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Volunteer
Make a difference… Volunteer at The Children’s Village
Every year, more than 600 people volunteer their time in a variety of ways both in our Community-Based programs & on our Dobbs Ferry campus as Mentors, Tutors, Role Models, and much more. Volunteering, at its best, provides personal satisfaction to the volunteer, plus significant benefits to the children. Volunteers are an integral part of the CV family, providing hundreds of hours of dedicated service to the children in our care every year.
If you are interested in volunteering in any of the programs listed below please fill out our Volunteer Inquiry form. 
There are volunteer opportunities for almost anyone at The Children’s Village, including those for:
We are fortunate to benefit from the efforts of established committees and groups. Check out these groups. You may be the next great member on one our teams!
Using the links below explore this page for answer to some of the questions you may have, as well as download the forms you will need to start volunteering.
Your religious, school, employer or community organization may adopt one of the 12 cottages on our Dobbs Ferry campus that is home to 12-16 boys. Members of your group become the aunts and uncles for needy boys, many of whom have no stable family resources. Some groups have monthly activities, such as story-telling, board games, basketball, or arts and crafts; some provide holiday or birthday gifts for the youth; and others organize picnics and off-campus events. The amount of activity is not as important as being consistent and reliable. We will help you decide on what activities will work for your group.
We have two programs for college and high school students to volunteer their time and make a positive impact on the education of a young person.
High School Students
If you are a 11th or 12th grade high school student, the School-Based Mentoring Program is right for you. You will be matched with residents between 1st and 6th grades for the entire school year from September to May. This program offers our boys opportunities for academic enrichment and social skills development. Mentor/resident pairs participate in theme-based learning projects geared towards increasing residents’ skills in the areas of reading, writing, critical thinking and public speaking. Your input and participation are crucial to the program’s success. School Based Mentoring takes place on Tuesdays for the entire school year (October – May) from 4:00 – 5:30pm.
Volunteer slots for high school students wanting to tutor or mentor are highly competitive. We require an application and a commitment to give at least one and a half hours per week for the entire school year.
Pace University
Fifty of our older youth benefit from a partnership program with Pace University. CV established the program in 1998 to connect struggling students with college-age role models. Each week college students enrolled in a Sociology course at Pace visit our campus and work one-on-one with a student to help him with homework, prepare for a state test, or work on literacy. If you are a Pace University student this is a great way to get course credit and hands-on experience at the same time!
Mentor a Student
One positive adult relationship is sometimes the missing link for at-risk youth to become successful. Mentoring is an opportunity for you to develop a long-term one-on-one relationship with a youth who is in need of a role model, friend and caring adult. Open up new worlds for a young person by taking him to a baseball game, bringing him to a family cookout, helping him write a poem, or taking him fishing for the first time. You might encourage him to aim for college, introduce him to the world of work or listen to his dreams, his hopes and his fears. Minimum age for a mentor is 21. Mentors are expected to spend approximately ten hours per month with their mentee for at least one year.
Mentors are matched with youth between the ages of 7 and 18 who are living temporarily on our Dobbs Ferry campus, a New York City suburb. Visits are co-planned between you and your mentee to accommodate both of your schedules. These visits take place initially on our campus and typically transition to visits in the community including New York City. Matches are made based on common interests, compatibility, geographic proximity, and youth needs.
Impactful Mentors:
- Meet with their mentees for a minimum of 10 hours per month for at least one year
- Are role models and positive influences
- Are respectful of each youth’s life experience
- Set and enforce clear limits
- Relate to youth from different backgrounds
- Are patient and able to deal with challenges
- Have a sense of humor
Mentors come from all walks of life and generations, but must be at least 21 years old.
For Mentor information, send an email to mentoring@childrensvillage.org Call us at (914) 693-0600, x1587
Tutor a Student
Youth at CV struggle academically and many have fallen far behind their peers in school. Simple things such as reading with them or helping with homework can make a big difference. We are in need of volunteers with a teaching or education background who can be matched one-on-one with a student to help him in one or more subject areas.
See our FAQ for more information “ [Click Here]
What is the Volunteer Screening Process? [Click Here]
Teaching Assistant
Our residential school, Greenburgh Eleven (should be a link to Greenburgh 11 page) does a great job of educating our youth. However, an extra set of hands is very helpful. Teaching Assistants should have some experience with children and/or in education. Because of the significant role that Teaching Assistants play in the classroom, this volunteer opportunity requires the highest time commitment of at least two school days per week from 8:30am-3:15pm.
Career Zone
Our youth all need support in developing careers, and we’ve recently created a new initiative to connect our students with professionals. Four days per week volunteers help our students with career planning, training, researching higher education, and creating a work portfolio. We are seeking volunteers to help with daily sessions, as well as motivational speakers. The Career Zone is held in the Lanza Activities Center on our Dobbs Ferry Campus Monday through Thursday from 6:30-8:00pm, plus an additional session on Wednesdays from 4:00-5:30pm.
Ad-hoc Projects
Volunteers from many of our corporate partners conduct volunteer days on our residential campus in Dobbs Ferry to help maintain, beautify, and refurbish our campus. Volunteers often work beside some of the youth living at CV and end their work day with a softball game, BBQ, or other fun project. We work with you to arrange something meaningful for your employees and our youth.
Adopt-A-Cottage
Employees from your corporation or business can become the aunts and uncles for one of the 15 cottages on our residential campus and participate in monthly activities with the youth. Click here for more information.
Special Events
Throughout the year we hold special events to support the important work done through our programs and services. Your corporation can play a key role in making those events a success.
Click here for more information.
In-Kind Donation Committee (“The In-Kinders”)
If you fancy yourself a behind-the-scenes player, but still like to know you have made a significant impact, the In-Kind Donation Committee is for you. Donations of in-kind gifts (toys, household goods, furniture, appliances) make a real difference to a family who has very little. Often in-kind donations make it possible for a child to return home or move into his or her own apartment. This committee meets weekly to sort and organize the many in-kind donations generously given to our children and families. An extra set of hands is always helpful!
The holiday season can be especially difficult when you are far from family, which is unfortunately the case for many of our children. To bring a little cheer to these youth we have seasonal events, including a Santa Store, which is one of the most popular events of the year. These events are fun, but require a lot of work from dedicated volunteers! If you are looking for an annual commitment that is sure to bring joy to many lives, then consider joining our seasonal team.
Leadership Council
Young professionals working in the greater NYC area interested in supporting at-risk youth make up this exciting, energetic group. While they grow and advance in their careers they are making a difference in the lives of children and families through their time and resources. The Leadership Council is an opportunity for ambitious professionals to expand their network and experiences all while touching the lives of those who need it most.
Click here to learn more about the Leadership Council
Books For Boys
Books for Boys is a literacy initiative founded in 1998 to provide books to the boys at CV and to nurture their love of reading. On our Dobbs Ferry campus, Books for Boys volunteers run a library program in the elementary, middle, and high schools; visit the boys’ cottages weekly to bring books and read; and help with Open Library, an after-school reading program in the Lanza Activities Center available to youth campus-wide.
To read more about Books for Boys and to get involved click here
Contact Information
(914) 693-0600
New York City Office:
(212) 932-9009