During the entire month of February, when you use your Saks credit card at their flagship Manhattan store, you can ask to have 5% of what you spend be donated to Robin Hood. Last week, Robin Hood staffers Devon, Molly and Dina went to Saks Fifth Avenue to share Robin Hood’s unique approach to fighting poverty in New York with Saks employees:
- Last year, we were able to improve the lives of over 400,000 New Yorkers by giving them the tools they need to lift themselves up out of poverty.
- Robin Hood’s board underwrites all of our administrative expenses, which means 100 percent of donations goes directly to fighting poverty.
- We make grant decisions to maximize poverty-fighting impact. The upshot: an increasing return on your investment dollar. Thus, a $1,000 investment in a Robin Hood-funded program translates into $16,000 in poverty fighting over the course of a person’s lifetime.
The Robin Hood Foundation, which has targeted poverty in New York City since 1988, offers a telling example. The group evaluates the return on investments it makes in various programs around the city. It doesn’t make funding decisions based solely on metrics, however. It also relies on the experience of managers in the field and makes qualitative judgments based on comparing benefits with costs.
Robin Hood deals only with an impoverished population, but its principle of being businesslike has served both its clients and its investor donors quite well.
Meet Cecelia, a program officer and runner in the ING New York City Marathon for Team Robin Hood. Support the team here.
Robin Hood: How long have you worked at Robin Hood?
Cecelia: I’ve worked at Robin Hood since February…just shy of nine months.
RH: What is your role at Robin Hood?
Cecelia: I’m a program officer in the Jobs & Economic Security portfolio. I work with grantees that offer job placement services—these groups provide soft skills instruction, rather than training or certification, but can get people into employment faster (on average). I also work with Grameen and Accion, two of our microfinance/financial literacy grantees.
RH: How long have you been training?
Cecelia: I started training right after July 4th weekend—July 7ish.
RH: What has been the hardest part of training?
Cecelia: Not having immediate access to food when I’m famished—hunger comes on quickly and STRONG. My husband has started carrying Luna bars in his pockets “in case of emergency.” The first month of training was the worst. My body felt very fragile and as if certain muscles/tendons were on the brink of total collapse.
RH: Have you ever run a marathon before? If not, what’s the most you’ve run so far?
Cecelia: First-time marathoner. Before training, the longest I’d run was 8 miles (in high school, so not sure if that really counts).
RH: Is anyone coming to cheer you on at the race?
Cecelia: YES. My mom is flying in for the event. She’ll be at mile six and the finish line with my husband and some friends. Other friends are strategically placing themselves at miles eight and 13—and of course, the ever-important mile 20. Thanks to all who can come!
For the 4th straight year, Robin Hood is hosting a Mile 20 block party for neighborhood residents and friends & families of more than 120 athletes who are running the ING New York City Marathon as part of Team Robin Hood. Watch the runners on a JumboTron and cheer on Team Robin Hood to help them finish the race!
Sunday, November 6
11:30AM - 3:00PM
Alexander Avenue between 135 and 138 Streets (6 train to 138 Street)
Featuring DJ Bonnie
Seating, t-shirts and water provided
Three Robin Hood staffers are running in the ING New York City marathon on Sunday as part of Team Robin Hood. Meet Jessica and support Team Robin Hood.
Robin Hood: How long have you worked at Robin Hood?
Jessica: Almost one year. I joined right after last year’s marathon.
RH: What is your role at Robin Hood?
Jessica: I am part of the development team. I work in Donor Data & Analytics.
RH: How long have you been training?
Jessica: I started training in the middle of August – just about 12 weeks.
RH: Have you ever run a marathon before? If not, what’s the most you’ve run so far?
Jessica: This will be my third marathon; second in NYC!
RH: What has been the hardest part of training?
Jessica: The hardest parts were training through those hot, humid summer days; and then getting a bad cold as soon as cold weather struck, which sidelined me for about a week.
RH: Is anyone coming to cheer you on at the race?
Jessica: Yes! My husband will be out there following me along the course, a bunch of friends will be scattered throughout the five boroughs and some people who live far away will be there in spirit and tracking me online.
Joshua: Staying in the last few Friday nights.
Casie: Finding the time to train.
Greg: Getting time to do it with kids!
Lynn: Running! Committing to nothing else but running/yoga and cross training on evenings and weekends.
Kyle: Training my legs to withstand 18-mile jogs.
Christie: Finding the time and energy to run with such a heavy work load!
James: Running alone for 2.5 hours.
David: Balancing my time to fit in all my runs.
Meet first time marathon runner and Robin Hood staffer Joanna. Support the Robin Hood team!
Robin Hood: How long have you worked at Robin Hood?
Joanna: About three and a half years (I joined in April 2008)
RH: What is your role at Robin Hood?
Joanna: I’m Robin Hood’s General Counsel, which means I am Robin Hood’s in-house lawyer. I help Robin Hood manage risk while achieving its goals to eliminate poverty in New York City.
RH: How long have you been training?
Joanna: I “officially” (according to my training schedule) started training in July, but I started building up mileage and mentally psyching myself up to do this in the spring.
RH: Have you ever run a marathon before? If not, what’s the most you’ve run so far?
Joanna: This is my first marathon—or anything close to it! My longest training run was 21 miles.
RH: What has been the hardest part of training?
Joanna: Getting up before 5:30 in the morning to run, especially in recent weeks since it is still very dark outside at that time of day.
RH: Is anyone coming to cheer you on at the race?
Joanna: My husband and four-year-old daughter, plus my parents (my dad ran three NYC marathons and he is an inspiration to me) and my sister. A bunch of friends, including a group of women I went to law school with—we have brunch together the first Sunday of every month so they’ll be heading out to see me after having brunch. And I hope to see my Robin Hood colleagues out there too!
Sometimes our staff members, like Christine, have so much spirit that they dress up like Robin Hood by accident! (Hat added)
