Young
professional organizations unite for a good cause
Helping
Hands Blog on NJ.com, July 17, 2008
BY NICOLE FULIMINO
When Maria and I first started Team Charity a little over a year ago, the first
person we wanted to meet with was Laura Occhipinti. For those of you who don't
know Laura, she is somewhat of a goddess in the young professional world in NJ.
In 2004, Laura started New Jersey Young Professionals, as a simple Yahoo group
to make new friends after moving to a new part of the state. Little did she
know, it would turn into a career and a social guide for its thousands of NJ members.
Not only does Laura provide events for 20 and 30 somethings
all over the state, but she also encourages her fellow young professional
entrepreneurs. She hosts YP Mixers twice a year, where young professional
organizations from all over the state come together to network. We knew she was
the first person we needed to talk to for advice. She gave us some great tips.
Clearly, our organizations, while similar in audience, have a different
mission. But we also saw great opportunity for collaboration. At the end of
that first meeting Laura half-jokingly told us, she'd love to do a joint event
once we pulled ourselves together. Well it took a year of hard work, but
consider us together because Team Charity and NJYP are joining forces to
volunteer at the 2008 National Junior Disability Championships and
International Wheelchair and Amputee Games.
The 2008 National Junior Disability Championships and International Wheelchair
and Amputee Games are a week long event hosted by Children's Specialized
Hospital & Foundation. Over the course of the entire week, beginning on
July 19th, 1000 volunteers are needed. Both NJYP and Team Charity thought it
was important to have a young professional presence at such a prestigious
event. We are looking to bring upwards of 40 people to the Opening Ceremonies
and first game on July 20th. There are still slots open, so if you want to come
out for a good cause and network with 40 other philanthropically inclined young
professionals, please email us. Volunteers of all ages (over 15) are still
needed all week, so check your schedule and become a part of a wonderful event.
I truly believe that an organization's success, whether corporate, social,
retail, philanthropic, networking etc., hinges on its leadership. Laura
Occhipinti is a leader because she is the President and Co-founder of NJYP. She
is a GREAT leader because she invokes both respect and trust from everyone she
works with. She truly wants her peers to succeed as she has, and I think it is
because of that "teamwork" attitude that her empire continues to
grow. Maria and I were fortunate to have her as a role model when we were
starting out, and we look forward to many more joint events and our mutual
successes in the future. After all, we are three