Tag: winwin

winwinner Wednesday: KidSafe Collaborative

KidSafe Collaborative is a nonprofit serving Chittenden County, Vermont. The organization works to improve response to and prevent child abuse and neglect, providing direct support to families and advocating through partnerships with local organizations. On June 20th, they will host their 6th annual fundraising bike ride in the islands of Lake Champlain.

The idea: To improve child safety and well-being by aggregating multiple solutions together in an integrated way.

KidSafe works on two levels: on a family level, the organization coordinates “Child Protection Teams” that directly address the needs of over 350 children and families in Chittenden County.

To ensure the safety of children, KidSafe recognizes they also need the coordinated support of other agencies. This is why they partner with community organizations to improve the systems (protective, legal, medical, social) which respond to child abuse and neglect. This includes facilitating collaboration between human services agencies and the criminal justice system.

How it started: In 1969, the Community Child Protection Network was formed, a volunteer organization dedicated to improving Chittenden County’s response to child abuse and neglect. Over the years the group has changed in name and structure, but its mission has remained consistent.

Today, KidSafe leads a partnership of over 30 agencies, community groups, and individuals – all working together to improve support systems for area children and families.

How they used winwin apps: On June 20th, 2010, KidSafe will be holding its annual KidSafe Island Ride, which begins at Grand Isle State Park on beautiful Lake Champlain and raises funds for the organization’s important work. KidSafe is using their winwin webstack to manage registration and donations for the ride.

More info: To learn more about KidSafe Collaborative, visit their website at www.kidsafevt.org.

About “winwinner” Wednesday: Each week we profile one of the nonprofits using winwin apps to make the world a better place. If you’d like to be featured on our blog, drop us a line!

winwinner Wednesday: Bread and Butter Farm

In August, 2009, Adam Wilson and Corie Pierce put together a proposal that was approved by the Vermont Land Trust. They were chosen to take over the 143-acre Leduc Farm in Shelburne, VT. Adam and Corie named their venture Bread & Butter Farm, producing fresh milk and meats, vegetables, and traditional breads. This month they are opening a farm store so customers can buy food at the farm and see exactly where it comes from.

The idea: To create a community farm that produces delicious, nutritious food, takes care of its animals, plants and people, and preserves a beautiful piece of land.

Who does what: Adam manages the small dairy; the cows are 100% grass-fed and the farm sells the cows’ delicious milk raw. He also runs the wood-fired oven bakery, where he bakes traditional German sourdough breads. All the flour is organic, local, and milled the day before baking.

Meanwhile, Corie heads up specialty greens production: spicy and mild Brassica-based salad mixes, spinach, lettuces, kale, chard, Asian greens and more, grown year-round in unheated greenhouse structures heated only by the sun. Additionally, Corie runs the educational programs for kids and adults at the farm.

A video about B&B Farm.

The initiative: Adam and Corie were selected by the Vermont Land Trust as part of their Farmland Access Program. This conservation program helps diversified, experienced farmers gain access to productive, affordable farmland. Bread & Butter Farm’s varied, synergistic operations are well matched for the farm’s soils, infrastructure, and location.

A conservation easement was placed on the land as part of the program, which helps landowners and conservation groups voluntarily limit development on productive farmland and forestland. Landowners still own (and can sell) the land, but the easement remains on the property permanently.

The winwin: Adam and Corie get to do what they love. Locals not only get farm fresh food, they also get to visit the farm and see the operation firsthand. And this beautiful Vermont land gets permanent protection, ensuring the farm will always be producing fresh, delicious food.

More info: On May 21 and 22, Bread & Butter will be launching their farm store. You can check out their winwin webstack, official website, or Facebook page for more information.

Adam Wilson (w/calf), Chris Dorman & Corie Pierce w/their son Henry

winwinner Wednesday: East End Brewing Company

East End Brewing Company is a microbrewery based in Pittsburgh, PA. East End makes delicious beers in a sustainable way, and supports local causes through its annual “Keg Ride” event.

The idea: To create a hometown brewery that makes delicious beers in a sustainable way. East End not only produces delicious craft brews, they do it using local ingredients, used equipment, water conservation, and smart waste management.

How it started: Scott Smith was working as a mechanical engineer for a Fortune 500 company and found that his hobby of making beer was something he had a big passion for. He started East End Brewing Company in 2004. At the time, it made sense to purchase used equipment – and from there he started exploring all sorts of ways to cut costs, do the right thing, and make beer in an environmentally responsible way. You can read more about the sustainability efforts of East End Brewing here.

The winwin: Beer drinkers of Pennsylvania get a variety of delicious, carefully crafted microbrews, and the planet gets a little love from Scott’s sustainable practices in crafting them.

Click to watch a video about East End

How they used winwin apps: This year on May 14, East End Brewing will host their annual “Keg Ride” event, a bike ride to deliver the first batch of their summer “Pedal Pale Ale” from the brewery to a watering hole on the other side of town. Up front, volunteer cyclists pull the kegs on special trailers. Behind them, several hundred cyclists follow the bouncing kegs on a circuitous route around town. When the (secret) destination is reached, riders enjoy their first pint for free. Proceeds from the event go to support 3 local charities. East End is using winwinapps for registering cyclists and auctioning the coveted “keg pulling” slots for the ride.

More info: To find out more about East End Brewing Company or their 2010 Keg Ride, visit www.EastEndBrewing.com. You can also follow them on Twitter.

About “winwinner” Wednesday: Each week we profile one of the nonprofits using winwin apps to make the world a better place. If you’d like to be featured on our blog, drop us a line!

For Love of the Game

by Nathan Hartswick

Over the weekend I got to see my father play baseball with a bunch of other middle-aged fathers. I have blogged on this topic before, but it’s a deep well.

When my dad tells people he plays in a league, they usually reply, “Oh, is it softball?” This is a reasonable assumption given that A) my father is in his mid-fifties, and B) a softball is generally easier to hit, throw, and see out of the corner of your eye when you are drinking a beer in center field.

But there are no large balls or beer at my father’s games, so he will typically glare at the person asking the question and intone seriously, “It’s hardball. We play hardball.”

As it turns out he is not the only overly serious person on the team. To the casual observer this might look like a simple pickup game, but there is an array of equipment, a seriousness to the verbal patter, and a noticeable lack of levity at these games. Oh, they are still having a good time. They are just very, very committed to it.

Sitting there watching them, I realized that being passionate isn’t necessarily the same thing as having fun. When you see people doing something they love, there’s an intensity to it, a focus they don’t have for other things – you can tell they’re enjoying themselves, but they may not even be smiling while they’re doing it.

It’s a little bit magical to watch people do this, because you know you’re witnessing them living completely in the moment. They could do this for hours and hours, oblivious to the weather, to the time, to their own physical pain (and there’s plenty, with these guys).

My dad’s team lost this weekend, but you’d never know it listening to him talk about the game afterwards. He gave my mother such a dramatic play-by-play it was nearly impossible not to get caught up in his passion for it – and I’m not even a baseball fan. Passion is contagious, I guess.

So what’s yours? And how much of your life is built around it? Is it a hobby, or your job?

What do you get lost in?

winwinner Wednesday: The Clothes Exchange

A fundraiser that doesn’t feel like one, The Clothes Exchange raises money for women’s charities with its annual shopping extravaganza.

The idea: Get women and area retail stores and manufacturers to donate desirable clothing and accessories, then sell them for a great price. A fun evening of shopping with friends, The Clothes Exchange has become one of Burlington, Vermont’s most anticipated annual events. Last year’s event attracted over 500 women and raised $55,000+ to benefit Vermont Works for Women. This year’s event will take place at a new, bigger venue – the DoubleTree Hotel – and will benefit King Street Center of Burlington.

How it started: Founded by Leslie Halperin, the event had modest beginnings, starting as a simple clothing swap with 20 friends in her living room. But as she realized how much people enjoyed it, it became clear the concept could be bigger, and raise money for women’s causes.

The winwin: Women keep their clothes out of the landfill, find great affordable stuff to wear, and enjoy a fun event. Nonprofits that improve the lives of women get a boost to their bank accounts. ($150,000 has been raised since the event’s inception in 2001.) Now that’s a winwin.

How they used winwin apps: The Clothes Exchange was one of only a few beta testers who got access to the very first version of winwin apps. They used it to promote their event, register attendees, run checkout, and manage their silent auction – and they gave us good feedback on how to make the tool better.

More info: To learn more about The Clothes Exchange, visit www.theclothesexchange.org. You can also check out the video below to see the 2008 event, which benefitted the Hicks Foundation. (You’ll even see winwin apps founder Anna Palmer in the video, who volunteered at the event.)

About “winwinner” Wednesday: Each week we profile one of the nonprofits using winwin apps to make the world a better place. If you’d like to be featured on our blog, drop us a line!