Meet Who I Am Foundation | Non-Profit Organization

We had the good fortune of connecting with Who I Am Foundation and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Who I Am, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Our amazing volunteers coordinate and conduct multiple projects each week, in multiple cities and states. Outreach projects and community events. A vast array of outreach which includes distributing essential necessities to the homeless and less fortunate, implementing our Youth Enrichment Program into elementary, middle, and high schools, hosting a number of youth projects and events, cleaning up the community by picking up litter and planting trees and flowers, playing games or doing craft projects with the elderly, life empowerment and various life skills classes, and so much more! We also conduct a different drive each month, including our annual Back To School, Thanksgiving Food Box, and Holiday Toy Drives! Up until recently, for the past 2 1/2 years our volunteers have provided Food Boxes to around 150 kids every Friday. These are just a few of the MANY avenues of outreach we provide!

What should our readers know about your business?
Founded in 2012, Who I Am Foundation is a national Non-Profit Organization originally based out of Albuquerque, NM, but has also operated in Phoenix, AZ, Reno, NV, Las Vegas, NV, Sacramento, CA, Santa Fe, NM, Jacksonville, NC, and Tampa, FL, and currently beginning expansions into Tucson, AZ, Espanola, NM, Las Cruces, NM, and Sioux Falls, SD. The organization is predominately focused on bettering our communities nationwide. Our goal is to help the individuals we connect with define who he or she is by making available the proper resources and helping families take the next step to financial independence as well as workforce readiness and self-sufficiency services. Each year our communities grow further and further apart. Resources are available, however; the public does not recognize many of those available resources. Our mission is to be as proactive in the community as possible constantly retrieving feedback to continuously advance as new community issues arise. Raising awareness and providing outreach throughout the community by way of various events, projects, and campaigns. Bringing the community together to create the change they wish to see. Providing second chances at a first impression, as we guide individuals back to a path of self-sufficiency.

We utilize what our volunteers are passionate about, and create volunteer opportunities for them to create the change they wish to see in their community. Having faced many challenges, we have learned to endure by not being set in our ways, and pivoting when needed. Because we don’t have one sole focus, we have been able to consistently continue hosting projects each week. As each community faces different challenges and having different needs, our teams are catered to the community they are in. It has certainly not been easy, especially since we don’t conduct fundraisers and have very limited outside funding. But we have never allowed funding to dictate our impact in the community.

3 Levels of Volunteer with Who I Am Foundation:

Planning Committee
Planning Committee members require the most commitment. Although time requirements range from only 1-2 hours per week, depending on the position. Our Planning Committee helps plan and coordinate every outreach project, community event, care package distribution, and monthly drive. Planning Committee members MUST attend a minimum of 1 Planning Committee meeting/call per month.
“Behind The Scenes”
Many Volunteers are unable to attend our projects, distributions, or events due to their schedules with work, family, etc. Behind the scenes volunteers still contribute greatly by helping make phone calls, securing donations, picking up donations, helping recruit volunteers, helping to promote upcoming Who I Am Foundation events, projects, and distributions, and more!
“Front Lines”
Some Volunteers simply just want to show up and help, without committing to anything more. These Volunteers also help greatly, as the more hands we have aboard, the bigger the impact we can make. “Front Line” Volunteers still must commit to and attend a minimum of 1 Who I Am Foundation event, distribution, or project per month.
All 3 forms of Volunteers are integral and key in Who I Am Foundation’s continual growth in impact throughout many communities!

We strongly encourage youth participation, so children are welcome to volunteer with us!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
All credit goes to our amazing volunteers! They are truly the fuel of our organization. Without them none of what we do would be possible. Also, Thank You to our community partners, donors, and everyone who supports our efforts in the community.

Website: www.WhoIAmFoundation.org

Instagram: teamwhoiam

Twitter: www.twitter.com/teamWhoIAm

Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhoIAmFoundation

Youtube: www.youtube.com/WIAFINC

Image Credits
D. Tillery Photography Mark Hollingsworth Photography