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Capital Cause is an organization
dedicated to engaging young professionals in the giving process
financially and in public service. We do this by planning affordable
fundraisers for local nonprofits, and planning interactive power
sessions.
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Capital Column: Invest in your Financial Future
The Stock Market Has Been All Over The Place Lately; Don't Let that Distract You From Other Unique Ways Young Professionals Can Invest and Grow their Dollars this Summer!
 With the news reporting record-low closings of the stock market, young professionals may not feel comfortable purchasing stock. However, buying stock isn't the only way to invest in your financial future. Consider these other methods as alternative investment options:
- Try a money market account. If you have a large amount to invest, the higher interest rates and FDIC insurance can be alluring and profitable.
- Up the amount in your 401(k) plan. Consider Roth contributions instead of pre-tax contributions. Many people opt for pre-tax contributions to reduce their taxable income. However, Roth contributions are made after federal and state taxes are withheld. If the Roth contributions remain in the account for more than five years, when the money is withdrawn, the earnings are tax-free.
- Start an investment club! If you and your colleague(s) have similar investment goals, combine your ideas and make that step together. Read more about investment clubs here.
It's important to pursue long term gain versus short term profit. With that said, thoroughly weigh all investment options before making your decision. Either way, as a young professional, you're ahead of the game starting this early.
~ Alencia Johnson |
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CC Power Session
Wealth Statistics
25% of the wealthiest households own 87% of wealth in the US.
Citizens 50 and over constitute a majority of wealthy Americans.
Children in the lowest 20% of income distribution only have a 17% chance of becoming wealthy.
Only 10 percent of African Americans own any hold in the stock market.e StatisticsSource |
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Join a Capital Cause Committee! |
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Capital Cause Want You To Lead! |
Are you interested in recruiting small and mid-sized donors for CC and acting as the main liaison for our donors? Join our leadership team!
Email Us for More Info:
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Cause Column: Invest in your Community
Thinking of Taking Time off to Kick Back and Relax, but the Budget is Tight and Ideas are Limited? These Opportunities are Ways to Get the Fun of a Vacation While Enjoying the Enrichment of Service.
 Your Summer doesn't have to involve attending another, typical DC Happy Hour via a sweaty metro train. It also doesn't have to involve traveling to Dewey Beach only to discover your favorite bucket of fries wasn't as big as you remembered.
Why not try something different this summer that involves sun and service? Think the two can't exist together? Think again.
Do you have a green thumb? Sign up for revitalization opportunities at the Park View Recreation Center in the Petworth neighborhood of DC. Not only can you help maintain the community garden at the center, but participants get to harvest the crop as well. Some events even involve hands-on cooking activities!
Want to stay out of the sun but in with socializing? Try to attend a different kind of happy hour - think less gin & tonic and more juice & cookies. The Washington Home, a community nursing home, hosts "happy hours" for volunteers and residents. Click here for information on "The Garden Gang Happy Hours."
If none of these activities appeal to you, do not worry! The website www.serve.gov lists multiple service opportunities. At this site, you can search by keyword, a.k.a. veterans, animals, etc., and by location, so that you can find ideal summer volunteer opportunities. So, no worries if you have a tight budget this summer, you can still get outside, or stay in, and contribute to your community.
~ Jenna Barzelay |
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Ambassador Spotlight
 What Does Young Professionals Stand For? Rebecca Thompson is the Director of Young People For (YP4), a strategic, long term leadership development program that identifies, engages, and empowers the newest generation of progressive leaders to create lasting change in their communities. She is also a member of the Washington, DC Branch NAACP, serving on the Executive Committee, Chair the Youth Works Committee, and is active in the Young Adult Committee.
Rebecca is no stranger to investing in her community, both financially and in service. Her favorite investments include: supporting progressive candidates running for office, and working to prepare DC students for college with College Bound.
When asked why she finds it important to invest in her community both monetarily and in service she answered:
- We stand on the shoulders of giants. As I witnessed history at the funeral of Dr. Dorothy Height recently, I thought about the enormous sacrifices that she made just so that someday I could have a seat at the table. If for no other reason than honoring her legacy, we owe it to ourselves and our communities to give back however we can.
- Life is not a rehearsal, the camera is always rolling. How can we expect future generations of young people to give back to their communities if we don't? They are watching us and will follow our lead.
- Leadership isn't about you. It's about finding your replacement. Leadership development and investing in future generations of leaders in our community is one of the most invaluable things we can do.
Nominate the Next Ambassador: pr@capitalcause.com
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Opportunity Ticket:
Host Next Business Meeting at Busboys and Poets - Win Gift Cards
Capital Cause wants to invest in the business of you! Four groups of 2 or more young professionals that attend the Capital Cause Power Session, "Tips on Starting Your Own Investment Group," on Monday, June 21, 2010 will be eligible to receive a Busboys and Poets gift card. Capital Cause chose Busboys & Poets as a venue for this month's opportunity ticket because it was the location of our first foundational meeting, and thus has become part of Capital Cause history.
We encourage the four groups that win to continue the tradition of establishing foundations at this venue by hosting their first meeting here. ENTER TO WIN!
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Editor's Closing Statement
Greetings, readers! Thank you for continuing to follow the Capital Cause newsletter. We will continue to supply you with the latest events we are planning and share with you unique and valuable content.
We are well into June, and as the weather becomes warmer, and the city comes alive with events and opportunities to socialize, Capital Cause, wants to ask you the following question: Are you investing to enrich?
There will be many opportunities this summer to invest your time - perhaps a happy hour here, a party there. Maybe you may want to invest money in a nice vacation or trip? But out of all of the activities you plan to engage in this summer, we encourage you to ask yourself if any of them be personally enriching, or enriching to the DMV community?
This month, we challenge you to play hard this summer - we know you work hard. But think about opportunities to spend your time, finances, and energy making smart investments. Fun and enriching does not have to be mutually exclusive.
Corey Ponder & Jenna Barzelay
CC PR/Outreach Co-Chairs |
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Capital Cause
info@capitalcause.com www.capitalcause.com
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