let their voices be heard is better than the best things you’ll witness in a lifetime. They show us how far our future as a community goes.
What is one piece of advice you'd share with your younger self?
I would tell my younger self not to overthink it. Simple almost always works best, and if I trust myself to be smart in at least one thing, it’s likely how I approach most things. Trust the process and the person :) And get out and donate time to the people and places that make you feel whole!
I’ve watched Eboni jump in headfirst this year as our Board Chair. She leads every meeting and event with such clarity, authenticity, and thoughtfulness. She role models how vulnerability is a beautiful trait in leaders and she creates spaces where we can all show up as our full, human selves. As a staff member, I feel so seen and supported by her! —Staff Member
Patricia DaSilva: Outstanding New Volunteer
Girls Empowerment Network volunteer whose engagement with the agency began in 2021 and has, out of the gate, stepped up to lead in a phenomenal way.
What inspired you to start volunteering with Girls Empowerment Network?
During those COVID lockdown inspired introspection times I realized I missed volunteering with and mentoring the younger generation. After reflecting on all the self confidence issues I had during college–and then after as a female engineer–I also realized I wanted to help empower girls. So as any twenty-something does, I googled it, and Girls Empowerment Network popped up. Once I read Girls Empowerment Network’s mission and saw how they were enacting it, I knew I wanted to volunteer.
What is one lesson you’ve learned through this experience?
I felt like I learned so much just from that one semester of volunteering for Girl Connect! The biggest takeaway was just seeing that when you co-create a safe space with and for girls, they really blossom and you see how resilient they are.
What is one piece of advice you'd tell your younger self?
You don't have to have all the answers and know everything, but you should take the time to think if what you are doing/planning right now feels good and speaks to you and isn't for anyone else.
Patricia has stepped in and stepped up this year as a member of the Girl Advocacy League volunteer leadership team. She is a crucial member of the GAL communications team and a leading member of the Houston GAL member base. We are so lucky to have her! —Staff Member
Melanie De La Cruz: Emerging Leader of the Year
Girls Empowerment Network volunteer and advocate under the age of 25 who has shown exemplary leadership during the 2021-2022 school year.
When did you first start volunteering for Girls Empowerment Network? What got you interested in the mission?
I started volunteering for girls empowerment network this past spring as a Girl Connect volunteer. I first got interested in Girls Empowerment Network when I read about the kind of curriculum that was being offered to young girls through the Girl Connect program. I thought that the kind of support they were offering was essential to young girls and it was something that aligned with my morals and views.
Why is volunteering important to you?
Volunteering is important to me because I believe that it is important to support local communities and give back with my time and effort. I believe through volunteering I am also able to gain unique insight and experiences. It also allows me to become a more well-rounded individual and work towards something I am passionate about.
Why do you think it’s important for people to start volunteering at a young age?
I think that it is important for people to start volunteering at a young age because it allows young people to gain a new type of knowledge that they wouldn’t otherwise get. It teaches them hard work and builds character. It allows young people to also discover what kind of things excites them in life.
What is one piece of advice you'd share with your younger self?
As I’ve gotten older and discovered new things about myself the one piece of advice that I’d share with my younger self is to stay true to who you are. Peer pressure is inevitable as you are growing up but you should remember that you are responsible for yourself, so don’t do anything that you don’t want to do. Criticism about your likes and dislikes is also sure to come but you should not cave into the values or expectations of someone else. The people that deserve to be in your life will accept you as you are and that’s who you want supporting you. You need to surround yourself with people who know the real you and not a fake version you create for them.
Melanie was super helpful at an elementary school and even went out of her way to volunteer for not one but TWO Girl Connect groups so early in the morning! She always put her best foot forward in group by helping the girls navigate activities and bring positive energy. The girls absolutely adored her presence and wished they worked with her more! -Staff Member