Thanks,
Cathy

For Immediate Release:
Unique Charitable Race Strategy Results in a 54% Increase in Proceeds and 1,000 More Race Registrants
Acumen Solutions’ 3rd Annual Race for a Cause? Nets $125,000 for DC Area Non-Profits This Year
McLean, VA ? November 30, 2011 ? Acumen Solutions, an international leader in cloud computing, mobile and enterprise consulting, announced today that they distributed $125,000 from their third annual 8K race for area non-profits. With a 54% increase over 2010 race proceeds this year?s results confirm that their innovative approach to fundraising has greatly increased race proceeds, sponsors, and registrants. The Acumen Solutions Race for a Cause? benefited 10 DC-area nonprofit organizations and racers ?voted? for their preferred charity among the ten when registering. The participating charities along with Acumen Solutions are equally responsible for promoting the race and getting a minimum number of registrants to select their charity in order to qualify for any race proceeds. This approach encourages a healthy ?competition? among the non-profits to promote the race to the widest audience of runners. This year, all participating non-profits met the minimum number of runners and they will all receive some award. BUILD Metro DC came out on top with the most runners and Greenbrier Learning Center was a close second.
Acumen Solutions Race for a Cause? 3rd Annual 8K and 1-Mile Fun Run took place on Sunday, October 16, 2011 in Arlington, VA. In an addition to an increase in donations, the race drew 3,030 registrants, a boost of more than 1,000 registrants from last year. One hundred percent of the net race proceeds are allocated to the qualifying non-profits and Acumen Solutions donates 100% of their employees? time in order to promote and execute this annual event.
2011 Beneficiaries
? Boys & Girls Clubs ? Alexandria ? Olympic Branch
? BUILD Metro DC
? Education Pioneers
? E.L.Haynes Public Charter School
? For Love of Children
? Greenbrier Learning Center
? Literacy Council of Northern Virginia
? Medical Care for Children Partnership
? National Fatherhood Initiative
? The Women?s Center
Executive Director, Christopher J. Brown, from BUILD Metro DC stated, ?We are overwhelmed by the support that was garnered this year for our organization with the Race for a Cause. Acumen Solutions has been a trusted partner in our work serving the DC metropolitan area for over 4 years.? Mr. Brown continued to say that they ?have benefited from the company?s leadership on our Local Advisory Board, volunteer and mentor support, and strategic guidance as we grow. The relationship between BUILD and Acumen Solutions is a model for dynamic partnerships that have deep and lasting impact on our communities.?
The Race for a Cause is not only unique in its format but also because of the teamwork fundraising model. Acumen Solutions involves the designated charities from the start and arms them with press releases, press kits, and advice on how to promote the race. Also, having the proceeds be distributed among multiple charities allows for healthy competition. Margie Johnson, Sr. Director, Corporate Care, says ?This fundraising format turns into a contest between the charities, but they also support each other through the process. We are all striving for a common goal and that is very apparent from the incredible growth the race has had over the past three years as well as the increased community involvement.?
Acumen Solutions? goal every year is to not only raise awareness and funds for their nonprofit partners, but to also host an event that engages and involves the community in a way that enables all participants to feel the impact. The Race for a Cause? has continued to do so by exponentially increasing their monetary influence, sponsorships, and registrants over the three years that the race has been in existence. Acumen Solutions was able to pull together an incredible list of area sponsors and would especially like to thank their Championship-level sponsors: AtlasAdvancement, Inc., Federal Title & Escrow Company, Jones Lang LaSalle, The Meltzer Group, Tobin, O?Connor & Ewing and Watkins Meegan.

For further information contact:
Donita Prakash
Marketing
pr@acumensolutions.com
703-600-4000

http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12009/how-do-we-make-cities-greener-start-by-growing-smarter/

Thanks to the Catalogue of Philanthropy of Greater Washington for connecting so many dots to create a network of giving and doing that strengthens DC communities!

For those of you who want to try it at home, check out the volunteer opportunities at Catalogue nonprofits by clicking the volunteer links on the pages of organizations that interest you. However you do it, volunteering can be an incredibly rewarding experience.

Great photos, Jade!

Barbara – Our deepest condolences to you and your family.
Paul Dahm

“But moreover, I would add that both the blogs and the numbers suggest that there is no science or magic to mentoring (as the movies might indicate). From middle school kids to early and mid-career professionals, most everyone has craved a willing listener and ready advisor. ”

This is so true. Too many people think that if they haven’t achieved some arbitrary level of greatness or if they aren’t a charmer, then they won’t be able to make a difference. People all benefit from having the close support of someone who has genuinely taken an interest in their growth. It has more to do with a deliberate will to listen and engage than snapping your fingers and, poof, someone’s life has changed!

http://bit.ly/h2MQ7F

This annual study is sort of a pet peeve of ours. I think the authors of the study are clear that they are looking at literacy *behaviors,* NOT literacy *skills* – a critical distinction. The problem for us, and for many literacy advocates is that the media does not make this distinction clear. (Although USA Today did a better job this year.)

There is no question, in terms of literacy skills, Washington D.C. has a serious adult literacy problem. We’ve compiled the numbers here:

http://bit.ly/9DLKHM

Washington D.C.’s literacy skills problem doesn’t get a lot of media attention, so that may be why the attention paid to this survey every year is frustrating!

It’s now commonplace to speak in stories, particularly examples. I think it’s fine, but I also think it can REALLY be overdone, and it sometimes assumes that your audience can’t be expected to understand the bigger, underlying issues. So as a storyteller I’m all for stories, but I’m not for using individual personal stories to trump everything else. Writer beware!

With respect to the idea that “the currency of return does not match the currency of investment” when it comes to nonprofits– this is an intriguing point. We don’t invest in nonprofits for … profit, at least not THAT KIND of profit. We give because what we put in comes out in another form — in better lives, better communities, richer experiences. So to my mind this means that “investing” works better as a word if what we mean is “pouring ourselves into” — as in, “I was really invested in that project” or “investing time in my children is really meaningful to me.” A different kind of investing.

AppleTree’s recent external evaluation, by Dr. Craig Ramey of Georgetown University concluded, “The AppleTree results reveal that an effective structured educational program is not at odds with children?s positive engagement (having fun) or with teacher sensitivity. In our opinion, having fun while learning basic skills and language from sensitive teachers are complimentary facets of effective early childhood education for children from disadvantaged circumstances. Finally, we should be reminded that although the teachers were warm, sensitive and effective, they continued to participate in professional development to improve their knowledge and skills about teaching. It is refreshing to realize that high standards, clear goals, continuous professional development and increased rates of children?s development can be encapsulated within a single program.

Would that more children in need had access to programs with these characteristics.

The Catalogue of Philanthropy found AppleTree and with your support we created a preschool in Columbia Heights serving 120 young, at-risk children. We can all work together to build more successful loves that avoid the kind of tragedy that happened on U Street.

I recall a young lady participating in our nature ride program who’s father was in jail. During one of our events a washington Post reporter took a picture of her and it ended up in the health section of the newspaper. Our volunteer took 10 copies of the paper to the girls mother who was in the hospital for esophagus cancer. Her mother cried tears of joy that we were there when she needed someone in her life. A short while later her mother passed away, the child was wisked off to spend time with family she didnt know and was soon put on the suicide watch list at school. Our volunteer received a simple request from the girl. “I want to ride” We quickly arranged for her to return to the comfort of the woods and you could see the stress fly away from her. three years later she is still participating in our program.

A national policy could never provide this service but it could help create financial security for those community leaders who do. In the meantime, I appreciate every little effort done by community leaders especially in the nonprofit sector because they often make large differences in lives.