project leader
Alexis L
location
60 South Main
(Downtown Memphis)
latest update rss
Thank you!

the project

Volunteer Odyssey's mission is to develop a pathway to volunteering that enriches our lives and community. 

There is a huge need in Memphis and nonprofits report they don’t have enough volunteers to achieve their mission. There are many citizens who want to give back to their communities, but they don’t know where to start. Volunteer Odyssey connects Memphians with their ideal volunteer opportunity so our nonprofits can have enough volunteers and meet the needs in our city. 

Volunteer Odyssey's Interactive Volunteer Hub is one of the many creative ways we get more Memphians involved in community service. This hub features a 40-foot-wide, street-facing mural designed by local famed artist, Kong Wee Pang, along with touch-sensitive paint and a kiosk enabling Memphians to instantly discover and sign up for volunteer opportunities. Being on the busy pedestrian stretch of Main Street, this Hub shows Memphians and visitors alike that Memphis cares about its community.



Our conservative goal for this project is to engage 5,000 prospective volunteers, who will be matched with our 50+ nonprofit partners in the Memphis area. Ultimately, these volunteers have the potential to impact thousands of people across the community. This Hub is also part of our larger campaign, Year to Volunteer. The goal for this campaign is to recruit 10,000 volunteers, who will contribute 85,000 volunteer hours worth more than $2 million of economic impact to our community by the end of May 2018.

 

the steps

July 2017: Began design process with Archer Malmo.

October 2017: Gained approval from the Landmarks Commission.

April 2018: Construction underway. 

May 2018: Grand opening on Thursday, May 3rd. 

June 2018-May 2019: Mural available and operable for all pedestrians 24/7 as part of our Year to Volunteer Campaign.

why we're doing it

Volunteer Odyssey’s Interactive Volunteer Hub addresses two main issues: 1) There is a huge need in Memphis and nonprofits report they don’t have enough volunteers to achieve their mission. 2) Many citizens want to give back to their communities, but they don’t know where to start.

The Hub is a fun and innovative way to address these issues and show Memphians how easy it is to sign up for volunteer opportunities and invite them to get involved. This will help bridge the gap between potential volunteers and nonprofits in need to enrich the lives of our citizens and better our communities. 

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PERKS

$20-Explorer: Receive recognition on our website and a handwritten thank you note.

$50-Adventurer: Receive recognition on our website, a free Volunteer Odyssey sticker, and a handwritten thank you note.

$100-Voyager: See your name in lights! You get your name added to The Heart of Memphis Mural, along with recognition on our website, a Volunteer Odyssey sticker, and a handwritten thank you note.

$250-Trail Blazer: You're amazing! You get your name added to the mural, a free Volunteer Odyssey sticker, recognition on our website, a handwritten thank you note, AND a shout-out in one of our monthly Newsletters. 

Every dollar counts! When you donate, you're helping the Memphis community by connecting volunteers to nonprofits in need. Everyone who donates to our Interactive Volunteer Hub will have their name posted on our website as a thank you. Anyone who dontates $100 or more will even have their name displayed on our interactive kiosk. 

***Note: If you donate—Please make sure your name is spelled correctly so we can properly thank you. Thank you!

 

Conversation

Thank you to everyone who donated to our #TheHeartofMemphis crowdfunding campaign. Due to your amazing support, phase 2 of the mural is underway! Didn’t get a chance to donate? We rely on donations to do our amazing work! Help us transform Memphis through volunteerism by donating to us anytime here: www.volunteerodyssey.com/ioby -The Volunteer Odyssey Team

budget

DISBURSED BUDGET (10.24.18):

While we did not reach our initial goal of $5,000—we consider this campaign a success. 
 


   
RAISED = $1,370.00
less ioby Platform Fee $35.00
less ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%) $38.88
TOTAL TO DISBURSE = $1,296.12

 

UPDATED BUDGET (as of 4.11.17):

Our ioby goal supports the Budget for Maintenance & Sustainability
 
Promotional Materials $462
 
Tech Up-Keep $638
 
Electricity $600
 
Internet $300
 
Occupancy/Rent $3,000


SUBTOTAL = $5,000
ioby Platform Fee $35
Donation Processing Fee of 3%  $150
TOTAL TO RAISE = $5,185

 

ORIGINAL BUDGET:

Our ioby goal supports the Budget for Maintenance & Sustainability 

Promotional Materials $462

Personnel $3200

Tech Up-Keep $2524

Electricity $600

Internet $300

Occupancy/Rent 3,000

 

SUBTOTAL  $10,086

ioby Platform Fee $35
 
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%) $303
 
TOTAL TO RAISE  $10,424
 

Volunteer Odyssey has already been awarded the Budget to Launch:

Design & Installation $100,000

Materials (vinyl, paint & wire) $16,850

Technology $9,502

Personnel $7,653

Permit Fees $145

 

updates

Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who donated to our #TheHeartofMemphis crowdfunding campaign.
Due to your amazing support, phase 2 of the mural is underway! 
Didn’t get a chance to donate? We rely on donations to do our amazing work! Help us transform Memphis through volunteerism by donating to us anytime here: www.volunteerodyssey.com/ioby 

photos

This is where photos will go once we build flickr integration

donors

  • Daniel and Amanda Bureau
  • Sara and John Thatcher
  • Alpha Capital Partners
  • Michael & Wesley LaRue
  • Chris and Marybeth Smith
  • Sally Parish
  • Anonymous
  • Anonymous