Volunteers

“A KEEN parent once told me that the time I spend with his child is a gift to his child, but the truth is I am the one getting a gift!” – KEEN coach

Happy Volunteers at the Abilities Expo 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. Volunteers don't need any prior experience working with disabled individuals – KEEN provides training prior to each session. Coaches don't need to be athletic, either. Our athletes will love you just as you are!

KEEN’s programs are structured so that each volunteer is assigned one program participant, or “athlete.” A coach’s job is to help athletes take part in different sports activities and to have a good time. Just before the athletes arrive and the session begins, coaches receive a profile with details about their athlete’s abilities as well as helpful coaching hints for that particular athlete.

In addition to coaching individual athletes, KEEN volunteers have the opportunity to become a member of our Coaches Committee. This group plans and directs all KEEN activities, and provides a rewarding opportunity for leadership within KEEN.

KEEN VOLUNTEERS ARE:

Individuals/Young Professionals from surrounding areas are the core of KEEN’s volunteer base. KEEN understands the demands on these dedicated coaches, and does not ask them to make a formal commitment of time – they are welcome to show up when they can. But the rewards from interaction with their athlete and the other volunteers make them want to come back, time and again.

High School volunteers are welcome and KEEN provides student service hours. Spaces for high school student volunteers are limited, and to reserve a space, they need to register for each session. High school volunteers must be at least 15 years of age.

Corporate/University/Community Groups are welcome to volunteer at KEEN. Groups wishing to volunteer are asked to contact KEENUSA to reserve a program and a date, at volunteers@keenusa.org.

HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL KEEN VOLUNTEER:

Watch this video to learn about becoming a great KEEN Coach!

 

KEEN Coach Steve Ettinger

Past KEEN New York Coaches Committee member and author Steve Ettinger
talks about the joys of volunteering with KEEN Athletes in The Training Edge,a magazine published for Fitness Professionals by NASM, The National Academy of Sports Medicine.
To read the article, click here.

To volunteer with a KEEN Affiliate, click the location near you:
Chicago , Greater DC , Los Angeles
New York , Phoenix , San Francisco
St. Louis

KEEN Coach Steve Ettinger

Past KEEN New York Coaches Committee member and author Steve Ettinger
talks about the joys of volunteering with KEEN Athletes in The Training Edge,a magazine published for Fitness Professionals by NASM, The National Academy of Sports Medicine.
To read the article, click here.

VOLUNTEER SCREENING

The safety and welfare of the children and young adults with disabilities who take part in KEEN's activities are of paramount concern to us. In order to safeguard the children and to ensure the involvement of outstanding volunteers, KEEN uses the following procedures:

  1. KEEN volunteers shall never be alone with athletes in an unsupervised setting.
  2. First-time volunteers over 21 years of age may be asked to show government-issued identification before volunteering.
  3. All volunteers are subject to a search in national child offender registries and/or reference checks completed by the relevant KEEN affiliate, upon or before their third time volunteering.
  4. Volunteers must provide 2 adult references as part of the application process.
  5. KEEN does not accept new walk-in volunteers unless they are accompanied by a current volunteer, are part of a registered group of volunteers, or complete the required paperwork on-site.
  6. All of the organization’s decisions regarding a volunteer’s participation shall be made on a non-discriminatory basis and without regard to race, gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation and/or national origin, provided however that KEEN reserves the right to reject or terminate a volunteer at any time if KEEN determines the participation of the volunteer no longer is in the best interests of the organization.

KEEN is seriously committed to maintaining the privacy of our volunteers.
For more details, view our Privacy of Athlete and Volunteer Information Policy