Volunteer of the Month: Virginia Warner

For more than three decades, Virginia has been helping young people begin one of the most transformative experiences of their lives.

Since becoming a YFU volunteer in 1994, she has played a remarkable role in supporting exchange students in the United States while also helping American students take their first steps toward an international exchange.

Her dedication has touched hundreds of lives, often long before a student boards a plane and long after they arrive in their host community.

A trusted guide for international students

As an Area Representative, Virginia has supported at least 94 international students during their exchange in the United States, with three more currently on program.

For each student, she has been a trusted point of contact throughout the exchange year, offering guidance, encouragement, and reassurance as they adapt to a new culture, build relationships, and navigate the challenges that naturally come with living abroad.

While every exchange experience is unique, Virginia's steady presence has remained a constant source of support for generations of YFU students.

Opening doors for future exchange students

Virginia's impact extends far beyond the students she welcomes.

As one of YFU USA's dedicated interviewers, she also helps identify and prepare American students for their own exchange experiences. This recruitment year alone, she interviewed an incredible 113 applicants, and throughout her years of volunteering, she has interviewed more than 375 young people.

Among them, 122 students have gone on to participate in a YFU exchange, beginning journeys that may well shape the rest of their lives.

The difference one volunteer can make

Some volunteers support a single program. Others leave a lasting mark on an entire organization.

For more than 30 years, Virginia has done both. By supporting international students in the United States while helping American students begin their own exchange journeys, she has strengthened YFU's mission from every angle.

Her commitment reminds us that international exchange is made possible by volunteers whose dedication often happens quietly, behind the scenes, but whose impact is felt by hundreds of young people around the world.

Thank you Virginia for your unwavering commitment, your generosity, and for making a lasting difference in the lives of so many YFU students.