| | Published July 21st, 2021
| Orinda teens log over 3,000 volunteer hours amid pandemic
| | | Submitted by Michelle Bea | | |
Despite the stay-at-home orders and restrictions on activities, the Boys Team Charity Orinda TeamMates logged over 3,000 volunteer hours (3,169.5 to be exact) in and around our community during the 2020-21 membership year.
Orinda TeamMates volunteered at a wide range of organizations including White Pony Express, 10,000 Lunches, Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center, Wagner Ranch Nature Center, Monument Crisis Center, and the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano County. At the annual year-end meeting, many of the boys were recognized for their outstanding commitment to volunteering.
Fourteen TeamMates were recognized for earning 25+ philanthropy hours during the League year (Kellen Baker, Nicholas Bea, Brock Bliss, Gio Bottene, Jack Brun, Nico Grinold, Caleb Kreutzer, Ryan Loughran, Kieran McBride, Mitch Reichenbach, Jason Ritchey, Ryan Sinnreich, Bulky Smith, and Nate Zapala) and six earned 50+ philanthropy hours during the League year (Joseph Boccabella, Charlie Burke, Ian Hughes, Luke Lamison, Logan Letulle, and Duncan Oliver).
Kyle Odmark (Class of 2023) was commended for the most philanthropy hours among all the BTC Orinda TeamMates. Kyle earned a total of 103.5 hours including 34 shifts at the Food Bank of Contra Costa County as well as other volunteer efforts in support of Aegis of Moraga, Special Olympics, and the Monument Crisis Center. Throughout his efforts, he is known among the employees of the food bank as a hard worker who enjoys working quickly, no matter if he is building boxes, sorting fruit, or bagging vegetables.
Rigby Blair (Class of 2021) achieved the highest cumulative philanthropic service hours earned across his six years with BTC Orinda. Rigby earned over 200 cumulative hours, working extensively with Rock Steady Gym. Inspired by his grandfather who had battled Parkinson's disease, he worked as an assistant to the head boxing coach training adults afflicted with Parkinson's. Rigby describes his experience, "In addition to witnessing how the physical and mental engagement helped symptoms, I developed good relationships with some of the regular participants. I am very grateful to have found an organization that I could make a contribution to that was also a place I felt connected to."
In addition to his work with Rock Steady Gym, he also volunteered at various BTC team events such as Grateful Gatherings. "BTC is really great because you get to do your volunteer work with your friends. Kids from multiple high schools became friends from doing those projects together and the other activities." |
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA