in New York City, Paula Gavin, the city’s chief service officer announced to a room filled with nonprofits that she wanted to increase the volunteer rate in New York from its current 18 percent to the national average of 25 percent by 2020. Attending this seminar was Points of Light’s Senior Vice President for Strategic Partnerships and Program Expansion Teri Johnson.
For the last seven months, Teri and Paula have been working together to develop a way for New York to increase volunteerism citywide. The NYC Strategic Volunteer Planning-NYC Service Enterprise Initiative is launching this October to help nonprofits in New York City meet this goal in collaboration with Points of Light’s
A Service Enterprise is an organization that fundamentally leverages volunteers and their skills across all levels of the organization to successfully deliver on its social mission. Nonprofits operating as Service Enterprises outperform peer organizations on all measures of organizational capacity, thereby allowing them to more effectively address community needs and operate at almost half the median budget.
This week, five nonprofits that represent the five boroughs of New York City have been selected to become volunteer Service Enterprise Hubs: the Asian American Federation and the
.
On Oct. 13, these organizations gathered for a special launch event where Teri Johnson and Lori Jean Mantooth, director, knowledge center at Points of Light, lead an orientation with New York’s five hubs and 20 organizations to kick off the program. This launch will make New York City the first Service Enterprise City.
“More than 80 percent of our Service Enterprise organizations report an increase in both volunteers and skills-based volunteers and more than 60 percent report an increase in volunteer hours,” said Teri. When an organization leverages volunteers and achieves an effective volunteer management model, not only do they lead and manage their organizations better, but they also become significantly more adaptable, sustainable and better resourced to do their work – therefore they are able to scale more effectively.
New York and the participating hubs join the growing network of more than 500 organizations certified as Service Enterprises. By 2018, NYC Service plans to establish 100 organizations certified in Strategic Volunteer Planning-Service Enterprise. Each of these organizations will increase their number of volunteers by 23 percent.
Including the current New York Service Enterprise organizations certified through UJA Federation in the last three years, each averaging a 22 percent increase in volunteers, New York City will experience a significant increase in volunteer rates and organizations will be able to deliver their services more effectively.
“Points of Light believes that Service Enterprise is a powerful solution to building critical organizational capacity,” Teri said. “Organizations that participate in Service Enterprise increase their volunteer rates on average by 23 percent a year.”
With the Service Enterprise Initiative helping to strengthen the capacity of these nonprofits to fundamentally leverage volunteers and their skills to address community needs, this program signals a new era of impact for nonprofits in New York.
Just a week before the first presidential debate, Points of Light gathered a group together for our own version of an “ideas-that-matter conference” in Kennebunkport, Maine. Members of our Advisory Board, the Board of Directors and a few invited guests – corporate partners, foundation leaders, policy experts, artists and filmmakers – shared their insights and input on the future of our movement and how to enact the greatest amount of change possible, for as many people as possible, as quickly as possible.
As the political season kicks into high gear, the timing couldn’t have been better as we are all thinking about how to fill the vacuum we’ll see when half of the electorate is disappointed with the election results – no matter who wins. How can we try to turn that disappointment and cynicism into optimism and civic engagement?
Our exploration for answers to this question started by digging into the critical work taking place at the
and it’s meant to advise our next president – regardless of who wins the election – on reaching common ground throughout the first year of the next administration by learning from the successes and failures of past White Houses. What struck all of us was the preview of one of the project’s upcoming essays about the ongoing transformation of the ways in which people communicate. Mary Kate Cary, a former White House speechwriter to President George H.W. Bush who is advising the First Year 2017 Project on communications strategy (
her communications research publishing this month), along with experts from Google and LinkedIn talked about these rapid changes and the implications not only for the next president but for our sector – for changemakers who are catalysts for civic change.
Two such changemakers were part of our ideas fest.
is a former foster child turned country music singer/songwriter whose songs, story, and walk halfway across America in 2010 continue to help create awareness of kids who age out of the foster care system and become homeless. We were honored to name Jimmy as our
shared insights she gained while making her award-winning documentary film, “Imba Means Sing,” about the African Children’s Choir. Listening to both Jimmy and Erin brought home to me the treasure of stories Points of Light has as one of its biggest assets – authentic, credible stories about real Americans making a difference in the lives of others.
As we wrapped up our time together, we returned to that initial question: after the election, how can we try to turn disappointment and cynicism into optimism and civic engagement? Between Jimmy and Erin’s inspirational stories and Mary Kate’s insights we recognized we already had the answer. Regardless of which candidate they vote for – and whether they are happy or disappointed with the election outcome – we want everyone who cares about building a better America to roll up their sleeves. We want to lift up their powerful stories of change. And we want to tap into the unlimited potential of social networks to connect us to each other to tackle tough problems, and unite us in a way that transcends party politics.
Let’s start now by sharing those stories now at
Senior citizens are an important part of the volunteer community, with millions of seniors donating their time to make a difference each year. In 2014 alone, the Corporation for National and Community Service
that 10.7 million older Americans spent a combined 2 billion hours volunteering. Studies have also shown that volunteering has great benefits as you age – older volunteers show lower mortality and depression rates, fewer physical limitations, and higher levels of well-being compared to others in their age group. The National Institute on Aging
that participating in meaningful, productive activities such as volunteering may lower the risk of health problems, including dementia, and improve longevity.
Here are four ways seniors can get involved in their community:
to help others remain independent as they age. Many residents of assisted living facilities would love to see a friendly face, too, so consider stopping by and seeing how you can brighten someone’s day.
4.
Start small
“Microvolunteering” is a great way to make an impact with small actions that you can do from the comfort of your own home. Visit our
AbbVie Demonstrates What’s Possible When Employee Volunteers Band Together to Give Back
Service and volunteerism have the power to impact and change lives. And when a corporation engages thousands of employees who are ready to give back to their local communities, innovation and advancement take place on a global scale.
This summer, Points of Light partnered with AbbVie for its third annual Week of Possibilities, a program that engaged more than 5,500 employee volunteers in nearly 25,000 combined hours to help underserved populations. As the global activation partner, Points of Light affiliates in the United States, Europe, South America, Canada, Mexico and Asia provided employee volunteers with meaningful service opportunities that addressed challenges in the communities where they live and work. The Week of Possibilities builds on AbbVie’s extraordinary year-round commitment to corporate social responsibility, which earned them recognition as a 2016 Civic 50 company.
“We are proud to be partnering with the AbbVie Foundation on this global service campaign,” said Delores Morton, president of programs for Points of Light. “Volunteers have the power to change the world, and Week of Possibilities demonstrates how nonprofits and the private sector can work together to empower that change.”
This year’s program included hands-on service projects in more than 50 countries, with a particular focus on improving educational opportunities and facilities by transforming schools and other learning spaces. Volunteers refurbished libraries, renovated buildings, landscaped and gardened, collected books for schoolchildren, assembled furniture, painted walls, repaired homes and much more.
“Week of Possibilities unites AbbVie employees around the world in an effort to give back to our local communities, with a special focus on building strong education systems,” said Tracie Haas, vice president of corporate responsibility, brand and communications for AbbVie. “We’re delighted and privileged to partner with leading national and international organizations to help local nonprofit partners tackle our communities’ toughest challenges.”
Examples of Global Impact:
AbbVie employee volunteers teamed up with Points of Light affiliates, dedicating their time, energy and skills to make a difference in communities around the world.
In Lake County, Illinois, where AbbVie is based, youth and veterans were the main focus as volunteers transformed schools and renovated three properties to provide housing to families of military veterans, in conjunction with North Chicago Community Partners.
In North Chicago, teams partnered with Kohl Children’s Museum to bring the museum experience to kids who may not ordinarily have access, and provided a day-long Science Adventure program to more than 150 students.
In Menlo Park and San Jose, California, and Worcester, Massachusetts, AbbVie volunteers refurbished three under-resourced school libraries by improving the layout and providing new furniture, technology and library books.
In London, AbbVie volunteers worked at the Northside Community Center and painted more than 30 rooms from top to bottom, redid the computer lab with new carpet, 10 new computers and two new printers, and added new kitchen appliances. The impact was so great that the Center’s board chair reported that it is unlikely they could have stayed open much longer without the contribution made by AbbVie volunteers.
Nearly 50 volunteers in Tokyo spent more than 200 hours delivering the SEEK Program (Science Engineering Exploration Knowledge) to underprivileged children living in group homes. The SEEK curriculum is designed to spark interest in STEM topics.
In Singapore, volunteers participated in educational activities at Care Corner Student Care Centre.
In Montreal, 20 AbbVie employees participated with the Boys and Girls Club/Dawson Community Center, completing projects that had no staff support. From the moment they arrived, employees gardened, cleaned, painted and prepared for summer day camps.
In Guatemala at Escuela Vicente Rivas, more than 50 AbbVie volunteers worked on classrooms, while another 20 implemented interactive methodology and participated in STEM curriculum.
For five days, AbbVie volunteers and HandsOn CDMX worked with at-risk girls in Mexico at the Casa Hogar de la Santísima Trinidad, participating in painting and gardening projects.
Teams in Paris sang in nursing homes for National French Music Day, and in Thiais, AbbVie volunteers planted gardens and fixed homes for women.
Building a Culture of Compassion, ‘Rules of Kindness’ Give Kids the Opportunity to Show They Care
With just weeks to go in perhaps one of the most heated election cycles our country has had in a long time, our nation has reached a heightened point of divisiveness.
We find ourselves in a time of both political and social unrest, with intense debates taking place not only on TV between candidates, but also on social media, in communities and in homes.
described a situation where even young children are repeating the rhetoric they hear and getting into political debates.
We voice our opinion loudly, and across many different platforms, but it seems we rarely take time to listen.
So how can we combat this self-centric, divided path that we’re on and work together to become a more unified, supportive nation?
With kindness and empathy.
We need to step in and work to develop young changemakers who have empathy, compassion and kindness, who will work to bring our world closer together and celebrate our commonalities, rather than move us farther apart.
We have the opportunity to be an example for the next generation, which is why generationOn, the youth service division of Points of Light, recently launched its
. Powered by Hasbro, the campaign challenges kids and teens to build empathy, be kind and show they care.
Elise Jackson, one of 100 Kindness Ambassadors for the campaign, is the perfect example of how empathy can be a youth-led force for healing and change. Elise lives in Plaquemine, Louisiana, which has been affected by recent floods and episodes of police violence. She says, “In the past month, the Baton Rouge community has experienced a racial divide due to police shootings, but this week this same community has come together to save lives due to massive flooding; therefore showing empathy. It is my goal to keep the community humbled and feeling empathetic toward his or her neighbor while encouraging other kids and teens to do the same.”
Kids and teens, just like Elise, are making a new set of rules – rules that they believe will lead to more compassionate and connected citizens. If this generation of changemakers can help to create a culture of caring in each community, we could change the dialogue of our nation and make 2016 the year that kindness rules.
Empact Creates ‘Done in a Day’ to Benefit Corporations, Social Service Organizations and Local Communities
It’s easy to imagine a rigid divide between the social services sector and the world of for-profit corporations, but cross-sector collaborations have the potential to do a lot of good. While employees at nonprofits may lack some of the expertise needed to keep operations running smoothly, employees at corporations may feel they lack the time and opportunity to serve their community. In Singapore, one organization seeks to solve these problems and unlock the mutual benefits of working together.
Empact, a global affiliate of Points of Light, launched Done in a Day to help social good organizations tackle their specific challenges efficiently and effectively. In a single, structured day, skilled volunteers from corporations are matched with nonprofits in need of support in specific areas, such as HR or technology. Through Empact’s signature program, corporate volunteers are able to offer talent and expertise to fill these gaps, which benefits the community and ensures that nonprofits can operate at optimal capacity.
UBS AG, a financial services company, partnered with the Students Care Service to help with fundraising efforts and increasing individual donor contributions. UBS volunteers came up with several feasible fundraising plans and mapped out a timeline of action for the next few years. Through the match-up, Students Care Service received fundraising guidance from experts, while corporate volunteers gained an awareness of the challenges facing youth in their community. As one volunteer shared, “I got more out of this than expected, in less time than we planned for.”
Done in a Day’s cyclical design empowers companies to strengthen nonprofits, which in turn fortify and support local communities. Empact also facilitates an event, giving employee volunteers the opportunity to collaborate and showcase their experience.
The organization sees the success of Done in a Day as the first step for corporate giving and engagement, and a platform to encourage long-term corporate partnerships and involvement in the future. After participating in the program, participants reported they felt more knowledgeable about skills-based volunteerism and inspired to volunteer more in the future.
5 Ways to Get Involved This Fall
Fall is upon us, swooping in on a whirlwind of sweaters, scarves, and pumpkin spice. While looking forward to all that fall has to offer, we’re also very excited about the new opportunities for volunteering that the season brings. Here are five ideas for an autumnal approach to service.
As pretty as the autumn leaves are, they can be a big inconvenience for some people. The elderly as well as people with disabilities aren’t always able to deal with the increased yard maintenance that comes in fall. Grab a rake and take a walk around your neighborhood to see who could use your help! You can also connect with veterans in your community who need a little extra support this time of year, through Disabled American Veterans’ local assistance programs
2. Make cold-weather care packages for the homeless
As temperatures drop, people experiencing homelessness are especially susceptible to cold weather. Consider putting together a cold-weather care package (blankets, gloves, socks, hand warmers, lip balm, etc.), or contact your local homeless shelter to see what kinds of donations they need most this time of year. Visit the Homeless Shelter Directory to learn what kind of resources are in your community and how you can best support their efforts.
3. Clean out your closet
As you prepare your autumn wardrobe, set aside any coats, sweaters, scarves, hats, or other gently used items that you don’t need anymore. By donating these items to a family shelter, refugee center or thrift store, you can help others get ready for the season. Give your gently worn coats to One Warm Coat or make a donation at thrift stores that give back such as the Salvation Army or Goodwill.
4. Do good with baked goods
One of the best things about fall is the food: pumpkin pie, caramel apples, hot chocolate, and so much more. If autumn treats are your specialty, bake a batch for good by hosting a bake sale and donating the proceeds to charity. Get tips for a successful charity bake sale.
5. Help out on Halloween
Many community centers, schools and churches will be having events at the end of the month to give kids a safe environment for trick-or-treating. These events take a lot of volunteers to run, so the organizations will be happy to have you helping to direct traffic or distribute candy. You can also consider volunteering at a hospital or local shelter, to help bring Halloween festivities to children who might otherwise be left out.
Ready to get involved? Search for fall volunteer opportunities in your community at www.allforgood.org.
4 Unconventional Ways to Serve
When you think about volunteering, there are some tried and true service projects that come to mind—things like repainting the local community center or doing some landscaping at a neighborhood park. While these types of projects are still out there (and just as important as always), many volunteers are looking to get involved in new ways that uniquely engage their skills and passions. For those looking to shake up their service projects, here are four unconventional approaches to service:
Good news for tech-savvy volunteers: Your next service project could be on your computer or smartphone! Many nonprofit organizations could use help with their online presence, whether it’s updating their social media profiles, reworking their website, or troubleshooting their app. For tech professionals or digital enthusiasts with time to spare, this is a great opportunity to volunteer your skills. Check out the story of 48in48, in which 160 digital marketing professionals designed websites for 48 nonprofits in 48 hours.
Many people make the mistake of thinking that volunteering has to be separate from their 9-to-5 job. However, companies are increasingly providing opportunities and initiatives for employees to do good through work by engaging with charitable causes in their community. By volunteering your expertise, you can help others through services like financial counseling or technical support.
Many innovative nonprofits are founded on the basis of connecting people with opportunities they are otherwise excluded from. Groups like Goggles for Guppies, which was founded by two young swimmers to help inner-city youth gain access to swimming gear, or Shane’s Inspiration, which constructs accessible playgrounds for children with disabilities, arose from this mission of inclusivity. We all have things we love to do, and by making those activities accessible to other people, you can make a positive impact.
In one sense, serving through your hobbies is quite conventional. We’ve all seen bake sales for charity, community murals, and musical performances in hospitals. However, there are many untapped hobbies that most people wouldn’t consider opportunities for service. Would you have guessed that hiking could be used as therapy for combat veterans? Or thought about using chess to fundraise for causes around the world? Think about how you can use what brings you joy to brighten someone else’s day.
Ready to get involved? Search for volunteer opportunities in your community at www.allforgood.org.
ServiceWorks Heads into Year 3 with Inspiration, Reflection and Motivation
members across the country in the effort to bring positive change to the lives of opportunity youth and the communities in which they live, there are bound to be plenty of moments.
But rarely since the partnership between AmeriCorps, the Citi Foundation and Points of Light began in 2014 has there been such a powerful confluence of people, inspiration and service than what recently transpired in New York City.
In connection with the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, this year’s cohort of more than 70 ServiceWorks VISTAs came from 22 host sites in 14 cities to gather in Manhattan and be sworn in as AmeriCorps members. They were there to connect not just with each other, but with the movement to give opportunity youth the skills and resources they need for college and career success.
One of those VISTAs was
, who’s been with ServiceWorks at CD Tech in Los Angeles since the beginning. He was honored to be part of a group that included 9/11 Day organizers, along with leaders and champions of national service for a
at the New York Stock Exchange.
What’s it like for someone who grew up in South Central LA and is passionate about improving that community through ServiceWorks to be part of such an experience? Emotional.
“I never thought I would be at this point. Remembering my community and where I come from and having this opportunity has a strong impact,” said Warren. “I can go back and narrate what it meant for me to be up here. Hopefully people back home can see this and know that it’s possible.”
Later that day, the 2016-2017 VISTAs gathered at Citi Foundation headquarters to learn how ServiceWorks fits into Citi’s
initiative and the national service movement in general. For many, it was the first time they began to grasp that they’re now a part of something bigger than themselves, the local nonprofits that host them or even the cities they serve.
Count Nishitkumar Patel, a new ServiceWorks VISTA at Chicago’s Casa Central, was among the enlightened. “Until now, I didn’t realize how big of a community this is, how the cities are connected, how the youth are connected, or how we can learn from each other,” he said.
During an intimate gathering with national service luminaries including Corporation of National and Community Service CEO Wendy Spencer, Be The Change Founder Alan Khazei and 9/11 Day Co-founder David Paine, there were many voices, but one clear message: The next year promises to be transformative for the 16- to 24-year-olds the VISTAs will work with – and through that work – for the VISTAs themselves.
That theme continued at the
. After hearing from thought leaders, policy makers and practitioners about issues and solutions related to improving economic opportunity for the 5.5 million youth who are disconnected from school and work, the VISTAs were sworn in by Gen. (Ret.) Stanley McChrystal, who told the group in front of hundreds in the audience, “All of you are about to embark upon a journey in which you will come out better.”
With a group of people passionate about service, for many, the highlight of their weekend in New York was 9/11 Day. On the 15
th
anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, the VISTAs, who had come together in Manhattan from communities all over the United States, led thousands of local volunteers – including hundreds of Citi employees – in one of the city’s biggest service projects, packing more than 500,000 meals for the hungry.
For Kidist Gebreamlak, a new VISTA at Education is Freedom in Dallas, it was a powerful experience. “It is very meaningful to me because it makes me think where I was 15 years ago and how far I’ve come,” she said. “I am somewhere I never thought I would be. It’s a privilege. It’s an honor to serve here.”
It was yet another moment in a weekend and program full of them. And with year three of ServiceWorks bringing more AmeriCorps VISTAs to more host sites and empowering more young people in more cities than ever before, there will be plenty more moments to come.
Veteran Finds Renewed Purpose Through Volunteering
Through volunteer service, Americans connect with the spirit of unity that arose in the aftermath of 9/11. As Points of Light commemorates the 15th anniversary of 9/11 National Day of Service, we highlight those who have been inspired to give back to their communities.
As a veteran of the armed forces, Brittany Chaney has long been dedicated to giving back to those who have served. Like many veterans, Chaney looked to volunteer service upon leaving the military to ease her transition back to civilian life, and became involved in a variety of service projects through Points of Light affiliate Hands On Orlando. Chaney says she enjoys the opportunity to be involved with a lot of causes – her commitment to volunteerism being the driving force behind it all.
“I have a love for volunteering and being involved in the community.” Reflecting on her time in the Navy, Chaney says the military was one more opportunity to give back.
Through her involvement with Hands On Orlando, Chaney, now 33, came across the opportunity to work as a Frontline Families AmeriCorps member.
Through Frontline Families, Chaney and her fellow veteran volunteers have worked supporting organizations like Fairways for Warriors, a group in central Florida that teaches combat veterans how to use golf as a form of therapy; Crossroads Corral, an organization that hosts equine-assisted learning programs where veterans interact with horses to ease the symptoms of PTSD; and Cocktails for a Cause, an annual fundraiser that supports veteran organizations.
As a Frontline Families AmeriCorps member, Chaney has been responsible for coordinating the volunteer efforts of veterans in the local community. Most recently she has been involved in the Booyah Veteran Bus Project which helps disabled veterans get to and from their doctors’ appointments.
Chaney encourages other veterans to get involved. Volunteering “helps you integrate and get involved again,” she says. “It gives you a sense of purpose.” For veterans who are interested in volunteer service, Chaney recommends visiting their local VA to search for opportunities to serve their community.
In honor of 9/11 Day of Service this year, Chaney and other Hands On Orlando volunteers helped plant 25,000 flags outside the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando to honor those who have served. This is one of many projects Hands On Orlando volunteers participated in across the city, not only honoring service men and women, but also memorializing the June terror attack at the Pulse Nightclub.
You can get involved by sharing a story honoring 9/11 first responders or a service member close to you on Twitter or Instagram using#911Dayand#HonoringService, and visit our 9/11 Day of Service gallery to see how volunteers nationwide commemorated the 15th anniversary through service.
