Check Your PULSE!

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College graduates become the pulse of Pittsburgh while finding their own beat.

Not sure what you want to do after you get that college degree? Join other bright, talented graduates in a year of service with PULSE, the Pittsburgh Urban Leadership Service Experience.

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PULSE partners with local, Pittsburgh nonprofits to develop men and women into the next generation of servant leaders in our city. Placement nonprofits receive a young, talented, university graduate to build capacity in their organization while participants receive valuable job training and skill development.

For the past 18 years, they’ve worked with over 100 nonprofit organizations (both large and small) in Pittsburgh including the Western PA Conservancy, Andy Warhol Museum, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Venture Outdoors, East End Cooperative Ministry, and the Union Project.

What makes PULSE pretty unique is that the recently-graduated students live together. These participants share meals, household tasks, and life together. As a result, they grow and develop as individuals and as a cohesive group of young people who are working to make change in Pittsburgh.

PULSE is a Pittsburgh nonprofit participating in the annual Pittsburgh Gives Day of Giving. By giving to them on #12DOG (Oct. 3rd), you will be giving to Pittsburgh communities for years to come as this year’s participants become tomorrow’s leaders. By supporting their mission and vision during the 24-hour donation marathon, you will increase your gift with matching funds from The Pittsburgh Foundation.

As a huge added bonus for PULSE on Day of Giving, an Anonymous Donor is adding to the pot – up to $1000 dollars. This has the potential for up a match of $35 per DOG donor. That’s a more than 100% match for any $25+ new donor who tweets after they donate. So in addition to your donation, PULSE will receive a:

• $25 match for every new donor to PULSE
• and an additional $10 match for every donor who tweets #12DOG and #PULSE12DOG in post after they give.

By my calculations, that means every one who initially donates $25 on DOG at PittsburghGives.org, actually donates $60 if you take just 30 seconds to tweet about it. That’s on top of the match funds they will get from The Pittsburgh Foundation. Is it too obvious to say that should get your pulse racing? Go DOG!

Chris Cooke, executive director of PULSE Pittsburgh says of potential donors, “Their support helps grow and develop PULSE participants into servant leaders, helps other local nonprofits address and meet the challenges facing their organizations, helps the neighborhoods of East Liberty and Garfield and its residents, and helps to serve the neglected and marginalized in the city of Pittsburgh.”

Two of the nonprofits who partner with PULSE share how valued the PULSE participants are to them.

Myrna Newman, Executive Director, Allegheny Cleanways

•  “PULSE allowed us to increase our capacity during a time of transition and financial insecurity.  I was able to focus on other things while our programs continued to flourish thanks to the work of our PULSE participant. We are ending the year at a much better place than we began.  This is in no small part the result of having partnered with PULSE.”

Alexa Belajac, Director of Education and Community Engagement, WYEP 91.3 fm

•  “I honestly don’t think our work in Propel Schools would have been successful without our PULSE participant. She was level-headed, confident, and loving with our students.  I give her a ton of credit for the way she presented our organization to the Pittsburgh community.”

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The reward of being mentored by PULSE, as shared from the viewpoint of several participants. (each participating org is linked)

Maggie Graham, East Liberty Development, Inc.

• “It’s impossible for me to name all the ways I’ve been impacted by PULSE. I’ve discovered passions, personally and professionally. I’ve made life-long friends. I’ve been given the opportunity to serve, take ownership of projects and gain job experience. But most importantly, PULSE has instilled in me a sense of self-confidence and the knowledge that I can and will make a difference in Pittsburgh.”

Anna Pawsey, Union Project & PULSE

• “I can’t quite imagine how different life would have been without PULSE. The past two years have been the best “after college” decision for me. I’ve grown as an individual and young professional because of the people around this program; supervisors, housemates, alumni and neighbors. If I wouldn’t have done PULSE, my community and network of individuals would be completely different.

Joel Wildermuth, Angels’ Place, Inc.

• “PULSE gave me the space and opportunity to do some exploring on a personal and occupational level before deciding what I actually wanted to do with my life. If it hadn’t been for this experience I wouldn’t have the clarity or direction for my life that I have now.”

Jenny Blosser,  East End Cooperative Ministry

• “Without the opportunity to experience PULSE, I would never have built the confidence to believe in what I could offer the world.”

.Simply Put – Keep PULSE beating to cultivate successful leaders for tomorrow – and don’t let them miss out on those additional matching funds!

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12 in 2012- In it to give it?

What is “12 in 2012″ you ask?

It’s simple.

Donate one hour per month of your time to volunteer for a local organization in your area. 1 hour per month; 12 hours of service in 2012. Simple, easy, life changing. We can all start a ripple that becomes a wave. Join me for the challenge and make 2012 the year to volunteer! You can choose one place and volunteer 12 times or pick several and spread yourself around.

If you made a resolution to lose weight, consider walking to your volunteer site if possible. Or volunteer somewhere you can be active and get some exercise while you help out.

If you made a resolution to spend more time with family, then multiply your 12 in 2012 contribution by using  volunteering as a family event.

If you resolved to be kinder, nicer or a better person, what better way to start than by volunteering for others?

And hey, even if you resolved to quit smoking, cursing or some other negative habit- this is one time per month where you know you won’t be able to do those things AND you’ll have something to keep your mind off of it.

If you already make a resolution to become more involved in the community or helping others, here you go. You’ll be part of something bigger, working with others who are part of the same mindset.

Whatever makes this work for you, let’s all be in it to give it this year!

I started the idea for this resolution on the nonprofit news show, Unsung. I volunteer to cover nonprofit events and stories that are sometimes featured on the show, but this was the first episode that placed our team in studio, all at the same time. Joe Wos from Toonseum graciously hosted us and we had a great time putting it together and being together for the Unsung holiday episode. Many other resolutions from locals and nonprofit’s are shared on the episode. View Unsung 18 and other community driven contributions on Pittsburgh On Video or watch the episode right here.

Let me know if you decide to jump on board. Stop back and share your volunteer stories here and tell everyone where you go and how it goes. There just might be a reward at the end of 2012 for the person who shares all 12 in 2012 volunteer experiences

Simply Put- Be part of the year to volunteer and give 12 in 2012!