Volunteer Work
To read more about Wendi's charitable involvement, go to www.wendirusso.weebly.com.
Become an Everyday Hero: Mentor a Child
If you are planting for a year, plant grain
If you are planting for a decade, plant trees.
If you are planting for a century, plant people.
-Chinese proverb
One of Wendi's personal goals is to encourage couples, individuals and families to become EVERYDAY HEROES and mentor a child in their community.
Wendi has been a mentor for 10 years and is an alumni of Big Brothers Big Sisters and has been a mentor, speaker and ambassador for Kinship of Greater Minneapolis helping recruit dozens of mentors for their Christian Mentoring program.
Currently, Wendi is a mentor to 12-year old Jenny through ACES, Atheletes Committed to Educating Students, engaging her as an e-mentor and allowing her to shadow her at work to increase her awareness of career possibilities. Most of the students involved in ACES are from Green Central middle school in downtown Minneapolis. To learn more about how you can become an E-mentor, go to www.aces4kids.org.
Temporary holder for the Flash® object
As a mentor through Kinship, Wendi had no idea that a 7-year old would not know how to swim. At the pool, she saw many 3-year olds swimming, however, her mentee Tyiteana was afraid only because she had not had the opportunity to take swimming lessons or to swim often enough to learn. Tyiteana also didn't know what camp was something that Wendi grew up taking for granted. Mentoring has allowed Wendi to be more aware of the obstacles facing these children and why their need for mentors is so great.
If you are interested in learning more about mentoring opportunities in your area, Please visit. www.Mentoringworks.org. The Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota is committed to increasing awareness about mentoring in Minnesota and is collaberating with Minnesota Business Partnership to encourage more businesses to start mentoring initiatives and increase employee involvement.
To see Wendi's speaking Itinerary and read more about Mentoring, go to www.wendirusso.weebly.com
To learn more about Kinship for Kids Mentoring, go to Kinship of Greater Minneapolis.
Additional Volunteer News
Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowling Fundraiser
Wendi's Fundraising Team "Queens for Kids" came in 2nd place for their fundraising efforts! Wendi recruited 5 local Minnesota Queens from various Pageant systems to help raise $2,030 toward supporting new mentoring matches for waiting children.
Wendi is honored to be chosen to become a Wish Grantor for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and to help in their fundraising efforts.
Other Charities Wendi has helped support at various fundraisers and events: Salvation Army , Eden Prairie Lions' Club, Camp Heartland, Pay it Forward for Breast Cancer, The Special Olympics, The Dwelling Place, Eden Prairie Foundation Ball and St. David's Childrens Center.
Wendi helped lobby to support The National Association of Music Education (MENC) and the government funding for music in grade school. Wendi helped obtain the second largest number of signatures for their petition in the country.
Lobbyist and spokesperson for International Justice Mission (IJM) to local politicians to support the eradication of child trafficking and slavery through government funding.
Brian Kessler, fellow Shop NBC host and Wendi did red carpet interviews and hosted the Diva MN Fundraiser and AIDS awareness event on March 8th.
November 2008, Co-Host of Diva MN Pajama Party to increase AIDS prevention awareness among women and children in the Twin Cities.
Co-Host for Malaria No More Talent Show Fundraiser with Jason Matheson of Fox News
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| Lori and Julia from 107.1FM | Malaria No More Talent Show Fundraiser |
Eden Prairie Foundation Ball Committee -- Head of Production/Video March 27, 2010. The Eden Prairie Foundation is dedicated to fostering pride in Eden Prairie through support of community organizations and projects that create a better quality of life and make the city a special place to live and work.
