Points of Light Conference – Chicago 2023
Our ToolBank USA Director of Marketing, Julie Italiano, attended the Points of Light conference in Chicago during June. Points of Light is an international nonprofit, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Georgia, United States dedicated to engaging more people and resources in solving serious social problems through voluntary service.
Julie attended a number of sessions, two of which were Championing Your Value with Corporate Partnerships and Civic Talk: Building Community Equity: Disaster Preparedness, Response and Resilience. Great connections were made with some of our existing member agencies, potential members, and corporate and nonprofit supporters.
ToolBank Disaster Services in New Orleans
David Melancon from our New Orleans ToolBank Disaster Services location met up with Gary from Blessed Assurance Missions in Point-Aux-Chenes, Louisiana. This location is part of the Terrebonne Parish, where in August of 2021, Hurricane Ida made landfall. Hurricane Ida was a deadly and extremely destructive Category 4 hurricane that became the second-most damaging and intense hurricane to make landfall in Louisiana on record, behind Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Gary and his team of volunteers are utilizing ToolBank tools to aid in the long-term recovery efforts in the area. They are rebuilding homes nearly 2 years after the hurricane hit.
Check out what’s going on at each of our ToolBanks across the nation. Scroll down to each affiliate and expand the text block to read more about your favorite ToolBank team. All of our affiliates are doing amazing work and we can’t wait to share their updates with you monthly.
Make sure and scroll through the images to the right of our affiliate updates. Most of the updates come with a couple of images related to their article.
Atlanta ToolBank Update:
The Atlanta ToolBank will be hosting their Par-Tee Golf Outing on Tuesday, September 12 at The Manor Golf & Country Club. If you are in the Atlanta area or looking for an excuse to plan a golf trip…this is the outing for you! Gather your buddies and build an incredible foursome to play this challenging and fun course. The Manor winds its way through hardwoods, towering pines, quiet lakes and streams, and is a 7,177-yard, par-72 course. It is the only course in Georgia designed by Tom Watson and offers a variety of elevation changes and well-placed bunkers to lend the perfect balance of beauty, challenge and playability. For more information about Par-Tee, visit: https://www.atlantatoolbank.org/events/golf
Baltimore ToolBank Update:
The Baltimore ToolBank marched in the 2023 Baltimore Pride Parade on June 27th! The ToolBank serves a diversity of partners and embrace their role as stewards of a powerful resource for everyone and in celebration of all the colors on the Progress Pride Flag! ToolBank staff, Jill Gordon and Marcus Mosley, posed on a street in Baltimore along the Pride Parade route. Between them is a shopping cart carrying a number of signs and large tools painted in the Progress Pride Flag colors. There are two multi-colored signs on the front of the cart reading “Don’t Be a Tool – Protect Black Trans Youth” and “ToolBank – Baltimore”. Marcus holds another sign in his left hand that reads, “Stonewall Could Have Ended with a Pepsi”. Trees and puffy white clouds are visible above and behind them.
Charlotte ToolBank Update:
The Charlotte ToolBank announced two promotions for their staff during June! Congratulations are in order for Michelle, their new Special Projects Manager, and to Thomas, the new Program Manager. The Charlotte team is ready to take on the third quarter of 2023 with these promotions in place! Also, the ToolBank welcomed their 1,000th member agency…Epilepsy Reach!
Cincinnati ToolBank Update:
On Friday, June 9th, the Cincinnati ToolBank hosted 112 golfers for their annual Par-Tee for the ToolBank at The Mill Course. Golfers participated in on course games like cornhole and improve your putt with one of the ToolBank’s signature blue tape measures. Golfers also had their chance to win raffle gifts from Stanley Black & Decker and Puma/Cobra Golf. The event generated over $25,000 worth of revenue for the ToolBank and it’s safe to say everyone had a really great time at the outing! Check out photos from Par-Tee.
Also on Wednesday, June 21, the ToolBank welcomed over 30 volunteers from Team Depot, The Home Depot’s associate volunteer force, and Team Rubicon (TR) to complete work on the new second floor training center. Because of the generous grant from The Home Depot Foundation, the ToolBank received new appliances, kitchen and bathroom fixtures, blinds, and over 40 gallons of paint for the space. Team Depot and TR volunteers painted and install the donated items bringing the renovation project one step closer to completion!
Houston ToolBank Update:
Building was on the Houston ToolBank’s agenda for the month of June. The ToolBank hosted a Picnic Table Build Volunteer Build Day on Friday, June 9th. Also, on Sunday, June 11th, the ToolBank helped with an event at the Galena Park Ace Hardware to celebrate their 3rd Anniversary. During the event, volunteers built desks for students that they were able to take home with them! The desks were small and portable enough for families with limited space and are a great way to designate a spot for learning in their home.
If you’re in the Houston area…mark your calendars!
On September 21st, the Houston ToolBank will be hosting its first Axes & Aces Charity Poker Tournament! Your ticket includes entry into the tournament, food, adult beverages and loads of fun with friends of the ToolBank. There will be a ton of great prizes and a chance to rebuy-in.
Phoenix ToolBank Update:
Summer is upon us and that means one thing for sure in Phoenix, high heat temperatures! Which also means Phoenix ToolBank’s newest program, The Heat Re-Leaf and PPE/Consumable Goods Distribution Program is kicking into high gear to support their most vulnerable community members. Thanks to our long-standing partnership with Littler, the Phoenix ToolBank received 30 cases of boxed water after a recent event they hosted locally. The ToolBank team picked up the water from the conference center and with a little help from their Litter Board member, Michael Guilliam, delivered it back to their warehouse. Thanks to the partnership with Valley of the Sun United Way, a receipt for the water was identified within hours. The water landed directly into the hands of their local neighbors just two days later – what a win!
The Phoenix ToolBank is wishing everyone and safe and “cool” summer, but are looking forward to fall because not only does it bring cooler temperatures but also their 9th Annual Hammers & Ales on November 2nd!
Richmond ToolBank
The Richmond ToolBank hosted their Hammers & Ales – Party with a Purpose event on June 10th. Attendees were able to build 23 dog houses for Ring Dog Rescue, 14 picnic tables and 8 picnic benches for Friends of the James. Check out all the pictures to the right. What an amazing event for the Richmond area and ToolBank USA looks forward to hosting our ToolBank National Awards in Richmond this year! Save the Date for the National Awards on Thursday, November 16 at 7pm EST.
Windy City ToolBank
The Windy City ToolBank was featured in Bob Beneson’s Local Food Forum Blog post titled: It’s a Non-Profit Kind of May Day. Bob attended the ToolBank Grand Opening Celebration. Many thanks to Bob for featuring the ToolBank
