Our Vision
As participants in the 5th leadership class of Next Level Trainings (VIP 5), part of our transformational curriculum was to create a large-scale community service project for a local non-profit. Our vision was to create a massive impact in the lives of some of the most vulnerable members of our community: children who are impacted by homelessness, addiction, hunger, and abuse. To make this vision a reality, we selected Ohio State University’s Star House, an organization dedicated to serving the needs of youth experiencing homelessness in Columbus, Ohio..
Our Results
$67,000
Fundraised
12,000
Items Donated
400 Volunteer Hours
3
Events Held
VIP 5 Columbus proudly supports Star House
Star House is a drop-in center for homeless youth in Central Ohio. They help transitional youth get connected and reconnected with the community. Star House offers a safe place for homeless youth to seek services and begin to establish trust in order to access stabilizing resources such as housing, counseling, and employment opportunities. Because most services are not all within geographic proximity of a homeless youth, Star House provides a distinctive opportunity for those youth to receive integrated behavioral, social, and healthcare services all at one site.
They serve opportunity youth ages 14-24, one of the most vulnerable populations worldwide. It is estimated that 2,000 homeless youth and youth in transition exist in central Ohio. These youth live directly on the streets or in abandoned buildings, or couch surf among friends’ homes. Most are disconnected from their families, and all are underserved by communities, left to fend for themselves on the fringes of our society. With limited rights and privacy, they have little access to services and supports needed to survive independently. These youth are at high risk for human trafficking and victimization.
Our Team
OUR TEAM LEADERS
Community Service Project
Liz Koehler, Captain
Matt Barnes, Co-Captain
Administrative and Logistics Managers
Gina Molinari
Daniel Szabo
Social Media Manager
Megan Schiele, Lead
Andrea Nicholas
Hilary St Pierre
Emilie Mehmedovich
Crowdfunding Manager
Jonathan Nutt, Lead
Amanda Brewer
Public Relations/Marketing
Matt Barnes
Liz Koehler
Rob Maccabee
Teams Manager
Sheryl Fiedler
Team Captains
Debbie Lime
Josh Mann
Ben Parkins
Aondover Ityokumbul
Treasurer
Michele Cook
Document Manager
Kerry Farrell
Art Installation Committee
Judith Spater
Tania Ulloa-Malave
Videographer
Alex Rytel
Design
Tania Ulloa-Malave
Sponsorship Team
Jorie Stickel
Daniel Szabo
Quelvid Malave
Liz Vorys
Rob Maccabee
OUR TEAM MEMBERS
Alexander Mockenstrum
Allan Kofman
Amani Alseaery
Ashley Cochran
Bea Aguilar
Bill Wilson
Bryant Trenkamp
Charlotte Hughes
Christian Foote
Christopher Woeste
Dale Steinke
Diana Folmer
Emily Haddad
Emily Willen
Heidi Clark
Holly Wahl
Hugo Rivas
Jason Mount
Jessica Titko
Jim Berling
Joan Holland
Joe Cook
Julie Wathen
Madelyn Scarberry
Paul Ricketts
Rachel Bertner
Roxanne Fabien
Stephen Canneto
Susan Smith
Talia Critchfield
Tina Cooper
Trina Shook
Will Blackwell