This year I’ve served as president of the Hampton Roads chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. In that role I had the honor of presenting the awards at Tuesday’s National Philanthropy Day Luncheon to the people and organizations whose philanthropic work is among the most outstanding in Hampton Roads.
More than 300 people attended the luncheon, including Philip Walzer, a staff writer for The Virginian-Pilot, who blogs about it here. That number was more than double the attendance at previous events because for the first time locally, philanthropists, donors, and volunteers were the primary focus of the event.
As a result, what a true celebration it was! Many people remarked on the powerful spirit of giving in the room, and some even discovered their friends’ and colleagues’ nonprofit connections that otherwise would have remained unknown.
With 2010 marking the 25th anniversary of National Philanthropy Day, more than 125 communities and 50,000 people took part in NPD events. I was fortunate to be able to attend three of them around Virginia.
In addition to the Hampton Roads luncheon, I also attended the NPD events in Charlottesville on Monday and in Richmond on Wednesday. So this week has shown me — in moving and heartfelt ways –the meaning and impact of the work we do within the nonprofit community. I’m so proud to be part of it.
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