2017 was a year of continued growth for the Center for Social Change. Growth in all ways – new members, partners, staff, and community impact. Check out our 2017 Annual Report to learn more!
Your Brain on Virtual Reality
As Virtual Reality (VR) becomes more accessible, social ventures are looking new ways to use the latest technology in tackling socials issues such as addiction.
As the number of Americans addicted to painkillers and other opioids remains a significant problem, VR is providing drug-free pain management to hospital patients. The Virtual Relief Organization, a project sponsored by the Center for Social Change, brings VR headsets to medical facilities at no cost, allowing patients to simulate the experience of traveling to destinations around the world as part of their recovery process.
The technology may even be helpful in revealing injuries that doctors have a nearly impossible time diagnosing, such as mild concussions caused by small impact during athletics or military training.
Read the full article here.
Register Now for Brackets for Good 2018
Brackets for Good Miami, a fun, bracket-style online fundraising competition, is coming up in March, but if you want to participate, you need to register by December 31st.
Brackets For Good uses the fun and excitement of a bracket-style tournament in the month of March to help nonprofits gain awareness, connect with new donors, and raise funds. Nonprofits participate for free and keep the dollars raised no matter how far they advance. Participants are eligible for cash and awareness-building bonuses, and the tournament champion receives a $10,000 grand prize bonus!
Last year, 48 nonprofits across South Florida raised over $66K through the Brackets For Good Miami tournament. Over half of the donations they received were from new donors to their organizations.
Center for Social Change will host a pre-tournament pep rally in February, where selected nonprofits will learn key strategies and developments to set themselves up for a successful tournament run.
Registration is free and quick. 90 nonprofits in South Florida have already registered.
‘Give Miami Day’ Offers You The Chance To Help Your Community
Give Miami Day is an opportunity to highlight the work and support the efforts of organizations house at the Center for Social Change that are working to change the world every day.
From CBS Miami:
Charities Services Centers was one of many organizations that supports the community year round. But on this day, they donated to dozens of nonprofits.
“Working here has been extremely gratifying,” said Robert Carbajal. “Especially on days like today where I can see what we do actually goes directly into the pockets and funding that organizations need every single day to do what they do from education to afterschool programs to sports programs health research and all of it.”
In celebration of the 24-hour event, the Freedom Tower was lit purple.
Nonprofits like the ones housed at Center for Social Change are thankful.
“Who doesn’t feel good about giving back? We’re getting most of the holidays and we really like to see people get excited about giving back so that’s what exciting for us at Center for Social Change,” said Christina Pierce.
Watch the segment here.
Doing well by doing good: Social ventures on the rise in South Florida
Social entrepreneurs are finding a home in Miami and at the Center for Social Change. These leading edge enterprises are tackling some of the community’s most pressing issues like poverty, health care, and equality.
From Miami Herald:
A few years ago, Lauren Harper co-founded the Center for Social Change, a Miami co-working and educational hub for social ventures. This year, she founded a Miami chapter of the global Social Venture Partners organization to support social ventures in the growth stage through mentorship and investment and eventually grow social impact investing in South Florida, too. Social ventures chosen by SVP will be given $100,000 over three years in funding and support services.
Read the full article here.