Do. Give. Share. PIN’s 20th Anniversary!
PIN Celebrates 20th Anniversary All Year Long!
Celebrating the past and embracing the future.
Guelph, Ontario | January 18, 2021 |
Inspired by the United Nations International Year of the Volunteer in 2001, the inception of PIN – The People and Information Network (formerly the Volunteer Centre of Guelph Wellington) began as a resource for nonprofits and charities and a central hub for volunteerism.
“PIN connects people, ideas and information together” says Kim Cusimano, executive director, “and we do this through three pillars of work.” Those pillars include a robust Community Information portal hosting more than 1200 information records on essential human services, a pillar of Nonprofit Leadership where PIN leads training, consultation and facilitates communities of practice for executive directors and leaders of volunteers, along with a volunteer network pillar: a database of volunteer opportunities in Guelph and Wellington County, outreach to share these volunteer opportunities, recognition and best practices in leading volunteers.
“Volunteerism builds community” says Cusimano, “when you volunteer, you are making a choice on the kind of community you want to live, work and play in.” Kim continues “the benefits of volunteering are immense; from building networks, skills and experience to meeting new people, being connected to others and finding meaning and purpose through giving of one’s gifts of time, talents and spirit is powerful.” When communities harness that power, everyone benefits.
In its 20th year, PIN celebrates the past and embraces the future. “Two decades of community investment in volunteerism through the founders of this organization and the foundations that the organization has grown from” shares Cusimano, “is to be celebrated. Embracing the future actively focuses on the changing landscape of volunteering and the possibilities ahead.”
To kick off 2021, PIN unveils its commemorative 20th Anniversary logo and the tagline: Do. Give. Share. Kim says “Imagine if our community pledged to do 20 things for good, give $20 for good, share 20 hours for good. The collective impact would blanket our community in the warmth of human kindness and ‘good’; we could all use that.”
In addition, PIN has 3 key initiatives to get started in January:
• Volunteer Survey for Guelph Wellington; open for all to help our community understand the local landscape of volunteerism from the perspective of volunteers. Survey opens today and runs through to February 19.
• Free information session for leaders of volunteers on Virtual Volunteering: January 22 from 9 – 10:00 am. Developed as a result of the Community Benefit Sector Survey results; a funded project through The Guelph Community Foundation and United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin
• EDPG Symposium – 3 speakers. 3 mornings. 3 topics on Sightline, Collaboration and Leadership led by the expertise of Rebecca Sutherns, Founder and CEO of Sage Solutions, Kris Cummings, Principle at DO/ABLE and Curt Hammond, Chief Listening Officer at Pearl Street Communications, Founder 4 Simple Words. January 25 – 27 – 29 from 8:30 – 10:00 am.
“We are excited about the future. Our 20th Anniversary instills pride in the work we have done and acts as a spark as we aspire to continue to grow and outreach into the community. PIN seeks to help our community understand the value of spreading the ‘good’ by volunteering informally to shop for an elderly neighbour, pick up waste along your walk, share vegetables from your garden or volunteering formally to support food security, mental health, board leadership and more. PIN encourages our community to take action through Do. Give. Share.”
