Volunteer Management Group

The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, Grand Central Terminal and Volunteer Management Group organized the city's first-ever New York City Volunteer Expo on February 10-12, 2005, at Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal. Coordinated by Nancy Ploeger, President of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, Julie Marks, President of Volunteer Management Group, and Jennifer Claire Scott, Director of Special Events for Grand Central Terminal, the Expo goals were twofold: (1) bring together sixty small to medium-sized, Manhattan-based non-profit organizations and provide them an opportunity to recruit volunteers, and (2) offer New Yorkers a one-on-one opportunity to learn about volunteerism in their local communities.

The Expo idea began from an inquiry by one of the MCC members, Nina Liebman of the Corcoran Group. "I was looking for a volunteer opportunity to use my skills in helping an organization that had a strong volunteer program- not just stuffing envelopes and helping in an office. I asked MCC's President [Nancy Ploeger] if she knew of a good organization and from there, we approached Con Edison's Director of Volunteer Programs, Phyllis White-Thorne. As Ms. White-Thorne listened to our inquiries and further discussion ensued, the seed of a one-on-one expo idea took place where Manhattanites could meet with any number of organizations gathered together in one place to talk about their programs."

A Steering Committee was formed 9 months prior to the Expo and consisted of sub-committees focusing on: budgeting and fundraising; non-profit vetting; marketing and public relations; production; cocktail reception and family day. Each month the sub committees met and reported to the Steering Committee. An RFP was distributed to over 400 non-profits in Manhattan, from which 60 were selected to exhibit. A pre-event meeting was held at Altria for volunteers and exhibiting non-profits in order to answer questions and provide directives regarding logistics. The load-in for the exhibitors and production team was on Wednesday, February 9, 2005. On the morning of February 10, a press conference was held and representatives from Mayor Bloomberg's office presented the proclamation. Following the press conference, the Expo officially opened to the public.

The long-term goal of the Expo is to 1) hold it annually and feature different organizations each year and 2) replicate the concept in other boroughs and cities. Through the Expo, non-profits are able to maximize their exposure and recruit much-needed volunteers.

Impact

The Expo impact was wide-reaching as it increased exposure for 60 participating non-profits to a broader base of potential corporate and individual volunteers, as well as, financial donors. Nearly 10,000 people passed through the Expo booths requesting information and learning about the different organizations needing volunteers within NYC. Many people signed up to volunteer on the spot. During the Expo and within one week following, more than 1,400 volunteer sign ups were reported back to the Chamber.

An additional Expo impact was the joint efforts of Manhattan-based businesses and agencies working together towards the goal of making the Expo a reality. The Expo fostered strong bonds, friendships and constructive business relationships. This impact was most prevalent among the exhibiting nonprofit agencies having similar missions, thereby increasing their network of community support. Media coverage of the Expo highlighted several smaller nonprofit organizations, such as Children for Children and New York Therapeutic Riding Center, and helped raise awareness on their behalf.

The following quotes reflect the positive feedback MCC has received as a result of the Expo:

Thank you again for inviting United Neighbors of East Midtown to participate. We are enjoying the opportunity to tell so many people about our services and the ways in which they can volunteer. Yesterday, several people said that they stopped at the booth because they live in East Midtown. It was fun to meet some community residents in addition to the commuters. We are thrilled to be part of this effort, and I thank you for this massive undertaking! ~ Joan Mintz, United Neighbors of East Midtown

It was a great pleasure to have the opportunity to work with all of you to grow and nurture volunteerism in our great city. ~ Gail Elberg, All Stars Project

Thank you for all of your help on our "quest" [to find a place to volunteer]. We went to the [Expo] on Saturday. It was perfect. We gathered a lot of information and were able to talk one to one with key individuals. Your efforts in organizing this should be commended. ~ Janet Resino, ReMax Gotham City

Funding

Grand Central Terminal was the presenting sponsor and donated the space. They also donated media support for the event.
International Special Events Society ("ISES") members donated events materials, products and furniture (tables, table cloths, chairs, food, wall partitions, draperies, easels, etc.). Financial sponsorships included: Altria, Con Edison, Goldman Sachs, Standard & Poor's, Surdna Foundation, and Verizon Foundation.

Participants

The event was organized via the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Community Benefit Fund ("MCC CBF"), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Grand Central Terminal donated the venue space and the International Special Events Society ("ISES") donated production services. The event was free to the public. Nearly 10,000 people passed through the Expo.

The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Community Benefit Fund ("MCC CBF") is a 501c (3) not for profit affiliate of the Chamber. Its mission is to support community-based non-profits that contribute toward improving the quality of life in Manhattan. The Second and Third Avenue Street Fairs are managed through the MCC CBF and proceeds from these fairs are disbursed in grants to non-profits in Community Board 8. Over the past ten years, more than $2,000,000 has been disbursed. The MCC CBF also supports a local high school and continues to develop innovative projects, such as the Volunteer Expo, which will benefit the community at large.

Grand Central Terminal served as presenting sponsor. The Expo was held in the Terminal's historic Vanderbilt Hall, a place many feel to be "the beating heart of the city" and a vital crossroad for the more than 650,000 people who pass through its halls each day.

The International Special Events Society ("ISES") is comprised of over 4,000 professionals in over a dozen countries representing special event producers from festivals to trade shows. The following ISES NY Chapter members generously donated event production services:

Alpine Creative Group
Aramark Catering/Ellis Island and the United Nations
Bestek
Caricatures USA
Cort Event Furnishings
CTO World Entertainment
Digital Audio Visual
Drape Kings
Global Security Services
Great Performances
Kirsten J. Kupferschmidt
Life O' the Party
Monday Night Magic
Opening Nite Entertainment
P & V Enterprises
Party Rental Ltd.
Planning Perfection
Props for Today
Spirit Cruises
The DND Group
The Three Waiters
Troy Security
UNiREC
Wizard Studios

A Steering Committee to oversee the New York City Volunteer Expo was comprised of representatives from the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, Con Edison, JP Morgan Chase, the Corcoran Group, Nancy Moon Public Relations, Dana Communications, Beatrice Group, and the Corporate Volunteers of New York (CVNY).

The following organizations provided staffing and assistance throughout the event: New York Cares, the Mayor's Volunteer Center, Community Service Society of New York, Volunteer Management Group, and the Volunteer Referral Center.

Sixty Manhattan-based nonprofit organizations representing a wide variety of social services and the arts participated. Exhibitors included:

All Stars Project
Alzheimer's Association-NYC
Arts & Business Council (Business Volunteers)
Avon Walk for Breast Cancer
Bellevue Day Care Center (Educare)
Big Apple Greeters
Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC
Burden Center for the Aging
CASA-NYC (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
Central Park Conservancy
Central Park Zoo
Change For Kids
Children For Children
Children's Aid Society
Children's Hope Foundation
City Harvest
City of Hope
City Year New York
Covenant House New York
DOROT
Everybody Wins!
Eviction Intervention Services
Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies
Food Bank for NYC
Free Arts
Fresh Air Fund
Gay Men's Health Crisis
Grand Central Neighborhood Social Services
Greenwich House
Hebrew Home for the Aged
International Center
Jewish Child Care Association - Two Together
Junior Achievement of NY
KittyKind, Inc.
Learning Leaders
Lighthouse International
Literacy Partners
Mentoring Partnership of NYC
Mentoring USA
New Alternatives for Children
New York Blood Center
New York Public Library
New York Restoration Project
Partnership for Parks
Partnership for Homeless
Salvation Army
Samaritans of New York
StreetWise Partners
Student Sponsor Partners
Terence Cardinal Health Care Center
The Family Center
United Hospital Fund
United Neighbors of East Midtown
Village Care of NY - Rivington House
Visiting Neighbors
Youth At Risk

Why This Project Deserves Recognition

The Expo significantly contributed to increasing community awareness for the nonprofit industry in our city, to informing individuals of the dire needs in our community, and to directly showing New Yorkers how to actively engage in volunteerism. The Expo brought together diverse local businesses and agencies working to encourage New Yorkers to become involved in the community and also introduced corporate volunteer managers to nonprofit organizations in a variety of cause areas. The expo is being replicated at the Galleria Mall in Houston, Texas, with Nancy Ploeger, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce President, consulting. Recognition of the NYC Volunteer Expo will not only acknowledge the gargantuan efforts of those individuals that brought it to life, but also increase awareness of the event itself, drawing larger numbers of visitors in 2006.

NOTE: This nomination was compiled and submitted by Julie Marks to the Mayor's Office for the 2005 NYC Neighborhood Achievement Awards. Although the nomination was not selected, it was a finalist. Subsequently, this information was posted on the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Volunteer Expo Web Site.