7 Questions – Lucy Bowen McCauley (Bowen McCauley Dance)

Posted on December 21, 2010 by Julia Cain

Happy Tuesday, folks! Moreover, happy first day of winter!

Today on “7 Questions,” we’re leaping into the dance world to meet … Lucy Bowen McCauley, Artistic Director of Bowen McCauley Dance. Soon to celebrate its 15th anniversary, BMD is known for its live music, talented corps of dancers, and their diverse selection of performances, workshops, and community outreach.

1. What was your most interesting recent project, initiative, partnership, or event?

In July 2010, Bowen McCauley Dance (BMD) spent four days in residence at the Wintergreen Music Festival where we performed two full-length evening concerts on the main stage to wild audience approval and standing ovations. The theme of the Festival was Vienna and I was commissioned to choreograph a new work to music by Austrian composer Wolfgang Sierel, with whom I was able to connect for many hours at the Festival. As further examples of the synergism that occurs in a festival setting I also met and became friends with former US Poet Laureate Rita Dove and Festival Director and composer Larry Alan Smith, who have become new artistic partners.

Continue reading →

Our Economies

Posted on December 20, 2010 by Julia Cain

Good morning, Greater Washington! Let’s start off Monday with an intriguing article from the Chronicle of Philanthropy: “3 Big Concerns About the Economy — and How to Fight Them.” Regarding her third concern, Elizabeth Ortiz writes:

What will happen when the scarcity mentality takes a more-lasting hold? For many of us who came of age in the more prosperous times of the late 1980s and the tech boom of the early 1990s, it’s hard to imagine organizations having to fight to the finish for the few crumbs that are left. I fear a future in which we have individually and collectively lost confidence in our ability to solve problems, overcome challenges, and create our own, better reality.

Continue reading →

Around Town: December 18-19

Posted on December 17, 2010 by Julia Cain

Snow has arrived! Winter is here! … Along with plenty of performance events at our non-profits. Read on for great entertainments ideas for your weekend:

Looking for Music?

On Saturday at 4:00, the Children’s Chorus of Washington will present their Bel Canto and Concert Choruses, joined by the Washington Symphonic Brass, for a performance of holiday favorites and a carol sing-along; you can also come back on Sunday and catch the Concert and Treble Choruses and the 65-voice CCW Alumni Chorus. For a Baroque Christmas celebration, you definitely should check out the Washington Bach Consort, who will be presenting a fascinating exploration of period music from Europe, Latin America, and Mexico on Sunday afternoon; more information over this way.

Continue reading →

7 Questions – Cara Leidy (Higher Achievement)

Posted on December 16, 2010 by Julia Cain

It’s double “7 Questions” week! Please welcome … Cara Leidy, Manager of Development at Higher Achievement Program, which offers rigorous academic classes for motivated middle schoolers during the “gap hours:” 3:30 to 8:00 PM during the school year and all day in the summer months. (Get this: in 2008, 100% of their graduates advanced to college-prep high schools!) Read on for some great development insight and cools news about Higher Achievement.

1. What was your most interesting recent project, initiative, partnership, or event?

Our most recent event at Higher Achievement was our GoingPlaces! Benefit that raised over $550,000 for our local program. The highlight was watching 5th and 6th grade scholars from Ward 8 perform a step routine on stage at the Warner Theatre — awesome. Afterwards, our scholars were on the dance floor doing the electric slide with local real estate moguls! It was a memorable night.

Continue reading →

In The News …

Posted on December 15, 2010 by Julia Cain

Welcome to Wednesday! Some mid-week news is coming your way … And rumor has it that snow may be coming our way tomorrow. What do you think? WAMU gave it a 30% chance about an hour ago.

Opinion: Here’s some philanthropy advice for Mark Zuckerberg — GoodWorks did a series of posts back in September regarding the media buzz around Facebook founder and CEO’s $100 million donation to the Newark schools. Now that Zuckerberg had signed the Giving Pledge, the buzz has returned. Yet I quite like this piece from the Mercury News by Phil Buchanan (President of the Center for Effective Philanthropy) and Stephen Heintz (President of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund), offering advice both to the 26-year-old Zuckerberg and the entire new generation of philanthropists — in particular, reminding them that the country does not simply need philanthropy, but effective philanthropy. Do check it out!

Continue reading →

7 Questions – Jane Cohen (Neediest Kids)

Posted on December 14, 2010 by Julia Cain

Good morning, one and all. Today on “7 Questions,” we are pleased to introduce … Jane Cohen, President of Neediest Kids in McLean, VA. Working with nine school systems around Greater Washington, this awesome non-profit makes sure that over 40,00 young students have what they need to stay healthy and stay in school. Everything from school supplies to medical care to the right eyeglasses!

1. What was your most interesting recent project, initiative, partnership, or event?

One of the most interesting projects this year has been our transition to a web based portal system used to deliver services. Through this technology, we can now get basic essentials to our students much more efficiently and we can capture user and financial data as the transactions happen. Approved school professionals can access an individual account and order eye glasses, school supplies, clothes, food or other needed products without the hassle or red tape or order forms. Neediest Kids staff then reviews and approves each transaction against the program budget. We were recognized by NPower for this innovative technology solution.

Continue reading →

Around the World

Posted on December 13, 2010 by Julia Cain

Good morning, Greater Washington! I hope that you all enjoyed the rainy-yet-somewhat-warm weekend in DC — and I thought that I’d start the week with a more global news item.

For an interesting evaluation of our charitable habits compared to those of other large countries around the globe, check out this article from today’s Wall Street Journal. How much does the US give away and, moreover, what prompts our citizens to give in the amount or precise manner that they do?

The urge to do good through philanthropy varies across the globe. Differing cultures breed differing motivations and some countries appear vastly more generous than others.

Continue reading →

Around Town: December 11-12

Posted on December 10, 2010 by Julia Cain

Welcome to Friday, Greater Washington! We’re trying out a new format here on GoodWorks for our weekend event listings — sorting events by type, rather than by time of day, so that you can go straight to your main interests. Let us know what you think!

cheap custom essay

Looking to … Volunteer?

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11

ASHA for Women will be offering a training session from 9:30-4:30 in Rockville for those interesting in working directly with clients as an advocate; these sessions only come four times a year, so sign up quickly by calling (202) 683-2019. Plus Empowered Women International needs volunteers for their holiday gala, “Women of Courage: the Art and Stories of Entrepreneur Artists and Change Makers.” Call (301) 693-1346 to sign up today!

Looking to … Help the Planet?

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11

Take this special yoga class at 5:00 in Dupont; proceeds will benefit the the Bonobo Conservation Initiative’s great work in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Continue reading →

Quote for the Day

Posted on December 9, 2010 by Julia Cain

In the day-to-day, I often find myself making (or attempting to make) this very point. So it certainly helps to have some solid facts and numbers to back it up! Below is a great excerpt from Sean Stannard-Stockton’s recent column for the Chronicle of Philanthropy. You can read the article in full over at the Tactical Philanthropy blog:

While the role of business in promoting social change is now attracting the spotlight, it is equally important that our society recognize the financial value created by nonprofits.

The nonprofit world collectively generates $1.9-trillion in revenue each year, which means that nonprofit organizations represent roughly 13 percent of the United States economy.

Continue reading →

In The News …

Posted on December 8, 2010 by Julia Cain

Welcome to Wednesday, Washingtonians!

“Are There Limits to Collaborations?” — this post over at Deep Social Impact definitely caught my eye. First, I wrote a quick post on the resurgence of an ethic of collaboration among disparate organizations. Second, on an intra-organization level, “collaboration” has certainly become a buzzword in recent years. But is collaboration always in the best interest of our mission and operations? As Cynthia Gibson writes, “What I — and others — are starting to see, however, is that there can be a tendency for organizations to see collaboration as an end unto itself, rather than a process, management style, or approach that’s a means to an end.”

Continue reading →

Catalogue Blog