Join us as we celebrate United Way’s campaign kickoff with a barbecue and washers tournament!
Tickets are $20 and will go to help people in the community through United Way’s annual campaign.
When
Saturday, September 12
Noon
Where
Tower Grove Park
St. Louis, MO 63110
Register
http://www2.stl.unitedway.org/gennextkickoff
The third annual GenNext holiday party is right around the corner…make sure to reserve your spot today. We will commemorate another successful year of improving the St. Louis community and raise money for those in need this holiday season. Register online today.
When: December 3, 5:30 - 9 p.m.
Where: Big Brothers Big Sisters/501 N. Grand/St. Louis, MO 63103 (see map)
Cost: $15 in advance/$20 at the door — includes drinks and hors d’oeuvres.
Register: Register online today. Online registration ends December 2 at 5 p.m.
By Christy Oldani
Wine, food, bread pudding, and all for a good cause to support the United Way! It was a tough job, but someone had to do it.
Fellow GenNexter Stephanie Herbers and I claimed Harvest as our restaurant to host for United Way’s first ever Taste of Giving night. The event started at 5:30 p.m. and Stephanie and I donned our oversized Live United shirts. We tied our shirts up in a knot to fit, like we did in the 80s, but we didn’t care how we looked, we just wanted folks to know we were supporting the United Way.
We planted ourselves at the bar and proudly spread out 2-1-1 and other United Way brochures on the hostess stand and bar. We greeted every guest on their way in, letting them know it was United Way night and 20 percent of their bill would be donated to the United Way to help the nearly 200 agencies in our community they serve.
Almost everyone coming into the restaurant was coming to support the United Way. We spoke to a man who was running the agency side of fundraising. We spoke to several who do other jobs with United Way agencies or work for the United Way. One young couple had heard about the Taste of Giving while watching the Blues game. They decided to change their “date night” to Tuesday instead of Thursday and come out to support the United Way. Click to learn more
If there is one thing I have learned from my six years in St. Louis, it’s that this is a relationship town. It’s a lot about how you know. And, well, I need to know more people. Chances are, unless your name is Jennifer Estes or Scott Lapp, you do too. Thankfully this October you get the chance to get to know people in the know.
On October 1, the Connect With initiative is kicking off its annual month of activities. Connect With is a collaboration of nearly 40 young professionals organizations aimed at showing all that St. Louis has to offer. The initiative highlights all the interesting and unique facets of St. Louis, whether it is arts and culture, community service, diversity initiatives, professional development or networking.
GenNext has been a part of Connect With from the beginning and it has been a wonderful experience. We have been connected to many great volunteers and friends. And while I’d like to think GenNext is the only group you need to be a part of, the reality is there are a lot of great organizations in St. Louis.
I’m proud to be a part of many of them and have found out a lot about my community and myself through my participation with some of these organizations. If you have an interest in art or science or if you want to get more involved with your local zoo, this a great opportunity to find out more about these groups.
Of course I couldn’t have a GenNext post without telling you all the wonderful stuff we have planned for October (and beyond). We have some great service projects at places such as the Crisis Nursery and Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club. And we also have two great leadership lunches coming up (Dick Fleming and Hugh Grant!). If you haven’t been to a GenNext event in awhile or (heaven forbid) you have never been to a GenNext project now is a great time to get involved. Just find the event you want to attend on our calendar, and RSVP to gennext@stl.unitedway.org.
The Connect With kick-off is on Wednesday, October 1 at Skybox. Please stop by the GenNext table to get more information on upcoming events or just say hi. While you are there check out what else is going on in your community. If you can’t make it that night you can view a complete list of events at www.connectwithstl.com.
Hope to see you Wednesday.
The following was written by GenNext member Jenny Viviano. Thanks, Jenny!
A promise of wine and California rolls brought me to Tani Sushi last Wednesday night for the first ever GenNext volunteer recognition event.
Over 70 GenNext members, fresh from work in their business best, mingled around the sleek black bar and sat chatting in the dining area. A colorful spread was laid out on the sushi bar and I happily filled a plate (thanks to the fellow GenNexter in line who deterred me from taking one of the flaming sushi rolls set on top of the bar – those were apparently just for show!).
I found a seat at a round table and joined a lively discussion about which appetizer was best. My vote was the shrimp dumpling, but the vegetable rolls and chicken skewers also had fans at the table.
After a quick drink refill, I sat back down for a short presentation by GenNext steering committee member Christy Oldani, United Way senior VP Kathy Gardner, and Tim Butler, the executive director of Mary Ryder Home. Christy and Kathy shared information on the great work that GenNext does in the community – over 50 completed service projects and 2,200 volunteer hours donated since 2005.
Tim spoke about how volunteers have a positive effect on the quality of life at Mary Ryder. A couple months ago, I spent a Sunday afternoon painting nails and chatting with the residents at Mary Ryder. Hearing how that time really did make a difference was the highlight of the event for me.
Well, OK, the Sex and the City roll was pretty good too!