Besa

In February,?61 American Electric Power volunteers?dedicated their time to a?Day of Service?at?Mid-Ohio Food Collective, supporting food sorting at the warehouse and serving at both?Gantz Market and Norton Market. ???167 volunteer hours ???$5,192 in community impact Thank you to?AEP?for helping multiply the good in Central Ohio. Your commitment to service makes a lasting impact in our community! Does your business want to get involved in the community? ?? besa.org/businesses

We're looking for a Senior Advancement Coordinator to turn numbers into narratives. Know someone who fits? Tag them below! ? https://lnkd.in/g2hcW39K

Love was in full force this Valentine’s Day, thanks to our volunteers and the?Center for HumanKindness. With their support, Besa volunteers: ???Served 300+ Valentine’s Day dinners?at Van Buren Shelter ???Handed out 110 candy bags & 200 carnations? ???Brought 25+ seniors together?at Stygler Village for crafts, music & raffles These experiences are more than just celebrations—they?foster connections and remind us that small acts of kindness make a big impact. Thank you to?Center for HumanKindness?for helping us make these moments possible! ?? Looking for ways to spread kindness? Find your next opportunity at?impact.besa.org

We're thrilled to welcome?Ryan Aguiar, Irene Alvarez, Stanley Gates II, and Chrisley Scott, CPA to?Besa’s Board of Directors! Their leadership, expertise, and passion for community impact will help guide Besa as we continue to create meaningful volunteer experiences and strengthen Central Ohio’s nonprofit network. We’re grateful for their commitment to service and can’t wait to see the impact we’ll make together. Welcome to the team!

Congratulations to Besa CEO Matthew Goldstein for being named Nonprofit Executive Director of the Year at The Medical Mutual Pillar Award for Community Service, presented by Smart Business Network! This award recognizes leaders who make outstanding contributions to their communities, and we’re proud to see Matthew’s dedication to service and impact honored in this way. A heartfelt congratulations to all of the 2025 Pillar Award honorees, whose work strengthens our communities in meaningful ways. We’re honored to celebrate alongside these changemakers! https://lnkd.in/gE_w2gGb

This is a pivotal moment for the nonprofit sector. Over the past few years, pandemic-era funding from federal and local governments allowed nonprofits to expand programs and better meet the essential needs of our communities. However, the funds that fueled that growth have now dissipated, while the needs remain. At the same time, federal support is becoming more constrained. Yet, at Besa, we remain steadfast in our commitment to delivering on our mission and showing up when it matters most. At a time when our community faces significant headwinds, activating more people and turning them into champions for change is essential. Read how, together, we are addressing immediate needs while laying the foundation for systemic change: https://lnkd.in/gVuXZMvE

Besa’s CEO, Matthew Goldstein, will be a panelist at the?Columbus Young Professionals (CYP) Club Executive Luncheon?on?Friday, February 7, 2025, at Franklin University’s Ross Auditorium. This interactive event is a unique opportunity to connect with Columbus-area executives and community leaders. Attendees will hear leadership lessons, career insights, and stories of creating meaningful community impact—directly from inspiring local leaders like Matthew. ???When: Friday, February 7, 2025, 11:30?AM-1:30?PM ???Where: Franklin University’s Ross Auditorium Tickets are on sale now. Don’t miss this chance to learn, connect, and grow!? https://lnkd.in/gqeb96ZC

In celebration of MLK Day of Service, volunteers and community members gathered at?YWCA Columbus?to honor the unsung women of the civil rights movement, whose tireless efforts were the backbone of the struggle for justice and equality. From the leadership of Ella Baker to the courage of the Lincoln School Marchers in Hillsboro, Ohio, we celebrated the everyday women who showed up day after day to drive transformative change. Their stories remind us that we each hold the power to make an impact. A heartfelt thank you to YWCA Columbus for hosting the event, to our incredible speakers,?Dr. Toni Shorter Smith?and?Monisa Mason, and moderator,?Rebecca Brown Asmo?of Ohio Humanities, for leading a meaningful and thought-provoking conversation. And to you, the volunteers who showed up to build 300?care packages for parents and families at the YWCA Family Shelter. In partnership with?Ohio Humanities, MLK Day of Service inspires us to honor Dr. King’s legacy through service, justice, and connection. Thank you for celebrating the courage and conviction of these remarkable women and for multiplying the good in our community. ?? Interesting in multiplying more good with us? Start here: impact.besa.org

Let’s give a warm Besa welcome to American Electric Power??? A big shoutout to the incredible team at?AEP?who volunteered at?Toys for Tots?in December! ?? With 7 volunteers giving 17.5 hours of service, they helped spread joy to children and families, creating $510 in community impact. ?? Thank you, AEP, for lighting the way for others and making the 2024 holiday season brighter for so many! Learn how Besa can create meaningful volunteer experiences for your team at?besa.org/businesses #BeTheGood

Community partnerships are the heart of Besa's mission to bring people together ?? We were so grateful to partner with the City of Columbus,?Franklin County Board of Commissioners,?and?Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services?to activate employees to do good throughout the year. This holiday season, 50 volunteers from Franklin County Equity Council,?Columbus City Council,?and the City Auditor's Office gave back at?Marine Toys for Tots Foundation,?Mid-Ohio Food Collective,?Freedom a la Cart?and more with over 100 volunteer hours. Funding from the city and county also fuel Besa's community programming all year long. We look forward to continuing to be the good together in 2025. Looking for ways to volunteer now? Start here ?? impact.besa.org