Community & Volunteers

Welcome to the recorded session of SOAR365’s 2025 Next Generation Council Leadership Workshop, an annual event held on Saturday, September 20, 2025, with this year’s theme being “Unconventional Roads. Unstoppable Leaders.”

For both the RMC nursing students and the SOAR365 participants, possibly the most powerful result of the clinical experience was forming genuine connections with each other.

When Jeff Conley and Luke Esposito first crossed paths during SOAR365’s 2024 Leadership Workshop, all it took was one short conversation to create a new connection.

As the SOAR365 Board Chair, Tom’s professional, association and community service experience has ideally positioned him to take the lead following years of service as a Board Member. And he has big plans to build on SOAR365’s forward momentum.

Once she stepped into the office, Eleanor immediately felt at home. “I was hooked by the uplifting and kind culture that I was greeted with and have been drawn in ever since!” Eleanor says, “The Community Engagement team is filled with hardworking and inspiring individuals who made me eager to come into the office and learn.”

“I really enjoyed watching our students interact with program participants,” said Amanda Titone, the Registered Nurse who attended each session and supervised the students.  “I never had to worry about whether the students would join in, because most of the time participants would come right up and get the students involved in something right away!”

At SOAR365, volunteers are the heartbeat of our mission. Whether they’re planting flowers, guiding event guests, reading to children, or simply sharing a smile, their impact is immeasurable. That’s why we’re so excited to celebrate National Volunteer Appreciation Week, happening April 20–26, 2025!

Elly Jones has been active in the local nonprofit community for years! She currently serves as Director of Honoring Choices Virginia, an organization that works to change the culture about advance care planning and medical decision-making. Elly facilitates conversations between families, individuals, volunteers, faith leaders, physicians, and medical...