Dennis and Angela at their match meeting
Each year we present the Spark Outstanding Pro Bono Award at the Volunteer Manitoba Awards. Like many other special events this year, COVID-19 delayed the awards ceremony that was set to take place in April. Thankfully, the folks at Volunteer Manitoba were able to pivot and are bringing the celebration to us online on November 18th via Facebook Live.
Regardless if we come together in-person or over our computers, we at Spark always look forward to this day because it gives us a chance to recognize our volunteers and the impact their work has had on the community, as well as celebrate volunteerism throughout Manitoba.
From now until awards night, we are celebrating these nominees for the Spark Outstanding Pro Bono Award, and their contributions to their community through a series of volunteer profiles.
Today we are profiling Dennis Dyck
Dennis Dyck has been nominated for the 2020 Spark Outstanding Pro Bono Consultant Award for his mentorship match with Angela McCaughan, Executive Director of SSCOPE (Self-Starting Creative Opportunities for People in Employment).
Dennis has completed two year-long mentorship matches since he began volunteering with Spark in 2013. He’s had an extensive career in the nonprofit sector, including a 9 year tenure as Executive Director at Volunteer Manitoba.
SSCOPE is a non-profit social enterprise providing training and employment opportunities to people managing and overcoming mental illness. The opportunities for training are diverse with SSCOPE: with their thrift shop, lawn and yard care, snow clearing, moving and recycling services.
Dennis and Angela met monthly, with phone calls and emails in between as needed, to chat about the day-to-day of SSCOPE, and how to navigate any issues that would arise.
At the end of their mentorship Angela reported a lot of growth and credits Dennis mentorship and support.
“We are moving forward in a positive direction,” says Angela. “We have been able to expand our volunteers and access funding and programs we were not previously aware of.”
While the match has ended, Angela says that she and Dennis continue to meet and he continues to be a great source of guidance and support.
Congratulations on your nomination, Dennis! Thank you for volunteering your expertise to mentor Angela as she navigated her new role as ED of SSCOPE!
-Article written by Colleen Simard.
Recent Comments