Defying the economic downturn, NY based charity groups are becoming the hot ticket for young NY professionals who like to socialize with a humanitarian twist..jpg)
Started in 2006 by John Broughton and Lisa Khan-Kapadia, Euro Meetup members contribute to charities by buying tickets to after work parties in Manhattan nightclubs and party boats.
“We have members of all ages – mostly 30s, but many 20s, 40s, and older as well,” says Broughton CEO of Nation Exchange. “We work very hard to have events where our members can socialize while helping good causes. Our goal is to make sure that each event is one that we would like to attend, even if it wasn’t our own event.”
Manhattan Promotion events have been held at some of the city's trendiest nightspots such as Ultra, Pink Elephant, and Cielo, benefiting charities such as Project Sunshine, Hearts and Minds and most recently, a harbor cruise for Orphans International Worldwide (www.oiww.org).
According to Giving USA donations to charitable causes in the United States reached an estimated $307.65 billion in 2008, a 2 percent drop in current dollars over 2007. In NY, many charities have seen a steep drop in donations due to the problems in the financial sector.
Although many New Yorkers are strapped for cash these days, the members of Euro Meetup on the other hand, get a great value as they spend their combined charity and social budget each week which has amounted to $18,000 raised for charities last year.
Back in June Euro Meetup held a charity cruise down the Hudson River on the Queen of Hearts to benefit Orphans International Worldwide's project to aid at-risk orphans in the Dominican Republic. The tickets sold out in 24hrs.
“We received a huge response to the event,” says Broughton. “We had a very long waiting list for this – so many of our members were interested in attending! So much so we are planning a follow-up cruise event."
OIWW was thrilled with the Queen of Hearts cruise fundraiser. "John and the members of Euro Meetup have been a godsend to OIWW in this difficult fundraising climate we are facing this year", says Linda Stanley, OIWW Executive Director.
Broughton emphasized that “recession or not” young professional New Yorkers really just want to go to charity events that have exciting friendly atmospheres to socialize and network while helping humanitarian causes.
"Manhattan Promotions is run by business men and women, but they are not motivated by greed,” adds Stanley. “They have fun, make friends, and leave the money on the table for charity. Our interns find their faith in the business world restored when they see such a large and successful operation that is run from the heart."
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