Renaissance – why work for us?
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Renaissance workforce volunteers
Renaissance values the communities where we live and work. That’s why we offer employees two days of paid time off each year to participate in local public service projects and charities. Meet some of our colleagues who volunteer to support events and organizations that are meaningful to them.
Catherine Close
Psychometrician
"I volunteer in the schools because that's where my main passion is." That's how Catherine Close explains her support of students in the Madison Metropolitan School District.
Catherine serves as a volunteer in classrooms supporting literacy groups for students ranging from kindergartners to sixth graders. “I mainly help with math sessions and read to the younger students in Kindergarten and first grade, where the need is greatest,” she says. Catherine also volunteers for field trips and other activities that provide much-needed support to teachers. But that’s not the only way she gives back.
Last fall, Catherine joined several Renaissance colleagues in supporting Junior Achievement's BizTown event for fifth and sixth graders in the Milwaukee Public School District. Volunteers worked with students on the day of the event by guiding them during the fully interactive, simulated town which takes place on a specific day. “The entire experience was exhausting but extremely uplifting,” she says.
Whether through volunteering in schools or supporting special events, Catherine says she is grateful that Renaissance affords her the opportunity to give back to the community. “The support is needed, and I enjoy doing it,” she says. “It makes me come alive.”
Larry Phenow
Senior Technical Operations Manager
Giving his time to local and global organizations is nothing new to Larry Phenow, a Senior Technical Operations Manager at Renaissance.
A few years ago, a member of his local church introduced him to an organization outside of his hometown—way outside his hometown—Elimu Africa, in Tanzania. Elimu Africa’s mission is to help support disadvantaged students in Africa by facilitating their pursuit of education, is also dedicated to fundraising for student education—either to individuals or through organizations.
“The word ‘elimu’ is Swahili for ‘education’,” Larry says. “And although education is free in Tanzania, students often fall short of the approximately $200 they need each year for books, supplies, and clothes. This is where Elimu Africa steps in.”
After learning about its mission and needs, Larry began fundraising to secure more resources for supplies and other projects in support of Tanzanian students. In March 2018, Larry took his first trip to Tanzania to visit students, schools, and EA’s newest project: a dala-dala, a public transportation bus. Today, Larry is a member of Elimu Africa’s board of directors and he manages the organization’s website. Visit www.elimuafrica.org to find out more (and to donate!)
“I appreciate the volunteer time off benefit Renaissance offers, because it allows me to take an entire day off just to focus on the needs of Elimu Africa,” he says.
Linda Garski
Senior Web Designer
Linda Garski has been an active volunteer with the Wisconsin Rapids Community Theatre for more than 30 years. From serving on the board of directors and building the organization’s website to supporting productions back stage and delivering lines on stage, she’s played countless roles at WRCT. Perhaps none of them were as impactful as roles she played in support of the Wood County Sheriff Department.
Linda and other WRCT members participated in a training course for deputies from Wood County and surrounding areas. The training was designed to help officers prepare for working with citizens with psychological or physical challenges.
“Our instructions were to act emotionally, by crying, yelling or arguing, and other times present challenging psychological issues,” Linda says. “The deputies took it all very seriously, and now I have even more respect for them and what they face each day on the job.”
WRCT volunteers regularly work with the sheriff department for this training, but Linda hadn’t been able to participate until 2018. “When Renaissance began offering paid time off hours to volunteer, it made it easier for me to take a weekday to support the Sheriff Department and support the larger community,” she says. “I plan on doing it again this year.”