Giving Stories
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Lisa Chin joined SVP after retiring from Amazon – exhausted and craving something different. She wasn’t sure what, but she knew it involved giving back.
So she dove deep at SVP. She attended every workshop, accepted every volunteer opportunity, and with her husband Nigel, developed a giving strategy, two words that – as Lisa puts it – “didn’t exist in our vocabulary.”
Lisa also began searching for a career that would make a positive impact in her community, drawing upon her SVP experience to guide her. “The strength of what I learned at SVP was a huge part of my resume,” says Lisa. “It’s better than getting a master’s in nonprofit management.” Today, Lisa is the Executive Director of Year Up Puget Sound – helping urban young adults reach their full professional potential.
Just One Story Among Many
SVP Seattle has …
- 500+ Partners (2600+ internationally) pooling money, time and talent for greater impact
- 50+ Partners serving on boards and in leadership roles at nonprofits and in our community
- Dozens of families and teen philanthropists engaged in service projects and grant making
- 40+ education sessions annually on philanthropy and related topics
- 60+ volunteer opportunities with nonprofits annually, ranging from technology to human resources to financial management projects
More Partner Stories...
Beyond Philanthropy: SVP's 2012 Impact Report
Less than 50% of Washington kids enter kindergarten ready to succeed – but it doesn’t have to be that way. Of the students that Powerful Schools serves, more than 85% meet or exceed readiness goals, and they are just one of the groups SVP partners with. Last year, we turned $1.00 of grant funds into $1.40 of support for nonprofits like Powerful Schools. Find out how in our Impact Report.
Notes from Bangalore
As soon as I stepped out of the airport, I could smell the curries. The warm and humid air thickening their intensity. My second trip to India was about to begin. Instead of simply being a tourist, I was joining my husband Will to help start Social Venture Partners in Bangalore.
Giving Back to the Community
After leaving Microsoft in 2000, I knew I wasn't ready to retire and I wanted to find meaningful work that gave me satisfaction. Given how fortunate I was for having worked at Microsoft, I was looking for the right opportunity that would allow me to give back to the community.
1000 Watt Bulbs
Lance Fors' journey began with just one volunteer engagement with one organization, but it evolved into something so much bigger. Check out his video here.
An RV Roadtrip
SVP Partners Susan Sullivan and Bill Henningsgaard share their journey to Eastside Pathways and how it paralleled...an RV roadtrip? Check out their adventure here.
Fighting Poverty with CASH
SVP Portland has put more than $89 million back in the pockets of working poor families through its CASH Oregon investment. Find out how in their short video, and meet innovators like this from all around the network at SVP’s Annual Conference!
Saturdays Aren’t Just for Cartoons Anymore
A dozen families. Three days. One shared purpose. Armed with a video camera, and alternately: a hairnet, a rain coat, and a pot of soup, we trailed SVP's youngest volunteers.
Youth on a Mission
It’s Sunday night. The Sullivan’s basement rec room is filled with teenagers. A stack of pizza boxes is piled high, and cookies and snacks litter the coffee table. Chatter fills the room. The topics? Homelessness, public education, family planning, self-esteem, the environment.
Teens Helping Teens: Sophie Tells Us How
“Most people probably wouldn’t guess that I have thought a lot about teen homelessness. After all, a year ago I probably wouldn’t have guessed it myself.” 14-year old Sophie Ding shares her story and welcomes Social Venture Kids' new Investees: SYLAW and Teen Feed.
Susan Sullivan: King County’s Youth Connector
“We thought you dodged the education bullet,” Susan’s dad joked over the phone. It’s true. Susan’s parents spent their entire working careers in education (her father as a school principal and her mother as a teacher). Susan, however, chose a different path – getting a marketing degree and landing a job at Microsoft. Little did she know, she'd eventually find herself engaging 250 teenagers at the King County Youth Summit.
The Eye of the Storm
How was SVP connected to the Storm winning a WNBA championship? Dawn Trudeau, co-owner of the Seattle Storm describes this unlikely relationship.
Breaking the Rules, Changing the World
UW's Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences (I-LABS) is revolutionizing how we help our babies learn. But just a few years ago Seattle almost lost this breakthrough facility.
From Corporate Guy to Social Change Guy
"As the words: 'Oh, we’re searching for a new ED' hit my ears, something strange happens. Everything slows down and starts to become hyper-real … When suddenly I realize, oh my god, THAT’S my job!"
Todd Vogel – Making Green the New Black
"I try to ride my bike everywhere and not wear lycra," says Partner Todd Vogel with a smile. "In living a life that’s sustainable, you can’t make it only applicable to the zealots." Whether turning a derelict alley into a bustling art exhibit or leading the charge for a more livable Seattle, Todd is creating places where sustainability can thrive as the new normal.
Core or Chore? Carol Ryan on Volunteerism
I was surprised when, upon the invitation to write about the emotional rewards of volunteering, no one moment stood out in my mind. It made me ask myself, why do I volunteer?
Tricia McKay: Social Services Champion, Visionary, Master Collaborator
Imagine you are traveling through the hills outside of Oaxaca. Rugged mountain vistas, multicolored buildings peppering a hillside, ancient ruins under a bright blue sky. What would be on you mind? Banking options perhaps? If you’re Tricia McKay, that’s exactly what you’re thinking about.
