General Information

  • Volunteer Opportunities / Responsibilities: Volunteers are the backbone of KEEN. We could not exist without their support and dedication. In addition to working with some great kids and young adults with disabilities, KEEN volunteers, or “coaches,” meet a variety of interesting community-minded people. Volunteering for KEEN is fun and offers opportunities for occasional participation, regular involvement, and leadership on our coaches committee. Volunteers don't need any prior experience working with individuals with disabilities – KEEN provides training prior to each session. Coaches don't need to be athletic, either. Our athletes will love you just as you are!

    What distinguishes KEEN programs from other community programs is the ability to accept ANY child including those with significant disabilities and with multiple disabilities into the programs. For many of our participants, KEEN is the only organization that can accommodate their special needs. KEEN can accept all kids, or “athletes,” due to our unique approach of matching each athlete with one, or sometimes two, volunteer coaches to provide individualized attention and assistance.

    Once the athletes arrive for a session, the action (and fun!) begins. After a group warm-up, athletes and their volunteer coaches move to individual activities such as kicking a soccer ball, throwing a football, riding adaptive tricycles, bouncing on therapy balls or riding on scooter boards. At the end of the session, athletes and coaches come together and each athlete, assisted as needed by his/her coach, tells “What they did today that made them very Proud!”

    High school volunteers are welcome and KEEN provides student service hours. Spaces for high school student volunteers are limited and priority is given to those who take responsibility for reserving their own volunteer spaces. To reserve a space, high school students need to register in advance on our website here.

    COMMUNITY SERVICE VOLUNTEERS: If you wish to earn community service hours for the time you spend volunteering at KEEN, you MUST bring a community service form with you when you come to volunteer, and turn it in at the front desk at the beginning of the session.

    Corporate/University Groups are welcome to volunteer at KEEN. Groups wishing to volunteer are asked to contact KEEN’s Senior Program Manager, Beth Wenger, to reserve a program and a date, at volunteer@keengreaterdc.org.

    Skills
    All KEEN volunteers must be at least 15 years of age, reliable, caring and have the ability to act in a mature and responsible manner.
  • Types of Volunteers Needed: individual/adult; adult groups of less than 5; individual/high school; adult groups of 6 or more, including corporate teams; adult groups of 6 or more, including corporate teams
  • Hours Needed: daytime on the weekend