For more than three decades, North County Philanthropy Council has brought together philanthropists, business leaders and nonprofit professionals to shine a light on the individuals who dedicate themselves to serving our community.
On Nov. 5, we participated in the North County Philanthropy Council's 34th Annual Volunteer Awards Celebration, an event that is squarely aligned with our commitment to serving the community.
As part of the celebration, we had the opportunity to nominate one employee that exemplifies incredible commitment and dedication to volunteering. Among 126 volunteers from 93 organizations at this year's Volunteer Awards Celebration, Jennifer Hall, Tribal Relations and Land Services project manager, was recognized for her nine years of service supporting Trauma Intervention Programs (TIP) of San Diego.
About the program
TIP is a nonprofit volunteer-based program developed to provide support and assistance to those traumatically affected in emergencies. TIP works closely with partnering agencies to provide a different dynamic to the emergency response system to meet the emotional needs of surviving victims.
After learning about TIP through a former employee, Hall knew right away that she had to get involved. Her initial interest stemmed from wanting to help heal and grow her community, not just through monetary means but through long-lasting engagement. So, with a bit of inspiration from her colleague, she underwent hours of extensive training to become a "citizen helping citizens," as the program describes it.
Through TIP, Hall serves as a liaison between emergency personnel and survivors of emergencies, providing survivors with practical assistance and vital emotional support. Hall has done in almost every type of emergency partnership with agencies such as law enforcement, fire and hospital personnel.
Whatever the emergency may be, she is there to give immediate support and cater to each survivor's unique process of healing!
Working to support others
While significant work, these efforts are no easy task and can often take an emotional toll on the person facilitating survivor support. Nonetheless, Hall is committed to helping fellow San Diegans one emergency at a time. This year alone, she dedicated over 280 hours of her time to support TIP.
"There are so many different, amazing people in our community that you most likely would never come across otherwise," said Jennifer. "And while it's unfortunate our paths cross in these types of situations, I'm just glad I can be there to help them through their situations. It truly helps with providing perspective and appreciation for everyone involved."
If you are interested in learning more about the North County Philanthropy Council and this year's awardees, visit here.