5th Bridge Seeks Ideas for Large-Scale Volunteer Event

5^th Bridge, the Northfield-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting habits of volunteerism and philanthropy, announced a request for proposals (RFP) process to gather ideas for a large-scale volunteer event to be held in the community later this year or early next year. Through the process, the group aims to collect ideas from partnering organizations interested in co-hosting an event that will engage between 250 and 2,000 volunteers in a locally based activity. The deadline for submission is April 30, 2012.

5^th Bridge Executive Director Candy Taylor said, “This is a new concept that we’re launching and we couldn’t be more excited about the possibilities. This community is one that absolutely has the capacity to embrace and promote such an impactful event and we’re eager to get to work.”

For the past five years, 5^th Bridge has hosted a Feed My Starving Children MobilePack event in Northfield, and by all accounts the events have been a great success – altogether engaging an estimated 6,000 volunteers, packing nearly 1.6 million meals and raising approximately $270,000. But in keeping with the 5^th Bridge mission, the organization would like to reach out for new ideas and help launch another initiative or project that engages the community.

Although the engagement possibilities are numerous, 5^th Bridge has outlined the following project criteria to frame the event: 1) engage between 250 and 2,000 local volunteers from 6 to 90 years of age; 2) design an event that would directly involve the Northfield community; 3) ensure that the event could be completed in one week or less; 4) incorporate an educational element and training session to increase volunteer engagement and satisfaction. In addition, 5^th Bridge asks that partnering organizations sketch out a fundraising plan that would outline how funds for the project could be raised.

Taylor continued, “5^th Bridge is a relatively young organization, but we’ve gained solid footing in this community. We’re really looking forward to bringing a new project to life that will inspire a passion for volunteerism and philanthropy in area residents – perhaps residents who have never before felt compelled to participate. A large-scale event – one that rallies volunteers and donors for a greater cause – has a tremendous ability to energize and excite our community.”

For more information and to view the official proposal application, visit 5^th Bridge’s website:www.5thbridge.org/volunteer-event-rfp.

Founded in 2006, 5^th Bridge has set out to foster a culture of volunteerism and community engagement in Northfield and the surrounding region. By providing tools and resources needed to share ideas and information, celebrating acts of kindness, and providing conduits whereby citizens and organizations can easily engage in service and giving, 5^th Bridge aspires to support and empower the Northfield community toward acts of volunteerism and philanthropy. For more information about volunteerism or 5^th Bridge, visit www.5thbridge.org.