MLK Day of Service Learning | Dharma Publishing Moves Berkeley Bindery
HOBA's Half-Marathon Team Success | Impact Grants | Upcoming Events

Volunteers on MLK Day

Community and corporate volunteers gathered on January 21st in Oakland to reflect upon and to live Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream.  With support from Kaiser Permanente, the East Bay Community Foundation and the Points of Light/Hands On Network, Hands On Bay Area successfully managed seven inspiring service projects to commemorate the holiday.

At Prescott Elementary School, HOBA volunteers created a family/community room for schoolchildren, their families and friends and helped move a classroom to a new home.  Volunteers also participated in a special "Heritage Quilt" project, creating quilt squares representing the Civil Rights movement. At MLK Shoreline, HOBA volunteers joined nearly 100 community volunteers to clean up the East Bay Regional Parks.

HOBA volunteers also participated in the ITVS East Bay panel discussion and film screening of Banished, a documentary about three U.S. towns that forcefully banished African-American families one hundred years ago. More than 400 people attended the screening!

Kaiser Permanente employees contributed close to 600 hours of community service on this special day.  At the Oakland Boys & Girls Club, volunteers from Kaiser worked side-by-side with youth to paint and clean the clubhouse. They distributed over 600 winter coats at City Team Ministries and with the assistance of OTX-West staff, installed 26 computers at Sobrante Park Elementary. Many others came out in the rain to help clean up Lake Merritt. Those who couldn’t get away from the office gathered at the Kaiser headquarters to paint mural panels to be hung at the Boys & Girls Club.

Thanks to our supporters, volunteers and agency partners who helped make Dr. King’s dream come true on this special day!

“I have so many great memories,” commented Project Leader Eddie Tan while attending the Dharma Publishing moving day sale and celebration on Saturday, December 1st.  The comment was shared by Dharma Publishing staff and volunteers alike. 

After 15 years in the old Heintz building on San Pablo Ave. in Berkeley, Dharma Publishing has moved its book bindery to their Ratna Ling retreat center in northern Sonoma County.  Managing Director, Arnaud Maitland, shared that the reason for the move was due to the high cost of rent in Berkeley.  Volunteers are welcome to visit the beautiful Ratna Ling retreat center to volunteer for one day or a weekend in exchange for food and shelter.

When asked for a favorite story, Dharma Volunteer Manager Anette Kögler enthusiastically shared, “When we bound 2500 books in one day with Hands On Bay Area!”  That was the most that had ever been done in one day.  Hands On Bay Area’s partnership with the Dharma Publishing Book Bindery in Berkeley spans many staff members and volunteers. HOBA and Dharma Publishing have been partners for more than seven years, according to Kögler.      

Perhaps it is the unique nature of the work – binding sacred Buddhist texts to be distributed each year at the World Peace Ceremony in Tibet or it could be the care and attention of the Dharma staff who are so dedicated to the mission of Dharma Publishing – but I’d say (and I think Eddie would agree) that it’s the amazing vegetarian lunches that keep the volunteers coming back for more.  And, as a calm, yet meaningful closing celebration transpired, the people (and the food) did not disappoint.

Runners in the Half Marathon

Congratulations to the HOBA Half-Marathon Team for completing the Kaiser Permanente Half Marathon on February 3rd, 2008! Despite the rainy, windy weather, all team members crossed the finish line, which for many team members marked their longest run ever at 13.1 miles. And,
the team raised over $8,300!

Congratulations to the top HOBA Day fundraisers! 

The Mustard Seeds Team, Peter Tinebra and Maggie Sweet, won first prize, a $2,000 grant for their favorite nonprofits. Maggie and Peter plan to gave $1,000 to Martin de Porres House of Hospitality in San Francisco and $1,000 to EHC Lifebuilders in San Jose.  Second Place, a $1,000 grant, went to the 36 members of the SF LIFT Team, who gave their grant to Francisco Middle School in San Francisco. Third prize, a $750 grant, went to Mae Aquino and Bryan Maximo, who chose The Ronald McDonald House in Palo Alto.  The HOBA Impact Grant is made possible by the Philanthropic Ventures Foundation.

The next Impact Grant competition will launch April 1st, click here for details.