Volunteer Opportunities From: United Way of the Midlands

The Communications Chair Role

Serving as a Communications Chairperson, you will work in conjunction with the volunteer committee members and the Marketing and Events Manager to raise awareness, participation, and revenue to ensure Family Connection’s key fundraising events—LOOK! TM , and Buddy Walk—are successful.

LOOK! Background
LOOK! is an inspiring photography exhibit highlighting the unique abilities of children and young adults in South Carolina who are living with a disability. Professional photographers volunteer their time and talents during photo sessions capturing the participants in candid moments doing things they like to do best.

This annual exhibit is hosted at an opening ceremony at a Columbia venue. Ideally, the exhibit will remain on display at one or more venues throughout the year. The intent of LOOK! is to help people pause, reflect, and see disability in a thoughtful way. It is a beautiful event that speaks to our goal of creating inclusion, equity, and community.

Buddy Walk Background
Each year, Family Connection honors Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October, and we host our Buddy Walk event as part of this annual celebration. This walk and festival-like event attracts hundreds of family members, friends, sponsors, and supporters who raise awareness and funds during the Buddy Walk campaign.

Responsibilities:
- Become familiar with Family Connection mission and event speaking points and be comfortable presenting this information to help promote interest, participation, and support of our events.
- Help secure media partnerships with TV, radio, outdoor and/or print outlets.
- Assist with creating and implementing event publicity plans.
- Help recruit one or more new members to the volunteer leadership committee.
- Ask your company or organization to support our events by committing to one or more of these activities:
    o Become a sponsor of LOOK!
    o Purchase ad space in the LOOK! Book
    o Become a Buddy Walk sponsor or form a company team and commit to a fundraising goal
    o Become an event vendor
    o Make a donation to LOOK! or Buddy Walk
- Assist with attending LOOK! photo sessions, interviewing parents, writing or proofreading story pages.
- Assist with securing one or more venues for the LOOK! 2025 exhibit to be on public display.
- Attend committee meetings (may be virtual or in person)
- Serve as a Tailgate Judge at Buddy Walk.
- Assist with scripting, staging, and media activities at LOOK! and Buddy Walk events.

The Logistics Chair Role
The Logistics Chair will work with the volunteer committee members and the Marketing and Events Manager to plan and manage event logistics and lead day-of-event activities and volunteer management. The primary role of the Logistics Chair is to ensure that the event runs smoothly, and is safe, well-organized, and engaging.

LOOK! Background
LOOK! is an inspiring photography exhibit highlighting the unique abilities of children and young adults in South Carolina who are living with a disability. Professional photographers volunteer their time and talents during photo sessions capturing the participants in candid moments doing things they like to do best.

We present the annual exhibit at an opening ceremony in Columbia. Ideally, the exhibit will remain on display at one or more additional venues throughout the year. The intent of LOOK! is to help people pause, reflect, and see disability in a thoughtful way. It is a beautiful event that speaks to our goal of creating inclusion, equity, and community.

Buddy Walk Background
Each year, Family Connection honors Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October, and we host our Buddy Walk event as part of this annual celebration. This walk and festival-like event attracts hundreds of family members, friends, sponsors, and supporters who raise awareness and funds during the Buddy Walk campaign.

Logistics Chairperson Responsibilities:
- In collaboration with event committee and Marketing and Events Manager, create a logistics plan and timeline for pre-event, day-of, and post-event activities.
- Assist with attending LOOK! photo sessions, interviewing parents, writing or proofreading story pages.
- Assist with securing one or more venues for the LOOK! 2025 exhibit to be on public display.
- Become familiar with Family Connection mission and event speaking points and be comfortable presenting this information to help promote interest, participation, and support of the event.
- Ask your company or organization to support our events by committing to one or more of these activities:
   o Become a sponsor of LOOK!
   o Purchase ad space in the LOOK! Book
   o Become a sponsor of Buddy Walk or form a company team and commit to a fundraising goal
   o Become an event vendor
   o Make a monetary and/or in-kind goods or services donation to LOOK! or Buddy Walk
- Help secure gift cards and donations or discounted rates for logistics-related event material or services.
- Serve as a Tailgating Judge at Buddy Walk.
- Assist with managing activities and volunteers on event days.
- Attend committee meetings (monthly—may be virtual or in person).

The Sponsorship Chairperson’s Role
Serving as a Sponsorship Chairperson, you will work in conjunction with the volunteer committee members and the Marketing and Events Manager to help set and meet sponsorship revenue goals to ensure Family Connection’s key fundraising events—LOOK! TM , and Buddy Walk—are a success.

LOOK! Background
LOOK! is an inspiring photography exhibit highlighting the unique abilities of children and young adults in South Carolina who are living with a disability. Professional photographers volunteer their time and talents during photo sessions capturing the participants in candid moments doing things they like to do best.

We present the annual exhibit at an opening ceremony in Columbia. Ideally, the exhibit will remain on display at one or more additional venues throughout the year. The intent of LOOK! is to help people pause, reflect, and see disability in a thoughtful way. It is a beautiful event that speaks to our goal of creating inclusion, equity, and community.

Buddy Walk Background
Each year, Family Connection honors Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October, and we host our Buddy Walk event as part of this annual celebration. This walk and festival-like event attracts hundreds of family members, friends, sponsors, and supporters who raise awareness and funds during the Buddy Walk campaign.

Sponsorship Chair Responsibilities:
- Become familiar with Family Connection mission and event speaking points and be comfortable presenting this information to help promote interest, participation, and support of our events.
- Ask your company or organization to support our events by committing to one or more of these activities:
   o Become a sponsor of LOOK! or
   o Purchase ad space in the LOOK! Book
   o Become a sponsor of Buddy Walk or form a company team and commit to a fundraising goal
   o Become an event vendor
   o Make a donation to LOOK! or Buddy Walk
- Help recruit one or more members to the volunteer leadership committee.
- Work with committee and staff liaison to:
   o Develop a prospective sponsorship pipeline to secure two or more new sponsors for each event
   o Assist with confirming past year sponsors
   o Assist with securing one or more venues for the LOOK!2024 exhibit to be on public display (venues can be located anywhere in the state)

- Write a personal thank you note to sponsors upon commitment.
- Serve as a tailgate judge at Buddy Walk.
- Meet with staff liaison and other committee members (virtual or in-person).

Family Connection serves more than 6,000 families across the state! Each time we receive a referral, we create a packet of information specific to the child's age and interest of the parents. 

These packets need to be prepared and mailed on a weekly basis. We are looking for volunteers to put these packets together and prepare them for mailing.