An Awesome Night of Community Innovation at the Hub!
The Awesome Foundation
Doing good things is awesome, and being part of a group that leads positive change is truly an exceptional way to live. On the evening of September 19th, the Innovation Hub had the distinct pleasure of hosting Awesome Kingston's pitch night!
For those unfamiliar, the Awesome Foundation is a global charity with chapters in cities around the world. Each chapter is dedicated to making their city a better place. To achieve this, chapter members gather monthly to hold pitch nights where one lucky winner receives a $1,000 micro-grant at the end of the evening. Contestants are given 90 seconds to pitch their ideas. In those 90 seconds, they must explain why they are applying for the fund, how the grant will impact their project, and why it’s making their city more awesome.
Pitching for Change: Meet the Participants
Every time we welcome Awesome Kingston into the Innovation Hub, it is an evening filled with exceptional people passionate about improving our Kingston community. This night was no different. We saw four fantastic pitches from groups dedicated to being stewards of change.
Repair Together Bridging the Digital Divide
Up first was Repair Together, a group of SLC alumni whose mission is to bridge the digital divide. These dedicated individuals collect donations of used electronic devices from the community, refurbish them, and then donate them to partners such as Dawn House and Home Base, ensuring they get into the hands of people who need them.
Inclusive Playground Giving Every Child a Voice
Next to present was Winston Churchill Public School for their Inclusive Playground. Their pitch focused on integrating an inclusive communications signage into their playground, making it easier for every child to play together. With the grant, they aim to introduce inclusive communication signs around the playground to give every child a voice.
Venus Family Toy Box Creating Christmas Magic
The third group to take the stage was Venus Family Toy Box – a local military family on a mission to bring smiles to children's faces on Christmas morning. These exceptional people collect cans and bottles around Kingston all year long, saving up to buy toys for children in need. They then donate the toys to Toy Mountain charity as their Christmas campaign begins.
Sip-Portive Cafe Brewing Coffee and Opportunities
The final person to present was Sip-Portive, a local cafe aiming to employ young adults who have graduated from their CommUnity Cafe food service program. They are focused on ensuring income and skill development for adults with intellectual and developmental exceptionalities.
And the Winner Is...
Sip-Portive was declared the winner at the end of the night, and the micro-grant will go towards purchasing a new espresso machine. This will allow them to continue operating and making the Kingston community a better place.
The night was full of innovative ideas and the spirit of generosity. We, at the Hub, can’t wait to welcome Awesome Kingston back! Keep an eye out for their future pitch parties happening monthly around Kingston. Take part and support this great community initiative!
As always, if you are an SLC student or faculty member with a community initiative or event you are working on, please connect with us. We would love to collaborate on your next project!