As we consider our final choices, we have so many things to
consider. What is the short/long-term impact of our donations? What type of
issue does each organization address? Do they advocate AND serve? Do they have
good financial standing? We are going to have to choose a few organizations and
divide the money. However, our relationship with these organizations doesn’t
have to end now. We are now so much more aware of the non-profit sector in our
community, and I want to make sure our class doesn’t pass this opportunity by.
For instance, the Soup and Sandwich program needs volunteers
every Saturday! If you are staying in the summer, they have a special needs,
since student groups no longer send volunteers. When I visited this past
Saturday, the Poverty Awareness Coalition expressed how impressed they were
with the quality of the program in relation to other Soup Kitchens that they
volunteer at.
Contact: Debbie Thorpe dthorpe@stny.rr.com
The Boys and Girls Club meets Monday through Friday, after
school until dinner time! That means they need a TON of volunteer hours! In
addition, volunteers have the unique ability to help using special skills. You
could tutor in an area you are strong in, play games with children, help cook
the dinner, or help get food donations for dinner.
When looking for an internship, consider working with a
non-profit! You may not get a paid internship, but wouldn’t it be cool to say that
you have experience working with low-income families at the Hope Dispensary
when you are applying for a nursing job?
Hope Dispensary of the Southern Tier Internship Opportunity
Contact: Dawn Desorcie (607)5849376 dawndesorcie@lourdes.com
The Hope Dispensary is
looking for an intern with compassion, good interpersonal skills and organizational
skills to fill the position of Prescription Access Eligibility Counselor. This position
involves conducting facetoface interviews with clients to determine their eligibility
for our medications, prescription assistance programs through pharmaceutical
companies, state funded insurance programs as well as the local hospitals'
financial assistance programs. To apply send your resume to Dawn Desorcie and
to learn more about The Hope Dispensary you can visit their website.
Remember from our first classes, philanthropy can be more
than just our $10,000 donation. I’m excited to see what kind of an impact our
class can have after the money is given away!
Hey Michelle, I liked that you incorporated how we could get involved with the organizations that we are considering for the final class. Besides, assessing our own values, or the community of Binghamton, I think that is definitely one of the best things I learned about the class so far. The fact that we can work with non-profits just through volunteering but also for employment or like you said, with Hope Dispensary, as part of internship to enhance a resume.
ReplyDeleteI think one of the biggest things I've learned through class discussion and presentations is the various components one can get involved with non-profit organizations. One can use your expertise as an accountant to do financial reports or use your experience as carpenter to do a job at a low cost. There are various ways to get involved with Non-Profits and we shouldn't look as just volunteering as one of them. Since it can really lead to a fulfilling career.
Michelle, I really enjoyed how you incorporated the bigger picture of our class. Of course the short-term goal of the class is to give away the $10,000 the best way that we possibly can, but I feel like the real purpose of this class is to help us to start thinking about how we can get more involved in giving. We started the class with The Life You Can Save showing why we should give, and eventually ended up with Forces for Good teaching us effective ways to give. All along the way we have been discussing different aspects of the non-profit sector and it is about to be culminated with a sizable donation to a few organizations thanks to the Learning by Giving Foundation. I have learned various techniques that I can use to give if I become a millionaire to effectively give away money, or if I am just an average Joe who wants to make a difference.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of volunteering, I think it would be awesome if there were a way to get involved after we give the money. Depending on the organizations we give to, I’m sure that the Boys & Girls Club could use some manpower in order to set up the baseball field or FEN could use some volunteers to play with the kids if they were to get some new toys for their playground. Or at the end of tomorrow, if you feel that your particular organization got snubbed you can always ask them if they need volunteers as Michelle said.
An interesting point that you brought up David was about how we can all have careers in the non-profit sector. No matter your major, there is most likely a way some non-profit organization would need you. And if you feel that no organization is running efficiently enough for you, you can start your own. A topic that was mentioned in Dan Pallotta’s TED talk (I think) was how if you really want to make the most difference, it may be better to not work for the non-profit sector. It would be more efficient to get a job at a private company that pays more and then donate a lot of the money you make. This is a topic that is talked about, in regards to non-profits not paying its employees enough, here. http://www.thefundraisingauthority.com/strategy-and-planning/you-arent-paying-your-development-staff-enough/