This entry to the One Post Challenge comes from Rich Polt. Rich is president of Louder Than Words, a Boston-based PR agency that works with foundations, nonprofits, and mission driven businesses. When he’s not communicating good for his clients, he can be found with his family, on his bike, or with the NY Times crossword puzzle.
By Rich Polt
First let me applaud DontTellTheDonor on their blogging coup. I recently cast my vote for Aid to Artisans on that thread, but my “Spidey-Sense” tells me that Pride at Work might be running away with the prize. Congratulations (potentially)! Don’t Tell The Donor showed us that there is power in numbers on the Web. I believe that there is also power in ideas (and would like to place some internal resources against that assertion… read on).
I believe that inspiration is the greatest commodity this sector has to offer.
Blogging should not just be about casting a vote, but advancing ideas and inspiring others to action through those ideas. Two weeks ago, I attended a great conference in Miami that was sponsored by the Communications Network. The theme of the event was What We Know (Or Should Know) About Effective Communications in the philanthropy sector. The penultimate plenary session included a presentation from the Skoll Foundation about how they have leveraged storytelling to build the successful Web site Social Edge. Check out this amazing example (produced for Social Edge) of how unembellished storytelling can elicit a visceral response.
What I would love to know is this: What deserving, undercapitalized nonprofit has a story to inspire the masses AND a few sentences on the source of that inspiration (i.e., the “why”). Feel free to either name nonprofits or to comment on other people’s suggestions. Hell… I want to know why Pride at Work inspires so many people! If this post wins the “One Post Challenge,” Louder Than Words will donate the $500 gift card as well as $2,500 of in kind time and services to the nonprofit with the most inspiring comments/story (as determined by us after reading your posts). It’s all about the inspiration…
3 Comments
Good Sports ensures all kids have the opportunity to play. When the coach takes a disadvantaged child aside and gives him a glove so he can get out on the field with his friends, that’s inspiring.
Some people think that horses are just for recreation. I believe that horses are for inspiration and successes. I run a program that offers horseback riding lessons to children and adults. We recently went to our first horse show that was to benefit our program. Our riders worked all summer to hone their skills. One particular rider was going to be competing against all able bodied riders. I was concerned for his safety, but I also respect his desire to take risks as other 30 year old do. His horse was being less than cooperative throughout the day. When it came time for his last class,I realized that he would have to keep his horse quietly standing still in the ring while the other 6 riders competed and were eliminated one by one if he were eliminated first. He was eliminated first, and he did keep his horse standing quietly. He didn’t receive any ribbons but he knew as did I that he had risen to the challenge, was able to take a risk and had succeeded. I was in tears of joy, and he was all smiles.
6 years ago Good Sports was just an idea: School-age sports participation was way down, costs to play were way up, and many people would donate gear to these kids if they had an easy way to do it.
A small group of volunteers worked to solve this problem. Five years ago on volunteer stepped up to work full time, with no pay, to transform Good Sports from an idea to a reality. Here is the inspiring note she sent yesterday to the thousands of people who have supported Good Sports since that day:
“I just wanted to wish you all a Happy Good Sports Anniversary! It was four years ago today that Good Sports was incorporated and had its first event at the then FleetCenter overlooking a Boston Bruins game. We had 80 people in attendance and raised $8,000.
Hard to believe that 4 years later we are securing over $1 million worth of equipment each year for 50,000 young people. And our event now raises over $150,000 and is attended by nearly 700 people. This would not all be possible without the support and dedication of all of you.
Thank you all for your commitment to Good Sports and the young people we serve. We appreciate you each and every day, but we are especially grateful for your efforts today.”