Press Releases
Hands on DC Announces 2007 Event Co-Directors
A vision of better schools and brighter futures for DC students moves into a second decade with dedicated volunteer directors leading the way.
Washington, DC, Jan. 24, 2007
As Hands on DC (HoDC), an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that conducts an annual, citywide work-a-thon to improve and refurbish Washington, DC, public schools, begins its 13th year, Andrea Gudeon and Leigh Egaas have been named 2007 Event Co-directors. This year's work-a-thon will be held on April 28, 2007, at more than 30 public schools across the District of Columbia. Through the dedication of volunteers, community members, principals and sponsors alike, HoDC has created better schools and brighter futures for the students in the District of Columbia. Since 1994, Hands on DC painted, landscaped, and improved the conditions of the District's more than 150 schools. During this time, the community-based nonprofit organization, which is run entirely by volunteers, has raised more than $500,000 for college scholarships.
In volunteering to co-direct, Andrea and Leigh have accepted a major responsibility to oversee the organization of an event that will bring together more than 2,000 local volunteers, students, families and DC public school staff.
Andrea Gudeon has been involved with Hands on DC for the past five years in a variety of capacities, including serving as Webmaster and IT Committee Chair, assisting on the Recruitment and Publicity committees, and co-chairing the Recruitment Committee, before taking on the role as co-director of the 2007 Hands on DC work-a-thon. Andrea first became involved with HoDC in 2003 the way many at HoDC become involved: word-of-mouth from a colleague who was the 2003 event co-director. Andrea was excited by the organization’s commitment to public education. As a graduate of New York City’s public schools, she’s seen the challenges a city public school system faces, and believes that with the proper encouragement, anyone can thrive in such an environment.
Leigh has been involved with Hands on DC for the past six years in a variety of capacities including as a Team Leader, Site Coordinator, Fundraising Committee member and co-chair of the Recruitment Committee prior to taking on the role as co-director of the 2007 Hands on DC work-a-thon. Her interest in community service related to youth and education in conjunction with HoDC’s reputation as a remarkable volunteer organization contributed to Leigh’s decision to participate with the organization. She has volunteered also with a domestic violence shelter, tutoring programs, and youth mentoring programs.
The D.C. city council will soon decide on whether to appropriate public school funding in an effort to fix what the Washington Post deems "pathetically decrepit buildings." As the city waits in anticipation of these appropriations, with or without them, Hands on DC will be and has been working for community-based and community-led public school improvement. Hands on DC is not about rebuilding entire schools-it is about building awareness, creating community, and turning around public schools one brush stroke at a time.
To learn more about Hands on DC and its efforts, please visit www.HandsonDC.org
HoDC is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that conducts an annual citywide work-a-thon to improve Washington, DC public schools, raise funds to support local college scholarship programs, and encourage greater community involvement in public schools.
For more information contact:
Andrea Gudeon, Co-Director, Hands on DC 2007, andreag@handsondc.org
or Leigh Egaas, Co-Director, Hands on DC 2007, leighe@handsondc.org
