Breaking News
Release date: December 3, 2002
BizWorld Foundation describes its recent Collaborate with a Cause event for IPO partners in the Northern California area
"BizWorld has shown us all what it means to collaborate - and the cause is delivering greater programs to Northern California's underserved children and youth in the areas of financial education, entrepreneurial and leadership development and business savvy."
-— Eddy Bayardelle, FVP and head of Global Philanthropy, Merrill Lynch
Merrill Lynch and San Francisco Bay Area Community Organizations Collaborate to Better Prepare Youth in Underserved Communities for a Successful Future
On October 17, 2002, eight Merrill Lynch northern California Investing Pays Off (IPO) recipients met to "Collaborate with a Cause" — to address the need to build young peoples' skills and knowledge in financial and career readiness and entrepreneurship. Representatives from each attending organization met to network, develop strategies for program expansion, and learn to leverage each organization's resources. Merrill Lynch representatives demonstrated their support by actively participating in the event. Assistant Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor Scott Hinshaw, IPO Community Development Manager Garrett Gin, and IPO Public Relations Consultant Bill Halldin joined the discussions. Their presence and advice reinforced Merrill Lynch's enduring principle of Responsible Citizenship and commitment to helping young people obtain the knowledge and skills to enjoy personal achievement, financial independence, and career success.
By working collectively, the attending organizations agreed that they could maximize their impact on the communities they serve. As a result of common goals and interests, four discussion groups generated ideas and strategies for information sharing, joint fundraising and publicity, volunteer referral programs, and periodic gatherings.
Highlights from the discussions are as follows:
Building Partnerships
- Communicated organizational challenges and how to involve more Merrill Lynch employees in their organizations and programs.
- Suggested creating speaking forums for Merrill Lynch employees where they simultaneously promote the mission and programs of an organization while gaining exposure for themselves.
- Recommended partnering amongst organizations to develop a volunteer referral system.
Fundraising
- Discussed a need for locating grants to compliment Merrill Lynch's financial contribution and to broaden funding base.
- Identified that government grants are good for our organizations but involves much politicking.
- Suggested piggy-back and co-sponsorship fundraising within the IPO network.
Innovation
- Looked for natural points of integrating technology and real-world experience into existing programs.
- Suggested the use of case studies, life cycle of an economic center, and educational computer software in program models.
- Initiated the idea of sending program youth participants to NUMI Factory in Fremont, CA to see first-hand the manufacturing aspect of business.
Potpourri
- Discussed how to attract and retain volunteers.
- Suggested local banks as great resources for locating volunteers.
- Agreed that a good database is necessary in order to track volunteers and get all the information needed to operate at the organization's fullest capacity.
Attendees stated a strong interest in continuing this type of dialogue and wish to have another collaboration in the near future.
"This coalition will help us to maximize our impact on the communities we serve, with the end result of increasing our reach and improving our programs for kids,"
explains BizWorld Foundation CEO, Joyce Friedrichs. Suggested topics and activities for follow-up meetings include issues regarding barriers to reaching educators,
working with Boards, informational guest speakers, and developing strategies for volunteer recruitment. Please send any suggestions or comments to
Nicole Norton for future northern California collaborations.
For more on collaboration, please visit our Collaboration Forum.
Please also feel free to post an upcoming event.
More Breaking News
Announcement of IPO April 4, 2002
ML survey shows financial literacy improving April 1, 2004
Investing Pays Off honored by Jump$tart April 14, 2004
|
|
• Contact Us
The 
