About Us

Organization

Hands on DC is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that organizes projects to improve the physical condition of Washington, DC public schools. Our largest event is our annual spring Work-a-Thon in which we engage more than 2,000 volunteers in approximately 30 DC public schools. We also raise funds to support local college scholarship programs and encourage greater community involvement in the public schools. Hands on DC is volunteer-founded and volunteer-led; we have no paid staff. Instead, two main bodies undertake the group's work:

• The Organizing Committee focuses on planning, developing, and executing the year-round events and the annual work-a-thon. To accomplish that task, the group works in committees responsible for volunteer recruitment, community outreach, public relations, fundraising and sponsorship development, information technology, special events, and coordination of school projects.
• The Executive Committee is composed of the chairs of these committees, along with the Hands on DC Co-Directors and the organization's Treasurer. The Executive Committee oversees the work of the Organizing Committee.

Hands on DC's governing body, the Board of Directors, provides long-term stability and policy guidance by focusing on strategic issues and organizational relationships. The Board is composed of previous event directors and other selected individuals with a long history of participation in Hands on DC. The Hands on DC Co-Directors and the Treasurer are also ex officio Board members and form the link between the Board and the Executive Committee. Please see below for a list of the 2012 Executive Committee and Board of Directors.

Board of Directors

• Virginia Kromm, President
• Nathaniel Higgins, Treasurer
• Leigh Egaas, Secretary
• Nicholas Fechter, 2012 Event Co-Director
• Pam Zai, 2012 Event Co-Director
• Royce Bassarab, Director
• Caroline Clayton, Director
  
• Andrea Gudeon, Director
• Scott Jackson, Director
• Jill Marshall, Director
• Sally Prendergast, Director
• Emily Reagan, Director
• Kelly Waldron, Director

Executive Committee

• Nicholas Fechter, 2012 Event Hands on DC Co-Director
• Pam Zai, 2012 Event Hands on DC Co-Director
• John Bobosh, Public Relations Chair
• Rachel Centariczki, Volunteer Management Co-Chair
• Dhaval Shah, Fundraising Chair
• Melissa Miller, Fundraising Chair
• Chris Fernando, Sites Co-Chair
• William Marquez, Murals Coordinator
• Nathaniel Higgins, Treasurer

We are currently recruiting Regional Coordinators and Site Coordinators to help us plan and execute our Annual Work-a-Thon. For information on these volunteer roles and how you can get involved, visit our Volunteer page.