Nonprofit Champion.
Consociate Media was humbled to receive that award on Dec. 8 at NetworkPeninsula’s Annual Impact Forum and 15th Anniversary Celebration. NetworkPeninsula equips hundreds of nonprofits on the Peninsula with the tools they need to fulfill their individual missions.
Supporting the work of nonprofits is part of our fabric at Consociate Media. We celebrate their missions and look for ways they align with ours so we can further impact the community. Our signature fundraiser for a little more than a year now has been in support of one of our longtime clients, Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg, the local affiliate of the international nonprofit.
Consociate marked its 10th anniversary in business last December by donating $10,000 to build a Habitat house. We called it the House That Small Business Built, and since then, we’ve spearheaded the fundraising incrementally from other small businesses until we reach $125,000, the cost to fund an entire Habitat house. Ground has already broken on the home in Charles City that will be bought by a widowed father of six. We’re moved by his faith, which in turn inspires us to continue to find innovative ways to share Habitat’s mission of creating homes, communities and hope.
VersAbility Resources is another nonprofit we’ve committed to support beyond the work we do on behalf of them. The Hampton nonprofit strives to ensure those with disabilities live full and productive lives. One of VersAbility’s work programs, Pre-ETS, offers students with disabilities the opportunity to explore and prepare for adult life by participating in professional education or training. One of our summer interns, Gabriel, came to us through that program and worked alongside our graphic designers, mentors who helped him receive hands-on skills that will benefit him professionally.
We also feel fortunate in being able to sponsor the 2022 Grove Trotter, a 10K bridge run in Williamsburg that supports Grove Christian Outreach Center, which provides food, clothing and financial assistance for impoverished families in its service area in lower James City County. Beyond the promotional work we did for the nonprofit, Consociate team members Amanda Shortt and Brian Harris participated in the race.
We could go on about the significance of nonprofits to the health and wellbeing of our community, but a campaign dreamed up by NetworkPeninsula that we helped execute truly shows the daily difference nonprofits make.
Called “15 Days Without Nonprofits,” the campaign reflects what the Peninsula would look like without its 350-plus nonprofits that provide food, mental health support, housing, healthcare and more. A sampling of what that would mean
-30,214 people would go without a meal today.
-2,328 children and youth would not have access to child care, afterschool programs, tutoring, music camp and more.
-139 families would not have access to services that keep their families safe from domestic violence.
-313 people would not have a warm place to sleep tonight.
-699 seniors would not receive support to help them as they age.
We’re proud at Consociate Media to champion nonprofits because we cannot imagine our communities without them. It’s our privilege to tell their stories.