Making A Differance in Your Community : Volunteer’s Passion Has Deep Roots

The March of Dimes has offered a long and varied journey for Paul Sherrod of Agoura, but a worthwhile one.

“I was one of the first kids in our school to go around collecting for the March of Dimes,” said Sherrod, who turns 62 today. Sherrod was a sixth-grader in the 1940s when he first joined a March of Dimes effort in Wilson, N.C.

That was before the organization’s then-foe, poliomyelitis, had been defeated by the Salk vaccine, which was declared safe, effective and potent 40 years ago last week. At the time, Sherrod had an aunt and an uncle who had been stricken by polio.

Later, in the 1970s, Sherrod always made a point of sponsoring walkers in the WalkAmerica fund-raiser for the March of Dimes, which after the defeat of polio switched to the broader challenge of fighting congenital defects.

In 1984, he began to participate more actively again when his grandson was born with several congenital defects.

Thanks to the March of Dimes, however, the boy was able to get $2 million in medical treatments that otherwise would not have been available or affordable.

Since then, Sherrod has been both a volunteer and a walker with WalkAmerica, in which sponsors pledge donations to the March of Dimes.

This year, WalkAmerica will be held April 29 at several sites throughout Los Angeles, including Griffith Park and the Balboa Sports Center in Van Nuys.

Walkers will follow a 6.2-mile course at Griffith Park and eight miles at Balboa.

The event draws about 850,000 walkers throughout the United States who raise about $53 million each year.

“We could use as many as we can get,” said Dave Sherman of the Woodland Hills Kiwanis Club, a volunteer along with Sherrod at the Van Nuys walk site. “There’s always plenty to be done.”

Volunteers are needed to help set up the event, serve food and clean up afterward, said Sherman, who lives in Canoga Park.

This year’s theme is “Walk for Someone You Love,” said Shelley E. Hutsler, director of marketing for the March of Dimes Southern California chapter, which is based in Burbank.

The theme was chosen because there are so many people--like Sherrod--whose lives have been touched directly or indirectly by congenital defects, as well as by premature or low-weight births.

According to statistics from the March of Dimes, of 4 million babies born in the United States each year, 150,000 have congenital defects. Of those, 8,000 die.

This year, organizers are looking for “Youth Ambassadors”--children helped by the March of Dimes--to attend each walk site.

The group also wants to form a team of “Preemie Walk Stars,” made up of those born prematurely.

For more information, call (818) 953-3906. The March of Dimes also needs volunteers for its speakers bureau, health fairs and office staff.

Other volunteering opportunities:

Valley Storefront in North Hollywood needs an entertainment coordinator to book entertainers and be a master of ceremonies for shows. For more information, call Judy Raffelat (818) 984-1380.

A volunteer orientation session for the Children’s Bureau of Southern California will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday at 3910 Oakwood Ave., Los Angeles. Volunteers are needed to support children and families served through the bureau, which is geared toward preventing child abuse and neglect. For more information call (800) 520-CHILD.

Joslyn Players, a group of volunteer singers, dancers and musicians that performs at local convalescent hospitals, retirement homes and senior citizen groups, is looking for new talent. For more information, call Dee Call of the Burbank RSVP program at (818) 953-9503.

Getting Involved is a weekly listing of volunteering opportunities. Please address prospective listings to Getting Involved, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. Or fax them to (818) 772-3338.