An event that will connect young professionals with area organizations looking for board members is set for 5:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 23. at The Toledo Club, 235 14th St.
The free Board Fair: Engage, Inspire, & Encourage event is back for a second year and is hosted by 20 Under 40, EPIC Toledo and Leadership Toledo. Sponsors are Columbia Gas of Ohio and The Andersons.
The event is about bringing young professionals and community members into a room with nonprofits looking to fill seats on their boards, said organizer Sara Swisher of EPIC Toledo.
Event organizers are trying to meet the need for strong leadership in the nonprofit community while providing participants with a way to harness personal development. Many of the attendees have never served on a board before and need to learn the steps necessary to becoming a board member, Swisher said.
To help the young professionals, Hylant’s Sara Best, formerly of Aly Sterling Philanthropy, will present “Millennials and Boomers in the Board Room.” The 20-minute pres-entation will be given at 6 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. Light appetizers and a cash bar will also be provided.
“This is a way for young professionals who are looking for a way to get involved in the community — this is their one-stop shop,” Swisher said. “We had 130 attendees last year and we’re expecting more than that this year,” she said. “Directors from nonprofits and board members will all be there ready to meet our young professionals and community members who show up and want to learn more about nonprofits and their mission. Hopefully through that we’ll have made connections between board members and the community.”
Among the nonprofits represented will be Boys & Girls Club of Toledo, Heartbeat of Toledo, Toledo Day Nursery, Lott Industries, Community Shares Northwest Ohio, Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio, Hannah’s Socks, MLK Kitchen for the Poor, Family House, Cherry Street Mission, Serenity Farms, Partners in Education, Make-A-Wish and the Autism Society. Attendees can register at www.epictoledo.com.
