Steve Rubin

Steve Rubin

I served my Encore Fellowship at the Special Olympics, which I first learned about years ago, as the parent of a child with special needs. Previously, I’d been a project and program manager at IBM; I began my career on the tech side but mid-career, became an...
Valerie Walker

Valerie Walker

Throughout my adult life, my birthday has been a time for self-reflection. As I anticipate my 59th birthday, the past year included retiring from full-time employment and relocating 90 miles from the place I called “home” for most of my life, this I know: Transitions...
Jim Emerman

Jim Emerman

I first learned about 826 Valencia as a fan of founder Dave Eggers’ novels; his dream of developing a love and aptitude for writing struck me an important effort to help kids thrive. I?m now in my second year of afterschool tutoring at Buena Vista Horace Mann...