Running for a cause: Individuals support DC SCORES in many ways, identify with the mission

As the executive director of a small to mid-size nonprofit organization, I spend a large portion of my time directly or indirectly raising money. This ranges from reviewing the multitude of grants we apply for to meeting with many individuals who may or may not decide to make DC SCORES a priority; from event planning to public relations outreach.

I would not be in this role if I didn’t relish the challenge and the highs and lows of all things fundraising. I enjoy engaging in compelling conversations about what motivates people and companies to get involved in helping communities with fewer resources than their own. In my time at DC SCORES, I have been fortunate to meet numerous amazing people with whom the DC SCORES mission resonates.

One such supporter, Keith Donohue, has taken his commitment to the DC SCORES mission to new levels over the past three years. Unsolicited, Keith has helped directly or indirectly raise a lot of money, awareness, and excitement for the work we are doing with youth in DC through soccer and creative writing.

A master marketer, Keith’s latest venture, Triple Charity Crush, is a creative and fun way to support Keith in his 2010 Cherry Blossom 10K run AND give to two amazing causes, breast cancer research (Susan G. Komen) and youth development through soccer (DC SCORES).

Even if you can’t attend the race day festivities on April 11, check out the site. Keith is one of the most altruistic and creative philanthropists I’ve been fortunate enough to meet. He makes being in the ‘charity business’ even more rewarding than it already is. Thank you, Keith, and others like you – you have a big heart that makes a huge difference in the lives of youth.

In my 3-plus years at DC SCORES, there have been other extremely generous donors in the same vein as Keith. We have had individuals run marathons and ask their families and friends to support their effort by donating to us; young people have forgone their birthday presents and asked their friends to instead donate to us; and youth soccer teams from DC, Maryland, and Virginia have made a donation to DC SCORES as their thank-you gift to their coach. We have turned the latter into a formal giving campaign – the Thank You, Coach! Program, through which resourced soccer teams are “giving the gift of soccer” to those in less resourced communities.

I’d like to take this time to send a very heartfelt thank you to ALL the creative philanthropists out there – it is inspiring and motivating to know that you are on our side.

-- Written by Amy Nakamoto, Executive Director of DC SCORES