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Community Service
At Washington Speakers Bureau, we strive to cultivate fellowships dedicated to common good. Our mission is to initiate or promote, and make significant contributions to, programs dedicated to the success and well being of our greater community. To accomplish our objective we donate resources, time and services to multiple charitable organizations whose purpose is to impact medical research, education, poverty, and the environment.


At Washington Speakers Bureau, we consider the ideas of each staff member valuable and worthy of consideration. A volunteer Community Leaders Group solicits recommendations from the entire staff before selecting and coordinating projects. To further support our efforts, Washington Speakers Bureau grants and encourages the use of Paid Volunteer Leave for philanthropic activities that occur during office hours.


Service Awards

IASB Community Service Award
Washington Speakers Bureau received the 2003 and 2004 Community Service Awards from the International Association of Speakers Bureaus. The award is given to an organization within the association in recognition of service to the community. Washington Speakers Bureau won the award based on their community service projects over the past years, including the Quarterly Jeans Donation, Kindergarten Project, Thanksgiving food drive and more.


Edward Stabler Community Service Award
In 2003, the Washington Speakers Bureau was presented with the Edward Stabler Community Service Award from the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce for their contribution of speakers to Chamber meetings.


Community Service Projects

Quarterly Donation
Current Donation: The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the ACS has state divisions and more than 3,400 local offices. The American Cancer Society (ACS) is committed to fighting cancer through balanced programs of research, education, patient service, advocacy, and rehabilitation.
> Read more about WSB's Quarterly Donation



Carpenter's Shelter
WSB members make and serve lunch to approximately 15 residents of the Carpenter's Shelter each month.
> Read more about WSB's Relationship with The Carpenter Shelter


WSB Adopts 70 Kindergarteners
Fall 2004 marked the beginning of Washington Speakers Bureau's sponsorship of the entire kindergarten class at Jefferson-Houston School for Arts and Academics. Since then, essential school supplies such as backpacks, folders, pencils and glue have been donated to the kindergarteners and other supplies have been provided for each classroom. Throughout the school year, WSB volunteers visit the school regularly to read to the students, provide snacks, and lead craft projects. Because reading is essential to the development of young minds, the company has also donated over 130 new books to students and classrooms. WSB is proud to support a local school in need and to spend time with such energetic and creative children.
> Read More about WSB's Relationship with Local Kindergarteners


The Jimmy V Foundation
WSB's president Harry Rhoads, Jr. has served on the Board of Directors of the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research (www.jimmyv.org) since ESPN and the late Jim Valvano founded it in 1993. Since its inception, the V Foundation has raised over $40 million to fund research grants at scientific and medical facilities nationwide working to find a cure for cancer. The V Foundation stands out from many other charities in that 83% of every dollar goes directly to cancer research.

Each year, Harry and several WSB speakers, many of whom were friends with Jim, participate in four annual events to raise money for the Foundation, including: the V Foundation Wine Celebration, held each August in Napa Valley and hosted by Mike and Mickie Krzyzewski (www.winecelebration.com); The Jimmy V Celebrity Golf Classic, held in August in North Carolina (www.golfclassic.org), and the Jimmy V Men's and Women's Basketball Classics, held each December, providing a preview of some of college basketball's top teams.