I’m fortunate to be on the board of Comunidad Para Baja, a wonderful organization that provides health and education services to the indigenous tribes of Baja California, Mexico. (More about Comunidad in future blogs.) Recently, I spoke about Comunidad at a meeting of the Geneva-Mission Lions Club.

The meeting took place a a wonderful, old hall in the Mission. Most of the attendees were retired men. A couple of women, plus one guy who seemed to be about my age (okay, not young but younger.) They had a drink together, and held their business meeting over dinner. Clearly there were deep friendships in the room, I imagine forged through years of social fellowship and working together to help the community.

The people who sat together at this meeting and listened to my pitch were thoughtful, engaged and ready to jump in and help. And help they did. Since the meeting, they’ve connected us with an eye surgeon who is interested in volunteering with Comunidad and performing much-needed cataract surgeries on tribe members. Comunidad has also met with the Rotary Club of San Jose, and the group is connecting them with a local Rotary group in Mexico.

My colleague, Mo Mahmoud, describes these groups as local pieces of a global puzzle, an international organization with shared values as well as resources. I’m struck by just how powerful the service club model is and am wondering if this tradition is slowly dying out. I hope not, because there is such good work being done by these groups. And beyond the good work, there are business networks and lasting friendships formed.

Are there business groups out there who are committed to service and successful at drawing in new members just starting out in their careers? If so, I’d love to hear about them.

Community, Comunidad Para Baja, Lions Club, rotary club, service clubs

No doubt about it, Eastwick is a for-profit business.  Some years more than others, but I digress.  Companies and individuals in Silicon Valley regularly get beat up for not giving as much as our counterparts in other parts of the country.  We have our work cut out for us if we want to compete with the likes of New York or Utah (highest per capita giving.)  

But there’s lots to celebrate here in the not-for-profit world. The Valley is full of creative, vital organizations doing great work in the community as well as companies and individuals finding their own, sometimes uniquely Valley-ish ways of giving back.  From time to time, I’d like to shine a spotlight on some of my favorite organizations and stories.  Some I’ve had the privilege of working with closely, others I’m just watching from a distance.  Don’t worry, I won’t be soliciting donations but if the spirit moves you, feel free to get out your checkbook or spend some time.    

You won’t be sorry.  And neither will they.

giving, not for profit, Silicon Valley