The Leadership Oswego County program will host its second annual Nonprofit Boards and Community Activism Fair from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10, at the Roy C. McCrobie Building, 41 Lake St. in Oswego. The program and its alumni have completed their own service projects, most recently with LOC alumni collecting donations at their places of employment and coming together to make personal needs bags. The bags -- which were distributed throughout Oswego County to organizations that do outreach with the homeless -- included toiletries, gloves, hats, laundry detergent, water and small snacks.
The SUNY Oswego Office of Business and Community Relations (OBCR) and its Leadership Oswego County (LOC) program will host its second annual Nonprofit Boards and Community Activism Fair from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10, at the Roy C. McCrobie Building, 41 Lake St. in Oswego.
The fair allows local nonprofits and community members to meet one another and see if the organization's mission is a good fit for the individual to join and lend their service to support the organization.
This free event is open to the community, and light refreshments will be served. There will be a door prize drawing as well as chances to enter to win additional prizes throughout the event.
This year the event is being sponsored by the Richard Shineman Foundation.
“The Richard S. Shineman Foundation is thrilled to partner with Leadership Oswego County and to sponsor the second annual Non-Profit Boards and Community Activism Fair,” said Chena Tucker, Foundation Director. “The foundation’s overarching mission is to be a ‘Catalyst for Change.’ We do this by supporting the nonprofits and community members that are the true change-makers –- those out there making a difference in people’s lives every day.”
Local non-profit boards, service clubs and organizations offering volunteer opportunities will staff tables for LOC alumni and community members to learn how they can become involved in making a change locally. College and high school students who may need community service hours or are looking to volunteer are welcome and encouraged to attend.
"With so much need in our community, and now is the time to step up and be that somebody who gets involved and makes a difference," said Sarah Ingerson, OBCR associate director. " Whether you have one hour to give or five, there are opportunities for everyone."
The event aims to help anybody who wants to get involved in the community –- whether through board work, charitable event planning, community capacity-building or volunteering -– but aren't sure where to start, Ingerson explained. Individuals can also learn about opportunities in the community that they may not have been aware of and have their questions answered about how to get involved.
This year, 25 organizations from a variety of fields have registered to attend.
"With so many organizations represented, this is the perfect opportunity to find a passion project and help local foundations and organizations achieve their mission," Ingerson noted.
For more information on the event, email sarah.ingerson@oswego.edu or call 315-312-3680.