Capital G: Donor Think Tank Meeting
Capital G has initiated a Donor Think Tank with the aim of building effective, collaborative partnerships between influential donors and front-line service providers, with particular emphasis in the fields of child and family services, and adult education. The Donor Think Tank project was conceived in collaboration with social services providers Child and Family Services, the Family Centre, Government’s Cross Ministry Intervention Team and the Adult Education School.
“The Donor Think Tank project was launched with two aims”, said Michael DeCouto, senior vice president of Marketing for Capital G, “To achieve more effective collaboration between donors and the social service providers who are addressing issues of social stability, and to create better donor awareness of the funding priorities that keep the most critical social support services functioning.”
He said, “We are taking an innovative approach to finding solutions to the social problems we are experiencing now that includes looking at ways to treat the root causes of those problems to prevent them from occurring.“
Mr. DeCouto added, “The launch of the Donor Think Tank project is a natural extension of Capital G’s Giving Back charitable donations programme. Capital G donates to over 80 charitable groups every year, and endeavors to build partnerships with social services providers in order to better understand their unique requirements.”
The first meeting took place on July 8th. It was hosted by Michael DeCouto for Capital G and was attended by a total of 24 donors and social service providers.
The meeting opened with a joint presentation by Social Services representatives who demonstrated how future social stability is greatly affected by issues of literacy and family relationships. The presenters were Kennette Robinson, Senior Social Worker, Child & Family Services; Renee Brown, Coordinator of the Cross Ministry Intervention Team; Peter Carey, Director of Development & Community Education, Family Centre and Donna Daniels, Executive Director, Adult Education School.
In a round-table discussion of the issues highlighted in the presentation, the group was able to identify some possible avenues for partnership. Small focus groups are being formed to address some of the urgent topics that were brought to the table, such as employer assistance, parental mentoring, cash incentives for parenting instruction, professional etiquette for young people, early childhood literacy, and consideration of the Job Corps programme. In addition, donors were invited to match Capital G’s contribution of $5,000 – $10,000 in order to create a resource to be used for initiatives that focus on strengthening children and families.
Donors were reminded that on a professional level they could influence the adoption of corporate strategies to build vital new bridges between donors and human services groups and commit to partner with experienced front-line social workers to help them solve practical operational problems and service more people. On a personal level, they were encouraged to take the lead in motivating others to learn about the challenges and opportunities related to Bermuda’s children and families and become advocates of the use of resources that are in place now so that future problems can be prevented.
Peter Carey added “Family Centre is grateful to have support from Capital G that goes beyond funding and actually assists with our advocacy work. We are also very happy to have other trusted allies on the front lines of today’s social issues. Adult Education School and the Cross Ministry Intervention Team are seeing the same children and families that come to Family Centre at different stages in their lives. We are all working together to help people who are hurting make positive and lasting change.”
Capital G will host the next Donor Think Tank meeting in September. Donors interested to learn more about the Donor Think Tank project should contact Michael DeCouto at mdecouto “at” capitalg.bm or telephone 294-5019
The photo below shows the Think Tank Meeting on July 8th:
Left to right, back row: Michael DeCouto, William ‘Wayne’ Jackson, Rev. Norman Lynas, Bishop Patrick White, Valerie Pethen, Glenn M. Titterton, Tracy Tepper , David Lang, Anne Mello, Ralph Richardson, Martha Dismont, Alex DeCouto, Gina Coddington, Lynne Matcham, Elspeth Brewin, Kevin Comeau and Paula Clarke.
Left to right, seated centre: Renee Brown, Coordinator of the Cross Ministry Intervention Team; Donna Daniels, Executive Director, Adult Education School; Martha Dismont, Executive Director, Family Centre; Peter Carey, Director of Development & Community Education, Family Centre; Kennette Robinson, Senior Social Worker, Child & Family Services
