Allegra and I are looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday!

As the next few months unfold, you’ll learn what’s really important to you — what issues move you off the sidelines and into action to make a difference.  You’ll learn about several charities and the vital work they are doing in our local community.  You’ll learn how to perform quantitative and qualitative analysis that will help you decide which charity is most deserving of your gift.  It’s not going to be an easy decision.  Along the way, you’ll learn a lot about each other and from each other, and you’re sure to learn a few new things about yourself.

I was impressed to hear about your volunteerism and civic engagement at our orientation meeting.  Your commitment to making a positive difference gives me great hope.  I read not long ago in Net Impact’s Talent Report:  What Workers Want in 2012 that a majority of students (65 percent) said they expect to make a difference in the world through their work.  No pressure or anything, but our collective future depends on you!  Have you given any thought to where you want to have the most impact? 

Mark Twain once said, “The two most important days of your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why”.   Some people (not many) know from the time they’re small what their “why” is.  The rest of us have to figure it out as we go.  In this short video, Wendy Kopp talks about the “aha” moment she had in college that informed her life’s work.  Maybe Main Street Philanthropy will help you begin to clarify your “why”.

Let the fun begin!