By: Casey Menish
The Rotary Club of Herndon-Reston named Renee Gorman its 2024 Citizen of the Year. Gorman is the founder and president of She Believes in Me, a local non-profit that “serves vulnerable children and their families who face a wide variety of challenges on a daily basis.”
Gorman was a Fairfax County Public Schools counselor for 25 years, and finished her career there working at a Title 1 school. “A lot of these kids have parents working multiple jobs, and entire families living in one bedroom,” said Gorman.
She realized it was difficult to give a student 15 minutes in her office and then put them right back in the classroom. That limited time was exacerbated by COVID-19 when counselors were cut off from their students and Gorman was even more concerned for their welfare.
During the pandemic, She Believes in Me volunteers would “deliver emotional support packets to the homes of the children to keep them emotionally healthy, spiritually uplifted, and show them that there was a consistent adult in their life,” Gorman explained.
She Believes in Me partners with seven schools in the Herndon/Reston area. Each month, they focus on teaching students a different life skill; a liaison program provides food resources, and a recently launched teen leadership program enables teens to visit community corporate partners and learn about potential job opportunities and careers.
Both Gorman’s father and brother were involved in the Rotary Club. When they heard about the work her organization was doing in the community, they invited her to speak at breakfast meeting. “From that, it catapulted them to get more involved; they gave us a grant, and volunteered,” Gorman said. Lions Club volunteers helped by “hands-on mentoring children at our life skills even. They also provided some of the inspirational activities we needed each month, and they continue to connect me with other community partners that help leverage what we do.”
The Citizen of the Year Ceremony took place in April, and Gorman said that “the entire night was really about those people getting up and speaking about She Believes in Me and how it impacted them, and endorsing the organization.” The award was a surprise. “I had no idea the magnitude and honor that came with being chosen. I don’t think that really hit me until I realized that evening really was all about the organization. I was so honored that they recognized the work that was being done.” Gorman said. “Their honoring me inspires me to do more.”
Having the Rotarian “stamp of approval” gave She Believes in Me" credibility. “Because the club is so well-regarded, they open a lot of doors. If they have vetted you, people feel confident in your work.” Gorman’s has a message for The Reston Letter readers: “I want them to know that Fairfax County appears to be rich in resources, and everybody living comfortably. Yet when we pull back the curtain, there are families and children that need our help, and that’s what we do. We go to the doorstep of those most vulnerable, and provide emotional support for the children, and resources for the family.”
Visit shebelievesinme.org to learn about volunteer opportunities and how to offer financial support.
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