Does Volunteer Sissy Taran Look Familiar?

SISSY TARAN

A weekly visit between friends. Sissy reads to beloved community philanthropist, Natalie Myerson.

“BECAUSE

I

CAN.”

DOES SISSY TARAN LOOK FAMILIAR?

Perhaps you’ve seen her presenting the candlesticks to B’nai Mitzvot on Friday nights at CBB… or assembling gift bags for the ADL… or organizing Mahjong tournaments for CALM… or fundraising for the Women’s Fund… or making superhero capes at Mitzvah Day… or sending out the tribute cards for Hadassah… or founding the Santa Barbara chapter of the Daughters of Abraham, a Christian/Muslim/ Jewish book club. Sissy Taran fills her days, months, and years doing hands-on work for the organizations that are dear to our community. Sissy Taran is a “Professional Volunteer.”

When asked why she volunteers, Sissy’s response is simple, “Because I can.” This mantra dates back to her early days in the farming town of McFarland, California. As the daughter of successful ranchers, Sissy saw the stark contrast between her reality and the working class. In elementary school, she led food drives, donated her clothes, and volunteered her parents to drive the children whose families didn’t have cars. Her mother, Buddie, said that her talent was making others happy.

Sissy became a passionate, young leader through her early volunteer years with Hadassah. She was inspired by the strong women in New York that she met each year at the leadership, membership, and fundraising sessions. Sissy realized the impact and power she had to effect change in the world when she joined forces with 300,000 women.

Sissy’s work with Hadassah sparked her mission for inclusivity – bringing different groups of people together. Her current passion is Givat Haviva International School (GHIS), a two-year boarding high school in Israel. GHIS teaches students to work with and listen to others with whom they disagree in order to resolve their differences. Sissy helped Congregation B’nai B’rith adopt GHIS as one of the Heal the World, Tikkun Olam projects. Having these two organizations as partners has filled Sissy’s cup.

One of Sissy’s greatest strengths as a volunteer is her ability to get others involved. “I give people the opportunity to feel good about themselves by volunteering.” People never say “no” to Sissy because she is working right next to them. And they have fun together in the process. For two years, Sissy organized a project for CBB’s Mitzvah Day, “Capes for Heroes.” Although she couldn’t sew, she could ask people for help. Sissy rallied forty people to sew, cut, and design capes for children living with cancer at the Teddy Bear Foundation. Sissy knows how to bring people together and put a vision into action!

This professional volunteer has no intention of slowing down. As long as there is a need in the community, Sissy is ready to help because SHE CAN.