Virtual Event Aids 82 Nonprofits, Schools, Community Groups
By Christine Loewe
Nonprofits are no stranger to doing more with less and finding creative ways to tackle community problems with limited budgets. But 2020 has proven to be a year like no other as the world faces a global pandemic and community needs rise to historic proportions.
Many community organizations, schools, community groups, and government agencies have had to dig deep and make huge shifts in the way they do business in order to both continue operations and meet the immediate critical needs of the community during the public health emergency.
“This public health emergency has had a huge emotional and economic toll for so many. From community members without access to services to local nonprofits facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, we know the need for support runs deep. Our response at the Volunteer Center, has been to refocus our resources, communications, and program priorities to emphasize the role that community members can play in helping keep the lights on for our community,” said Karen Delaney Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County Executive Director.
One major shift made by the Volunteer Center was to take their 40th annual Human Race Campaign, entirely online.
Human Race Coordinator Aisha Charves (L) and Director of Community Development Trea Robinson (R) don their 2020 Human Race T-shirts. Volunteers hand delivered this year’s shirt to the porch steps of all donors who contributed $50 or more.
“We worked with our sponsors, fellow nonprofit leaders, and our professional training partners to shift the Human Race to a 100% virtual fundraising campaign, with the hope that all our great nonprofit and community partners — including schools, faith based groups, and service clubs – that had to cancel in-person fundraising events — could use our tools and training to raise much needed funds,” said Delaney.
Over its history, the Human Race has raised close to $15 million for nonprofit and school partners, making it the largest collaborative fundraiser on the central coast.
“Drawing on our 40-year history of hosting the Human Race, we know our community has never wavered in their willingness to give and 2020 was no different. We are proud to say that the Human Race remains a testament to how we pull together as a community to spread hope and generosity, even in the most challenging of times,” Delaney said.
More than 1,300 donors and sponsors chose to contribute this year raising nearly $175,000 for 82 participating nonprofits, schools, and community groups. Community members hosted Facebook birthday fundraisers, donated their federal stimulus checks back to the community, and used the tried and true methods of phone calls and emails to fundraise for their favorite cause.
Simone Hooker is Tops
Among those fundraisers was Simone Hooker, 25, who again achieved her status as top fundraiser raising more than $11,000 for Imagine Supportive Living Services, an organization that has had a huge impact on her life. Imagine’s mission is to empower individuals with developmental disabilities through service and advocacy. During the public health crisis, Imagine has continued their services to ensure that all of their participants have a safe, caring, and supportive environment.
“The funds gained through the Human Race will give a crucial boost to the groups we rely on to make our community whole. Eventually our doors will reopen and with support we can ensure these organizations will still be there when we need them. Right now, so many local nonprofits are finding creative ways to adapt and do what they do best. Even with shuttered doors their lights are still shining bright to meet critical community needs,” Delaney said.
“Community members want to help our beloved local nonprofits and we’re proud that the Human Race Online Giving Campaign gave them an opportunity to do so,” she added.
While the in-person walk and fun run celebration that traditionally caps off the Human Race Giving Campaign didn’t happen this year, the Volunteer Center instead held a special online celebration to bring the community together. On May 5 in honor of #GivingTuesdayNow the Volunteer Center hosted the watch party premiere of Keep the Lights on Santa Cruz County, an online gathering to uplift and inspire our community to action while sheltering in place.
Local leaders, athletes, and musicians provided an hour of entertainment and called on the community to volunteer, donate, or choose simple acts of kindness. More than $10,000 was raised on that day alone.
Sasha Dobson
“We were thrilled to have San Jose Earthquakes Defender Tommy Thompson join us to share how he is using his talent to motivate aspiring soccer athletes from around the world while sheltering in place,” Delaney said.
She continued: “We were also entertained by jazz singer-songwriter Sasha Dobson, City Council Member Martine Watkins joined with her children, and we had the privilege of debuting a beautiful song tribute to essential workers brought to us by Santa Cruz local Mariah Roberts and Griot’s Eye Inc. From story-time with the Santa Cruz Library to words of wisdom from our health professionals and inspiration from our nonprofit heroes, it was a jam-packed hour of goodness for the whole family.”
Community members who missed the watch party can catch the video through the Volunteer Center Youtube or Facebook channel or via the Volunteer Center website at www.scvolunteercenter.org.
The Volunteer Center is continue efforts to meet critical needs and support community members in finding safe ways to stay engaged in community during the public health crisis.
“We are now providing food distribution, grocery shopping support, recruiting volunteers for COVID-19response, and we are enlisting volunteers to sew masks for county operations. We have also transitioned a number of programs to provide phone consultation and tele-conference services with program participants. This has been especially important for our seniors, our Literacy Program students, and our mental health participants,” Delaney said.
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Individuals interested in learning about Covid-19 services and volunteer opportunities provided by the Volunteer Center can visit www.scvolunteercenter.org.