Congratulations Emily!
Emily Lodge, a dedicated volunteer and fund raiser for our home, was recently selected as one of eight recipients of the Governor’s Volunteerism and Community Service Award. These awards recognize the significant
contributions of Virginia citizens to the life and welfare of the Commonwealth and its people. Emily was nominated in the youth category because of her tireless efforts in striving to raise money and awareness of our home through her annual soccer camp “Score for the Poor.” After listening to the Little Sisters speak at a Church collection, at the age of nine Emily told her parents that she wanted to help, but didn’t know how because she lived 2 hours away from our home in Richmond and had no money to send.
After returning from a soccer camp that year, Emily told her parents that she would like to start a soccer camp and send any money she raised to the Little Sisters of the Poor. She recruited her parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles and though the first year her campers were mainly a few cousins, she started “Score for the Poor” and was able to send $100.00 donation to send us. Each year the camp has grown and Emily works tirelessly throughout the year to manage and promote the camp, which now—seven years later—has about 30 campers annually. Her volunteer efforts each year raise about $1,500.00 which is used to help care for the needs of our Residents. Emily created and maintains a website which also provides information about the Little Sisters of the Poor (check it out at http://www.scoreforthepoor.com/).
Emily’s enthusiasm and outreach have encouraged support from many friends in the Reston/Herndon area and she enlists enough volunteers each year to provide the number of counselors and helpers she needs for each of the five days of her camp. She finds age-appropriate activities, orders trophies, and conducts and annual t-shirt contest in which all the campers participate. The winning design is imprinted on the shirts and Emily personally tie-dyes each one. Emily is now 15 years old, and she says on her website, “Score for the Poor is an example of how children can make a difference, and how the Little Sisters can be better known.”
We have watched Emily grow up and are very proud of her and this Award. She is a beautiful young lady!
