Corporate Partners

In this episode, we're joined by Keri Banghart from Microsoft's Corporate, External and Legal Affairs team in Seattle. Keri recently organized a blanket-making event for her team as part of Microsoft's annual giving campaign. We'll discuss how they set up the event, its impact on local and remote team members, and the creative ways they're supporting their community. Keri shares insights on coordinating volunteer efforts in a large corporation and how these initiatives foster team bonding while making a difference. We'll also explore the power of hands-on volunteering and its ripple effect in raising awareness for local needs. Join us for an inspiring conversation about corporate giving, community impact, and the joy of creating comfort for those in need.
Action Item List: Lot of ideas here - https://binkypatrol.org/ways-to-help/
Organize a blanket-making event for your team or company
Research local shelters or organizations in need of blanket donations
Set up remote participation options for team members who can't attend in person
Prepare materials in advance (e.g., pre-cut fabric) to streamline the event
Track volunteer hours and utilize company matching programs for donations
Take photos of the event and completed blankets for sharing and promotion
Consider partnering with other organizations or nonprofits for larger events
Explore options for regular or annual volunteering events
Involve family members and friends in blanket-making activities
Share your experience with other departments or companies to inspire similar initiatives
#MicrosoftGives#MicrosoftVolunteers#MicrosoftCommunity#TechForGood#MicrosoftCSR#CorporateGiving#VolunteerEngagement#RemoteVolunteering#CommunityImpact#TeamBuildingForGood

Today is a short episode requesting you consider these requests:
Consider starting a local chapter - 2 - 100 people! Great way to build community and make friends. (info here)
Make binkies, aka blankets. We can send you the labels. (info here)
Host a Bink-A-Thon at your company or in your community - we'll give you all the stuff you need. (what's a bink-a-thon?)
Sponsor Binky Patrol - podcast, website, events - request a sponsor package. (info here) (request a package)

In this episode of All Volunteer All Heart from Binky Patrol, host Susan Finch welcomes Angie Marie, a community leader from Hood River, Oregon. Angie shares her inspiring story of creating Gorge SpeakEasy, a monthly storytelling event that brings together diverse members of the community while supporting local nonprofits. Through volunteer efforts and innovative partnerships with local businesses, Gorge SpeakEasy has become a platform for connection, personal growth, and community impact. Angie and Susan discuss the power of collaboration between organizations and how companies can give back to their communities beyond financial contributions. This episode is a must-listen for businesses seeking creative ways to make a difference in their local areas, emphasizing the exponential impact of cross-organizational cooperation. Join Susan and Angie as they explore the heartwarming potential of storytelling, volunteerism, and community-building.
 
Gorge Speakeasy on Instagram
Binky Patrol on Instagram
Gorge Speakeasy on Facebook
Binky Patrol on Facebook

Looking for ways to build community in your workplace or neighborhood? In this week's fun and uplifting episode, we talk to Rebecca Heinen who used her passion for crocheting to connect with others across 36 states and counting. Rebecca shares how she started "A Stitch in Every State" to donate handmade crochet items to organizations in need and how it accidentally helped her form bonds at her new job. Tune in to hear Rebecca's creative ideas for starting conversations, from math puzzles to crocheted cat toys, as well as where she finds resources to fund her craft. Her story shows that a hobby like crocheting can make a big difference, stitch by stitch. So grab your yarn and join us for an inspiring chat about building community through crafting.
Links from this episode:
OwlBHooked Etsy
“Call the Midwife” Pattern (apparently, she wrote the pattern from the show!)
Chill Pill Pattern (one of Rebecca's go to for gifts/prizes at work) 
Rebecca Heinen on LinkedIn
Ear Savers

We've invited people and they signed up! That's great. But, they need to be able to easily find you from the parking lot. Sometimes non-profits have events at libraries, community centers, schools, churches. Their campuses can be large and confusing. Having directional signage can help prevent volunteers from being frustrated before they walk in the door. Jordan Castellanos (J.C.) is our guest today from FastSigns in Beaverton, Oregon. We talk about how teaming up with a signage professional can save you money and add to your event success.
Resources: FastSigns Beaverton https://fastsigns.com/beaverton-or 
Get ideas from their social media channels:
https://www.instagram.com/fastsigns46/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/fastsigns.beaverton/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/fastsignsbeaverton/ 
Adobe's free banner design tool https://www.adobe.com/express/create/banner/event 
 

Having events is a great way to expand your audience, donors, volunteers, and build goodwill in the community. Since Binky Patrol is all-volunteer, we rely on partnering with sponsors and hosting organizations that are looking for a fun event to offer their volunteers, employees, members. This episode walks you through some ideas, and a list of what you need to know before you have an event.
If you want to have an event, find partners. For Binky Patrol, we partner with United Way, HandsOn Portland, Comcast, quilt guilds, girl scouts and schools. Local coffee companies like Dutch Bros, sandwich companies like Subway help keep our volunteers fed and energized. You also need a partner to help you at the end of your event. We have our delivery team that will take all of the blankets made that day to deliver them. We have a clean up crew that will take everything to put it away until the next event. You need to plan it from start to finish, before promotions and after thank you notes.

Wade Perry joined Susan after his first annual Coventry Summer Jam in Littleton, Colorado. He goes through the expense and return of this event. The expense is all under marketing, the return is beyond what he had hoped. This event benefitted the School of Rock in Littleton. They raised enough for ten scholarships. Seeing and hearing everyone enjoying this event in their local park was the best gift. Listen to this to hear how a small business or two can align with a charity to give so much to a community overall, and directly to a charity. It wasn't that hard. They are already talking about next year.
Wade offered to talk to anyone who wants more information on how they can host a similar event in their community. Susan Finch is also available to anyone who wants to brainstorm events. Wade can be reached [email protected].
Here are the steps Wade recommends.
1. Find a local quality band that has a danceable set.
2. Local food trucks.
3. Partners who may be willing to share the expense.
4. A local charity you are truly attached to - you have to be all in.
5. Charity is always the focus. You are in the background.
6. Best to keep it a smaller community event under 500 people.
7. Pull permits.
Plan this starting at least six months out.
 

People want to be part of a community and a company that isn't only focused on the bottom line. Aligning with a worthy charity can fill that gap, and fill your hearts. You can also retain talent longer and attract more of the types of people you want working with you. Tim Johnson joined Binky Patrol 25 years ago when he bought is wife an elaborate sewing machine. Their entire family joined, and then the company he worked for, BMC Software. It was about actually doing something - not just writing a check. They involved all teams around the world and even those visiting the offices. Everyone was invited to get to know Binky Patrol by decorating squares for quilts, and participating in their company Bink-A-Thon. They were all in. Tune in for ideas of how you might consider getting your company involved with a charity - even if it's not Binky Patrol. What touches the heart of your team?

We are still one world and sometimes one very spread out company. A great way to get to know each other is through team-building events, but what can you do that will allow each location to get to know the other locations? An event where you work with one or more charities, perhaps make blankets live, have a guest speaker from the place your teams will deliver their blankets, have a relay benefitting a charity in those big inflatable balls at each location simultaneously rolling in a field. Well, you get it. The ideas coming out of our heads are endless, not very expensive, a lot of fun and build great memories, as well as help you retain talent.  Join Susan and Lisa for this 20-minute event idea firehose. If you have questions, want to talk about more ideas, let them know!