A matchmaking event for young professionals and nonprofits.
By Kim Cartlidge
Mash up a speed dating event in a roomful of well-groomed, energetic young professionals with a nonprofit appeal for volunteer business and marketing expertise, and you can begin to imagine the excitement of Tuesday’s night’s Community Connections meeting at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. Seven of Sarasota’s first responder agencies made three-minute pitches to a crowd of about 70 professionals, each of whom signed up to commit eight to 10 hours of their time to one project over the next two months.
Sarasota’s nonprofits are working with dwindling paid staffs (due to layoffs) and fewer financial resources just as need is escalating. Jay Lockaby, Leadership Chair of the Sarasota Chamber’s Young Professionals, said to the crowd, “Imagine having a business and your costs double and you can’t raise prices. You’re helping need in a serious way.”
“Right now, we’re deluged with foreclosure cases,” said Elizabeth Boyle, managing attorney of Gulfcoast Legal Services. The agency can’t hire more lawyers, but seven law school interns have agreed to review cases over the summer. Boyle asked for help squeezing workstations into the Gulfcoast office. “We’re looking for treasure hunters, designers and engineers,” she said. “My goal is to change a file room into an office space.”
Linda Harrradine and Nishit Patel of Legal Aid of Manasota seek help with their Web site.
Manasota Legal Aid, which recently merged with the Family Law Connection, is also inundated with requests for help from its panel of about 500 area lawyers who volunteer their time. Nishit Patel, managing attorney, asked for a Web site that would reduce the time its staff of seven (three of whom are part-time) spend on the telephone on intake and referrals. With a recent rise in cases and an annual budget of $500,000, the agency hasn’t the time or funds to redefine its mission or streamline the information-gathering process.
Beth Bush of Red Cross asked for social networking advice and a group to help launch Club Red for young professionals ages 21-40. Dan Dunn, executive director of All Faiths Food Bank, requested volunteers to help feed homeless children over the weekends this summer through its Backpack Kids program. Jessica Hays of Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC) pitched for a committee to plan an awareness event in the fall. Janice Knopp of Independent Transportation Network sought a campaign to attract volunteer drivers for seniors who need rides, and Terrence Meneely of Jobs Etc. asked for keynote speakers for the agency’s new professionals network meetings.
After the pitches, the crowd broke into smaller groups and brainstormed with the agency reps. They committed to complete their projects by July 15.
The out-of-the-box event may be Sarasota’s best new model for engaging volunteer talent and generating fresh ideas. But one of the nonprofit leaders said he’s just as gratified by the higher level of cooperation among agencies. “It’s nice to see all of the agencies teaming up for a better outcome,” says Terrence Meneely. “We’re having to lean more on each other. We’re starting to understand how systemic we are. The collaboration is there.”
For more information about the Community Connections agencies or photos of the event, visit the Nonprofit Resource Center at www.cfsarasota.org.
Kim, great coverage. This event was a ball of fire, and the energy from the charged professionals is driving projects that will be successful and innovative! It offered an opportunity to serve, but with great utilization of talent and passion. We'll be in touch with outcomes.
great piece, kim. good info to get out there --
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2. Dar Sery said...
Kudos for a great idea and a match that will prove to be a "win-win" experience for everyone! The long term effect will be endless!
5/14/2009