Friday Feature - It Just Takes One Woman

Think one person can’t make a difference? Meet Paige Cox! One woman who inspired an army of people to help keep health-care workers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Paige is the Founder and Executive Director of Reconsidered Goods, a non-profit to reduce waste through reuse. Reconsidered Goods takes donated materials from manufacturers and individuals and helps divert them from the landfill and instead, puts these items and materials into the hands of artists, makers, teachers and kids to create something new. 

When Guilford County issued a stay-at-home order in response to COVID-19, Reconsidered Goods was required to close its doors.  Paige used this time working at home sewing protective fabric masks. It did not take long before she realized there was also a need for protective face shields, and she thought about all of the items she had at Reconsidered Goods. She was able to turn donated items like elastic straps, clear plastic sheets into personal protective see-through shields. After posting photos of what she was doing on social media, others wanted to help, and the effort took off.

Paige shifted from making the masks and shields to assembling kits for others to take and help make them. Each kit has enough materials to make about 50 shields or 50 no-sew masks. She stuffs each kit into a plastic bag with instruction on how to assemble and hangs them on a picket fence outside her home for people to pick up. People pick up the kits assemble them and bring them back the next day.

Thus, the army was formed! The network of volunteer mask and face shield makers calls itself the PPEople Brigade, PPE being an acronym for personal protective equipment. Paige created a website and Facebook page to inspire others to create grassroots networks in their cities. It was no surprise to learn that a new PPEople Brigade has already sprung up in the Triangle following the blueprint Paige created.

The one woman turned army is sending out masks and shields each week by the thousands. The PPEolpe Brigade is helping healthcare workers on the front lines as well as patients that are without masks in lower income areas, here at home and all over the world. This week the Brigade has extended its reach all the way to Malawi, Africa!

Want to be part of this amazing woman’s volunteer army? Stop by the fence at 908 Fairmont Street in Greensboro and pick up a kit ~ It’s that easy!

Friday Feature - Future Fund 10 LIVE Stream

Looking for a ray of sunshine during these dark times?  

Check out Future Fund 10 LIVE Stream presented by Brady Services on April 21

Future Fund – an initiative of the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro – is excited to announce that this year’s flagship Future Fund 10 LIVE event will take place via Facebook Live and Vimeo on April 21.

After selling out Triad Stage in 2019, the second-annual Shark-Tank-meets-nonprofit pitch competition is set to go virtual!  With so many events postponing and cancelling, Future Fund thought it was important to showcase ten nonprofits who are doing amazing things now and will continue to do their work after COVID-19.

The program will begin on April 21 at 6:00 p.m. on the Facebook Live and Vimeo, with a pre-show showcasing last year’s winner Faith Action International, coaches and members beginning at 5:40. To receive calendar reminders and more information about the event, RSVP on the Future Fund Eventbrite page.

Over the course of the hour-long event, 10 innovative nonprofits that represent an array of causes around Greensboro will pitch their organization, its mission and future initiatives for a chance to win up to $44,000 in grants from the Future Fund. The best part--YOU get to vote for the winner!

The $20,000 Brady’s People’s Choice Winner will be given to the nonprofit with the most votes on FutureFundGSO.org after completion of the 10 pitches. The vote is open to anyone who watches the livestream event.  One vote is allowed per person.

Annual and Lifetime Future Fund members will be given the opportunity to award the second and third-place awards of $12,000 and $8,000, respectively. Annual memberships cost $150 or $1,250 for a lifetime commitment with donations going directly into the Future Fund endowment through the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro. Learn more about joining the Future Fund today.  Note: you must be an active member by April 17 to receive the chance to vote.

If you didn’t see last year’s event—it’s a fun way to engage the community in giving out grants to local nonprofits.  Future Fund 10 LIVE employs a “Shark Tank” format in which 10 select nonprofits pitch their organization’s mission and goals to a live audience. After hearing each pitch, attendees vote for their favorite presentation and monetary awards are awarded to the nonprofits that received the most votes. More than $45,000 in grants were awarded to participating organizations in 2019.  Throughout the year finalists also receive an opportunity to connect with volunteers, donors, and mentors to help them refine their pitch, grow their program and promote their organization.  They also receive expert coaching and mentoring on their pitch to make sure they put their best story forward.

We encourage you to tune in on April 21 at 6pm and bring the family!  It’s a great way to learn about nonprofits and philanthropy right here in Guilford County.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER GREENSBORO: The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro is a charitable organization that inspires giving, maximizes opportunities and strengthens communities for present and future generations. With assets approaching $200 million and 650 charitable funds under management, we promote philanthropy by addressing emerging community issues, managing permanent endowments, and working with individuals, families, corporations, private foundations, and nonprofit organizations in achieving their charitable objectives. The Foundation serves as a trustworthy partner and leader in shaping effective responses to community issues and opportunities.

ABOUT FUTURE FUND: Future Fund is an initiative of the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro. “Funders” make an investment of $150 into the Future Fund endowment each year. Active members plan and produce the innovative Future Fund 10 Program and Future Fund 10 LIVE to award almost $45,000 to local Nonprofits