Looking for a Spark...No, not like that!

We were looking for a spark to start this final week of our fiscal year, to help us raise the final $6,300 we need to get to our goal of $30,000 for our 10th Anniversary Leadership Fund. The lightning that struck by our office, setting a power line on fire, wasn’t exactly what we had in mind. Can you help provide the spark we really need?

Sparks of inspiration may fly frequently, but it takes leadership and relationships to convert a spark into sustained action. A cold winter night in Dorchester prompted Jaquan to mention to the other SCI Dorchester Youth Council teens that it was supposed to a very cold winter. They started talking about how in this economy people were struggling to meet basic needs. Trained to act on problems they see, the council quickly devised plans for a coat drive. Guided by the AmeriCorps member who mentored them, the Council developed an action plan that resulted in 600 winter coats being given out a few weeks later. One recipient, who clearly didn’t have enough clothing to stay warm, said simply, “This coat drive is a godsend”.

During SCI’s first 10 years, we have trained 1,418 Social Capitalists like Jaquan and his peers to convert sparks of inspiration into initiatives that make a difference. We help them understand how to come together to address community needs. Giving to the SCI 10th Anniversary Leadership Fund will help us double the number of new leaders we train annually. This includes continuing and expanding our current Youth Council program for Boston area teens and creating a new Social Capitalist Institute & Fellows program for emerging adult leaders from the Boston area and two new locations.

Any amount you donate makes a difference and gets us closer to our goal. For instance, $60 covers the program cost for one Youth Council member; $100 provides the budget for one of our AmeriCorps training days. As mentioned in our last email update, hitting our goal by June 30 will also help us show we have a strong base of local support as we pursue some major national foundation funding opportunities.

I hope you will consider making a tax-deductible donation by June 30. You can donate online by clicking here.