2 Siblings, 200+ Hours of Volunteering
Jeffrey Silerio (left) and Jennifer Silerio (right) serving their Las Vegas community
“Volunteering is a lifestyle for me,” says Jeffrey Silerio. “I believe that volunteering shouldn't be an unpleasant chore or something that we do out of necessity to fulfill volunteer hours. Rather, volunteering should be an enjoyable experience where we get to go out with friends, explore our community, and make a difference.”
Jeffrey and his younger sister Jennifer are well known in their Las Vegas community. He currently runs the Shine City Project (SCP), a volunteer initiative that first began among a group of Unificationists in 2013. Most recently, the two siblings earned national recognition with the President’s Volunteer Service Award — having devoted more than 100 hours each to volunteering throughout 2021.
“I feel grateful for the opportunity to serve my community,” says Jeffrey. “I always enjoy discovering new places where we can help out; it's very rewarding. The desire to make a change in Las Vegas also motivates me to keep going, because as a native of Las Vegas, I hope to show others that this city is our home and we can create a more loving and caring environment for everyone.”
After connecting with SCP’s founder on campus during college, Jeffrey has remained committed to volunteering with the group for nearly a decade. Inspired by his faith and family upbringing, he says his passion for serving others was inevitable.
“In high school, I always spent my lunch time helping other students with their math questions,” he says, “so I was eager to do something again for my community. Our True Parents believed that something special can happen in Las Vegas and that our city can be a model city for others to follow. I believe if a change can happen in Las Vegas, a change can happen everywhere.”
Jennifer soon joined her brother in 2016 as she sought to make a difference in people’s lives. “I like working with like-minded people who want to help the community,” she says. “It brings me happiness and a sense of fulfillment when others are able to feel joy from the service work we do.”
In 2021, SCP volunteers ramped up their presence, partnering with a wide range of nonprofits and other organizations such as Green Our Planet, Ahern Orchard, and the Las Vegas Rescue Mission. By the end of the year, SCP had amassed 1,150 service hours in the greater Las Vegas area and completed 48 service projects in total — nearly one every week.
“Even though I am just one person, I've inspired others in my community to contribute even more,” says Jeffrey. “I believe that the efforts of any one person can create a ripple effect with other people.”
“Through volunteering, people in the community can see that we want to help those who are less fortunate and also save the environment,” says Jennifer. “Other people feel encouraged and empowered to make a difference in their community as well.”
The siblings say they feel honored to be recognized by the U.S. President with a certificate from the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation. Since 2003, the President’s Volunteer Service Award has celebrated the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity. The award honors individuals whose purpose positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action, too.
“These are amazing young people who are really the model people in America today,” says Rev. Miilhan Stephans, president of Youth and Students for Peace (YSP) USA, which presented the award to the Silerios and seven other young people from around the country on Jan. 22. YSP is certified to give various levels of the award based on age and the amount of hours volunteered within a 12-month period.
“We’re honoring outstanding volunteers and recognizing the great impact they make,” says Rev. Stephans. “These service opportunities also help them grow and find their own place in changing the world.”
For the Silerios, 2022 will continue as a year full of volunteering, with each day a new opportunity to give and serve more people. “We will do our best to make Las Vegas shine and show others the value of living a life for the sake of others,” says Jeffrey.
You can learn more about Shine City Project, including its upcoming service projects, here.
