Nonprofits to share stories, compete for prizes at Fast Pitch 2015

There’s still time to get your tickets to Social Venture Partners’ Fast Pitch, the competition in which eight area nonprofits will present their overall story and impact in three minutes or less. More than $30,000 will be awarded at the Feb. 11 gathering, which begins at 6 p.m. at Memorial Hall and is themed “Innovation That Matters.”

Having been chosen from a group of 20 semifinalists, the final pitchers are Breakthrough Cincinnati, Melodic Connections, Healthy Visions, Circle Tail, ChangingGears, Faces Without Places, Higher Education Mentoring Initiative and LawnLife.

For Melodic Connections Executive Director Betsey Zenk Nuseibeh, the coaching that’s occurred throughout the Social Venture Partners process has been valuable, but the event itself will provide an opportunity for awareness raising.

“It is such a great way for us to help people understand the power of music therapy,” Zenk Nuseibeh says. “After Wednesday night, no matter the results, 500 more people will understand that music therapy is a science that has the ability to help people change the course of their lives.”

The funds awarded will enable the organizations to build capacity and ultimately reach more individuals in need, and one of the eight nonprofits will be selected to attend Philanthropitch International, where they’ll have the chance to compete for more than $100,000 in prize money.

“The prize money (from Fast Pitch) would allow ChangingGears to add a third service bay to our shop, so we can expand capacity and impact more lives through car ownership,” says Joel Bokelman, the nonprofit’s president.

Faces Without Places, Fast Pitch first-prize winner in 2014, is an organization that works to remove educational barriers for children experiencing homelessness. This year, Executive Director Ramin Mohajer will compete again for a potential $10,000 prize, which he says could allow the nonprofit to provide backpacks and shoes to hundreds.

“Every single organization in the room is doing amazing work and deserves more funding and recognition,” Mohajer says. “I remember sitting there last year and being glad that I didn’t have to pick the winners.” 

Do Good: 

•    Purchase tickets to Fast Pitch 2015 at 6 p.m. Feb. 11 at Memorial Hall, Over-the-Rhine.

•    Learn more about Social Venture Partners Cincinnati and consider becoming a partner. 

•    Follow SVP Cincinnati on Facebook.