Helping Us Help Others
New site Voly rallies volunteer troops to help make Dallas a better place
Imagine a website that helps both nonprofits and volunteers equally, one that allows people to explore opportunities by cause, agency or date and gives organizations a place to submit information, find volunteers passionate about their particular cause and, perhaps most important, track the effectiveness of their postings.
Sound like a philanthropic utopia? Nope, it’s just Voly, the new social website that connects volunteers and organizations in North Texas.
“Voly.org makes it incredibly easy and fun to connect your passions with a nonprofit that can benefit from your time and talents,” says CEO Tammy Richards.
Voly is the brainchild of the Volunteer Center of North Texas, and although the resource is new, this organization has years of experience connecting nonprofits with quality volunteers. Founded in 1971, it’s one of the largest and most active volunteer centers in the country.
“The need for volunteers in North Texas is greater than ever,” says CEO Tammy Richards. “Voly.org makes it incredibly easy and fun to connect your passions with a nonprofit that can benefit from your time and talents.”
For the volunteers, it’s as simple as creating a free account and beginning a search for the perfect project. Nonprofits have a range of membership options — from free to $150 a year — that vary based on how many tools they need.
Organizations can sign up and immediately begin posting and recruiting volunteers. Other cool features for nonprofits include background checks and the ability to track progress and statistics.
Backed by an organization that makes volunteerism its No. 1 priority, Voly has set goals and looks forward to a prosperous future for the state of Texas.
“The ultimate goal is to recruit 50,000 new volunteers over the next three years,” Richards says. “Voly.org is the perfect tool to accomplish that. It takes just seconds to log in and get started, and you can customize the opportunities you see based on your passions, location, timing and skills.”
Intrigued? Head over to Klyde Warren Park at noon on Saturday, June 14, for the site’s kickoff event, where you can celebrate, sign up and make a real difference. You’ll be part of a citywide movement to recruit 50,000 new volunteers that support more than 2,500 nonprofits in North Texas.
You can meet Dallas Cowboys legend Drew Pearson and former Texas Ranger Dave Chalk. You can play ball with the Dallas Mavericks Street Team and interact with the party animals from the Dallas Zoo. You can learn more about 40 participating area nonprofit organizations and enjoy music and dance performances. Perhaps the best part is that it is absolutely free.
Ice skaters showed off their moves in the "Central Park" rink.Photo by Ashley Gongora
The Kilgore Rangerettes channeled the Radio City Rockettes.Photo by Ashley Gongora
Dessert included a cake that looked like a blue Tiffany box.Photo by Michael Merry