NuPath, a Woburn-based agency that serves individuals with disabilities, is one of SCI's newest AmeriCorps host site partners.  These days, funders and others are often most interested in our numbers, how we are providing tangible benefits in this time of great economic need.  Yet this story, relayed by Jennifer Burns, an SCI AmeriCorps member placed at NuPath, reminds us of how a seemingly small action can bring great joy to someone.  Here's Jennifer's telling of how she was able to help a musician in-the-making:  read more »

I'm looking forward to speaking tomorrow at the annual meeting of the Greater Plymouth Council of Human Service Agencies & their Brockton counterparts.  The theme of the talk is "The Year Ahead: Translating Hope into Action".  I'll be developing 4 reasons for the nonprofit sector to be hopeful in 2010, and what we need to do to translate that hope into action.  I'll blog more on this theme a bit later, but for now I wanted to get this posted in part as an environmentally friendly way of sharing the presentation with the audience.  But also hoping that others coming across this online will be able to get some of the key points from the talk.

Here is the link to the presentation I'm sharing with the audience.  

First, the simple good news flash--we reached our year-end fundraising goal!  We wrote here on 12/30 that we still needed $1365 to reach our calendar year-end fundraising goal, and we surpassed that total by mid-morning on New Year's Eve.  Thanks to all who made a contribution to help us reach that goal!  As noted in the earlier post, this means that we will be able to maintain our current budget & program levels as we start the new year rather than needing to implement additional budget cuts.  We'll be able to keep having the kind of impact we've had over the past year.    read more »

A year-end donation to SCI right now can make a big difference. We’re trying to raise the final $1365 we need to reach our fundraising goal for the year, and donations made to help us reach the goal will be matched by our Board chair.

Like most organizations these days, we’ve had to implement reductions to our already lean budget. We’re leaving a vacant position open, thus just 4 professional staff managing our community-building programs across 10 locations. This is possible with 18 strong AmeriCorps members, hundreds of volunteers and great community partners; but we need your help to reach our fundraising goal to maintain this level of programming.

Supporting SCI is an investment in the caring capacity of Boston area communities. There is both an immediate and long-term impact made by donations to SCI—you help us mobilize volunteers to meet the pressing needs of today, while helping to create the leaders our communities will need tomorrow.  read more »