NPSL: Nonprofits in Second Life

"Are services in the virtual world near?" is an article in this months Addiction Professional Magazine, highlighting Preferred Family Healthcare's work in Second Life. Addiction Professional is the addiction treatment and prevention field’s premier trade journal.

The article focuses on Dick Dillon's (Coughran Mayo) work at NPC and his organization's plans for delivering behavioral healthcare and substance abuse treatment in world. It's a positive article that will reach lots of healthcare leaders and professionals. Click here to read or here http://tinyurl.com/4r3pyt

Thanks Coughran for mentioning the National Council! That helps us put a shining light on Second Life and NPC for our members, and helps us all. Yay to the power of networking!

When: September 28, 2 SL time
Roughly 45 minutes in length
Where: NCI -- specific NCI campus TDB but probably Caledon

Kelly and her husband have lived for seven years not knowing what became of their son. After Jason disappeared, the Jolkowski’s found what other families had found and something that is always found out the hard way – that there are few resources for families of missing adults.

The Jolkowski’s vowed in founding Project Jason ithat no family should have to be left alone and without resources in a heartbreaking situation where time is so critical.

Hi everybody! Today I’m going to tell you about my experience with Linden Lab’s Showcase section.

About two months ago, Mercedes Ochs suggested I try to get my Garden for the Missing on Remora into the Showcase. I wasn’t even sure what Showcase was, so I poked around and found it.

When you go to that page on the SL website (and I will give you the URLs at the end of this little talk), you will see there are four SL venues spotlighted on the top right of that main page and sublistings of categories on the left.

So, I applied, having no idea what was about to happen.

Come party and get some great deals!

Great Strides Charity Auction

When? Sat 9 Aug - 11:00 AM SL Time for 3 hours (No Cover Charge)

Come bid on a yacht (from Trudeau), a tour of the Elven lands, horses (AKK Stables and more), artwork (from Annah DeCuir, Ronnie Rhode and more), jewelry, buildings (from Oldrome Yer and others), and much more! All proceeds will benefit Great Strides, a RL charity.

Great Strides mission is to promote emotional healing and growth in partnership with horses. Learn more at: http://www.GreatStrides.org.

For the fourth consecutive year running, the American Cancer Society held their annual Relay for Life Second Life. 2008 was the most successful year yet for this virtual relay to raise funds to fight cancer.

What do you get when you have 65 NPO's, Live entertainment, dancing, and a whole bunch of people in the main square at NPC Aloft?
The answer..... an awesome Nonprofit Commons Awareness night!

SL singer Vienna James put on an amazing performance, helped promote our NPO's and toured the sim after her performance.

Host: Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University
Facilitator: 2020Vision Obviate
Attendees: Windy Schor, Fayandria Foley, Petro Bellic, Stingray9798 Raymaker, Jarhead Euler, Patt Bravin, , Sue Bazar, Reece Llewellyn, Glitteractica Cookie, Penguin Kuhn, Muse Carmona, Rez Messing, Coughran Mayo
Date: July 28, 2008

Synopsis:

Today I attended the Avatar on Duty session at the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership office on Aloft Nonprofit Commons. 2020Vision (Ashima Saigal) moderated the session and she was joined by several other Johnson Center staff, along with a sizeable crowd of interested avatars. We were all there to discuss a key question for those involved with working with nonprofits in Second Life: How can nonprofits find long-term sustainability in Second Life and better translate into real-world action towards achieving their missions?

The session gave us opportunity to brainstorm and discuss this topic in an open forum. One of the first issues we discussed was what nonprofits hoped to gain by having a presence in Second Life. Many avatars saw Second Life as a way to engage a wider audience and bring awareness of their organization's work. Others mentioned the benefit of having a common meeting space and a way to network and collaborate with other nonprofits doing similar work, as well as connecting with organizations they might never have had the opportunity to meet. Jarhead Euler of Uptown Shelter gave the example of how his organization only heard about Community Voicemail through Second Life and now is meeting with several other organizations to discuss implementing this tool for their real-life work.

Wondering about how your nonprofit's work in the virtual world can make real-world impact? Then be sure to check out the regular Avatar on Duty Sessions at the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership office on Aloft Nonprofit Commons.

The next session, Mon. July 28th, at 10 AM PDT/SLT will focus in particular on how nonprofits can find long-term sustainability in Second Life and how to better translate this into real-world action towards achieving their missions. Join in the conversation with philanthropic advisers and community builders in Second Life.

Please send a message (IM) to 2020Vision Obviate (Real Name - Ashima Saigal) or email her at saigalas@gvsu.edu if you have any questions. Come ask your questions and they will do their best to help you to grow your organization's mission.

You can teleport directly to come join the session.

Avatars representing survivors, caregivers, their families and the millions of passionate supporters engaged in fighting cancer worldwide will take center stage virtually, July 19-20, when the American Cancer Society conducts its fourth annual Relay For Life® event in the Second Life virtual world. The 2008 Relay in Second Life will celebrate the “heroes” who epitomize the Society’s global mission and who represent this summer’s virtual world event theme.