Kickball Showdown Results!

On Saturday June 11^th, a battle broke out. Four teams came to compete; only one would conquer. The Donor Squad Kickball Showdown was in session and people of all types and ages had one thing in common; they craved some kickball action!

Kickballer’s from Meetup.com and Facebook chose to participate in the tournament for a good cause. Each player donated $15 to the Seattle Humane Society and brought canned goods for Northwest Harvest, two admired Nonprofits in the Seattle area. Altogether we raised $500 and collected around 125 pounds of nonperishable food.

People from all walks of life joined the donor squad tourney, including the furry kind. Members of the FurLife Meetup group arrived with enthusiasm and entertained us with fabulous furry costumes, noisemakers and kites. It may not have been a regular site, as the kickball field was adorned with lions, otters, bears, birds, foxes and dogs, but the furry team put their paws to good use and slid around the bases with ease.

Aside from the furries were many Donor Squad ninjas and sports enthusiasts. Dressed in black and carrying swords, some of the players were practically invisible. After 3 hours of playing, tummies full of pizza and sore from laughter, a ninja championship game began. It was a close game, but one team broke the tie and claimed victory of the tournament! The games were all in good fun, so everyone felt like winners that day. The lucky team was presented with a fabulously bedazzled trophy and individual Ivar’s gift cards.

The tournament would not have been the same without the delicious pizza that the teams congregated around before and after games. zPizza donated a generous 15 different pies for the tournament! We heard nothing but good comments and yummy sounds come from the stuffed mouths of each kickball player. zPizza is new to Capitol Hill and uses all natural ingredients. Their goal is to have each store give away $4000 worth of pizza each year to support community fundraisers, and we thank them for the support.

We also thank all of the players and donors for supporting our local charities and participating in another Donor Squad event. Now that we’ve gained new friends and mad skills, keep your eyes peeled and your ears open; you never know when or where Donor Squad will declare another kickball battle. 

Donor Squad Kickball Showdown 2011

The Donor Squad crew is back again to serve you with more good times for a good cause.

Donor Squad is proud to host the most epic kickball event you’ve played in since 4^th grade recess. On Saturday June 11^th at 1:00 PM different groups from meetup.com and Facebook will converge on the Magnuson Park baseball fields to battle each other in an effort to prove themselves worthy of being the one and only Donor Squad Kickball Showdown 2011 Champions.

That’s not all; there is more to it than just a chance to relive your playground sports career. This is also a fundraiser for Seattle Humane Society and a food drive for Northwest Harvest. That's right. We can all revel in kickball glory, save animals and fight hunger in our communities at the same time!

There will be food, refreshments, and of course, good times. There will also be a SPECIAL PRIZE for the winning team. Team themed costume is encouraged!

Payment is $15 dollars per person and the deadline to sign up and pay is by June 4th, one week before the event. You can participate on the Donor Squad team by signing up at http://www.meetup.com/DonorSquad/events/17759131 or you can compete with your own team or Meetup.com group. Email Jeff at jeff@donorsquad.com if you are interested or have any questions. Payment and rosters must be submitted by June 4^th. We are collecting paypal donations via http://www.paypal.com. Please send your donations to paypal@donorsquad.com and include your name and team in the memo.

The Seattle Humane Society is your classic animal welfare nonprofit. The Humane Society of Seattle/King County has been around for 114 years, so they know their stuff. They do everything from providing veterinary services to saving the lives of orphaned and abandoned animals.

http://www.seattlehumane.org

Northwest Harvest is not your average food donation nonprofit, their main focus is on providing nutritional food for those in need. They were the first food bank center in Washington State to focus on fresh produce as well as canned goods and packaged foods.

http://www.northwestharvest.org

Donor Squad uses Madness to help FareStart in their Quest to end Homelessness

Introducing the Donor Squad March Madness Online Tournament: Brackets for a Cause.  On March 13^th, the OH so sacred Selection Sunday will kick off the highly anticipated Donor Squad tournament.  After the picks are announced on Sunday afternoon, March Madness brackets will open and the beasts will be released.  Let the games begin!

Our ferocious competitors will be battling for a pirate snowboard and some good eats.  We invite competitive types of all lands and kind to participate. The easiest way to sign-up for the tournament is through our Facebook page at http://on.fb.me/hhmtnf.  For those of you who prefer to live in the Dark Age, go to http://donorsquad.mayhem.cbssports.com/e, and enter the password: squadmadness.  We are collecting donations at www.paypal.com to benefit FareStart.  Please send your donations to paypal@donorsquad.com.

Alright, now I will tell you where FareStart comes in.   This year, Donor Squad has decided to bundle up all the energy associated with March Madness, clean it up a bit, and gift it to a good cause.  FareStart, a Seattle nonprofit working to end homelessness, will have the pleasure of benefiting from our first tournament.     

Now the reason we chose FareStart is because they make charity work look good.  Seriously, I have never seen an effort to end homelessness executed with such precise grace and style.  Not only has FareStart served over 4.5 million meals to disadvantaged individuals and homeless families, they have helped nearly 5,000 people change their lives forever.  With their culinary job training and placement programs, FareStart is making the dream to end homelessness a feasible reality. 

FareStart has a restaurant, café, and catering services allowing their students to benefit from real life experience in the field.  All proceeds from the restaurant go directly back into the job training and placement programs.  Students even get the chance to work with some of the most premier chefs in Seattle, thanks to the weekly Guest Chef Night.  Check them out at www.farestart.org.

Well, now that your mouth is watering and your heart is pounding with competitive aggression, join us in the Donor Squad Online March Madness Tournament: Brackets for a Cause.  Fill out your March Madness bracket and meet us in the chat room.

WARNING. Donor Squad will not be held responsible in the court of law, nor in the eye of the beholder, for any harassment, name calling, badgering, bragging, sweat, stress, tears, hurt feelings, broken hearts, conniptions, or meltdowns.  Please enter the Donor Squad March Madness Online Tournament at your own risk.   

You could be this guy...

Living La Vida "Local"

Ever wonder where your money goes when you donate to charity? Of course, why wouldn’t you. Ever donate to huge corporate charities because you’re not sure where to donate? I think we’ve all been in that situation. The truth is, all charitable giving is wonderfully encouraged, but it is truly important we don’t ignore smaller charities, they need your help!

If you hear of a small charity in your community, don’t hesitate.  You can expect your hand-me-downs and extra cash to benefit local causes and local people. Sometimes local charities will support the same causes as well-known charitable organizations, but they aren’t spending a lot of time advertising. Here are some reasons why people volunteer locally, and why you should too:

1. Small charities are in more need of donations because they usually don’t get those large corporate sponsorships
2. More of each donation actually goes to the people in need because small charities have lower overhead
3. Small charities are typically local, so you can usually expect money donated in your area to help people, animals, and causes in your area instead of being shipped off to corporate

If you don’t want to spend a lot of time searching for the best charity in your area, hit the web! Charity Navigator, Volunteer Match and Seattle Works are great resources for finding information on local charities.

On Charity Navigator and Volunteer Match you can narrow down your search by city, size, and type of cause. The first time I did this I found Homeward Pet Adoption Center in Woodinville Washington, which is hidden about one block from where I live. Seattle Works is a great place to find volunteer opportunities and support the community. On Twitter you can simply search for people or organizations in your area that exist to inform you of charities you can support.

So what are you waiting for?

CharityNavigator.org

VolunteerMatch.org

SeattleWorks.org

Homeward Pet Adoption Center

Donor Squad is a Seattle start-up committed to connecting people with local nonprofits.  To learn more, visit the Donor Squad Facebook Page.   To join the Donor Squad Meetup group, go to Donor Squad Seattle.

Nature Consortium and the Thorn People

The thorn people.  That is what the Donor Squad crew (above) named themselves after completing a day of Himalayan blackberry removal with the Nature Consortium.  On the brisk afternoon of February 26^th, Donor Squad did their part to help restore the West Duwamish Greenbelt in West Seattle. 

After four hours of intense battle with the ruthless Himalayan blackberries, the thorn people declared victory until next time.  The crew paid their respects, packed their weapons, and retreated home to fish broken thorns out of their skin.  Every respectable soldier has scar wounds.

The Nature Consortium's Urban Forest Restoration Project is committed to restoring the West Duwamish Greenbelt.  This green belt is 482 acres and is the largest remaining forest within Seattle city limits.  The main goal is to reintroduce the native conifer species and to remove the invasive Himalayan blackberry plants, making this reintroduction possible. 

The best part about volunteering with the Nature Consortium is that they provide superb entertainment.  Their mission is to connect people, arts, and nature.  They support local musicians while entertaining their volunteers.  Not a bad way to keep the troops motivated!  To learn more about the Nature Consortium, please visit www.naturec.org.

Donor Squad is a Seattle start-up committed to connecting people with local nonprofits.  To learn more, visit www.facebook.com/DonorSquad.   To join the Seattle meetup group, go to www.meetup.com/DonorSquad.    

How a Little Facial Hair, a Bar, and a lot of Pinball Benefited the Foster kids of King County

On the eve of last Sunday, guys and girls with beards and staches (both real and artificial) vowed to make a difference at a Belltown favorite, Shorty’s.  Among the carnival lights, hotdogs, hanging clowns, and frothy beers, the participants pinballed their big hearts out to raise money for the foster kids of King County.

Organized by The World is Fun (TWIF), a Seattle nonprofit, the Pinball Tournament at Shorty’s was one of many crazy and lucrative events of the Beard and Stache Festival.  During the month of February, TWIF is hosting Beard and Stache events at bars and venues all over Seattle.  At each event, guests donate money by sticking $5 in a can with their favorite hairy candidate on the front.  There are five to choose from; I never said it was easy.  To find upcoming events, visit http://www.beardandstachefest.com/.

All donations collected through the Beard and Stache Festival benefit Treehouse, a local organization committed to bettering the lives of foster children.  Their goal is to provide foster kids with the tools needed to lead a normal childhood.  Treehouse offers unique services such as raising money for extracurricular activities as well as providing nice clothing and school supplies for those in need.

TWIF highlights the social aspect of volunteerism.  Their mission is to involve a younger demographic in the community of giving and they are dedicated to helping local nonprofits with urgent needs for volunteers, donations, and fundraising events. 

Donor Squad has thoroughly enjoyed meeting the team at TWIF and helping out with volunteers.  We have received nothing but positive feedback.

To learn more about Treehouse, go to www.treehouse4kids.org.

Donor Squad Seattle’s First Volunteer Opportunity: The Aftermath

Saturday, February 5, 2011.  At a glance, it was just another typical winter day in Seattle.  Gloom ridden sky, constant mist and humid, heavy air.  You know the type of day that makes you want to sleep in till noon and watch endless movies.  The kind of day that looks way scarier than it really is.  On this particular day, 14 individuals decided to combat the elements and volunteer with Donor Squad in effort to end hunger among homeless youth in Seattle. 

The plan was to collect food from Capitol Hill homes and donate it to YouthCare, an organization dedicated to fighting homelessness for young people.  Donor Squad decided to involve the community from the comfort of their own living rooms.  A couple days prior to the event, flyers were distributed to homes in the Capitol Hill neighborhood in effort to prepare residents for the upcoming food drive.  Once people realized we weren’t trying to sell them something, we were pretty well received!       

On Saturday, the Donor Squad team set out with shopping carts (compliments of Madison Market) to collect food from the selected homes.  I must say, it was a great success.  In two hours, 14 enthusiastic volunteers conquered 4 miles of neighborhood, visited roughly 300 homes, and collected 74 bags of food accumulating to about 300 pounds of pure nutrition, totaling out to roughly an $800 value.  Not too shabby for a couple hours on a Saturday!  Our two hours of volunteer work will feed a homeless young person for about 160 days, or 160 homeless youth for one day depending on how you want to look at it!    

I would like to take a moment to give a special shout out and thank all the Donor Squad volunteers who decided to venture out last Saturday and collect food with us.  The time you donated will make a big difference in the life of a homeless youth.  Thank you! 

YouthCare is an amazing Seattle organization that is dedicated to helping homeless youth turn their lives around.  In addition to feeding hungry kids, YouthCare provides many tools to help get them permanently off the streets and into stable lifestyles.  Some of the other services they offer are case management, education, employment training, health and hygiene distribution, and drug and alcohol counseling.  To learn more about YouthCare, please visit www.youthcare.org.

To find out how about more volunteer opportunities with Donor Squad, please visit http://www.meetup.com/DonorSquad/. 

Donor Squad Food Drive and Kickoff Party!

On Saturday, February 5th, don’t be alarmed if you see superheroes roaming the streets of Capitol Hill, Seattle. They are battling a social villain, a nasty little one called homelessness. They are on a mission to collect food for homeless youth at YouthCare.

Recruited by Donor Squad, a new Seattle start-up, volunteers will be traveling door to door to collect food for those who are less fortunate. Donor Squad will be delivering a bag and an informational flyer on Thursday to homes that the volunteers will be visiting, providing fair warning that superheroes will be stopping by on Saturday afternoon. The goal is to avoid heart attacks at all costs.

Unfortunately, homelessness among youth in Seattle is rapidly growing. Since the collapse of the financial market, YouthCare has seen a 63% increase in youth asking for help. Last year, 3,337 street kids received services from YouthCare. Sadly, some were turned away. The demand outgrew the funding.

YouthCare does more than feed kids on the street. They strive to battle homelessness, not sustain it. Some of the other services they offer are case management, education, employment training, health and hygiene distribution, and drug and alcohol counseling. As you can see, YouthCare provides many tools to help get kids permanently off the streets and into stable lifestyles.

On Saturday, Donor Squad is doing their part to help. Every year, YouthCare receives heaps of food around the holidays from holiday food drives and such. Then, like many other charities, there is a lull in donations for most of the remainder of the year. The Donor Squad team is hitting the streets to help break this trend. There will be an after party for the volunteers at Piecora’s New York Pizza. Feeding hungry superheroes is important. To find out how you can help, please visit http://www.meetup.com/DonorSquad/events/16169930/.

Waking up to a tighter community with 501 Commons

The Intiman Theater at the Seattle Center awoke bright and early Wednesday morning to debut the new 501 Commons. Rocking the a.m. with a little hip hop from MCDK (a Seattle hip hop group), I couldn’t help but to strut with a little grove to my step. They even made me smile. I must say, that is pretty impressive for 7:30 a.m. Nice work 501 Commons.

501 Commons serves charities, philanthropy, schools, and faith organizations. Simply put, they serve the 501 sector. On Wednesday morning they hosted a launch party to unveil their new self, morphing from the former Executive Service Corps and into the new and sexy 501 Commons. Although their name and website underwent a massive makeover, their mission remains the same; to strengthen communities by empowering schools and nonprofits.

With over 200 volunteer consultants and coaches, 501 Commons provides roughly $750,000 worth of services to over 60 nonprofits every year. Now that’s impressive! Nancy Long, 501 Commons Executive Director, spoke on the panel during the launch and emphasized the organization's goal to build customizable services and programs for each unique client.

Before the presentation, I met a consultant who had been volunteering with 501 Commons for about ten years. Being surprised with the turnout for a 7:00 a.m. event, I asked the consultant how 501 Commons pulled it off since I didn’t see much prior advertising. He told me that Nancy Long’s roots run deep and that she has been an active in the Seattle community for many many years. “In my opinion,” he said, “Nancy walks on water.”