NCUA's Eagan: a Model of Volunteerism

ALEXANDRIA, Va.-For Laurie Eagan, NCUA Human Resource personnel specialist, volunteering her lunch break for underprivileged children is simply the right thing to do. For seven years now, once a week, she has made the trek from NCUA’s Alexandria headquarters to nearby Jefferson Houston Elementary School to tutor kids on subjects ranging from math to reading. The agency officially adopted the school two years ago. Jefferson Houston Elementary School is home to students from 70 different countries. The school has a particular focus on art and music. Many come from single parent families or have some other type of family issues. In numerous instances, tutors-NCUA has 10-15 representatives a year participating in the program-do not even get to stick with a child through an entire school year because they have to go live with different parents or guardians in another district, Eagan said. “I’ve been lucky that I have had three that have stayed with me through fifth grade,” she said. Eagan added that these students need “to know that somebody is a constant in their life and takes an interest in them.” While this may be a good enough reason in itself for her to volunteer, Eagan also said, “I’ve enjoyed it. It’s purely personal.” She said that when her own children were younger she was only working part-time and volunteered in their schools. Now she works full-time and felt guilty that she was not volunteering for them any more, the youngest of her three is 14, and wanted to continue to give back to the community. It is also a nice break from the day-to-day rut you can find yourself in at work and it always makes her appreciate what she and her family has. [email protected]