CandO: Bringing People Together Through Service By: Meggan Thompson
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t the request of the leadership of Junior League Cincinnati, President Tara Mosley and PresidentElect Kate Fortlage in partnership with the Community and Outreach (CandO) Committee shared a goal: provide more opportunities for more members to serve in more ways than ever.
Moreover, service opportunities were added during daytime shifts, and also made available to families to participate. This allowed more women than ever to connect, while providing valuable resources to various city groups. New partnerships blossomed with Saturday Hoops and Keep Cincinnati Beautiful. Previously incubated relationships with the Cincinnati Children’s Theatre, Fernside Center for Grieving The women of C and O, affectionately referred to as CandO, Children and Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank were rekindled; got to work to get it done. First, the group looked at previous and the Junior League Cincinnati had the opportunity to JLC partnerships & incubated projects and finalists from sponsor a dental activity connected to the exhibit created last year’s program acceleration work. The aim was not to from our past project, GrinUp at the Children’s Museum. reinvent the wheel, but to oil it and Additionally, a new opportunity put air in the tires. CandO wanted to through Refugee Connect came to ensure the Junior League Cincinnati In the Fall, members provided fruition that created learning, not kept its word to all of these groups 322 volunteer hours to 11 just service, connections for League by continuing our collaboration with organizations throughout members. Bringing people together these organizations. Cincinnati, with an additional through service to foster internal relationships is the secondary focus 10 organizations with which In the fall, JLC members provided 322 volunteer hours to 11 organizations the League will partner with in of Community and Outreach. All CandO events are posted on the throughout Cincinnati;an additional the Spring. Digital Cheetah intranet calendar, as 10 organizations are planned well as the private Facebook page. for partnerships in the spring of These events are great, safe spaces to meet other Junior 2022. The Community and Outreach Committee has eight League Cincinnati members, learn about community needs, members, and each member is tasked with identifying and and serve amazing and worthy organizations and to learn nurturing relationships with two community organizations new skills. as the point person for the duration of the year. To appeal to the greatest number of members, CandO provided a very Now that we are half-way into the league year, CandO wide breadth and depth of service events. League members Chair Sunny Grothaus reflects on how far the committee were able to choose from online drives, such as the coat has come in reaching the goal set at the beginning of the drive completed in December for the Boys and Girls Club; or year, “Our Cando committee has worked diligently to provide in-person events like the graduation ceremony for Children’s thoughtful volunteer opportunities to the league this year. And Home of Cincinnati. The types of events are dictated by the it’s rewarding to see almost every single event fill up. We are so partner organization’s needs and are presented as ‘Done in grateful for the commitment of our league members!” a Day’ tasks, or donation collection drives.
PARTNERS THROUGH CandO FOR 2021-2022
Junior League of Cincinnati
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