In a go-go world where time is seemingly always of the essence, those who have mastered the ability to tell their story in what has come to be known as “the elevator pitch” — essentially the time you have while riding in an elevator while you have someone’s undivided attention — are today’s biggest winners. That is increasingly true for the best pitch artists in each round of the United Way’s Pop Up Giving event, and the next round is coming next month.
Yes, United Way’s Pop Up Giving is back, and it’s the unique opportunity wherein you and I get to pick the nonprofit with the winning pitch to get the donation pot at that big event. Those who have attended the first two Pop Up Giving events have quickly learned it is fast…it is fun…and it provides an instant impact for the winning agency.
United Way of Southwest Michigan is inviting the public to attend its 3rd “Pop Up Giving” event on Thursday, May 9th from 5-7 pm at Lehman’s Orchard Brewery & Farmhouse in Buchanan. It’s become the event that gives the community the chance to decide where the dollars go.
This time out, three local health nonprofits—to be announced prior to the event—will have three minutes to pitch a project that will impact the community, followed by two minutes of Q&A with the audience. The audience then has five minutes to complete their ballots to determine the winner. Proceeds from ticket sales are combined to create a “donation pot.” Second and third place finishers each receive consolation cash prizes of $250, while the organization with the most votes wins all of the rest.
United Way’s Director of Annual Campaign, Charlotte Becker, says, “We are very excited to be holding our third Pop Up Giving event at Lehman’s Orchard Farmhouse & Brewery in Buchanan,” adding, “This event has quickly grown in popularity, so we hope to get more and more people involved as Pop Up Giving continues. It’s such a fun, fast and easy way for anyone to make an instant impact in Southwest Michigan, which makes this event so unique.”
This event’s sponsor, United Federal Credit Union, has already kicked in $1,000 to get the pot started!
Terry O’Rourke is President & CEO at United Federal. He says, “United Federal Credit Union’s mission is to make a positive impact on the Berrien County community, and sponsoring this important event is just one of the many ways we live that mission.”
Individual tickets are $20 and include one free drink and light appetizers provided by Lehman’s. The doors will open at 5 pm on the night of the event, with the presentations beginning at 6 pm. Tickets are available at uwsm.org/pop-up-giving.
United Way of Southwest Michigan fights for the Health, Education and Financial Stability of every person in every community. They have the influence and relationships to make sustainable change a reality. By harnessing resources from corporate, nonprofit and public partners, they provide immediate assistance to the most vulnerable populations among us, while addressing the root causes of the community’s longstanding challenges and changing lives for the better. To join the fight—through giving, advocacy and volunteering—visit www.uwsm.org.
