Who we are:
The Connect the U.P. Campaign was created by four students
at Northern Michigan University. Our ultimate goal is to raise $3,000 dollars to renew the UP Volunteer Network's online database that connects volunteers with service opportunities.
Who we’re representing:
The U.P. Volunteer Network (UPVN) helps organizations in the
Upper Peninsula of Michigan connect with local citizens who have the desire to
take part in meaningful service opportunities. The network also provides
volunteer management training to nonprofits, promote volunteerism through
participation in National Days of Service, recognize volunteers by hosting the annual
U.P. Service Awards and manage UPvolunteer.org, which matches volunteers with
opportunities to serve.
The UPVN is led by the Great Lakes Center for Youth
Development in collaboration with U.P. 2-1-1, United Way of the Eastern U.P.
Volunteer Center, Volunteer Center and Retired and Senior Volunteer
Program (RSVP) of the Dickinson Iron Community Services Agency, RSVP of the
Western U.P., RSVP of Marquette County and RSVP of Delta, Menominee,
Schoolcraft and Marinette Counties.
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Our goal:
Raise $3,000 for the U.P. Volunteer Network
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What would the U.P. Volunteer Network
do with $3,000?
For the past three years the U.P. Volunteer Network has received
a grant to pay for the subscription of HandsOn Connect. HandsOn Connect is a
database that the UPVN uses to assist local organizations in displaying opportunities
of service that anyone in the Upper Peninsula can take part in. With the database,
any organization across the U.P. can log into the website, fill out a profile,
and begin creating service opportunities that will display to citizens who
entered similar information into their HandsOn Connect skills profile.
Due to the high expense of maintaining physical volunteer
centers in prominently rural areas such as in the Upper Peninsula, there are
only centers located in state universities as well as Sault Ste. Marie, Dickinson and Iron
counties. The small number of physical centers that citizens can visit for
service opportunities creates a genuine need for a cost-effect database that
does what HandsOn Connect does for the Upper Peninsula.
This will be the first year that the U.P. Volunteer Network
will not receive the grant that has funded HandsOn Connect. With the funds
raised, the UPVN will be able to afford a fourth successful year helping community
organizations utilize the gifts of community members to better the Upper
Peninsula.
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Your impact on the Upper Peninsula:
Your donation to our worthy cause will support the website
and spread awareness throughout the Upper Peninsula about UPvolunteers.org.
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Care to do a little more?
Keep up with the progress of our campaign by following our
page on Facebook (Connect the U.P. Campaign) as well as our Twitter
(@ConnectTheUP).
If you would like to send us an email regarding donations or
our cause, please do not hesitate to email our group at yoopvol@gmail.com.
Or, if you’d like to learn a little more about the U.P.
Volunteer Network and all they have to offer, check out UPvolunteer.org.
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