One Brick in DC

Event of the Month: HART Pet Adoption!

onebrickwashingtondc — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:41:10 +0000

Give a few hours so some furry friends can find their forever families! Help place pups with permanent people! Assist as delightful dogs seek the dwellings they deserve! You get the idea…

HART holds an adoption event every Saturday, and One Brick will help out on January 21. Volunteers sit with and walk the dogs so potential adopters can meet them. RSVP here!

Happy New Year!

onebrickwashingtondc — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 15:40:33 +0000

What is your New Year’s Resolution? In 2012, resolve to…

Donate to One Brick! Give today to our 2011 Annual Campaign, or resolve to give in 2012.
Volunteer! Check out our calendar for opportunities.
Become an Event Coordinator or Event Manager! Give just 6 hours a month toward a leadership role in One Brick. Email dc-team@onebrick.org for more information.
Spread the word about One Brick! Follow us on Twitter, subscribe to our blog, like us on Facebook, forward this newsletter to a friend, or tell your friends and colleagues about us!
Make new friends! Come to one of our monthly happy hours. Stick around after volunteer events for the post-event social and get to know your fellow volunteers.
Let us know about new volunteer opportunities! If you know of a non-profit that needs volunteers for one-time events, contact dc-events@onebrick.org.

How many nonprofits have we helped over the last 10 years?

onebrickwashingtondc — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:34:56 +0000

Over the last 10 years, we’ve supported 1,200 different community organizations. I wanted to share with you one of the many letters of appreciation we’ve received in recognition of our volunteer work:

Our first event was a huge success – One Brick brought 22 volunteers! My colleagues at HART have called One Brick our “most consistent group volunteer source“. This is saying a lot considering the long history of HART. Since the first event was so successful, HART has had a place on the One Brick calendar once each month. … I never thought we would have such a presence on the One Brick – Washington, DC calendar and our volunteers and dogs are very thankful. – Jacob Jonas Homeless Animal Rescue Team

I don’t know about you, but I feel very fortunate to be a part of a group that supports organizations like Homeless Animal Rescue. As one of our volunteers you we work hard to provide fun opportunities for you to sustain your local community. At this time of year, One Brick now needs to ask for your assistance. You can help make it possible for us to continue supporting these nonprofits. Please click here to make your donation.

One Brick enables many community organizations to build and sustain programs that would not succeed without our help. We recruit and manage the volunteers at all of our events – freeing up our partnering nonprofits’ resources. This often means reaching more clients with their existing programs, or the ability to create new programs. We find and manage the volunteers – they focus on their core mission.

As you can see, One Brick plays an integral part in this process. A successful Annual Campaign is critical if we are to continue producing volunteers events. We need to raise $45,000 to balance the books.. We are currently half way through the campaign and we’ve raised just over $8,000. Your support of One Brick is needed to keep this system alive and well. I know I can count on you!

Thank you for taking the time to help!

Clive Charlwood
Executive Director, One Brick
clive@onebrick.org

Event of the Month: Walk to Stop Modern Slavery

onebrickwashingtondc — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 16:26:38 +0000

Help a worthy cause on Saturday, October 22 from 8 to 11 am or 11 am to 2 pm. Stop Modern Slavery works to fight human trafficking in our world today, and people will come together at this event to walk in solidarity. One Brick will help with tasks like holding signs and distributing water along the walking route.

The New Chapter Director of One Brick – DC!

onebrickwashingtondc — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:55:40 +0000

As we’ve announced previously, our current Chapter Director (CD) KevinF will soon step down after a two-year term. We are pleased to introduce our new CD, LizW, an active Event Manager in our chapter. In the immediate future, Kevin and Liz will work together to ensure a smooth transition.

From Outgoing CD KevinF:

So long! Farewell! Auf weidersehen! Goodbye!

OK, well, we know that’s not completely true. I can’t shake One Brick that easily. But…after two great years at the helm, it is time for me to step down as Chapter Director here in DC. It’s been an amazing ride, and we’ve accomplished so much in the past couple years. DC has grown into one of the strongest One Brick chapters in the country, and every month we continue to do amazing things in the DC region!

As a One Brick volunteer, YOU make One Brick what it is – a community of volunteers who know how to have a good time while giving back!

See you at an event soon!

From Incoming CD LizW:

When I initially received Kevin’s ominous email back in July stating that One Brick DC was looking for a new Chapter Director, I was less than enthusiastic. I joined One Brick back in 2007 never expecting to be involved with the organization beyond completing a few events here and there. Somewhere along the way, probably after the lure of a free brunch, I became an Event Manager and Coordinator. While I had grown to enjoy commitment-free volunteering and leading a few events whenever time was available, I could not envision taking on the enormous commitment of being the Chapter Director.

Yet that email made me realize how important One Brick is not only to the community we serve, but to me as an individual. The possibility of this organization being led by a person who had never volunteered with us did not s it well with me. The more I talked about it with close friends and family, the more they told me I was nuts to take on such a huge challenge sans pay. Yet the more I thought about it, my doubts diminished and the reservations subsided, I knew I was the ideal candidate One Brick needed.

When Kevin told me I was his personal choice to succeed him, I knew immediately that One Brick had found its new Chapter Director. Kevin has been an exemplary leader and has left me with big shoes to fill. His continued guidance will enable me to take the proverbial reins to steer our chapter in the right direction. Since this decision was announced, all of the support from our committees, Event Managers/Coordinators, and volunteers has been incredible – and for that, I am truly grateful.

There may be a few changes instituted within One Brick over the next few years, but the heart of this organization you have come to know will never change. I truly believe that our chapter’s future is a bright one with the continued ability to positively impact our community. One Brick is the best volunteer organization in Washington, DC.

I am looking forward to the amazing opportunity of being the Chapter Director and serving not only the community, but you, our volunteers. I want to hear directly from you. Good ideas come from everyone, so please send me any comments, questions, suggestions, or even complaints. My email inbox is always open.

I am confident that One Brick DC’s best years are yet to come.

Liz Wigandt
lizw@onebrick.org

September Event of the Month: Adams Morgan Day

onebrickwashingtondc — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 01:51:27 +0000

If you’ve ever enjoyed spending time in Adams Morgan, now is your chance to give something back. You can help make their neighborhood festival a success by volunteering at either the first or second shift on Adams Morgan Day, Sunday, September 11, 2011. Volunteers will sell t-shirts (while wearing a free one!), help set up, and assist at the kids area. All volunteers will receive free lunch as well as an invitation to a volunteer appreciation party the following month!

The Adams Morgan Day Festival is one of DC’s favorite family traditions. The community and small businesses strive to highlight only the best in their unique diversity. This event is one that brings together all cultures and is free to the public with more than 100 hours of combined entertainment both music and dance, arts and crafts, performances, food, children’s shows and more. The kids fair has free rides, games and rides for families that are traditionally lower income serving more than 6 immediate DC Schools. There is also a new Health pavilion with health screening and back to school initiatives in health issues, fitness and sports. A Pet Zone is available for our pet loving residents and visitors and now are striving to offer green and sustainable outreach, education, services and products.

Top Ten Reasons to Volunteer at the US Open!

onebrickwashingtondc — Fri, 27 May 2011 15:38:59 +0000

10. Enjoy spending time in Maryland!

9. Meet Clive – the National Director of One Brick!

8. Serve concessions, and enjoy some free food yourself!

7. Help One Brick be visible in the community.

6. Attend a party with free drinks for One Brick’s US Open volunteers (see section below).

5. Golf’s best will be in attendance. (So will One Brick’s best!)

4. Meet and hang out with other great volunteers.

3. Watch professional golf for FREE!

2. Serve an Arnold Palmer to Arnold Palmer.

AND…

1. Help One Brick raise money for all the food-sorting, book-packing, weed-whacking, dog-washing, vegetable-chopping, scenery-painting, people-helping, life-changing work we do!

Sign-up here on our calendar!

Details on our US Open Private Post Party at Local 16!

On Friday, June 24, come spend time with your fellow One Brick Volunteers out on the patio at Local 16. We’ll have a roped off private area on the patio all to ourselves, where you’ll get to meet and mingle with your fellow volunteers.

Most importantly, all US Open volunteers will get 2 free happy hour drinks at the event! That is the least that we can do to thank you for all your hard work at the Open the previous weekend. We will also be raffling off some special prizes just for US Open volunteers!

Happy hour specials include: $4 Bud/Bud Light, $5 Draft Beer, $5 wine, & $5 well drinks, and we’ll have these specials extended til 9:00 for our party. So, come hang out on the great patio at Local 16, enjoy the warm weather, and relax after a long week with other volunteers!

Join One Brick at the US Open!

onebrickwashingtondc — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 18:46:46 +0000

Attend the US Open for free and support One Brick in the process! One Brick will be working a concession stand at the 2011 USGA US Open Championship at Congressional Country Club, one of golf’s biggest events. This is One Brick’s largest fundraising event of the year and will enable us to continue to provide amazing volunteer opportunities that benefit numerous local nonprofit organizations.

One Brick will also be hosting an appreciation party for all the volunteers!

Check out the calendar to sign up!

A Message from Our National Director about the Disaster in Japan

onebrickwashingtondc — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 13:14:33 +0000

We’ve received a number of questions about One Brick’s response to the disaster in Japan.

While we are honored that so many people think of us at a time like this, we are not really set up to help directly. Our focus is on helping our local community.

That said, there are a few of things that we would like to suggest:

Check out http://hands.org/. Their focus is providing volunteers to help survivors of natural disasters around the world.
If you are thinking of making a financial donation, read this article from The Journal of Philanthropy.
Keep doing what you are doing. Volunteering and supporting your local community is still critical. It may not grab the headlines, but for the people we help it’s just as important. If you haven’t volunteered in a while, maybe this is the opportunity to renew your support of your community. Our calendar is here: http://washingtondc.onebrick.org/calendar/

Be prepared to support your community if/when they need you.

Get/renew your first-aid certification.
Join a Community Emergency Response Team.
Be prepared for the next disaster – http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/
Lastly, you may want to consider joining us in New Orleans this May. Katrina was over 5 years ago, and we are still working to fix the problems it caused.

Thanks,
Clive

Introducing One Brick to Afghani Teens

Whitney Cooper — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 15:37:07 +0000

Recently I had the privilege to spend my Saturday morning with a group of six teenagers who just arrived from their home in Afghanistan to study in the United States for a semester. They are here with a mission to break down stereotypes Americans have about Afghanis and to return to their home country with tools to break down stereotypes about Americans. After spending a week in the District of Columbia, they are heading to small towns in different states to start their program. Their counselor reached out to One Brick so we could teach the importance of volunteerism and community service in building bridges and in making friends.

As I was talking with these brave young people I was amazed at how easy One Brick makes it for me to find noble non-profits where I know I am making a difference. These six Afghani teenagers appreciated One Brick’s unique approach to volunteering and felt confident they had the tools to find great places to volunteer in their new host cities. Unfortunately the six I met with were not going to any of the cities where One Brick currently operates, but other Afghani students in the future will be working with One Brick when they come to San Fran, DC, New York, Chicago, Orlando, Seattle, St. Paul/Minneapolis and Indianapolis! Thanks again One Brick for making volunteering so easy!!!