@UniversalGiving
UniversalGiving has partnered with SOCAP12: Making Meaning Matter in San Francisco, a conference featuring the world’s pioneering impact investors, social entrepreneurs, philanthropists, civic leaders and innovators. This year’s conference takes place October 1-4, 2012, and serves to create intersections where you – with friends and valuable strangers – mobilize resources and capital for good.
SOCAP believes that to create the world we want, we have to bring all of our selves to the tasks – from our passion, to our time and talent, to our investment dollars – that’s what it takes to make meaning matter.
The themes for this year’s SOCAP closely tie in with UniversalGiving’s vision to “Create A World Where Giving And Volunteering Are A Natural Part Of Everyday Life.”™ SOCAP is the market at the intersection of money and meaning; it’s a place where we put purpose together with capital. Similarly, UniversalGiving Corporate strives to make global Corporate Social Responsibility necessary for every company. By helping Fortune 500 companies establish and manage CSR programs, UniversalGiving Corporate helps companies strengthen their global brand; increase corporate employee giving and volunteer rates; increase employee retention and attraction; and build a stronger, more loyal client base. SOCAP also understands the importance of this intersection between business and “doing good”. SOCAP12 connects investors and entrepreneurs, public and private sectors, technology providers and technology users in an attempt to create better solutions to the world’s problems. Meaning is at the heart of the market; SOCAP is the place where people bring their intentions to make a difference and make connections to push their projects and goals forward.
This year SOCAP is offering both entry-level and expert-level workshops, with over 150 keynotes and panelists from across the globe, with a wide range of expertise in social innovation. Check out the event themes, confirmed participants, and register with 30% off today! Visit SOCAP12
By Bridget Botelho
We are happy to share about a new organization that shares our mission of striving to make the world a better place!
San Francisco-based nonprofit, PhotoPhilanthropy, is bringing art and creativity to social change. The organization has created a platform for photographers to collaborate, share, and connect with other nonprofit organizations in efforts to drive philanthropy through photography.
Through PhotoPhilanthropy, photographers can network with nonprofit organizations to volunteer and photograph specific projects. Also through the site, photographers can share their work with nonprofits, share their experiences, and even search for grants that will help continue their efforts.
On January 22, PhotoPhilanthropy will be hosting a panel of speakers to discuss how photography can be used for social change. The event will be hosted at the California College for the Arts in San Francisco from 10am to 1pm. Presentation topics include visual storytelling for nonprofits, the value of non-profit photography for socially concerned photographers, and how non-profits and photographers collaborate to make an impact.
For more information and to register for the panel, click HERE
Filed under: Bay Area Events, Easy Ways to Give, Fun Ways to Give, Giving, Inspirational Thoughts, Leadership, Poverty, Social Change, Volunteering
By Andrea Xu, Marketing Intern/Executive Assistant to the CEO
In our busy society, it is so easy to forget how far a small, random act of kindness can go. In an age where everyone is glued to his or her iPhones, emails, and personal planners, we have become so absorbed in our own bubbles that sometimes we forget that we are still surrounded in a community, a community where issues such as homelessness are still prevalent.
And this is where A Good Idea steps in. A Good Idea encourages positive social change that connects people with others who want to help alleviate poverty and homelessness in their local communities. A Good Idea creates solutions through its team of experts and volunteers, using connections through service, education, and technology in order to help accomplish its goals.
Although San Francisco is the home base for A Good Idea, this organization is starting to expand and can now be found in New Jersey. Each year A Good Idea hosts numerous creative events that help fight against poverty and homelessness such as a Good Day in San Francisco, where over 100 volunteers help serve approximately 75 homeless individuals in the community, offering an array of services such as clothing, massages, and a gourmet meal.
What I really love about A Good Idea is its emphasis on compassion and empathy. While it is great that the organization hosts a variety of large-scale events, it does not forget the power of a simple act of kindness to a random stranger.
So, get reconnected with your community. Participate in A Call to Arms on August 18th from 7-9 PM to help combat homelessness. Or, go beyond your neighborhood and connect with the world. UniversalGivingTM offers hundreds of opportunities to donate or volunteer globally; $25 can help educate a girl in Sierra Leone, or you can spend 2 weeks in Cusco, Peru to work with impoverished children in rural households. Just get connected.
Filed under: Bay Area Events, Giving, Inspiring Young People, Leadership | Tags: education
By Andrea Xu
With the California education system experiencing another devastating blow to its budget, it is becoming increasingly crucial to find methods to maintain the state’s education standards. Higher education is seeing a shift from traditional state-funded colleges and universities towards for-profit and online colleges, like those found on websites offering accredited college degrees online and in technical colleges like ITT Tech. As a student attending the University of California, Berkeley, I understand the value of receiving a proper education, and have been personally affected by the budget cuts.
SMASH is a great organization that promotes academic values and achievement, providing a three-year, five-week summer math and science enrichment program for high-achieving, low-income students of color. SMASH scholars also receive year-round academic support such as SAT preparation and college counseling, gearing these students on the road to college. The best part? SMASH is free of charge. SMASH scholars are able to attend either UC Berkeley (Go Bears!) or Stanford University, living in the dormitories, attending classes, and getting a glimpse into the full college experience.
Most of these underprivileged youth do not have many role models, access to honors and AP classes, or even the necessary resources to help further their interest in pursuing a higher education; many therefore are unprepared to persist and to graduate, even if they wish to attend college. SMASH is a part of the Level Playing Field Institute, which includes programs such as The Initiative for Diversity in Education and Leadership (IDEAL) to help prevent this discouragement and essentially, to help level the playing field.
Help promote higher education and get involved! Not only can you donate to help keep this program cost-free, but you can also be more involved by serving as a SMASH instructor! Whether you are a genius in math or simply love to help, this is a great opportunity to exercise your passions and strengths to help a student better his or her future. And there is no greater personal satisfaction than knowing you made a difference.
