Finalists will pitch their ideas to the York community at the YorIt Social Venture Challenge (SVC) on April 18 at 6:30 p.m. at Warehaus, 320 N. George Street, York. For the first time, the live pitch will be free and open to the public.
YorIt is an initiative of York County Community Foundation (YCCF) that supports emerging socially-minded organizations adding to the vitality of York. YorIt members vote on the SVC winner, who will receive a $20,000 grant from the organization. Community members are also invited to vote for their favorite pitch via donation to a community choice cash prize. The finalist who brings in the most donations will win the cash pool.
The Curious Little Playhouse, submitted by Jennifer Swanner, aims to provide an inexpensive recreational experience for families with young children. It will be an interactive playhouse with a whimsical theme and live characters that is a fun and safe place for young families to play while visiting Downtown York.
The York Empowerment Shop (YES!), pitched by Douglas Knight, addresses two challenges facing our community – food insecurity and workforce training. The social enterprise engine will recover surplus food from restaurants, grocery stores, food manufacturers, caterers, farms and other food businesses, and use it to create healthy, ready-to-eat meals made by members of a culinary job training program built for those with high barriers to employment. The meals will be distributed to community members in need.
Rebecca Hanlon of Our York Media wants to tell the stories of the people leading and contributing to the revitalization of York. If selected as the SVC winner, Our York Media will be able to launch additional video and audio series focused on the “Catalysts” making York a better place, video versions of “Neighbors of Our York, and bigger-picture stories of where York is heading.
Highlighting York’s history in the Swing era, Thomas McLaughlin will pitch York Swings! Music, Dance, and History of the Jazz Age. Aimed at making York a destination through the promotion of often overlooked local history, York Swings! is planning to host a series of quarterly events at the Valencia Ballroom.
In addition to the finalists, Matthew Stinchcomb, co-founder of Etsy, will be a featured speaker. Matt is the Executive Director of the Good Work Institute (previously known as etsy.org). Prior to this, he was the VP, Values, and Impact at Etsy.com. In that role, he oversaw the stewardship of the company’s mission and worked to give all employees the means and the desire to maximize the benefit their work has on people and the planet. In 2013, he was named a GOOD Magazine ‘Figure of Progress’. The next year he was named as one of the Purpose Economy 100. In 2016, Matt was selected as a BALLE Local Economy Fellow. Matt also serves on the Board of Directors for the Schumacher Center for New Economics, the Center for a New American Dream, and Naropa University. He is a graduate of Oberlin College and lives in Rhinebeck, NY with his wife and two sons.
Cocktails and hors-d’oeuvres will be provided by the 2016 SVC winner, Taste Test. Tickets are free and open to the public, but space is limited.
YCCF creates a vibrant York County by engaging donors, providing community leadership, and investing in high-impact initiatives while building endowment for future generations. YCCF holds more than 500 endowed funds and assists donors and nonprofits in reaching their charitable goals, including the YorIt endowment. This means that YorIt memberships go towards ensuring the work of the
YorIt Social Venture Challenge will continue to add to the vitality of York County today and forever.
