My global and local LinkedIn connections boosted the success of my local business association’s third annual charity golf outing.
Relationships matter. People matter. LinkedIn is an online platform that can help build relationships with people near and far.
Introduction
To provide some background information, the Paoli Business & Professional Association runs an annual charity golf event and chooses different local charities to support each year.
Board members solicited sponsors and silent auction items for the event. This year, the charities were the Paoli Fire Company, the T/E Conestoga Football Association, and the Great Valley Educational Foundation.
(Sidenote: I graduated from Conestoga High School, and my cheerleader daughter married the quarterback. They were high school sweethearts!)
The board members each have relationships in the community, and some have solicited new connections to help make the event successful.
Global Connections on LinkedIn
I have been on the leadership team of the Thought Leadership Branding Club since 2021, along with Roy Kowarski, who is originally from South Africa but now lives in Australia.
Roy is a branded promotional product specialist at Out There Branding. Through his global vendors, he serves clients worldwide. One of his coolest items is an innovative video brochure.
When I asked him what promotional item he would recommend for my charity golf event, he suggested a clip-on black golf ball holder for three balls with my new logo, Career News Today, printed on it. After 30 years in business, I rebranded, feeling I needed a refresh. Roy had them printed in Australia and shipped them to me. It was easy peasy!
We coordinated everything digitally through LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Zoom, email messages, and PayPal. He made it efficient and pain-free, and I purchased from Roy because of KLT – know, like, and trust.
Local Connections for Sponsors and Silent Auction Donors
Remember when your mommy and daddy told you not to talk to strangers when you were little? That does not hold true now that you are an adult!
When I was at my chiropractor, he mentioned a new business, so I did a new LinkedIn search for the owner and sent a message. It probably didn’t hurt that I have over 20K connections and shared how this person might get advertising exposure.
Boom! After connecting on LinkedIn, I got a silent auction donation from a stranger I never met.
Support from Local Immigrant Business Owners
Another surprise in global relations touched this local charity event. Since I don’t cook anymore and always eat out, I support many local restaurants, including some of my favorites who were kind enough to donate to the silent auction.
Thank you to Juan of Mi Pais in Malvern, Roger of Fattoush Mediterranean Cuisine in Malvern, and Bekim of Our Deli & Cafe in Paoli, who also was a hole sponsor.
Columbia, Lebanon, and Kosovo immigrants donated to our local charity because they run successful businesses, pay taxes, and employ American workers who also pay taxes.
In addition, Gareth and Ryan of the Dream Team Home Services immigrated from Ireland in 2000. Because of their success in multiple locations, they also sponsored three holes at the charity golf event.
The Power of Relationships
The power of relationships on and off LinkedIn cannot be underestimated. I could not have kicked off the launch of my new rebrand without the help of Roy in Australia. I have leftover ball holders, so now I have holiday gifts that I will fill with golf balls that will look way better than a bow on a package!
Through this event, I also met new people on LinkedIn, so I am grateful to have more local connections in my network.
Conclusion
Since this was my first charity golf event, I have to say it was a lot of work. I needed time to catch up on client work and schedule nonprofit career events, including my upcoming LinkedIn for Nonprofits workshop.
I recommend that others leverage LinkedIn for their professional and charitable endeavors. You never know what unexpected rewards may ensue.
Thanks again to all the sponsors, donors, and supporters who contributed to the event’s success. The article, How to Create an Autoplay Looping Presentation, lists all the wonderful sponsors and contributors. The Paoli Business and Professional Association is most grateful for your support. Still, I am most thankful to Roy, who was a crucial part of my relaunch and rebrand after 30 years in business.
NEXT STEPS
- Subscribe to my newsletter on LinkedIn™ for bright ideas on how to manage your career.
- If you need a resume or LinkedIn™ profile to get you to your next step, book a call to chat!
- Join as a member at https://greatcareers.org/membership of the #1 business networking association on the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Book of Lists four years in a row!
- To support our charity at KeepOnSharing.com and use the referral code Career
- Follow #GreatCareersPHL
BIO
Lynne M. Williams is the Executive Director of the Great Careers Network, a volunteer-run 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides career development and networking connections for 1) job seekers in career transition, including veterans, and 2) employed and self-employed for career management.
Aside from writing keyword-focused content for ATS resumes and LinkedIn profiles, Lynne is writing her doctoral dissertation on LinkedIn for Job Seekers. She is a contributing author on “Applying to Positions” in Find Your Fit: A Practical Guide to Landing the Job You Love, along with the late Dick Bolles, the author of What Color is Your Parachute?, and is also a speaker on career topics.
