Life in the Capital, People

Giving Back: A Guide to Volunteering in DC

Photo courtesy of

‘Here’s Art again…’
courtesy of ‘IndyDina with Mr. Wonderful’

Some of us do it because we have to. Some of us do it because our friends do. Some of us do it because it’s how we were raised. And some of us just don’t do it – but we should. Giving back. It’s what makes the world go round and what helps those less fortunate than our selves have a chance at a better life. It’s about taking a few hours of your free time to help feed the hungry, clean your local park, rescue abandoned animals, rake the yard for your elderly neighbor or even help a young child learn and improve their chances at a brighter future. It doesn’t take much, but it goes a long, long way. For you business types, this is what we call a solid ROI for your time.

In today’s article, I’m going to focus on a wrap-up of volunteer organizations in the DC metro area and the people, animals or places that they benefit. Not an exhaustive listing by any means, but a combination of do-gooder motivation with some tips on how to get started. With a little help from you, we hope to continue this piece as a showcase of important volunteer events throughout the city on an ongoing basis. So let’s start with a simple question: What do you care about most?

Continue reading

Food and Drink, Special Events, The Daily Feed

Bet you won’t want to miss this

Photo courtesy of
‘IMG_6330’ courtesy of ‘muztiko’

For those of us craving some Vegas madness, a definite “don’t miss” is Casino Night this Thursday, June 4th, 6PM to 12AM at Teatro Goldoni. Proceeds from this gambling themed party will benefit local DC non-profit Pediatric AIDS/HIV Care (PAHC).
Check it out:

$20 gets you in the door with free cocktails until 8pm and free hors d’oeuvres all night.

An additional $20 (optional) gets you unlimited chips for blackjack, craps, roulette and Wheel of Fortune (sorry, no Pat Sajack).

If you’re a true gambler, $200 gets you into the Texas Hold’em Tournament (20 limit).

Players with the most chips at the end of the night receive prizes.

Can’t wait until Thursday to take a gamble? Check out the event’s promotional website, Beat The Odds; buy your tickets or make a donation at Groundspring’s website.