Showing 1 - 10 of 10 [ Archived News ]

July 2010

NewLevel Group helps launch the One World Futbol Project

Young Darfur refugees were engrossed in a makeshift game of soccer under the hot sun—with the "ball" a sphere made of trash tied up with twine and the "field" a patch of dirt and rocks with barbed wire for boundaries. Their game was captured on film by a CNN crew. Watching this footage at home, Tim Jahnigen, an inventor, song-writer, and music producer, imagined that these kids might have once had a regular soccer ball, which had worn out or been punctured by use in such a harsh setting—or perhaps the ball was deflated but the needle was lost or the pump broken. Tim was inspired to design a ball that played like a "real futbol," but would never wear out, never go flat, never need a pump. Such a ball could match the joy and determination of people to play “the beautiful game” of soccer—anywhere.

Tim's idea remained in the concept stage until a chance conversation with the entertainer Sting, with whom Tim produces a bi-annual concert at Carnegie Hall. Once Tim shared his vision of an indestructible soccer ball, Sting offered to donate money for R&D, and so the first "One World Futbol", now patent-pending, was born.

The One World Futbol can be played on any surface, anywhere—not just grass or regulation soccer fields. Unlike other soccer balls, the skin of the One World Futbol won't wear off no matter how abrasive the playing area. The ball requires no pump or needle and will never go flat even if punctured.

For decades, UNICEF, the U.N. Refugee Agency, as well as private nonprofit organizations working in war zones, refugee camps, and impoverished communities throughout the world, have observed children finding their own ways to play soccer with rag balls, cans, and rocks. The One World Futbol Project will assist the work of these organizations and brighten the lives of millions of children by distributing ultra-durable,all-terrain balls.

The company's "Buy One, Give One" promotion allows individuals to buy the ball, and for each ball purchased the company will donate a ball to needy children and young people around the world. The business also sells favorably-priced balls to governments, U.N. agencies, and nonprofit organizations that distribute free soccer balls to communities who can't afford them.

To learn more about the amazing "All-Terrain" ball, or to order one, go to http://oneworldfutbol.com

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NewLevel Group Re-Certified as Green Business

In 2007, NewLevel Group became the first office in Napa County to be certified as a Green Business by Napa County, under a program developed by the Association of Bay Area Governments. On May 13, NewLevel became the first business to be re-certified through the Napa County Green Business Program.

The program recognizes companies that maintain exceptional pollution prevention and conservation of resources, as well as meeting environmental compliance standards.

For more information about becoming a certified Green Business, go to  http://www.greenbiz.ca.gov

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Oakland nonprofit, Urban Habitat, lauches strategy initiative

NewLevel Group’s John Heymann will assist Urban Habitat with their three-year planning process this summer and fall. Urban Habitat builds power in low-income communities and communities of color by combining education, advocacy, research and coalition-building to advance environmental, economic, and social justice in the Bay Area.

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Napa County strengthens watershed restoration projects

Napa County has contracted with Napa County Resource Conservation District and NewLevel Group to provide coordination among several ongoing Napa River restoration projects. For more information about the projects, check out the Watershed Information Center & Conservancy of Napa County website at http://www.napawatersheds.org

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Bringing energy and resource conservation resources to Napa's nonprofit community

Working through Sustainable Napa County, NewLevel Group has started another round of behavioral assessments & benchmarking for energy efficiency and resource conservation with social service agencies. The latest group includes the Napa Valley Center for Spiritual Living and tenant organizations of the Napa Valley Vintners Community Health Center.

As part of other efforts to bring the benefits of energy efficiency to all segments of the community, NewLevel Group has facilitated meetings between caseworkers from several of the county’s Family Resource Centers and representatives of a PG&E program for low income residents. The free program can provide replacement appliances, new doors and windows, weather-sealing, and other energy-saving measures to home owners and renters who qualify.

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Animal welfare groups join forces to benefit the communities they serve

NewLevel Group’s John Heymann recently facilitated a meeting between two successful animal welfare organizations in Jackson Hole, WY. PAWS of Jackson Hole advocates for animals and promotes responsible pet ownership through local outreach programs, and the Animal Adoption Center is dedicated to saving the lives of homeless animals through adoptions, community outreach, and education. As a result of their meeting, the two groups agreed to conduct joint spay/neuter clinics and will work more closely in several areas where their missions converge.

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Leading health design research organization continues growth

 

NewLevel Group is providing support for development of a “balanced scorecard” for performance measurements to long-time client The Center for Health Design (CHD), as it continues to develop its organizational capacity. CHD helps healthcare and design professionals to improve the quality of healthcare through the built environment using evidence-based design.

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NGO Workshops in Costa Rica

With the economic recession making its impact felt around the world, leaders of Central America-based businesses and nonprofits gathered in San Jose, Costa Rica for a series of workshops and training sessions on the topics of nonprofit governance, leadership development, fundraising, and grant writing presented by John Heymann of NewLevel Group, and Joelle Gallagher, Executive Director of Cope Family Center.

Attendees included representatives from Junior Achievement, Centro Cultural, Eco Global, Green Pages of Costa Rica, the United Nations’ University for Peace, the Costa Rican Ministry of Culture, Accion Arte, Hogar Siembra, Hewlett-Packard, the American Chamber of Commerce and many others.

Participants shared their challenges, and came away with new connections as well as practical tools for addressing some of their most pressing issues. Additional workshops are being planned for Summer 2010.

For more information, contact John Heymann at 707-255-5555 x105 or jheymann@newlevelgroup.com

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Berkeley's David Brower Center completes strategy work

One of the Bay Area’s most advanced green buildings, the nonprofit David Brower Center is an inspiring home for environmental and social action, combining both offices and program facilities in a 50,000 square-foot space.

Conceived as a vibrant community of like-minded individuals and organizations committed to a just and ecologically sustainable society, the Brower Center has already become an invaluable asset for the region and a landmark for anyone, anywhere committed to the planet and its inhabitants.

By investing in a centrally located workspace and gathering place, the Brower Center is using real estate as an enduring progressive strategy and building a destination for activism and education. Until now, there has been no physical space in the Bay Area designed to foster collaborations between like-minded organizations and individuals, engage new people in advocacy and facilitate cross-sector communication and partnerships.

The David Brower Center provides a central address for the nonprofit community, a place to discover the connections between issues, build lasting relationships and affect real, substantive change.

The Brower Center was built adjacent to Oxford Plaza, affordable family housing with retail on the ground floor, and over a city-owned underground parking facility. The Brower Center and Oxford Plaza are independently owned, but were designed together as a mixed-use, transit-oriented development.

For more information, contact John Heymann at 707-255-5555 x105 or jheymann@newlevelgroup.com

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NLG offers expanded support service for nonprofits

In today’s challenging economy, it is more important than ever for nonprofit organizations to spend wisely and conserve resources so that more money and effort can be spent on work directly related to the mission. As a result, the energies of volunteers and board members must be used to their greatest advantage to further the success of the organization.

Over the years we’ve come to realize that nonprofits frequently call on already overworked board members or other volunteers to fulfill their organization’s bookkeeping needs. While it may save a few dollars in the short term, it also means that these same board members, after spending the time required to pay bills, make deposits, and create financial reports, have little or no time left for meeting their critical governance responsibilities. To meet that ever-increasing need, we are offering a new service to our nonprofit clients.

NewLevel Group can fulfill your bookkeeping needs in a professional and timely manner, letting your board members and volunteers do what they do best – communicate your essential work to the public, bring in those hard-earned donations, and guide the organization to increasing its effectiveness and impact. Our staff can handle the day-to-day bookkeeping requirements such as check writing and deposit posting, as well as preparing the accurate and timely financial reports you need to properly manage your organization, all within a fee structure that fits your budget. We can even provide budget preparation, cash flow analysis, and grant reporting support if that’s helpful to you. In addition, our staff is well-versed in the set-up of accounting systems and back-office procedures, a service that is appreciated by start-up and growing nonprofits alike.

Our NewLevel Group staff members understand the financial needs of nonprofit organizations, and can develop and implement processes that will give clients the financial information they need to operate a successful enterprise in today’s world where every resource has to be put to its highest and best use. Let us help you meet this new economy head-on.

For more information, contact Mary Beth Glisson at 707-255-5555 x101 or mbglisson@newlevelgroup.com

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Showing 1 - 10 of 10 [ Archived News ]