Volunteer Work
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 centory, 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 is an alumni of Big Brothers Big Sisters and currently mentors through Kinship of Greater Minneapolis and has been a successful Spokesperson and Ambassador (adding Ambassador) for mentoring, helping to recruit new adult mentors throughout Hennepin County for the 150+ waiting children.
Temporary holder for the Flash® object
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.
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.
Mothers Connection
VP Publicity and Community Service
Wendi helps encourage the mothers in her group to get involved in the community and has raised money and donations for local organizations such as: People Reaching Other People (PROP), The Dwelling Place battered women's shelter, Kinship, Cornerstone Women's Shelter & Calvalry Baptist Church Toy Drive. Her largest fundraiser was the Winter Market with 23 vendors and a fashion show featuring Ann Taylor Loft & Kokoon Clothing.
"A child is the only language that we all have in common"
"It is one of the most beautiful compensations in life-we can never help another without helping ourselves"
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Additional Volunteer News
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 |