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I would wholeheartedly encourage people to volunteer for Common Impact’s projects. This is one of very few opportunities you have to use your advanced technical skills to benefit others beyond your job, and the benefit that you provide to them can be huge. In the corporate environment, we often take for granted the expensive, complex systems we build and maintain. There are thousands of small non-profits who desperately need the skills we have, but simply can't afford to pay for them.
-- Jeff Morrissey, Common Impact Volunteer from State Street Corporation
Welcome to the first issue of Common Connection, the quarterly newsletter of Common Impact. Common Impact was formed by the merger of Harbinger Partners and the Corporate Volunteer Network.
This issue of Common Connection is dedicated to our corporate volunteers. These generous folks make time in between careers, family, and daily obligations to reach out to their community and make a difference. We are constantly amazed by the enthusiasm, commitment, and generosity of our volunteers. Thank you all, and keep up the good work!
Since 2001, we have had the pleasure of working with 165 fantastic volunteers, 33 of whom are currently implementing solutions for local nonprofit organizations. Our volunteers have provided critical IT, marketing, and HR tools and insights to more than 80 nonprofit clients across Greater Boston. Those numbers will be growing quickly—we are planning to serve 45 nonprofit clients this year!
Q&A with Melinda Winters
We have been out visiting our corporate partners lately, where we had the good fortune to bump into some of our volunteers. Lesley Edwards, VP of Partnerships, asked Melinda Winters of Fidelity Investments to tell us a little about why she volunteered with us. Here is what she had to say about her experience, her interests, and the hustle and bustle of daily life:
Lesley: Why did you decide to volunteer with Common Impact?
Melinda: When I was offered the opportunity to
do volunteer work I jumped at the offer. I've always been fond of
giving back and what better way than with the skills that I use
every day? I'm very fortunate to have been a part of this project.
Lesley: Please tell our readers a little about the project
and what it was like to work with the nonprofit organization.
Melinda: I created the graphic and user interface design for Eagle Eye Institute's new web site. Eagle Eye Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating under served urban youths on environmental topics and career building. Working with Eagle Eye was not only enjoyable, but educational as well. I discovered what a huge impact these programs have on the kids and how important the web site is to the organization.
Lesley: What was the most rewarding aspect of the experience?
Melinda: The most rewarding aspect of this experience was to work with some really great people at Eagle Eye Institute. I also enjoyed creating fun 'out of the box' designs for their new web site.
Lesley: What would you advise to colleagues who are considering volunteering their skills?
Melinda: I would highly recommend getting involved. It puts things into perspective for you in terms of what's really important at the end of the day. Sometimes we need a little shake to wake us up from the everyday hustle and bustle; this certainly does the trick.
Lesley: What do you do with your free time besides making nonprofits’ dreams come true?
Melinda: I spend every possible enjoyable moment with my family.
If you think your colleagues would enjoy skills-based volunteering, forward this newsletter to them today! We are currently looking for IT volunteers.
Clientastic!
We are happy to announce the nonprofit clients in our fall and winter cycles. They are:
Marketing Clients:
Summerbridge Cambridge (http://www.summerbridgecambridge.org/)
Tutoring Plus (http://www.tutoringplus.org/)
Boston Society of Vulcans (http://www.bostonvulcans.org/)
Generations Incorporated (http://www.generationsinc.org/)
Lawyers Clearinghouse on Affordable Housing and Homelessness (http://www.lawyersclearinghouse.org/)
Technology Clients:
WriteBoston (http://www.cityofboston.gov/bra/writeboston/)
Community Farms Outreach (http://www.communityfarms.org/)
Good Sports (http://www.goodsports.org/)
Close to Home (http://www.c2home.org/)
La Alianza Hispana (http://www.laalianza.org/)
See A New Partner?
We are thrilled to announce our newest corporate partner. CA (formerly Computer Associates) is joining our Corporate Responsibility InitiativeSM! The inaugural class of CA volunteers will hit the streets in early November. Welcome aboard!
Skills-based volunteering has been getting a lot of press lately. It seems like everywhere we look we see something about it—even if we leave the office. It goes to show that there is no stopping a great idea. If you want to keep on top of the wave, check out these recent articles:
The Right Way to Volunteer by Daniel Kadlec, in Time Magazine’s September 4 issue. See http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1376242,00.html
Got Skills? by Chris Penttila, in Entrepreneur Magazine’s September Issue. It is available at http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2006/september/165954.html
And don’t miss the Deloitte/Points of Light Foundation "Volunteer Impact Survey". The press release, with a link to the study, is available online at http://www.pointsoflight.org/about/mediacenter/releases/2006/04-24.cfm
Speaking of the press, keep an eye out for an article featuring Common Impact in CommonWealth Magazine’s fall issue.
The end of the summer and the start of our big plans for growth have conspired to move a lot of furniture at the office since our last newsletter:
A big hello to Karen Horwitz, our first and favorite Marketing Consultant. Karen has a MBA in Finance and Public & Nonprofit Management from Boston University. She has a background in nonprofit and private-sector capacity building, market research, and strategy consulting.
A retro-active welcome, as well, to Sameen Saeed, our new and superfantastic Special Assistant to the CEO. (Those of you who have been corresponding with Lauren and Weston in the last year, don’t worry—we’re still here.) Sameen comes to us with a background in retail inventory control systems and market research. She also sports a Masters in International Affairs from Washington University and a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Missouri.
We want to thank Charlie Cassidy for his service to Common Impact and his tenure on the Board of Directors. Charlie infused our meetings with an unyielding enthusiasm for the mission of the organization and a great sense of humor. We are glad to know that he will continue to be a friend to this organization, and we wish him well as he pursues new professional endeavors.
We bid adieu to Kathleen Wack, who signed on part-time with the Corporate Volunteer Network as she finished her Masters degree, then got her Common Impact temporary tattoo in the merger last spring. She stayed with us to see the remaining CVN projects through, and then moved on to work for Mayor Menino as a liaison on food policy to the Boston Public Health Commission. Thanks for your hard work and friendship, Kathleen!
Elle Pishny has come and gone faster than a flying fruit as our summer intern. Besides getting half of the staff ridiculously hooked on caffeine and resetting the bar for workplace cheerfulness, she put together our very first annual report. You will all have the chance to check it out when it returns from the printer in November. Thanks, Elle! Enjoy your last year at Duke!
Looking for marketing experience? We are hiring a part-time intern to assist the VP of Partnerships in developing the organization's brand identity, conducting market research, and creating new marketing materials. Just send an e-mail to Lesley Edwards at ledwards@commonimpact.org.
Thank you for reading the quarterly newsletter of Common Impact! We welcome your comments and contributions. Please send all inquiries to:
Common Impact
The Athenaeum Building
215 First Street, Suite 25
Cambridge, MA 02142-1236
Phone: (617) 492-3105
E-Mail: info@commonimpact.org