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Targeting Talent on Day of Caring
For 16 years, volunteers from all walks of life, skills, and interests have given their time and energy for Heart of West Michigan United Way's Day of Caring, the largest one-day volunteer event in Kent County. They've raked and sawwed, cooked and cleaned, painted and played -- turning their collective manpower into collective impact.
This year, we sought to increase the impact through skills-based projects that paired volunteers' professional skills to address specific community needs. These skills-based projects utilized volunteer talents such as human resources, marketing and business development. | |
One project created a focus group that paired human resource professionals with Safe Haven Ministries to develop a program to help businesses address domestic violence issues in the workplace. Read about Safe Haven's Project.>>
DOC volunteers at Safe Haven
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Project Blueprint Graduate Profile: Jamie Fortier
 For Jamie Fortier, finding something you're passionate about makes all the difference, volunteering becomes a "want-to" versus a "have-to".
The 2011 Project Blueprint grad definitely seems to have found causes she cares about, as she is very active with board and committee service and other volunteering in the community.
Jamie serves on the Executive Board for Korean Culture Camp of Michigan. She is also Advisor for Fifth Third' Bank's Asian Business Resource Group, and well as their Diversity Board --where she sits on the Corporate Citizenship and Career Development committees. Read our Q&A with Jamie.>> | |
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Designing a Way to Give Back
On September 9th-10th, a tireless group of local designers and creative experts gave a full 24 hours (yes, they worked through the night!) of talent and expertise for the good of five local nonprofits during the first-annual Design for Good event.
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A design team hard at work |
Design for Good is a wonderful example of the emerging trend of pro-bono and skills-based volunteering in the Grand Rapids community, and we applaud the effort of everyone involved!
Learn more about donating your talents to our community.>> | |
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Day of Caring 2011 Highlights
1600 volunteers
46 companies
58 agencies & schools
81 projects
5000 hours of service
$106,800 value
Projects included painting, landscaping, meal prep, client parties, classroom prep, business plan development and many more. | |
View our DOC '11 Facebook album.
Tell us about your experience.
Continue the momentum - find a volunteer project.
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Receptionist Needed
Do you have a gift for customer service and love interacting with people in a busy environment? If so, United Way's Volunteer Receptionist position might be just the role for you! Learn more! | |
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Congratulations!
Ruth VanProoyen of Sightseer Radio was just honored as the West Michigan winner of the 2011 Priority Health Senior Impact Award, which they offer through a partnership with the Volunteer Center.
Our nonprofit colleagues, Tera Wozniak Qualls, Janay Brower, and Bridget Clark Whitney were recently nominated for the ATHENA Young Professional award. Kathy Crosby of Goodwill Industries was honored as the ATHENA winner. | |
Our congrats to each of you, and thank you for the outstanding work you do in our community! |
| Contact Us | |
Jane Royer
Volunteer Center Director
Charles Archie
Program Coordinator
Jessica Gonyou
Program Assistant
Teresa Zbiciak
VISTA Worker
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