In Vienna, Virginia, IVC partner agency Belong! is making a real difference in the lives of underserved children and youth from the local community. At the heart of its mission is a weekly, individualized mentoring program in reading, math and emotional development offered to over 80 students in grades K-8. But there’s much more! The agency also provides a variety of enrichment programs for the same age groups, and recently began supporting high school seniors as they transition to life after graduation.
With an expanding portfolio and a small staff, Belong! needed extra support to accomplish its goals. They’ve found a great match with IVC member John Joseph, who helps manage their donor database, tracks volunteer reference letters and writes grant proposals for funding. “I stepped into a multi-faceted role that I like,” he says. “This is a mission I really believe in.”
Founded in 2018 by Vienna Presbyterian Church as a separate nonprofit organization to serve the needs of the community, Belong!’s first program provided tutoring in a local elementary school. Today, over 80 volunteer mentors provide weekly individualized development opportunities at three locations. When Executive Director Lynn O’Connell joined Belong! in 2022, she knew her vision for an expanded program would need support from IVC. “John was our first IVC member ever, and our first faith-based volunteer,” she says. “It was immediately a magnetic connection for us.”
John spent a career in public accounting and finance, and served as a CFO for over three decades before retiring. The Detroit, Michigan native is a product of Jesuit education – graduating from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and University of Detroit Mercy. After he retired and connected with IVC, the opportunity to be of service to others through the Jesuit tradition felt right. “Belong! was really the best fit for me,” he says. “I was interested in education and working with this community, and Lynn said she needed help.”
IVC members help our partner agencies build capacity, and John’s contributions (along with those of new IVC member Ana Lado, who assists with programming) at Belong! reflect that. “The reality is that we could never afford to have someone like John or Ana on our fulltime staff,” notes Lynn. “Their work has allowed me to become more strategic and responsive, and for our staff to become nimbler and more productive.”
While the median income in Fairfax County is $150,113 (2023, U.S. Census Bureau), over 30% of school-aged children in Fairfax County (where Vienna is located) are from low-income families. Belong!’s program particularly fills a gap for this population. Lynn emphasizes, “Having skilled IVC members allows us to keep focused on our mission and on the ever-changing and ever-growing community needs where we can have the greatest impact.”
John is now completing his second year of IVC service at Belong! and substitutes for or joins Lynn at public meetings to speak about the impact of the agency on the community. He recently became a member of the agency’s Board of Directors, and is delighted to be serving in this new capacity. As for IVC, he not only likes the spiritual component but says it’s a great way to “get into the volunteer space and give something back.”