Volunteering/Giving Back - Things to Start
I am crossing another thing off of my list by adding a huge commitment to my already busy schedule…. good thing I like to be busy and thrive in a little bit of chaos.
Social Committee Selfie at a recent meeting
At the beginning of the year, I was really torn between starting a Children’s Fostering Group at Christmas, or joining an already existing organization. This past December, I “Christmas Fostered” a young man from North Carolina. You may be wondering what Christmas Fostering actually means, well, it means that this particular young man I sponsored is currently in the foster care system in North Carolina, and I sent him everything I could on his Christmas list. I found this opportunity through a friend via Instagram. I loved that I was able to make a difference and brighten this young man’s Christmas at a time when he really needed it.
When I was creating my 100 Things Project I knew I had to add something to my life in regards to giving back. I believe in karma and putting positive vibes in the universe for good things to happen in your own life, and I love being able to make a positive impact. This drove me to add this to my project.
I spent so much of my time as Miss Colorado USA giving back and volunteering with different organizations on the state and national level, which also gave me the opportunity to learn about them without joining them.
One organization that really intrigued me was RMA- Rocky Mountain Alliance. I did an appearance as Miss Colorado USA at their back to school shopping event where children who couldn’t afford school supplies and clothes got to pick out $100 worth of school supplies and clothes that they needed. This was all covered by RMA. (So fun and rewarding!)
Back in January I decided to take the plunge and join RMA. This is a really big commitment, but I am so glad I decided to join the group. RMA is a local 501(c)3 organization, run by young professional women (including me) who work together to raise funds for disadvantaged youth in the Denver metro area.
Every year, RMA donates thousands of dollars to local nonprofits in the form of grants. In 2019, RMA granted over $110,000 to 22 organizations including Girls on the Run, Judi’s House, and more! Our goal for 2020 is donate $200,000! This is a huge goal and all support is needed, whether that is attending an event, donating to my fundraising page, donating services, food, or just sharing the link on Facebook…. this gets us one step closer to our goal. If you are local to Denver, and interested in attending any events, please let me know and I will send you details directly. If you are interested in donating, here is the direct link.
As always, thank you for reading and let me know if you have questions!
XO,
Madison