The Channel@Work program is the charitable component of our XChange events. Channel@Work is designed to bring channel and end-user communities together to connect and give back to the local communities that host our events throughout the year.

Projects
This event, we will be partnering with The Richardson Boys & Girls Club in Dallas as well as continuing our partnership with Dress for Success. We are proud to be supporting these fantastic organizations and welcome all sponsors and attendees to participate!

In addition, at XChange 2012, we will be donating the centerpieces from the ARC awards will also be donated to a local area hospital.  This will help to reduce waste and give back in our initiative for more sustainable, community driven events.

Through our Women of the Channel program, XChange Events will continue our relationship with Dress for Success promoting the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing suits, shoes, and accessories to help them thrive in work and in life.  For XChange 2012, we will be specifically working with the Dress for Success Dallas.

How You Can Help
We will be collecting donations for Dress for Success. They’re mission is to promote economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. All vendors, attendees and staff are welcome to contribute whether male or female. Donations can be dropped off at the registration desk onsite.

They are especially looking for:

    * White button down shirts in all sizes
    * Black slacks (specifically sizes 16 - 26)
    * Knee high nylons
    * Camisoles
    * Giftcards:  Target, Walmart, Payless, etc

Saturday, August 18, 2012
12pm-5pm

For XChange  2012, we will be running 2 initiatives for The Richardson Boys & Girls Club: A Teen Center Make-Over & Technology Refresh. Microsoft has generously committed to the sole underwriter sponsorship, exclusively funding the Teen Center Make-Over portion of the project. Everyone has the opportunity to donate technology. As a donor, vendors will be able to send 2 representatives to volunteer at the Teen Center Makeover and meet the teens. After the hands-on projects are complete, the newly made over room and technology donations will be revealed in a pizza party & ice cream social in the new space.

About the Richardson Boys & Girls Club:

Richardson Boys & Girls Club
St. Luke's Lutheran Church
1210 W Belt Line Road Richardson, TX

The Boys & Girls Club enables all young people, especially those who need it most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. The Club currently has 89 teen members 13-18, most of which are in the younger range.  29% of these teens live in households that have an annual income of less than $15,000 .  88% live in households with an annual income of less than $50,000.

Description: The Richardson Club has a number of programs for teens and while their teen average regular attendance goal is 45, only 20 are attending 2x a week.  We will be working with the teens to help create a space they can call their own.  This will help drive attendance at the club and give them a safe place to go oafter school.

The Teen Center Make Over will consist of everything from painting and cleaning to providing and building new furniture as well as developing a technology lab area the students to do homework.  The current Teen Center has just one beat up couch, a 20" TV, and an old pool table.  We know that the channel can come together to make this place shine.  The transformed space will make a significant difference for these teens and all the teens to come to Richardson thereafter. 

2.  Technology Refresh

Description: As the rest of the Club has been updated, the teen center has continuously been skipped over. The little technologies that are there are worn and outdated.  Technologies donations will help to make this space a great environment for them to both learn and play.

Their technology wish list consists of specific items they know will make the strongest impact on their teens:

Feel free to think outside the box, this wish list is what they think will work in a Teen Room.  What do you think will work?

Thank you to

who has taken on the sole underwriter sponsorship!