Donating Time To Help
by June Blazek
Sometimes finding the time to volunteer with your favorite charity is not always easy. But if you can combine your efforts with attending rock concerts, it makes things a little bit more interesting.
Live music is a great way for communities of like-minded people to gather and celebrate what we can accomplish if we work together to bring a better quality of life to the community that surrounds us.
Raffles and contests are always at the mercy of what individuals and businesses are willing to donate. Luckily for USTORM, they have encountered some of the most generous benefactors. The donations from artists, local businesses, and individuals are at the crux of how USTORM is able to give back to and serve the community and youth of Chicago.
Carrie Cruz of Chicago is Finance Director for another non-profit organization in the Chicago area and has been volunteering her free time with USTORM for a couple years.
When asked about her favorite part of working with USTORM, it was very clear that volunteers like Carrie are not only excited to be bringing friends and family in the Chicago area community together to give back, but it's also fun to be able to attend music events in the area, while helping out.
She says about USTORM, "Still kind of in their infancy stages, they're really starting to create awareness and reach out to local organizations that provide music programs that really give a helping hand." Carrie is excited that as USTORM continues to grow, so will their reach in the community.
It is sometimes hard to think of what will become of non-profits like USTORM and if they will weather the storm of our current economic crisis. However, music and the arts are always important to our communities as a way of transmitting essential cultural values. Music and the arts gives our kids creative dreams and hopes in the future, encouraging innovations and a positive outlook.
As a director at another non-profit in the area, Carrie is optimistic about the future of the non-profit sector. "I think it is a challenging economy and it will be a struggle but I think the resources USTORM has available to them will really allow them to overcome that."
It's this type of optimism that allows for Carrie to assit USTORM in acquiring all types of prizes and gifts generously donated by USTORM supporters, like concert tickets, musical instruments, gift certificates, party packages, and more. The next time you see the decorated USTORM raffle box, donate a few buck and you could win big!