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About Mather LifeWays:
Being active and engaged in causes that matter to you is one key component of Aging Well! In 2009, Mather LifeWays was awarded a grant from the National Council on Aging to create a team of volunteers, aged 55 and better, called a Wisdom Works Team. This team is a multi-skilled group of volunteers who work together to address a challenge or opportunity in their community. The team is empowered to take full responsibility for its own functioning and for results - just like many of us have always done over the years, at work, at home, and for causes we care about.
The Wisdom Works Team was charged with helping a small, community-based organization on the south side of Chicago. This organization was highly impacted by the downturn in the economy and corresponding increased need in the community. The Wisdom Works Team got to work right away, and decided to create a new outreach and fundraising tool for the organization, a “FriendRaiser Toolkit”, which included creation of all the materials that board members, staff, and volunteers would need to hold an outreach and fundraising event, and even included a short film. Now there was some dedicated and talented members on the Wisdom Works Team, but no one had any skills with Graphic Design - that’s where WomenOnCall.org came in!
We placed a posting on the website, and within a week had a talented, flexible and experienced volunteer, Ashley Parsons. And she was in Florida! Thanks to technology and the flexibility of the team - this was no barrier. Ashley worked closely with the team, and even though she was working remotely, it was as if she was right there the whole time. The team already communicated by email, so that was no problem, and Ashley participated in conference calls and worked by phone with those who were working on the kit. Since the team members in Chicago were writing content, the whole thing worked smoothly and Ashley was even able to not only host the project on her website, but also provided a valued "outside and professional" perspective. Ashley's talent and enthusiasm also provided tremendous support as she assisted the team to apply for a grant to help support printing of materials.
The Wisdom Works Team project was a success due, in part, to the talented volunteer who came to us through WomenOnCall.org. The Wisdom Works Team project was recently recognized by The National Council on Aging as a Model Program, and the team was awarded the President's Volunteer Service Award from the Corporation for National And Community Service. A new team is coming together to develop a new “FriendRaiser Toolkit” - one that is available and accessible to a broad variety of non-profit organizations. We are sure to pull from the talented members of WomenOnCall.org, and will also seek to engage virtual volunteers.
Working with a virtual volunteer is an effective way to leverage talent that is available anywhere, anytime. All you need is a flexible team, project-specific work, and a flexible approach.
About Ashley Parsons:
Ashley's design career began with a non-profit organization in Tallahassee, FL, and she has always believed that design is a powerful catalyst of change and inspiration. As a designer, Ashley is passionate about contributing her skills to non-profit projects, and has enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate with some amazing organizations, notably Mather LifeWays and their Wisdom Works TeamThis collaboration with the Mather LifeWays Wisdom Works Team was a truly enriching experience for Ashley, and she plans to continue working with them on other creative ventures.Ashley has been providing small businesses, corporations, and non-profit organizations nationwide with design and marketing services for over five years. Originally from Seoul, Korea, Ashley is a graduate of Florida State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design, and currently resides in Orlando, FL.
"Thanks to WomenOnCall.org, even though I was thousands of miles away, I had the chance to work on a team to benefit a small non profit organization that works with families in need. It's humbling to have the opportunity to help their volunteers better achieve their goals, and know that our work is helping organizations to help their community." |
