October: A Month To Do Good

WHEN BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS PARTNER WITH PURPOSE, AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY BENEFITS.

What happens when a restaurant, bank, wellness business, veterinary practice or other local company joins forces with a nonprofit?

In Delray Beach, the answer has become an entire month of doing good.

Each October, the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce’s “Do Good Delray” initiative brings businesses and nonprofits together to develop creative events and experiences that raise funds, build awareness and introduce both partners to new people and possibilities.

Rather than simply asking businesses to sponsor a cause, Do Good Delray encourages them to collaborate with one. Each partnership creates its own event, drawing upon the personalities, resources and audiences of both organizations.

The result is a growing collection of relationships that turn dining, fitness, entertainment, sports and family activities into opportunities to make a difference.

This October, 20 partnerships — featuring new programs, partners and venues and supported by eight sponsors — will take that mission throughout Delray Beach.

And the collective impact tells an even bigger story.

Since its inception, Do Good Delray has produced 130 partnered events, raised a collective $376,561 and welcomed 9,500 participants.

Behind those numbers are connections between businesses and nonprofits that may never have crossed paths otherwise — and community members who may discover a cause, organization or local business for the first time.

THE FUN IS IN THE PARTNERSHIPS

Part of what makes Do Good Delray distinctive is that no two collaborations need to look alike.

This year, Paddle Up for Mental Health pairs Henderson Behavioral Health with Float8 for a pickleball fundraiser supporting mental health services. Disco Barre brings Alzheimer’s Community Care and Barre Envy together for a fitness experience with a cause.

Animal lovers can support pets at Pet Supplies & Sips when Tri-County Animal Rescue partners with Deck 84, while Fall at the Farm brings HERD Foundation and Synovus together at Tara Farm.

And Halloween gets its own community-minded twist with SOMething Scary, a collaboration between Community Classroom Project and PAWS Veterinary Clinic.

Those are just a few of the experiences planned throughout October. The complete calendar offers even more ways to participate—and more opportunities to discover organizations doing meaningful work throughout the community.

But the real value of Do Good Delray extends beyond any single event.

A nonprofit gains visibility, funding and introductions to potential new supporters. A business deepens its community involvement while engaging employees, customers and new audiences around a shared purpose. And residents get an easy, enjoyable way to become involved.

Most importantly, the relationships created through these collaborations have the potential to continue long after October ends.

That makes doing good remarkably easy.

Choose an event. Discover a cause. Meet a local business. Buy a ticket. Bring a friend. And spend October experiencing just how much good can happen when a community comes together.