Volunteers
We have many volunteers who help the Tyler Foundation throughout the year. Many thanks go to all our volunteers and we invite you to learn a bit more about them below.
Each month we shine the spotlight on a 
Stellar Volunteer .
Read about them here !
Read more about our dedicated volunteers:Steller Volunteers here
- Akihiro Kubota: Web Master
- Ryo Nakamizo: Web Master
- Kumiko Sakino: Event Support
- Mai Ishikawa: Event Support
- Shurah Norrell: Event Support
- Rie Takahashi: Admin Support
- Tracy Lu: Event Support
- Jason Winder : Event Organisation and Support
- Ariane Faye : Volunteer leader of Sewing to Shine on !
My name is Ariane, I'm french. I first learned how to sew and knitt with my grandmothers and mother. I came back to it after my studies and first years of work. Now it's my main activity and my full time job !
I came to Japan in may 2008, with husband and kids, and I had the chance to meet Kim at the Tyler Foundation Charity dinner in September. I was already involved in "l'Etoile de Martin", a french charity fighting for the same cause, so I offered Kim to create furnitures for the "Shine on! house" ... and that's how the story began ... Today, "Sewing to Shine on !" is a group of 15 womens, non professional handmade goods creators, that are sewing bags and furnitures for the Foundation ... I'm really happy to give a hand in Japan, and not only in France. Unfortunately we are moving back to France at the end of the summer but the "Sewing to Shine on ! " group will go on !
- Charlotte Lee : ASIJ Volunteering Project Coordinator / Shine On! English Club
"Twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are..." Children, parents, and volunteers all come together to sing along during a fun English Club visit, with one of the favorite songs being "Twinkle twinkle little star".
Shine On! English Club is one of the many activities of The Tyler Foundation, which gives volunteers a valuable opportunity to interact with pediatric patients by singing English songs, speaking conversational English, or reading English books among other things.
A high school student from the American School In Japan, Charlotte coordinates volunteers from her school (mainly in 11th and 12th grade) to come on hospital visits as English Club volunteers. She is very grateful to The Tyler Foundation for allowing her to start this valuable project through ASIJ's Chapter of National Honor Society (a service club). Going into each pediatric ward and making a small, but significant contribution in the lives of the children has been very rewarding for many of ASIJ's volunteers. In her senior year, Charlotte is hoping to continue the progress made in English club this year, such as by reading English books with the children more often, and implementing projects at festivals throughout the year, such as the making-a-card project at the 2009 Music Festival. Although many of the senior volunteers who contributed heavily and helped a lot to make English Club happen this year are graduating, many new members are very eager to come volunteer. Charlotte feels that The Tyler Foundation has indeed "Shined On" the lives of many children, and is looking forward to the next visits!
- Terrence Noonan:IT Support
No modern day organization, from the largest Fortune 100 companies to the smallest non-profit organization can function in today’s day and age without their computers and infrastructure. Tyler Foundation is no exception.
Terrence Noonan is a consultant at Ascendant Business Solutions;(ABS), but devotes volunteer time providing IT support to both Tyler Foundation personnel and the ShineOn House. He provides daily client support to all Tyler Foundation personnel working out of the Foundation headquarters, which is collocated with ABS, but also helps with any IT needs for families using the Shine On! House.
Originally from the state of Colorado in the United Sates, Terrence has spent a number of years in Japan. He currently resides in Yokohama City.
He is enthusiastic to be a part of the team that supports Tyler Foundation. One of the biggest surprises he has found is how the organization is so multi-faceted. “Every time I look again at the Foundation, there is something new going on; a new person or program that I was unaware of.” By continuing to extend the same level of client support to the Foundation as he does at his day job at Ascendant, he likes the challenge and expectation of setting a higher achievement level each day that goes by.
- Charlotte Lee : ASIJ Volunteering Project Coordinator / Shine On! English Club
Being a volunteer is a nice step, and becoming a donor is a giant leap, but doing what the doctor or clinician does is priceless – it is a finish line that never ends.
Jason is taking a break from IT to help with events designed to benefit Tyler Foundation programs. With a focus on assisting the Therapy Dog program, Jason will be running events in association with Natalhia. During the day, Jason runs Webnet IT, an IT consulting firm.
For more information on Jason and Natalhia’s events, please check http://tyler.webnet-it.co.jp/