What are you doing for the greater good?

An event next week asks young people what they are doing for the greater good and challenges them to "Have a Heart" and volunteer. I often find myself wanting to give back to my community but then never doing anything about it. This event will allow me to "tour" more than 20 local nonprofits and decide which one would be a fit for me and vice versa.

Please help us spread the word. Here's more information about the event:

Area non-profit organizations need volunteers, and local young professionals are willing to help – if asked. Knowing this, three businesses have joined forces to bring these two groups together.

 

On Feb. 18, Greater Good Productions, Self-Help and Bon’s Eye Marketing will present “HAVE A HEART: What are YOU doing for the Greater Good?” The event, slated from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the Self-Help Center
(272 N. Front St.),
will feature interactive booths showcasing the work and needs of more than 20
nonprofits. There also will be cocktails, food and live music.

 

The plan is to attract a new crop of volunteers for these organizations – people with creativity, energy and passion to help them grow.

 

“As in many cities, nonprofits in Wilmington suffer from a lack of participation from young people – the next generation of
committee chairs, board members and directors,” said Katie Lucas, owner of
Greater Good Productions. “Why is this? Maybe current leaders aren’t
connected to younger people. Perhaps they’ve never been asked. Maybe
they don’t know how badly their skills and talents are wanted.  Sometimes
– too often – young people who might otherwise serve simply don’t know what’s
out there.”

 

In fact, more than 600 non-profit organizations call the Cape Fear region home, each with their own individual mission to make southeastern North Carolina a better
place to live. They rescue turtles or care for abused children. They feed the
hungry, mentor troubled youth, or simply dance. While the whole community
benefits from the effort, in many cases, only a handful of volunteers carry
most of the workload.

 

“HAVE A HEART” aims to change this. To bring in potential volunteers, the event organizers have partnered with the Wilmington Young Professionals Network and Port City Young
Professionals. Both groups are making “HAVE A HEART” one of their official
events for the month of February.

 

“We try to support local businesses and nonprofits as much as possible,” said Jackie Willse, who started the Wilmington Young Professionals Network. “Since a lot of young
professionals are early in their careers or just starting their own businesses,
money isn't always as easy to spare, but we love to give our time.”

 

Nonprofits scheduled to be in attendance include: American Red Cross, Brigade Boys & Girls Club, Cameron Art Museum, Cape Fear Literacy Council, Cape Fear River Watch, Inc., Cape Fear Volunteer
Center/ Big Buddy, Carolina Canines for Service, Communities in Schools,
Community Boys & Girls Club of Wilmington, DREAMS Center for Art Education,
Girls on the Run of the Coastal Carolinas, Historic Wilmington Foundation, Kids
Making It, NC Coastal Land Trust, Rape Crisis Center of Coastal Horizons,
Sunburst Foundation, The Dance Cooperative, Inc., WHQR 91.3FM Public Radio,
YWCA Lower Cape Fear, Guardian Ad Litem Program and
Cape Fear Green Building Alliance.

 

“It is our hope that, by the end of the evening, young people will find a new and meaningful way to connect to their community, and in doing so, help nonprofits make Wilmington
a better place,” Lucas said. “No one is doing it for the money; we’re all doing
it for the chance to make a difference.”