Retiree enjoys giving back with RSVP-Northern Virginia

RSVP Northern Virginia volunteer Ken Kozloff moves through the pool at Providence RECenter encouraging the special needs child he is teaching to swim, to "stroke, breathe, and kick."

Kozloff high-fives his students at the end of each lap and asks, "Are you having a good time?" All the while he is keeping an eye on two other volunteers he is mentoring during a Fairfax County Park Authority Adapted Aquatics class.

Kozloff will continue to do this for about 90 minutes on a Sunday morning without much of a break. Sometimes he lifts students half his weight into the air so they can experience the joy of splashing into the pool. You would never guess that the former INOVA Alexandria Hospital CEO is in his early 70's. Kozloff also teaches Adapted Aquatics at the FCPA's Spring Hill RECenter in McLean.

The Fairfax County resident donates more than 50 hours of his time each month as an RSVP- Northern Virginia volunteer, helping autistic children learn how to swim, mentoring economically disadvantaged citizens to manage their finances, and directing other volunteers at large events for RSVP, including the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics each September.

RSVP Northern Virginia will hold a free seminar on volunteering in retirement at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 11, at Dolley Madison Library , 1244 Oak Ridge Avenue, McLean, VA 22101. You can get more info and sign up for the event by clicking June 11 McLean RSVP info session page .The hour-long event is free and open to anyone 55-years-young or better.

Please Please click here to download RSVP-Northern Virginia's current brochure "Why Do They RSVP?"

RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) is the region’s largest volunteer network for people 55 and better and provides personalized support to individuals seeking fun, social and meaningful service opportunities in and around Fairfax County, Arlington County and the City of Alexandria. RSVP supports more than 40 nonprofits in the region and offers its members more than 300 different volunteer experiences ranging from helping out at a food pantry to ushering at Wolf Trap.

When Kozloff is not volunteering for other organizations he is a volunteer engagement leader for RSVP, acting as a nonprofit evangelist of sorts, spreading the word on why RSVP is such a great program. "What's unique about RSVP is the approach it takes to new volunteers, helping them to find what they're looking to do, not where we are looking to place them," he says.

RSVP asks each prospective volunteer, "How can we help you find that volunteer opportunity that is going to mean something to you?" says Kozloff who has been with RSVP for almost four years.
More than six years ago, Kozloff began volunteering with the Fairfax County Park Authority's Adaptive Aquatics program, teaching children on the autism spectrum to swim. He later added another afternoon of classes at Spring Hill Recreation Center in McLean, teaching special needs adults to swim, including those with neurological issues or physical impairments.

The Fairfax County Park Authority honored Kozloff in 2015 as the Adaptive Aquatics Outstanding Volunteer of the Year. Kozloff was named Fairfax County's RSVP Volunteer of the Year in 2018. RSVP- Northern Virginia is a program of Volunteer Fairfax, Volunteer Arlington and Volunteer Alexandria.

Kozloff then started working with Our Daily Bread (now called BritePaths) where he has volunteered for four years as a financial mentor. He is also a volunteer classroom instructor with Junior Achievement in Fairfax. He teaches business principles to elementary, middle, and high school students. He also teaches special needs students in this program.
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"I love to help others," Kozloff says. "I enjoy volunteering with RSVP, not only for what I do as a volunteer, but also for the social aspect of working with other people." During the senior Olympics he manages anywhere from 10 to 30 volunteers at the different events.

What separates RSVP from other volunteer organizations is its leadership and the approach it takes, treating each volunteer as an individual, according to Kozloff. As an engagement leader, Kozloff tells prospective volunteers "We are going to show you things and talk to you about specific opportunities that you can relate to."

RSVP offers a wide array of opportunities for volunteers including providing rides, support and meals to older neighbors, assisting local veterans in need and helping prepare communities for disasters. RSVP also recruits volunteers for various community events.

RSVP volunteers enjoy flexible schedules, free accident and liability insurance while serving, optional mileage and meal reimbursement and are invited to volunteer group projects and social gatherings.

What does Kozloff get out of volunteering? "The big thing that I get out of volunteering is the satisfaction of helping others," he says. "I love to help others, find out what their goals are and help them achieve them, whether it is teaching an autistic child to swim from one side of the pool to the other, or teaching a stroke patient who would like to learn to swim again.
He also enjoys working with other volunteers and letting them know how important it is to make other people feel good. He tells them that they will feel twice as good because they are helping people.
For a complete schedule of upcoming RSVP events for new and current volunteers, please visit www.rsvpnova.org.
To learn more about RSVP or to sign up for an orientation you can also contact RSVP Northern Virginia Volunteer Specialist Brandi Morris at 703-403-5360 or email Brandi at bmorris@volunteerfairfax.org

To listen to free podcasts featuring RSVP volunteers and staff as well as its nonprofit partners talking about what they do please visit the RSVP Podcast channel on Youtube. You can also find RSVP on Facebook at RSVP Northern Virginia