Announcing TLC’s April Year of Service Project

TLC heads to the land of cheese steaks and brotherly love in April to partner with the region’s largest organization in fighting hunger. Philabundance was founded in 1984 with the belief that no man, woman or child should go hungry. Today the organization helps provide hunger relief through direct service programs, food cupboards, emergency kitchens, shelters, daycare and senior centers.

Staff and TLC friends will volunteer at Philabundance’s Hunger Relief Center in South Philadelphia on Friday, April 20. We will assist staff with sorting and preparing food boxes for local seniors in need. Clients and other friends in the area have the opportunity to join us for either one or both shifts – 8:30-12pm and/or 12:30-3:30pm.

To join us, please contact Ashley Gunning at agunning@thelukenscompany.com or 703-845-8484 x231. We hope to see lots of familiar faces with us in April! 

TLC’s Year of Service Partners with New York’s Materials for the Arts

TLC staff and friends were warmly greeted with fresh bagels, a delicious pecan ring from Carlo’s Bake Shop (of TLC’s show Cake Boss) and smiles when they arrived at Materials for the Art’s (MFTA) warehouse in Queens on March 21 for two days of volunteering. Little did volunteers know that additional fuel would be essential as some heavy lifting lie ahead!

The third stop on TLC’s Year of Service introduced us to a New York based organization whose mission is to get art supplies into the hands of arts and cultural organizations, public schools and community arts programs. An added benefit to their work is giving new life to unwanted items that are repurposed (and kept out of landfills!) through art. Naturally this mission immediately resonated with TLC staff members who share a passion for the arts and conservation with many of our clients.

Like many small nonprofits, MFTA has a long list of to-do items that always seem to get lost while other needs take priority and the purpose of TLC’s volunteer work was to help improve efficiency by tending to those tasks. Volunteers repaired broken canvas bins and replaced wheels to make carting materials throughout MFTA’s enormous warehouse a bit easier. They also laid new tile in a conference room and classroom, where MFTA shows art teachers how to incorporate repurposed materials into their lesson plans. It was hard work, but of course the team managed to squeeze in some fun while they were at it! 

Executive Director Harriet Taub wrote about TLC’s volunteer work on MFTA’s blog here. “Usually people come to MFTA for a shopping spree but the tables were pleasantly turned on Wednesday,” Harriet wrote, referring to Pinnacle List Company President Holly Ruble purchasing tools and supplies for the MFTA warehouse.

The heartfelt appreciation was mutual as volunteers also benefited from the experience. “We had an amazing time volunteering with MFTA!” said account director and project captain Hilary Baar. “The best part was that we could really sense the impact this small organization has on countless artists and nonprofits throughout New York. A field trip of young students visited while we were helping in the warehouse – it was great to see their imaginations spark when they got their hands on the supplies at MFTA!”

A special thanks to Cheryl Bailes from Central Park Conservancy and Carrie Buell and Aaron Kobilis with Friends of John Thune for volunteering alongside us. And thank you MFTA for welcoming our group and teaching us more about your important work!

For more information about volunteer opportunities with Materials for the Arts, or to make a philanthropic or in-kind gift, contact Harriet Taub, Executive Director, at 718-729-2029 or htaub@mfta.org.

TLC’s Year of Service Partners with New York’s Materials for the Arts

TLC staff and friends were warmly greeted with fresh bagels, a delicious pecan ring from Carlo’s Bake Shop (of TLC’s show Cake Boss) and smiles when they arrived at Materials for the Art’s (MFTA) warehouse in Queens on March 21 for two days of volunteering. Little did volunteers know that additional fuel would be essential as some heavy lifting lie ahead!

The third stop on TLC’s Year of Service introduced us to a New York based organization whose mission is to get art supplies into the hands of arts and cultural organizations, public schools and community arts programs. An added benefit to their work is giving new life to unwanted items that are repurposed (and kept out of landfills!) through art. Naturally this mission immediately resonated with TLC staff members who share a passion for the arts and conservation with many of our clients.

Like many small nonprofits, MFTA has a long list of to-do items that always seem to get lost while other needs take priority and the purpose of TLC’s volunteer work was to help improve efficiency by tending to those tasks. Volunteers repaired broken canvas bins and replaced wheels to make carting materials throughout MFTA’s enormous warehouse a bit easier. They also laid new tile in a conference room and classroom, where MFTA shows art teachers how to incorporate repurposed materials into their lesson plans. It was hard work, but of course the team managed to squeeze in some fun while they were at it! 

Executive Director Harriet Taub wrote about TLC’s volunteer work on MFTA’s blog here. “Usually people come to MFTA for a shopping spree but the tables were pleasantly turned on Wednesday,” Harriet wrote, referring to Pinnacle List Company President Holly Ruble purchasing tools and supplies for the MFTA warehouse.

The heartfelt appreciation was mutual as volunteers also benefited from the experience. “We had an amazing time volunteering with MFTA!” said account director and project captain Hilary Baar. “The best part was that we could really sense the impact this small organization has on countless artists and nonprofits throughout New York. A field trip of young students visited while we were helping in the warehouse – it was great to see their imaginations spark when they got their hands on the supplies at MFTA!”

A special thanks to Cheryl Bailes from Central Park Conservancy and Carrie Buell and Aaron Kobilis with Friends of John Thune for volunteering alongside us. And thank you MFTA for welcoming our group and teaching us more about your important work!

For more information about volunteer opportunities with Materials for the Arts, or to make a philanthropic or in-kind gift, contact Harriet Taub, Executive Director, at 718-729-2029 or htaub@mfta.org.

TLC Pulse / 03.21.12

• Did you know that nonprofit solicitations only make up 0.5% of U.S. mail, according to a recent U.S. Postal Service survey? All the more reason your direct mail campaign will stand out among the real junk mail!
• Chronicle of Philanthropy reports that YouTube now allows nonprofits to broadcast live events through their video channels – for free!
• Google just launched Social Reports, a set of five reports that apply key business-related metrics to branded social media sites and marketing campaigns. This underscores the importance of having a social media strategy in place and the impact it can have on conversions.

Announcing TLC's March Year of Service Project

Start spreading the news...TLC is leaving for New York on our March Year of Service project! We're couldn't be more excited to partner with our next organization, Materials for the Arts (MFTA), on a two-day project at their art supply warehouse in Queens.

MFTA provides thousands of New York City arts and cultural organizations, public schools and community arts programs with the supplies they need to run and expand their programs. They gather supplies from companies and individuals who no longer need them and distribute them at no cost to artists and educators in need. The organizational model not only enriches arts education in the city, but it also keeps unwanted materials out of the waste stream and landfills. It’s a win-win all around!

TLC volunteers will spend Wednesday, March 21 and Thursday, March 22 helping MFTA organize their art supply warehouse and also assisting artists and educators who visit during the organization’s shopping day. If you’re interested in joining clients and friends who’ve already committed to the project, please contact Ashley Gunning at agunning@thelukenscompany.com or 703-845-8484 x231.

We’ll be back later in March to recap!

TLC Pulse / 03.14.12

• Forbes.com wrote a great article last week about how direct mail is “alive and kicking”. Among the reasons listed is that consumer surveys show that physical media – pieces that the consumer can physically interact with – leaves a deeper imprint on the brain, thereby increasing ROI.
• The USPS revised its restructuring plan recently so that $20 billion in annual costs will be cut by 2015 and another $2 billion the following year. Among the cuts proposed that Congress will need to approve is an increase in First-Class stamps to 50 cents.
• Tickets to see the new home of the Barnes Foundation go on sale tomorrow, amid news that membership has increased from 390 in March 2009 to 15,000 today.
• The 340 ton rock destined to be turned into artwork, “Levitated Mass”, arrived at Los Angeles County Museum of Art on Saturday!

Turning Clicks into Conversions

Getting visitors to your website is only half the battle. How can you ensure that visitors convert to supporters? 

Read The Lukens Company’s latest whitepaper, “Turning Clicks into Conversions: How to Evaluate & Optimize Online Marketing Channels”, for some commonly overlooked do’s and don’ts and the four steps to improving your online conversion process.

Get the whitepaper here.

Announcing TLC’s March Year Of Service Project

Start spreading the news...TLC is leaving for New York on our March Year of Service project! We're couldn't be more excited to partner with our next organization, Materials for the Arts (MFTA), on a two-day project at their art supply warehouse in Queens.

MFTA provides thousands of New York City arts and cultural organizations, public schools and community arts programs with the supplies they need to run and expand their programs. They gather supplies from companies and individuals who no longer need them and distribute them at no cost to artists and educators in need. The organizational model not only enriches arts education in the city, but it also keeps unwanted materials out of the waste stream and landfills. It’s a win-win all around!

TLC volunteers will spend Wednesday, March 21 and Thursday, March 22 helping MFTA organize their art supply warehouse and also assisting artists and educators who visit during the organization’s shopping day. If you’re interested in joining clients and friends who’ve already committed to the project, please contact Ashley Gunning at agunning@thelukenscompany.com or 703-845-8484 x231.

We’ll be back later in March to recap!

TLC’s Year Of Service Stops In Austin

The rain didn’t stop TLC staff from exerting a bit of manual labor in exchange for a good cause down in Austin, TX! Our second stop on TLC’s Year of Service tour introduced us to Green Doors, a small organization in Austin committed to preventing and helping end homelessness in Central Texas. They do this not only by creating affordable, safe, quality housing for formerly homeless residents, but also by providing residents with the support services and education needed to end chronic homelessness.

So while rain deterred our original plans to get outside and help Green Doors with landscaping needs at several of their housing facilities, volunteers found plenty of work to keep them busy indoors. Over the course of two days, TLC staff helped build furniture for two apartments in Green Doors’ transitional housing site for veterans at Pecan Springs.

TLC volunteers also got a tour of several Green Doors housing facilities located throughout the Austin area. Account Assistant Joe Richards commented, “It was amazing to see the number of apartment complexes and houses Green Doors provides for disabled veterans and families struggling with homelessness. The sense of community amongst the residents is very apparent.”

Click to see more photos from TLC's Austin Year of Service project!

The experience was inspiring to volunteers. Lynn Levendusky, graphic designer, shared, “It was heartwarming to hear stories about previously homeless individuals who were given a place to live and a chance at gaining independence through the services Green Doors offers.”

And the impact the group’s work and philanthropic contribution will have on Green Doors residents is invaluable. “So often, our residents come to us with nothing; opening a door to a fully furnished apartment really makes a house feel like a home,” said Avalon Rehn, volunteer coordinator at Green Doors. Joe agreed, “By far the best part of the entire experience was seeing the finished product – a beautifully furnished apartment that will greet one resident when they move in for the first time.”

New residents begin moving into the apartments at Pecan Springs March 6.

TLC would like to thank Green Doors for welcoming our volunteers on this project. For more information about volunteer opportunities with Green Doors, or to make a gift, contact Avalon Rehn, Volunteer Coordinator at 512-469-9130 x305 or arehn@greendoors.com.