Longres is longtime volunteer

The Combined Fund Drive runs through Nov. 22. This is University Week’s final feature on faculty and staff who give back to the community by volunteering their time.

Name: John F. Longres

UW Job: Professor of Social Work, teaching courses in human behavior and the social environment. Research interests include mental health, gay and lesbian issues, race and ethnicity.

Years at UW: Seven, including three years as associate dean for academic affairs and student services.

John Longres

Volunteer Activities: Until this year, on the board of Consejo, which provides mental health services to Latinos and others in Seattle. Currently on the board of the Pride Foundation. Also on the board of Frontrunners, a running group (including track and field) for lesbians, gays and bisexuals.

Organization’s Mission: The Pride Foundation strengthens the community by offering scholarships to gay and lesbian students and children of gay or lesbian parents. It also offers grants to a wide variety of organizations that promote the inclusion of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people.

How many years volunteering: I have been a volunteer for about 30 years. Most of my volunteering has been associated with the Latino community, but recently I have shifted volunteer efforts.

Why this particular activity: Serving on the Pride Foundation committee that reviews applications has been an eye-opening experience. I am overwhelmed by the stories of the applicants, how they deal with adversity and how they keep their heads raised high in search of a better life. We receive requests from a very wide range of people, young and old, working class and professional, and from every racial and ethnic group in our country. We have seen young lesbian and gay people who have stood up to hostile peers, school officials, and sometimes even parents. We have seen immigrants who have come in search of the American dream, which now includes the ability to find a welcoming place in the lesbian and gay communities. We have seen working class lesbians and gays from every racial and ethnic group struggle for an opportunity to gain the education they need to get out of dead-end, menial jobs. We have seen severely disabled gays and lesbians looking to find a place in the work world. And the most satisfying experience of all is seeing the smile on their faces when they and their families, partners and friends show up for the awards celebration. The need is great and we are not able to provide as many scholarships or as much funding as we would wish, but being able to help these wonderfully motivated people has been a profound and truly memorable experience.

For more information about the Combined Fund Drive, talk to your local CFD coordinator or visit the Web site: http://depts.washington.edu/uwcfd/.

For more information about volunteering, visit the United Way of King County Web site, http://www.unitedwayofkingcounty.org/volunteer/. This is a community clearinghouse for volunteer opportunities, as well as board opportunities, encompassing the needs of more than 600 community organizations; it is not limited to United Way’s beneficiary agencies.