Mid-Atlantic Division Gilbane Building Company’s Post

So deep, so compelling and so, so impactful despite the painful story...

The activities we do beyond our careers often have an outsized impact on our lives and shape who we are in a way that often reverberates in our work. If you know me, you know that I am a passionate birder. This hobby fuels my curiosity, attenuates my senses, gets me out into nature, and has connected me to some of the most wonderful people I've ever met. I am a better human because of it, and I recommend birding to everybody. To raise money for the fantastic Shaver's Creek Environmental Center, I (along with some other brilliant birders) compete in the annual Birding Cup! Please consider donating at the link in the comments to support our team in our effort to bring home the cup (it would be our second win, NBD). Also, if you're curious about birding, let me know, and I'll be happy to share tips and tricks and maybe even take you out into the field sometime! Here's a fun bird fact for those who are curious: The chimney swift is a common, swallow-like bird seen in the skies of eastern North America. Once you learn to spot them, you'll see them flying around nearly every day during the warm months in Pittsburgh. What you won't see is one land. They are highly specialized for flight and have very reduced feet (they are part of the clade Apodiformes, which stands for footless forms and also includes the hummingbirds). They cannot land on horizontal surfaces, walk, or really do much terrestrial stuff other than cling to vertical surfaces like the chimneys and hollow trees that they nest in. In fact, when they aren't breeding, they can go MONTHS without landing at all!

Just another way to support the advancement of women by investing your values: the investment thesis for women's sports is increasingly compelling due to its growing popularity and financial potential. Recent trends, such as the record-breaking viewership of the NCAA women’s college basketball championship and significant investments in women's leagues, highlight the sector's potential for long-term growth. This is further supported by the involvement of high-profile athletes and the increasing financial commitments from major organizations, indicating a promising future for investors in women's sports.

In the realm of major gift & capital campaign fundraising -one thing is for certain... Volunteerism is a key to raising significant revenues, accessing advocates to further the cause has no price but has great value. It can't be done with them. I recently said to a Founder of a wonderful organization that nothing happens without a 'champion'. Often this is a passionate volunteer who freely gives of their time, talent, and treasure. But what about us who are 'paid to raise'? Do we need to give of our time as well? Absolutely. I am a better practitioner because of my unpaid involvements in organizations like Rotary International, AFP Global, among others. Today I wish to let you know about an organization that I volunteer with, that is all volunteer run -no paid staff at all. M4M www.Medals4Mettle.org was started by Dr. Steve Isenberg MD almost 20 years ago. Competitive runners like myself award medals to cancer patients, plus others with life-threatening conditions. Both children and adults who are in the throws of cancer are the recipients of medals to encourage them in their own race. to date, an astounding 70,000 medals have been given. Wow. The medals are awarded to individuals who are "running a much more difficult race," often with an unknown finish line. The mission of M4M is to appreciate the pay-it-forward concept that links the distance runner’s mettle with the mettle it takes to battle life challenges. The donor's acknowledgement of the recipient's mettle encourages the recipient and creates a human connection honouring the grit, courage, and bravery they share. #medals4mettle #doitbecause

Events like this are invaluable for networking and learning from the best. Kudos to Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) Fort Worth for bringing such incredible talent to the forefront! Register and learn more in the link below. 👇 #Leadership #entrepreneurs #FortWorthentrepreneurs #EOFortWorth #EmmittSmith #registernow

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art is taking part in the #BigGive Christmas Challenge to raise much-needed funds to sustain our world-leading training. RADA’s reputation for excellence of our training is known throughout the world. What is less well known is the devastating impact the pandemic had on our finances and ability to deliver this world class training. Today, 60% of our students are from low income backgrounds but student fees cover less than 25% of the cost of the training. We need to increase funding urgently to continue providing students with the highest standard of training that nurtures the next generation of creative leaders. All donations raised this week through the Big Give website will be doubled! •       £15 could buy a newly published play script for the RADA Library •       £100 could provide a student with hardship funding •       £250 could fund a harness and safety ropes for Technical Theatre Arts students •       £500 could fund a professional development workshop for final year students •       £1,500 could pay for a BSL interpreter for five days, supporting D/deaf students and young people •       £3,000 could pay for headshots for final year Acting students, preparing them for representation and employment 

Have you ever wondered what sets truly successful people apart?  I've heard everything from 4 AM rituals to mountaintop meditation retreats, but I've got a different theory. I believe it's their emotional intelligence (EQ)—their ability to understand, connect, and empathize with others. As someone who straddles the worlds of creative inspiration and business leadership daily, I've experienced firsthand how vital EQ is in helping others see your vision, whether pitching a campaign that can change a brand or pitching a business that can change the world. Recently, I've been reflecting on how cultivating EQ has played a pivotal role in my professional and personal development, enabling me to build authentic relationships, communicate effectively, and approach conflict with empathy and tact. These soft skills, now seemingly inseparable from my sense of self, are owed almost entirely to the example my parents set and their subsequent investment in my education. Sadly, most kids don't grow up with that kind of privilege. I believe that these life-changing skills shouldn't be kept behind a border, a zip code, or a paywall. Studies show that kids who are given the opportunity to succeed, more often than not, do. Imagine a world where every student has the opportunity to develop these skills early on, regardless of their background. This is the world that Prismatic wants to build. Prismatic is a Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to equipping students with the invaluable EQ skills they need to succeed from the classroom to the boardroom—and beyond. Their mission is close to my heart, which is why I recently joined their Associate Board and am thrilled to support them in any way I can. Prismatic’s upcoming fundraising event, an indoor mini golf extravaganza, is more than just an event—it's a chance to invest in the future of our students and, by extension, our communities. It’s also a chance to test whether or not people with high EQ index higher on mini golf performance. Guess we’ll see. I would love to see you there, not just as attendees, but as supporters of a movement that values emotional growth and its transformative power. Your presence would mean the world to me and to the countless students who will benefit from your support. Sign up to attend Prismatic’s Big Mini Summer Fundraiser here: https://lnkd.in/gkc5WNtu Check out more about Prismatic and how we're making a difference at https://lnkd.in/gXutzJRg. #EQ #education #nonprofit #fundraiser

We had little friendly competition in the Fundraising Academy...to see who could: 👉 Write and schedule all year-end emails before December 8 👉 Finish all landing pages before December 1 👉 Write the thank you copy for the year end campaign 👉 Send a spontaneous gratitude email to a donor 👉 Call three close-to-lapsing donors 👉 Call a donor who made a gift online 👉 Write two handwritten thank you cards to donors 👉 Write two thank you cards to donors 👉 Gift a hot beverage to someone on the gift processing team 👉 Write down one fundraising process you haven't documented yet 👉 Do something now you'll be thankful you did when January comes around 👉 Start planning your January report-back 👉 Spend an hour making a plan for your Spring campaign 👉 Send an encouraging note to another Academy member 👉 Attend a Copy Clinic 👉 Attend a Fundraising Jam 👉 Post your final campaign in the Academy community ...and more! Patricia Ong and her team were ON IT. But there's quite a few who are close behind, and it's a joy to see. --- PS. If your team could use some support and coaching in 2024, now's the very best time to join. January's focus in The Fundraising Academy is making a solid plan for 2024 we'll help you execute. If you're doing it all in house—and don't have it in the budget to hire an agency—this is a great way to support your team.

This week's FAQs Q: Hey JB, what's this Roll-A-Thon thing you keep posting about ? A: It's our biggest corporate fundraising event of the year. Q: Oh right, when and where is that then ? A: It's on Thursday 1st August at Sydney's Allianz Stadium. Q: And how long does it go for ? A: We start at 10am and roll for 4 hours until 2pm. Q: Amazing, how does it work ? A: Each team has a wheelchair that they have to propel around the stadium concourse on a tag-team basis. Each person can do a lap or two and then hand over to the next roller to do their laps. Q: Sounds great, and what happens when I'm not rolling ? A: You can enjoy the tunes at the DJ booth / dance floor, play some fun games with rollers from other firms, be amazed by our roving magician and soak up the atmosphere with a drink and some food from the Merivale team. Q: Incredible, can we dress up and raise funds as well ? A: Absolutely, dressing up is positively encouraged and any fundraising is very, very welcome indeed. Q: Brilliant, one last question.. How do we win ? A: Win ? LOL, it's a fundraiser.. But yeah, course you can win. There's a GPS tracker on each chair to record time and distance travelled, so we'll know exactly who's been putting the laps in 😉 Q: Sweet, how do we get involved ? A: Easy.. Just head to https://lnkd.in/gpiAehuw to register, create a team and invite your mates. Really couldn't be simpler, but let me know if you have any other questions. #rollathon #wheelchairsports #competitivefundraising

IT’S TIME TO HUSTLE FOR HOPE! Registration is now open for the 2023 Hustle for Hope 5K. Grab some friends and family, pick a time and place, or attend one of our in-person events to share support, awareness, and advocacy for children and families impacted by HIE. Registration Link: Tinyurl.com/HustleforHope Our 5K is YOUR way! ➡️ Run, walk, or roll at your pace and convenience or at a more structured time. The race can be completed anytime from April 1st through May 31st. ➡️ Consider our additional virtual events on the Peloton Tread and Bike. ➡️ We encourage our families and community, NICUs, PICUs, and other partners to show your support for the global HIE community, and we are here to help make it successful. IN-PERSON EVENTS: ➡️ Look to see if one of our in-person events is taking place in a city or state near you! Thanks to our Hustle Hosts, this is a great opportunity to meet and build connections with other community members. REGISTRATION COST: ➡️ Register anytime between February 15th and April 15th, but take advantage of early registration fees. 📌 Early registration cost [February 15th - March 15th]: $25 📌 Registration cost [March 16th - April 15th]: $30 RACE PACKETS: ➡️ Each registrant will receive a finisher medal, race bib, and additional swag. Consider adding a Hustle for Hope 5K race shirt at sign-up for an additional $20. ➡️ The earlier you register, the sooner you will receive your race packet: 📌 Register by March 15th, and your race packet will be mailed by April 1st. 📌 Register between March 16th and April 15th, and your race packet will be mailed as quickly as possible! 📌 Please note that race materials are not guaranteed for registrations that take place in the same week as the scheduled event. Look out for future posts that will guide you on creating teams, fundraising, and making donations!