Written by: Rachel Lee, FCSN Voices Editor
Graphics by: Angela Zhao, FCSN Voices Graphic Artist

On July 28, FCSN hosted its first Volunteer Recognition Day at the new Osgood campus. This afternoon event served as a housewarming for the new facility while also providing an opportunity for attendees to explore diverse volunteer opportunities and stay connected with FCSN. As volunteers and their families gathered for the special event, the center buzzed with lively energy. Old acquaintances reunited joyfully while recent high school graduates eagerly shared their college destinations with one another. Over a wide array of snacks and drinks, volunteers and parents forged new friendships, making the event a memorable celebration of the success, hard work, and dedication of FCSN volunteers. 

The event kicked off with welcome remarks from FCSN’s co-founders Jim Chiao, Linmei Chiao, and co-chair Yee-Yeen Wang, who shared the inspiring history and mission of FCSN. They recounted how, in 1996, ten Bay Area families of children with special needs joined forces to create this impactful organization. A series of touching photographs took attendees on a nostalgic journey through FCSN’s milestones: the first group of youth volunteers in 1997, the 2002 architectural plans for the Fremont Center, the grand opening of the Fremont Center in 2006, the 2014-2017 South Bay Center project, the launch of Friends Coffee and Tea in 2018, and finally, the design and construction of the Osgood Center.

Among the 2,000+ active FCSN volunteers, an astounding 60% are between the ages of 12 and 19 (middle and high schoolers). Often, as high school volunteers head off to college, they lose touch with FCSN despite their desire to continue contributing. Incoming college junior Katherine He and incoming college freshman Maddy Zhang introduced an  initiative to bridge this divide — the FCSN Young Leaders Committee. Building a network of FCSN volunteer alumni, the committee organizes events for volunteers aged 18-30 to stay engaged with FCSN’s mission and develop into the organization’s next generation of leaders, even from afar. To keep volunteers informed and connected, the committee produces and sends out quarterly newsletters.

Katherine and Maddy also highlighted additional opportunities for graduated high schoolers, including an alumni database to help alumni connect with others attending the same college, as well as a mentorship program where alumni can pair with professionals in the FCSN community for guidance on careers and job searching. These resources not only offer valuable growth opportunities, but also foster a supportive, family-like community among FCSN volunteers. Additionally, Katherine and Maddy shared information about the High School Student Council, which provides high school students a platform to organize social events aimed at strengthening connections within the youth volunteer community.

The volunteer recognition ceremony followed, honoring the 2024 Volunteers of the Year: Dr. Jennifer Carauddo and Aarav Sharma. Dr. Carauddo, a licensed chiropractor, is a dedicated supporter of the South Bay Adult Day Program, bringing her expertise to improve students’ physical abilities through a health-physical therapy program. She also organizes community health events and fundraisers to benefit FCSN. Aarav Sharma, known for his compassionate teaching approach, leads classes at FCSN in subjects such as Scratch, Python, Math, Spanish, and Badminton. Aarav recently developed Allyhq.ai, an AI-powered communication platform for FCSN families to share resources, network, and access articles on autism. He also launched the podcast Spectrum Stories, hosting influential figures from the autism community. Both Dr. Carauddo and Aarav took the stage to share their heartfelt journeys with FCSN staff and students, expressing their gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the organization’s mission.

Next, the 2024 Outstanding Volunteers were introduced: Karen Gong, Layla McClure, Catherine Wang, Melinda Wong, Jennie Yu, Stephanie Yu, and family gathering event coordinator Yvonne Liu. These dedicated individuals contributed to various FCSN programs, including online classes and tutoring in digital art, finance, coding, music, math, and Spanish. They also volunteered with FCSN’s Chinese school, in-person dance and basketball classes, and FCSN Voices, along with supporting numerous family gathering events.

Following that, the 2024 President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) winners were announced. This year saw an impressive number of recipients: 22 gold medalists, 5 silver medalists, and 8 bronze medalists in the Teens category; and 1 gold medalist, 4 silver medalists, and 10 bronze medalists in the Young Adults category. 

The ceremony concluded with the announcement of the 2024 scholarship recipients, which were all graduated high school seniors who had made significant contributions to FCSN during their high school years. The $2000 scholarship awardees were Crystal Fan, Bryanna Ho, Isabelle Hsu, and Sania Khanzode, while the $1000 scholarship awardees were Emily Chao, Rihana Canio, Vivaan Suri, and Madeline Zhang. Each recipient shared their college destinations and discussed their plans for using the scholarship. Many expressed their desire to continue supporting FCSN through online tutoring and participation in the Young Leaders Committee.

The event wrapped up with an exclusive tour of the new Osgood Center. Attendees explored the vibrant classrooms brimming with various activities, the spacious areas designed for FCSN students to learn and play, the neatly organized offices upstairs, and the impressive, professionally-equipped kitchen designated for the after-school cooking program. As the day came to a close, attendees left with new connections and a sense of accomplishment, empowered by the passionate volunteer community at FCSN.