Why Volunteer for GILAS?
As every volunteer will tell you, we’re all busy and it’s not easy to spare time for charitable projects. Why have we decided to volunteer and why have we chosen GILAS specifically? Here are the main reasons:
• We are helping to build an infrastructure that will have long-
term impacts on the competitiveness of our students
• We will be able to use that same infrastructure to continue to
help our students via the Internet
We see GILAS as an investment in our kids. Yes, we can and should continue to give food, clothing and all the stuff we pack into balikbayan boxes, but we believe it’s just as important to make our high school kids competitive in this Information Age. For GILAS volunteers, GILAS is the most efficient way to achieve this objective.
Our involvement doesn’t end when we’ve connected a high school to the Internet. Once a high school is wired, we use the technology to communicate and share our expertise with the students. For example: we conduct regular voice calls over the Internet using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology with students at Kapitolyo High School in Pasig. Read the story here. Even better – the high school is starting to give back and the best example is this website, which was developed by high school students at the high school! Click here to see a profile of the project development team that built the GILAS-USA website.
Need more convincing? Email us and we’ll hook you up with a volunteer in your area.
How To Volunteer for GILAS
Our philosophy is – anyone can help. You don’t need to have lots of money or expertise – just energy, enthusiasm and genuine desire to help.
Here are the top 10 ways to volunteer your time and talents to GILAS:
1. Forward email about GILAS to your friends and family
Did you get an email about GILAS? Simply forward it to your circle of friends. It won’t cost you anything, and will take just a few seconds, but you will be helping build awareness for GILAS.
2. Refer us to potential donors
You might know companies, foundations or individuals that might want to donate to GILAS. But maybe you’re hesitant to approach them. Email their names and contact details to info@gilas-usa.org and we’ll take it from there.
3. Write about GILAS
If you’re a writer or an ad agency copywriter, why not write about GILAS for publication in your local newspaper, your association newsletter, or your school paper? If you prefer to blog, that will help too! We can send you some literature to get you started.
4. Make a presentation
If you’re a good public speaker, why not present the GILAS case to your association or company? We can provide you with all the necessary presentation materials
5. Tell us about upcoming events
Is your Fil-Am association holding a dinner dance, or a Christmas party? They’re the best venues to pitch GILAS. Just send email to info@gilas-usa.org and give us their contact names and numbers.
6. Get matching grants
Your employer might be open to give matching grants. We have a team that can put together the grant letters and proposals. Just send email to info@gilas-usa.org .
7. Help us with information technology
We’ll use all the computer tools out there to efficiently contact donors, track donations, create presentations, etc. If you have experience with website development, direct marketing systems, or other computer tools, we need you!
8. Help us with everyday logistics
Our all-volunteer sales force needs supplies – paper, brochures, conference rooms to meet in, printing services, LCD projectors, etc. (And yes – we like to eat). You can help by simply giving or lending these things. You can hand out brochures, pick up volunteers in your car, help set up presentations, arrange for lunch. Don’t forget: if you do donate this way, you may still get a tax deduction; we’ll provide you with the necessary tax documents.
9. Recruit
Maybe at this stage in your life, you can’t spare too much time for GILAS. But perhaps you know somebody who is looking for an opportunity to give back to our home country. Send us their contact details. We need volunteers!
10. Pray
As one famous cardinal said, “Pray as if everything depended on God, and work as if everything depended upon you.” It’s the least you can do, and also the best thing you can do for GILAS.