The holiday season is approaching – a time to appreciate others
and give back to our community. The spirit of giving is what makes Bainbridge
Island such a special place. It’s a place where no noble cause goes unattended,
no social injustice ignored. The nonprofits of Bainbridge have been the
lifeblood of our community, and it would not be possible without One Call for
All.
One Call for All (OCFA) is a nonprofit that makes it as easy as
possible for Bainbridge Islanders to support the causes they care about most. Here’s
how it works: One Call for All sends out the “Red Envelope,” an appeal letter
that lists 125 different organizations (seven new ones this year). Donors
simply choose which organizations they would like to donate to and make one simple
payment. One Call for All handles the rest.
There are multiple ways to donate, from using a check or credit
card to giving gifts of appreciated assets. And most importantly, 100% of
donations go to the nonprofits, which is especially helpful for the smaller,
volunteer-run organizations that make up about one-third of the Red Envelope
list.
Tracey Denlinger on the move
Ultimately, even though OCFA has made the transactional experience
of donating as easy as possible, the purpose behind the organization is not
about the money. Heading into its 60th year, One Call for All has helped
make philanthropy and nonprofit work important pillars of Bainbridge Island
culture and points of pride for residents. “The more we cultivate a
culture of philanthropy on the island, we all benefit,” says Tracey Denlinger, executive
director of One Call for All.
Lara Hansen, chief scientist and executive director of the non-profit Eco-Adapt organizationDonating, a generous act in itself, also leads to becoming more active and involved in our community. “They provide insight into who we are and what we care about; a window into what matters most to us,” Denlinger said. As Lara Hansen of the environmental nonprofit EcoAdapt puts it, OCFA is “the thread that sews our island’s web of goodness together.” It’s a perfect metaphor for the interconnectedness of this beloved island.
Last year, 13,000 individual donations amassed $1.5 million.
OCFA’s goal this year is to raise the number of donations by 10% by encouraging
donors to choose a new nonprofit they think is doing important work. All donors
need to do is select their cause(s) and make a single donation. One Call for
All will do the rest.
Visit the One Call for All site to donate or find additional information.
“One Call for All is one of those amazing efforts that embodies what is so special about Bainbridge Island.” –Sheila Hughes, Bainbridge Island Museum of Art
“Bainbridge Island is the place that it is because of the
multitude of people and organizations that show up to do their part… Kudos to
OCFA for being the thread that sews our island’s web of goodness together.” –Lara
Hansen, EcoAdapt
“We are very thankful that One Call for All pays all of the fees
for the donations and give donors a chance to include ALL organizations they
care about in one convenient gift.” –Lisa Horn, West Sound Wildlife Shelter
ABOUT KEATS HOONAN . Recent graduate of Loyola Marymount University where he majored in Philosophy and minored in Studio Arts. His passions vary widely and include philosophy, volunteering, art, and fashion but his skills are tied together by the common thread of critical thinking and creativity. Varying interests have led to a wealth of experiences including doing content creation for a startup in the Philippines, mentoring middle school students in Los Angeles, and doing a fashion program at Parsons in New York City.
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