In 2014, a select group of Leadership Columbus members partnered with United Schools Network to launch a member organization called Fifty 4 Fifty. Fifty 4 Fifty (F4F) is an initiative that unites like-minded energetic professionals from our community behind a common cause: ensuring that every student has the opportunity to receive the excellent education they deserve. The group believed that the power and passion of central Ohio’s energetic professionals could affect true change throughout our community and beyond. The group name came about as realistic goals for young professionals were set: 50 people who could each give 4 hours of volunteer service per year and $50 per month to United Schools Network. These meaningful contributions were to have a profound, combined impact on the students at United Schools Network... and it has. Through philanthropy, service, advocacy and fellowship (the four tenets of the group) F4F members have directly impacted the 600 students in the Columbus community through: Over 210 volunteer hours were contributed to benefit USN students $30,000 were raised to help send USN students on high school and college tours, and supported all athletic programs Of the fifty members, many are directly connected to USN, including myself: 9% of F4F members are USN staff (membership is paid on their own) 14% of F4F members are family of USN staff 7% of F4F members are USN Board members Our first Fifty 4 Fifty cohort has been successful due to our dedicated Guidance Council, the F4F governance group, which consists of six dedicated leaders including myself and the Director, Mark Ogden, Business Development Engineer at Turner Construction. “I’ve really appreciated my time with USN and helping to launch Fifty 4 Fifty has been very rewarding,” Mark says. “USN is made up of a group of individuals who never take the easy way out and in doing so, make an enormously positive impact on the community and the lives they touch. With F4F, I’ve felt as though I was an extension on their staff and mission – helping contribute to improving education and opportunity where it is needed most.” Activities that have kept our group connected outside of Guidance Council meetings are group volunteer events, happy hour networking events, speaker series events which tell the story of education reform in Ohio and more insights into how community members can advocate for change. Members have also participated in student events such as the USN 8th grade commencement ceremonies. It has been rewarding for staff and students alike to experience the passion of the members who are from all sectors of the community: legal, service, construction, corporate, and more. Says, Ogden, “One of the great things about USN is their leadership. Fifty 4 Fifty members have tremendous access to and support from this leadership. With their help, we have been able to provide great opportunities for F4F members to discover their passion and put it to work where it makes a difference. And I truly believe the best is yet to come.” With a successful inaugural year behind us we are again inviting community members to join this unique group for the next cohort year, 2015-2016. A new year of activities and engagement
begins in July. To find out more or to join, please visit the Fifty 4 Fifty website: http://development6.wix.com/fifty4fifty or call me at 614-800-5132. Unite to give. Unite to serve. Unite to advocate. Unite Today. Change Tomorrow. By Erika Gable, Dean of Fifty 4 Fifty, and Business Development & Marketing Manager at United Schools Network.
[email protected] | www.unitedschoolsnetwork.org
