Volunteer Konect celebrated its 3rd Annual Volunteer Week in the Virgin Islands from 1st to 7th June 2022. As part of this year’s celebration, the organisation hosted its first ever Mr. and Ms. Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) contest and announce the winners at the Volunteer Konnect Fair last Saturday. It was a joint effort among many Non-Profit Organizations within the Virgin Islands to raise money for a cause of the contestants’ choosing.
Each NPO was asked to register two participants; one male and one female. As it was the first year, only four NPO joined; they were ACT in 3D; BVI Red Cross; WINBVI and Tortola Toastmasters Club of the BVI. Nevertheless, voting was open from 1st May to 1st June and all funds raised will be donated to a non-profit organisation within the Virgin Islands; each vote was valued at $1.
On 4th June 2022, it was announced that the titles of both Mr. & Ms. NPO were won by the Tortola Toastmasters Club of the BVI. Mr. Hector Cruz Jr. was Tortola Toastmasters Club’s male representative while Mrs. Luce Hodge-Smith was the female representative.
Over $5,000.00 were raised and it was equally split between the top male and top female contestants. As Toastmasters International is an educational organisation and not a service club like many others that usually focus to raise funds for community or charitable cause; the club’s two winning contestants decided to distribute the funds to multiple non-profit organizations within the community.
Hector Cruz Jr. and Luce Hodge-Smith were grateful to all the contributors of the Mr. & Ms. NPO contest and hope to have many more contestants take part next year so that the crowns can be handed over to another Non-Profit Organization, and they will have the opportunity to donate the raised funds to an organisation of their choice.
Toastmasters International is a worldwide nonprofit educational organization that empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., the organization’s membership exceeds 357,000 in more than 16,600 clubs in 143 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people from diverse backgrounds become more confident speakers, communicators and leaders. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visit www.toastmasters.org. Follow @Toastmasters on Twitter.