Community Profile of the Month

Capitol Broadcasting Company believes one of our greatest responsibilities is supporting our community. CBC’s Community Profile is a new monthly feature on the Web – a way to inform our employees and the public about the work of area non-profits, and their volunteer opportunities and needs.

For May 2010, take closer look at DurhamCares.

DurhamCares
www.durhamcares.org

Location:
801 Gilbert Street
Suite 213
Durham , NC 27701

Phone: (919) 251-6189

Email:
care@durhamcares.org

About DurhamCares:
DurhamCares was founded to help Durham residents love their neighbors; not just the people next door, but across town and even across the world. Their vision is to see our city engaged in serving each other, building relationships across cultural boundaries, and transforming the community through committed involvement.

To better understand the current state of giving in Durham, DurhamCares commissioned a survey of 450 households through FGI Research . They found that 64% of the population did not volunteer for local charities at all last year, and only 1.6% of income was given to religious organizations or charity. A large portion of the residents surveyed, however, expressed that they would be involved and give more if they could find volunteering opportunities that matched their interests and better understood the impact of their charitable giving.

DurhamCares has spent a year working with their partners to build a process and infrastructure for meaningful volunteering and giving. They have built a platform for people to give to their partner organizations based on their successful completion of their impact-oriented goals.

They also offer a personalized volunteer match program to place people in opportunities based on their interests, skills, and schedule. In addition, they’ve created a unique opportunity for neighbors to get to know one another through our DurhamCares trips.

DurhamCares is offering new ways for you to get involved, get to know your city, and love your neighbor.

How To Help DurhamCares:
VOLUNTEER
DurhamCares believes volunteering is often its most successful when the opportunities are well defined and the right people and skills are matched to those opportunities. To that end, they provide personal consultation for anyone who would like to volunteer through DurhamCares.

The five step process includes: Register, 1:1 Interview, Get Matched, Volunteer & Follow-up. Find out more about the process and get started here.

GIVE
DurhamCares offers two options for giving to their partners.
You choose – You choose which partners get your donations and when they receive them.
We choose – DurhamCares distributes 100% of your money to partners who show success.
Find out how to give here.

GET INVOLVED Through RACE ACROSS AMERICA
On June 12th, eight Durham community leaders will embark on a 24-hour-a-day 8-day journey across America, from California to Maryland, to raise funds and volunteer hours for DurhamCares' partners. Follow their progress live via the DurhamCares Race Across America site, or get updates via Facebook or Twitter.

You can either make a donation to their cause (100% of the funds raised go to DurhamCares partner organization) or use a new currency - your time. You can also pledge volunteer hours, a great new twist on ways to help the community even if you don't have extra cash.

Contribute, pledge or find out more here.

POSTED: May 1, 2010