Purdue's United Way volunteers: Richard Sullivan Lee

Richard Sullivan Lee Download image

This week, Purdue Today will offer short profiles of Purdue faculty, staff and students who are making a difference by volunteering at a United Way agency or program. Today, Purdue Today is featuring Richard Sullivan Lee, associate professor of theatre, who volunteers at Willowstone Family Services, which offers counseling, home care for the elderly and disabled, alcohol and drug intervention and assessment, and home visits for parents of newborns and children up to age 3.

How long have you worked at Purdue?

I believe I am going on my 25th year.

How long have you volunteered with Willowstone Family Services?

I believe it has been five years that I have helped with the Cinderella Ball, a program that encourages positive relationships between fathers and their young daughters.

How did you get involved with the group?

Rebecca Sullivan, CEO of Willowstone Family Services, and Jane Cook, the organization's COO, were talking to me about their past Cinderella Ball experience with using a couple of high school students playing Cinderella and Prince Charming. The experience for them was less than stellar and did not work to their advantage in promoting the Cinderella Ball.

What does your volunteer work with Willowstone Family Services entail?

I would really say this is a Department of Theatre cooperation initiative with me as the coordinator. In the spring of each year, Jane Cook contacts me about the need for the casting of Cinderella and Prince Charming. I have earlier spoken with several student actors who I feel complement the Disneyesque qualities needed for these two characters. It is also important these actors have improvisational skills and most importantly love to work with children.

I meet with them and talk about the Cinderella Ball and what their duties would be and also their availability at the beginning of fall semester when the ball takes place. I send their pictures and resumes along with their contact information to Jane Cook to make sure they are acceptable for their event. When this is accepted, I then contact our costume shop manager, Rose Kaczmarowski, to make sure we can provide the necessary costumes that these actors must wear for this event. I make sure everyone has each other’s contact information and the dates of the event.

I touch base with Jane Cook and the actors in the summer to make sure everyone is still on board for this event and that Jane has not had any difficulty contacting these actors. I then do the same in the fall when classes are back in session. Then I am finished, except for getting feedback from both Jane Cook and Rebecca Sullivan to see how the actors played their part and if there is anything we can do to make the event better for next year.

Why did you decide to volunteer?

I thought we (the theatre department) could perhaps solve their problem. I had Jane Cook and Rebecca Sullivan meet with our chair at the time, Joel Ebarb, who was also head of costume design, to see how we could support them with the Cinderella Ball. Professor Ebarb committed to supporting them with the costumes each year, and I have coordinated this project ever since.

What would you like to tell someone who is considering volunteering at a United Way agency?

I believe deeply in what Willowstone Family Services does for individuals, family and community. So when I support them, both with a financial gift and my time and expertise, I feel I am adding to the better part of our community. 

Anything else you’d like to add?

Just a quick note about the benefit of the Department of Theatre being a part of this as well: Our students who are training to be professional actors benefit highly from an experience of interaction in an event such as this and something they can add to their resume as well.

How to help

The United Way of Greater Lafayette lists volunteer opportunities online on its Volunteer Center page.

Faculty, staff and retirees also may contribute to the Purdue United Way Campaign by going online and logging into the ePledge system. Donors can choose among several methods -- payroll deduction, one-time credit card donation or recurring monthly donations, or by check.