Why D.C.? Couple of reasons. First, our charity helps servicemen and women and their families, so what better locale to show civilian support than our Nation’s capitol?

Second, we want to expand our reach. Many small businesses in Virginia have clients over the bridge and vice versa. Why not create new opportunities for people to connect?

Third, the Terrace at 101 Constitution is a beautiful venue, and we wanted to take advantage of the spectacular view. Thanks to Kim Reyes, the event manager at the Terrace for her help in pulling this together for us!

If you don’t typically enjoy the commute to network on the other side of the Beltway, make this your one exception. You’ll have fun, meet new business contacts and you’ll be helping our soldiers.

Don’t have your ticket? Go to our Events page and register now!

- Jennifer Saunders

Two summers ago, I worked as an intern/chaperone for a youth program in Washington, DC. This program brought in rising junior and senior Latino high school students from around the country who were interested in going into the medical field upon entering college. The second to last day we all went on a tour to the Walter Reed Medical Center. I am not a fan of any sort of hospital, medical center or doctors office. Also, I had never been to a hospital specifically aimed to aid war veterans. Along with the fact I have the biggest place in my heart and the utmost respect for war veterans, I knew this tour was going to touch me in the most profound way. I thought back to this day when I first heard of Luke’s Wings.

Luke’s Wings began when co-founder Sarah Wingfield visited Walter Reed Medical Center. As a cheerleader for the Washington Redskins (Go Skins!), visiting the Medical Center was another appearance. There she met Luke, who lost an arm and leg in combat and had been having a hard time coping with the sudden turn of events. When Sarah left Walter Reed Medical Center, she knew that particular day was one that was going to remain with her forever. With the help of a friend, Sarah gave Luke’s Wings flight.

This amazing organization provides travel planning and complimentary airplane tickets to wounded soldiers and families of wounded soldiers currently recovering at military hospitals all over the country. The courage soldiers possess is without a doubt admirable. They are fully aware of all the life-threatening risks of being in combat and war zone. These men and women embody what it means be a hero of our country.

When soldiers come home with life-threatening injuries and severed limbs, it is a constant reminder of the great service they provide for our country. However, for the actual soldier, more than likely the acceptance of the cards they have been dealt will be hard to reach. That’s where Luke’s Wings comes in. The organization makes sure wounded soldiers have his or her family at their side to provide constant support, encouragement and reassurance that they are not alone.

As much as I would love to talk more about how moving Luke’s Wings is, you could see for yourself! Our next Networking for Good Event will be Thursday, May 24th at the Terrance at 101 Constitution from 5:30pm- 8:30pm. Get your tickets now!

- Bianca Alonso, Networking For Good intern

There were many new faces at event, which is something we always try to strive to accomplish.  With each Networking For Good event, we want to get the word out to a wider net of area professionals through our grassroots marketing, social media, postcards and (of course) word of mouth.

Joining us were Meredith Magwire and Rachel Crowley from Habitat for Humanity, who spoke with the crowd about their organization.  AdviCoach’s James Lawson’s kicked off the event at 5pm with a presentation on the Five Road Blocks to Success. It was great to have AdviCoach there to give great insight on the areas that could potentially sabotage our success in the business world.

It was great to see Sabrina Zimmerman and Simon Zimmer, founders of Aguayuda, who came to lend their support after co-hosting our last Networking For Good event in February. It was great to see different organizations supporting one another with the common goal to help those in need.

This event was a great success: fun, informative and lively. If you were not able to make it to this event, we hope to see you at our next one: Networking For Luke’s Wings, May 24 from 5:30-8:30 at Terrace at 101 Constitution.

Habitat for Humanity helps families by building safe low-cost homes.  But while Habitat for Humanity is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit organizations, with chapters all across the country, it still faces the same problem all nonprofits face: not enough money to cover the tremendous and every-growing need.

When the economy declined, so did the monetary resources available for Habitat for Humanity chapters. For example, in 2010 the Helena, Montana Habitat chapter was facing struggles and doubts to complete their in-progress project. The four unit structure was three quarters complete, but there was not enough money to finish the fourth unit. Habitat usually relied on foundation grants for much of it funding but when the economy tanked in late 2008, so did its monetary resources. About 90 percent of the grants to the Helena chapter evaporated, with foundations indicating that their grant making would be curtailed until the economy rebounded.

Grant money, which used to make up 65 percent of Habitat’s budget, now accounts for only 12 percent and payroll for full-time Habitat employees has been cut.

In 2009, Habitat for Humanity of Sebastopol County, California faced huge set-backs as their usual corporate donations declined. Heading into the 2009 budget year, the group budgeted for $888,000 in contributions from banks, insurance companies, real estate firms, service groups, etc., but by the end of May only $548,000 had materialized. This led to difficult decisions. The Sebastopol chapter’s special projects coordinator and its community outreach worker were let go, and salaries for the remaining staff were cut 18 percent.

Also, building projects for families who had been waiting three years for homes had to be put on hold due to lack of funding. (Imagine you and your family being in that position!)

Habitat for Humanity makes a profound impact on countless families, and enriches everyone who gives of their time, services and funds. Without donations from businesses, service groups, or individuals, this cannot be possible.

It’s only a matter of time before the economy experiences another economic downfall, and it’s imperative to support Habitat for Humanity and other nonprofits organizations now. The help we provide now can make a huge difference on the future.

Our April 17 event for Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia is THIS TUESDAY!  Please buy your ticket now. If you can’t attend the event, please consider making a donation, either through Networking For Good (contact Eddie@impactme.com for details) or directly through the Habitat For Humanity of Northern Virginia website.

This is the exact picture that a good friend and a student at University of Alabama− painted for me after the devastating April 27th tornado that hit Tuscaloosa. Organizations like Habitat for Humanity aid communities like Tuscaloosa during times of devastation or economic hardship. Before the April 27th tornado, the Tuscaloosa chapter of Habitat for Humanity had plans to build two houses for needy families that year. After the tornado, new home construction shifted into overdrive. Families that lived in Habitat houses that were destroyed in the tornado and those who were next in line to for homes were put at the top of the list.

Habitat Restore was a huge help in building these homes. Restore is a Habitat resale outlet that sells reusable and surplus building materials—such as cabinets, furniture and appliances to the public. Habitat Restore accepted these kinds of items as well as salvaged items from homes, like stainless steel pipes and fancy trim work to doors.

In our neck of the woods, Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia adopted a program this past year called A Brush with Kindness. When basic family expenses exceed a household’s income, cutting back is a necessity. Unfortunately cutting back usually affects home maintenance. Over time, a deferring home maintenance can cause a downward spiral of deterioration and hazardous living conditions. Homeowners become faced with city code violations and homeowner insurance cancellation when their home is in dire disrepair. Through an application process, A Brush with Kindness provides caring volunteer groups who help homeowners to complete necessary work such as remodeling, renovation, exterior painting, ramps and accessible doorways, siding repair, weatherization and waterproofing.

Habitat for Humanity also initiated a national Women Build volunteer program with Lowe’s. Women Build targets women who want to learn about construction and help to build homes. To date, this organization has built 1,900 houses. This May 5-13 is National Women Build Week, an annual event in which women devote at least one day to help eliminate poverty housing. National Women Build Week is typically held during the week leading up the Mothers’ Day. Can you say mother/daughter bonding?

There are so many great aspects and ways to get involved with Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia and we are SO excited to partner with them for our April 17th event, Networking For Habitat For Humanity at Chima in Tyson’s Corner. Save the date and get your tickets now!

Networking is a common, yet important element to the business world that forges strong relationships between businesses, organizations, and employees. For a business, networking can lead to gaining potential clients and can also be a way to find future employees and partners. So, what could be better than a typical networking event? A networking event supporting a great cause!

Networking for a cause not only provides an opportunity for you to get to know other businesses and business professionals, it also improves your company’s image within the community. Image is critical in the business world, especially in the Social Media Age. A bad image can severely hamper your business, so it is important that your business receives as much positive publicity as possible.

Another reason to network for a cause is to improve employee morale. Being able to bring employees together to help those who are less fortunate creates a common sense of civic “team” pride and boosts employee morale. You’re involving them in something that is bigger than the business; a cause that they may not have contributed to otherwise.

If you’re planning to join us on April 17^th to support Habitat of Humanity of Northern Virginia, why not make it a team function? Invite your sales and marketing team, your management team… everyone!

This advice runs through my mind on a daily basis. Networking is creating and maintaining a strong circle of contacts that will serve you well for years to come, and further open doors to make the acquaintances to further your career. This will be an additional tool for your benefit during times of economic struggle.

There are also great networking opportunities at your current job, such as meeting and talking with new coworkers and continuing to communicate with them. Sales people and business development staff can be especially helpful about good venues for networking (such as at a Networking For Good event!).

Join a professional organization in your field–for example, Public Relations Society of America if you are in the PR field. By regularly attending meetings you will meet new people with similar interests and goals as well as benefit from the information and knowledge provided via seminars and speakers.

Social media is a powerful and resourceful tool to use for networking. For example, LinkedIn lets you create a profile and “connects” you to business professionals. It’s like a modern twist on the traditional networking approach to finding customers or landing a job. LinkedIn also has a variety of groups targeted for individuals with similar professional interests. Groups are an exceptional way to meet new customers, partners and potential employers. Facebook and Twitter are also great ways to network, with gaining thousands of business users on a daily basis. Follow local networking organizations like Networking For Good so you’ll always know when and where the hot events will happen.

Networking is all about relationships–past, present and future. In a broader sense, you never know when you’ll need the person sitting next to you on an airplane, the person who spilled their coffee at Starbucks, or the CxO who left her six figure salary at Coca-Cola in Atlanta, GA to open her own PR firm in Tyson’s Corner, VA. The most unlikely people can make the utmost difference in your career.

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Register for our April 17th event with Habitat for Humanity! 

Networking is an important part of my business plan, but I often find that most networking events feel more like Singles Night at the Ramada Inn. You know, half the attendees stand around in tightly knit groups and never let outsiders in. The other half troll the perimeter, looking for fresh meat. Some walk over to you, read your name tag and move on if they don’t find you to be in their target market.  I’d rather stay home with my cat!!

When we launched Networking For Good, we were determined to make our events different, and they are. When you walk into our events, you’re greeted warmly. Our team is there to make sure that you’re mingling and meeting. There’s plenty of food, an easily-accessible bar and typically we’ve got a few interesting sponsor happenings (like tomorrow night, you can get a chair massage from Serendipity Wellness, or sample authentic Brazilian Brigadeiro desserts from Chica Bom Bom).

The other noticeable difference in our events is the energy and camaraderie. which comes from the fact that we’re all there to support an important cause. This element of  “connections for a cause” is what sets Networking For Good events apart. I think that’s why people are so genuinely happy to get together to network at one of our events. It’s why the Networking For Good team works so hard to make it happen, and that’s way better than networking because we “have to”.

Hope to see you on Tuesday, February 21st from 5-8pm at Paolo’s in Reston. If you haven’t registered, go ahead and do it now on our Events page.

I just sat down to write this post after making myself a fresh pot of coffee. I drink way too much but that’s my privilege, right?  Scoop the java, fill the pot with cold water, and let ‘er perk.

What if I turned on the faucet and nothing happened? What if the water that came out of the faucet was brown?  Or if there was no faucet to turn on?

Sure, we hear the statistics on the news. (1 out of 8!) What does having no clean water mean to a community of families?

Sanitation becomes a huge problem. It’s difficult to keep the home clean, to prepare the food. Personal hygiene is a monumental challenge. High infant mortality is a reality. Disease is a fact of life.

Children are most vulnerable to water-related diseases because their immune systems are not strong enough to defend diseases. One of the most common water-related illnesses is diarrhea. Contaminated water can both cause this illness as well as prevent proper treatment for the resulting dehydration. Affecting both children and adults, these illnesses negatively affect communities’ well-being and ultimately hinder the locals’ productivity at work, school and at home.

Aguayuda’s mission is to improve life and health in poor rural communities in Colombia through clean water and education. They have chosen clean water as their main focus because it affects many people in countries all over the world. Many problems exist when there is limited or no access to clean water in a community, and that can make it extremely difficult for a community to grow, to prosper and to be healthy.

Please join Networking For Good on February 21 at Paolo’s Ristorante in Reston Town Center for Networking For Aguayuda. Enjoy the food, meet great people, and support this wonderful international organization. 100% of the proceeds go directly to the charity.