Volunteer Profile Feature Story

Hilda Marshall: Outstanding Volunteer Mentor

When did you start volunteering?

I started volunteering at the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago at the Urban Programs West branch since 1996. Currently, I volunteer at the Kelly Hall YMCA branch.

What prompted you to volunteer?

Well I began attending the YMCA when my son, Dwight, was in a summer day camp. He was six at the time. YMCA Program Director Kimberly George asked me if I would consider becoming a mentor 19 years ago, as a part of their mentoring program called Y-Pals. Since then, I have not stopped volunteering as a mentor.

"Creating a lasting personal touch in the lives of the children and supporting social change in the community is what keeps me going."

Tell us more about the mentoring program, Y-Pals?

The Y-Pal mentoring program is more than just one-on-one mentoring. The program responds to the needs of young people growing up on Chicago's west side. The Kelly Hall YMCA Mentoring Program that I am part of is the extension of the YMCA's Y-Pals mentoring program. The program gives me an opportunity to make an impact in a child's life by being a positive role model. As a volunteer, I am in charge of the mentoring program but I also serve as a mentor to these young individuals. The Kelly Hall Mentoring Program has about 50 mentors who are matched with at-risk youth. When selecting mentors, the program takes into consideration the mentors' background, education, and experience, so that we can find the "right mentor" for each child. The mentoring program supports all ages of children; from young children to high school youth. The underlying focus is education and literacy. Through the mentoring program, I help individuals improve their grades in the classroom, improve tardiness, apply to college and even look for scholarships. As a mentor coordinator, I also try to do some fun stuff with my mentees as a part of the mentoring program. Every year in August, I take them on a road trip to help expose them to new things. The trip provides both an educational and fun experience for our Y-pals. We have visited Wisconsin, Ohio, Missouri, Minnesota and Kansas. We are all excited about visiting Pennsylvania this year.

Why did you choose to support YMCA, Metro Chicago?

After being approached by Kimberly George, YMCA Program Director in 1996, I made a conscious decision to stay committed to the one-year obligation as a mentor, which involved providing mentoring to a six-year old young girl from the west side of Chicago. It was a serious commitment, but it definitely had a good cause behind it. I wanted to make a difference in the life of this young girl. The children in this mentoring program come from high-risk environments and low-income households. Most of them are raised by foster care or grandparents. As I stated earlier, my first mentee was only six when I became her mentor, and now she is a young twenty-five-year-old woman. To be honest, she is like a daughter to me. We have developed a strong relationship over the years. We have gone on vacations together, I have helped her with her high school prom, college preparation work, and one-on-one guidance. I gave her the direction that she needed to be the best individual that she could be. She even calls me mom and that in itself is so gratifying. Most girls that I have mentored in the past are now young women in their twenties, and I still keep in touch with them. One of them is actually a sophomore at Western Illinois University.

How many hours do you volunteer?

On an average, I volunteer at least ten hours per week, sometimes more, sometimes less. I volunteer during the weekends too.

What do you enjoy the most about volunteering?

I like a lot of things about volunteering. Creating a lasting personal touch in the lives of the children and supporting social change in the community is what keeps me going. As a volunteer, you will be giving of your time to someone or something else; it will be you that receives the most in return. Yes, I have sacrificed countless hours year after year as a volunteer, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Helping these young individuals see a brighter future and getting them off of the street is a gratifying experience.

Does IMRF have a role in your capacity as a volunteer?

I know that my pension is secure with IMRF when I retire. This gives me the flexibility to devote my time and resources to volunteering. I enjoy giving back to the community, and without IMRF that could be challenging.

If you were to win this staff donation of $1,000, how do you hope to utilize it for your mentoring program?

Our children and young adults are at risk. If I were to win this contest, I would use the staff donation to address their needs through the mentoring program. The donation will result in tangible change in the lives of these individuals.

For those interested in becoming a mentor or YMCA volunteer, please contact Hilda Marshall.

More information on the Kelly Hall YMCA branch can be found here