Volunteers: No Exit Stratey
THP’s Development Committee now counts five former year-long volunteers among its members: Mary Jo [Scordato] LeGrand (Committee Chair and THP Board member), Aimée Maier, Mary Jo Dunne, Elizabeth O’Connell, and me, Patrick McCorry.
Since finishing our volunteer years at LCS, the five of us have enjoyed a variety of work, school, and family experiences, and it’s our hope that these experiences and the contacts we’ve made will help in our contributions to the Development Committee.
Mary Jo LeGrand worked as THP Director of Development from 2002-2004, and says that, “in many ways…my experience at LCS was made complete by working for THP on the development side of things.” She married Scott LeGrand in 2004 and has recruited Scott and her niece, Elizabeth Kevern, to make mission trips to Haiti. Her brother, Tim Scordato, serves as the Project’s Development Office Manager in Rockford.
A member of the THP Board of the Directors since 2003 and currently 2nd Vice-Chair, Aimée Maier has, among other things, helped THP with volunteer recruitment and the development of operations policies since her return from Haiti in 1999. After completing MSS and MSLP degrees at Bryn Mawr, she spent several years working at a large mental health agency as well as on a University of Delaware-funded project with the parents of foster care children. Aimée married Mickey Ingles in 2000. Mickey has tirelessly volunteered his solar talents to THP, and serves on the Board of Directors as well.The two of them “have one budding THP volunteer, Henry, born in 2004.” Obviously, THP is a family affair for many of us.
Elizabeth O’Connell worked for three years after her volunteer year as the school’s Campus Minister in Haiti and as US-based Director of Community Development. She has since moved to Chicago. Elizabeth is now Director of Faith Formation at a parish in Logan Square, St. John Berchmans.
Mary Jo Dunne also works at St. John Berchmans as the parish school’s Director of Advancement. She spent a year as THP’s Director of Community Development following her volunteer year and feels that, “The students I taught at LCS made me really appreciate my education and inspired me to pursue a Masters Degree.” Mary Jo is currently working towards a Masters in International Public Service Management at DePaul.
After a year in DC working on international political exchanges, I, Patrick McCorry, have spent the majority of my post-Haiti time at Google’s San Francisco and Ireland offices. With the help of fellow Googler and former THP volunteer, Bret Hogan, we almost managed to get the translation of Google’s website into Haitian Creole off the ground, and it’s something I still hope we can make happen with the help of LCS students! I’m now living in New York and have just begun work at an internet start-up in the city.
As is likely the case with all former volunteers, there is a great deal of passion and enthusiasm for THP’s ongoing success among the five of us, and we’re eager to help in whatever ways we can. Aimée says she’s looking forward to serving the committee “by assisting with writing assignments and by stretching my comfort level and reaching out to additional community members and groups to share my experiences with the tremendous gem that is THP.” Mary Jo LeGrand joined the Development Committee largely because she “really enjoys helping build up networks of support with others in the THP community,” and as committee chair, “hopes to help facilitate the board’s efforts to bring more supporters to THP and strengthen our relationships with our current supporters.”
As for myself, I’m looking forward to becoming more heavily involved with THP, and I’m eager to contribute to the important work of the Development Committee. The school has always remained close to my heart, and I’m eager to return to Haiti soon to see all the changes that have been made through contributions from supporters like you! When she was asked to join the Development Committee, Mary Jo Dunne says, “I saw a new opportunity to try and contribute to what I feel is the best organization in the world. I always want THP to be a part of my life.” That seems to be true for us all.
