Note: Please don't miss our Red String 2020 Video at the end of this blog!
After nearly a year of planning, on May 6, 2020, Red String received its formal 501c3 nonprofit approval from the IRS, and as we celebrate our first birthday, we reflect on the year past even as we look forward to the road ahead.
After a year as tumultuous and unsettling as 2020, I am glad that the birth of Red String occurred at this time in history. Over this past year, I had the privilege to visit with many nonprofit organizations, see and hear about their operations, and meet their dedicated and committed leaders, staff, and volunteers, who are making a real difference in their communities. This is especially true with the many issues that emerged as a result of the pandemic. Like many charities, our partners pivoted their operations to address the increasing needs within their communities - food security, homelessness, unemployment, health and wellness, and student support and education - while facing struggles of their own with less donations and available volunteers.
We, too, did a lot of adjusting on the fly this past year, learning and adapting to changes in the landscape while trying not to lose sight of the principles and values that guide us.
The problems we seek to help solve are complex, multi-faceted, and evolving, and we realize that when it comes to complex social problems, meaningful social change is not achieved by quick fixes or money alone. Effective philanthropy requires becoming part of and helping to nurture an ecosystem within a community that include residents, businesses, government, and non-profits whose efforts, cumulatively and over time, can deliver lasting impact. This means making long-term commitments, while leaving room for goals and strategies to adapt and change with the times.
It goes without saying that 2020 has been a tough year for everyone, but despite all the challenges the past year has presented us with, I am beyond proud of what we have achieved. We have our supporters, volunteers, and partner charities to thank for that, and without whose faith, support, and dedication, we wouldn’t be where we are today, and more importantly, have been able to touch and help so many people in the communities that we serve. I am profoundly grateful.
Learn more about some of our 2020 projects and partners:
(to be continued)