“I’ve worked with a lot of school volunteers during my career,” says Tom Fiorella, Assistant Director of Parent Programs, “but the volunteers at ECFS are by far the most engaged.” Volunteers are involved in all parts of ECFS, from planning the annual Fieldston Lower Carnival to showing appreciation for faculty and staff to helping fundraise for the Orange Fund. With more than 100 events, meetings, and initiatives throughout the academic year, “it’s easier to ask what we don’t do!” laughs Jen Seshadri, Ethical Culture P+T Liaison.
Volunteering — whether for a one-time event or for a committee that meets throughout the academic year — is a critical way to support our School while meeting other members of the community and staying connected to your children’s experience at ECFS. Read on to learn about just a few of the ways you can get involved.
1. Join a P+T volunteer committee
If you’d like to make a longer-term volunteer commitment, joining a committee is an ideal way to stay engaged all year long. Committees meet regularly to coordinate initiatives, providing an opportunity to connect with fellow parents and guardians while supporting the day-to-day student experience. Join the Library Committee, Welcome Committee, or Faculty Appreciation Committee to be an essential part of the ongoing functions of our School.
2. Sign up to help at an event
Volunteering at an event allows you to get involved in some of ECFS’s most exciting traditions without making a long-term time commitment. The P+T is involved in planning everything from the Fieldston Lower Celebration of Books to events celebrating the senior class, making memories that our students will treasure. Whether you help plan the event from start to finish or join in on the day of the event, volunteers are key to the success of these special days.
3. Become an Orange Fund volunteer
“Orange Fund volunteers have a tremendous impact and are integral in building the culture of philanthropy at our School,” says Kavita Bordia P’22 ’26, Annual Fund Manager, adding that “they are invaluable to the success of the ECFS Orange Fund.” Join the Orange Fund volunteers to help support the effort to raise necessary funds that sustain our School by making thank you calls, doing peer-to-peer outreach, and serving as ambassadors of the Orange Fund across our four divisions. To get involved as an Orange Fund volunteer, reach out to Bordia at kbordia@ecfs.org.
4. Be a part of the All School Multicultural Committee
The All School Multicultural Committee (ASMC) is open to all parents and guardians who wish to support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at ECFS. The ASMC hosts forums, panels, and debates throughout the year to explore topics related to DEI, and partners with other committees and offices at ECFS on events throughout the year to recognize and celebrate the cultural diversity of our School. Volunteers assist with the planning and execution of different initiatives and advocate for DEI work among families, faculty, and staff at ECFS.
Ready to get started? Reach out to pandt@ecfs.org to find out how you can sign up today.
