Hang Tough Like You’ve Never Seen it Before:
An Introduction to Interning with Hang Tough Foundation
Ever wondered what it’s like under the surface at Hang Tough Foundation? All the inner workings of the office and how all of the amazing events for our heroes and their families come together? Well hold on tight to this Hawaiian Rollercoaster Ride, because have I got the VIP Access pass for you. As the Hang Tough Intern this summer, I’m bringing you all the behind-the-scenes looks and exclusives you don’t know you’re missing and it’s all right here on The Current.
Surf’s up and sun’s out – the last week of school is upon us and you know what that means: summertime is upon the Hang Tough family. The month of May has been a BIG SPLASH for HTF and it’s all thanks to our amazing hero families and Hang Tough donors. From the annual Gritz and Glitz Gala, Parents Night Out, and the most recent success at our Tallahassee Beer Society Bottle Share Fundraiser at Proof Brewery, May has brought so much joy to our families and staff. On behalf of everyone at Hang Tough, I’d like to kickstart this first reading of The Current with a huge thank you to each and every person, family and organization that support Hang Tough and its mission to serve our hero families. THANK YOU!!
So let’s dive right in:
The first two weeks have been quite an introduction into all the little pieces that go into managing a nonprofit organization, especially a rapidly growing one such as Hang Tough. With the guidance and supervision of Executive Director, Janelle Irwin, Program Manager, Alex Givens, and Director of Development, Kasey Cunningham, I was able to learn how the sponsorship and in-kind donor process is accounted for and recognized. I was also able to gain firsthand experience undergoing the planning and preparation for May’s two Childcare events (i.e. Parents Night Out and Tough as Nails Support Groups).
Here are a few quick [TAN] fun facts for you:
- Soda cans do not do well in 100+ “Feels-Like” temperatures.
- There’s lots of printing (and color coordinating) that occurs to make Child-care plans just right for our staff and volunteers.
- When working with children, always be prepared for poop.
With that, I’ll reel in this first post by saying that there’s more to come. Hang Tough is growing by the day and is continuing to think of new, exciting ways to support and better serve our hero families. I am excited to go on this journey with you all this summer and learn as much as I can along the way. Be sure to look for the new edition of The Current each week and remember to #HangToughTogether!
Best Fishes,
Virginia