|
October 2018
Progress Newsletter
|
|
by James Higa, Executive Director
|
These auspicious numbers stand for October, the 10th, and the 10th anniversary of
TaskRabbit. TaskRabbit is a task management network that instantly connects you with skilled Taskers who can help with everyday tasks that you need done, such as housecleaning, minor home repairs and furniture assembly. And they are revolutionizing every day work for the Taskers in our communities. In their first 10 years, 140,000+ taskers have saved us 4M+ hours, and $140M in meaningful income has been created.
|
There's been a lot of techlash of late about Silicon Valley not doing enough, but that's not the entire picture. I'm reminded of the book Factfulness and its thesis that many of the things in our world are actually better than we think. It's just not reported and visible. TaskRabbit is such an example of an activist company in our midst doing good. They have created TaskRabbit for Good (TR4G) to make it easier for neighbors to give back locally and make a difference on issues that matter to them.
|
They have partnered with Goodwill in San Francisco so that you can include an in-kind donation of your unwanted clothes, shoes, or small household appliances for drop-off to Goodwill as part of the task. That makes it easier to avoid adding to our landfills. Taskers and TaskRabbit HQ employees have contributed to relief efforts in Houston after Hurricane Harvey. TaskRabbit challenged 10 Taskers to build #ATinyHouse in 3 days to benefit the nonprofit organization Community Solutions. There's much more ahead as TR4G endeavors to create more economic opportunity, catalyzes community engagement, and helps us all be planet positive.
|
|
PVF relentlessly stays focused on the 'yes we can' and the positive 'can do's' with our communities.
|
|
Sometimes the race does go to she who runs the fastest.
|
|
|
James Higa and Dawn Hawk from PVF with
Stacey Brown-Philpot, Amanda Ellingsworth, and Gretchen Olney from TaskRabbit |
|
|
Guest blog post by Connie Liu, 2018 Bay Area Inspire Awards recipient
At the start of 2018, Philanthropic Ventures Foundation (PVF) awarded grants to six young Bay Area residents with fresh ideas for building better communities. These awards were made possible through the Bay Area Inspire Awards, which provides $5,000 grants to 18-30 year olds living in San Francisco, Alameda, and San Mateo Counties. Below is a report written by one of these awardees, Connie Liu. In her project, students tackle problems like homelessness and poor education and invent ways to combat these issues while developing design and engineering skills along the way.
|
Project Invent is a nonprofit that supports high school students nationwide to invent technology products that make a difference. Students spend the year identifying a problem, building a solution, and ultimately pitching their invention to leaders in Silicon Valley. From smart wallets that help the blind detect bill denominations to wearables that combat social anxiety, students invent solutions that get people the design they deserve and that teach students the skills and mindsets of lifetime changemakers.
Project Invent started in 2016 as a 9-person class at the Nueva School. The class soon grew into an after school program with over 30% of the student body enrolled. In 2018, the Bay Area Inspire Awards helped us bring the program to students in the city of East Palo Alto.
|
|
James Higa, Executive Director, brings 28 years of executive experience from Silicon Valley, working with Steve Jobs to change the face of technology. He was at the birth of the personal computer revolution as a member of the original Macintosh team and was deeply involved in the creation of many products and services at Apple over 3 decades. He has a long history of public service as a board member of Stanford's Haas Center and in grassroots relief efforts. |
Bill Somerville, Founder, has been in non-profit and philanthropic work for over 50 years. He was the director of a community foundation for 17 years, and in 1991, he founded Philanthropic Ventures Foundation. Bill has consulted at over 400 community foundations, on creative grantmaking and foundation operations. Bill is the author of
Grassroots Philanthropy: Field Notes of a Maverick Grantmaker.
|
| PVF is a demonstration foundation practicing unique forms of grantmaking and innovative philanthropy. Our primary interest is in the creative and significant use of the philanthropic dollar. |
|
For more news and updates:
|
|
|
|
