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New BUZZ: YMCA of Virginia’s Blue Ridge

 New BUZZ: YMCA of Virginia’s Blue Ridge 900 508 Michael Hemphill

As originally broadcast June 28, 2023, on Blue Ridge PBS …

The Y is known as a great place for a workout. From its wellness centers, pools and fitness classes, the nonprofit offers all ages and abilities the means to exercise the body.

But the body is just one side of a triangle that also features “mind” and “spirit.” At the YMCA of Virginia’s Blue Ridge, that means a focus on monthly luncheons for older adults, multicultural gardening experiences, free water safety classes for schoolchildren, and fun after school activities for kids seeking a safe space from gang and gun violence.

Helping fund these programs is the annual Keith Willis Society Reception, which gets a boost from BUZZ’ own video marketing.

This 33rd episode of BUZZ is sponsored by Freedom First Credit Union, where people bank for good.

“It’s Here!” BUZZ highlights Arts & Economic Development

 “It’s Here!” BUZZ highlights Arts & Economic Development 889 500 Michael Hemphill

As originally broadcast June 21, 2023, on Blue Ridge PBS …

Economic development folks often talk up a community’s quality of life when pitching new businesses. Somewhere in that mushy mix they may mention the local arts and culture – the symphony, art museum, playhouse and so on.

But on the stage of economic development, what role does Art really play?

In part 5 of our 6-episode partnership with the Roanoke Cultural Endowment and City of Roanoke, BUZZ shines the spotlight on this often minor character’s importance in recruiting, building and investing in economic projects.

Through the marketing team at LeadPoint Digital — and the song-writing talents of Bryan “Harvest Blaque” Hancock and J.P. Powell — BUZZ provides business leaders some much needed marketing resources to help pack the economic development house.

We thank Friendship for its sponsorship support of this episode!

New podcast: Memorial Day Special features nonprofits caring for veterans

 New podcast: Memorial Day Special features nonprofits caring for veterans 900 900 Michael Hemphill

Here on Memorial Day weekend Buzz4Good creator Michael Hemphill features four nonprofits that serve veterans: 

  • Healing Strides of Virginia
  • The Least of These homeless ministry
  • Total Action for Progress
  • Stop Soldier Suicide. 
Listen Now

Michael praises the missions of these organizations, which work  each day to help veterans with housing, food, transportation and healing and, in the extreme, from harming themselves. 

Michael also explores why these nonprofits are needed in a country that claims to value the service of those sent overseas to fight our wars. 

Are you a nonprofit with an event that we could help promote? Or a marketing problem we could help fix? Contact us and we’ll share on an upcoming episode.

New BUZZ stars — and helps rebrand — Literacy Volunteers

 New BUZZ stars — and helps rebrand — Literacy Volunteers 1024 576 Michael Hemphill

Watch our 31st episode of BUZZ featuring Literacy Volunteers of the New River Valley that originally aired May 3, 2023, on Blue Ridge PBS …

For most people, the ability to read and write comes so naturally that we forget they are skills we had to learn as a child. But for immigrants who don’t know English, and native-born individuals who perhaps struggled in school, those letters on a page are literally a foreign language. From navigating our healthcare system and the DMV to simply wanting to read to a grandchild, a lack of literacy can be crippling.

Literacy Volunteers of the New River Valley provides tutoring and classes to teach adults how to read, write, do basic math, and use computers — which in turn provides people the power to lift themselves out of poverty, lower health care costs, find and keep sustainable employment, and ultimately change lives.

But the nonprofit’s brand is clunky — LVNRV — and suggests it serves volunteers rather than people who need help reading. Coming to the rescue once again on BUZZ are our rebranding magicians from Wordsprint.

We thank 100+ Women Who Care NRV for sponsoring the production of our episode!

Coming up on BUZZ: May-August 2023 schedule

 Coming up on BUZZ: May-August 2023 schedule 900 675 Michael Hemphill

Tune in to Blue Ridge PBS on Wednesday 7:00 p.m. to watch BUZZ! New episodes air each month! Here’s the schedule of upcoming shows now through August.

NEW PODCAST! From Greed to Good: How Virginia Tech’s Unique NIL helps nonprofits

 NEW PODCAST! From Greed to Good: How Virginia Tech’s Unique NIL helps nonprofits 1024 1024 Michael Hemphill

On today’s show  BUZZ creator Michael Hemphill talks Name, Image and Likeness or NIL, which allows college athletes to earn what is estimated to be more than $1 billion in 2023. NIL has transformed college athletics and created a new world rife with cynicism and greed.

But not at Virginia Tech … if The Hokie Way nonprofits has a say.

Listen Now

 
What is The Hokie Way? Listen as Virginia Tech alumnus and superfan Jim Petrine shares how The Hokie Way is transforming NILs into vehicles for positive change … and helping VT fulfill its mission of Ut Prosim, Latin for That I May Serve.

We also talk to one of The Hokie Way’s nonprofit partners, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia, about how they’re benefiting from the Names, Images and Likenesses of Virginia Tech athletes.

And Michael shares the origin story for the BUZZ television show.

A message from BUZZ creator Michael Hemphill

 A message from BUZZ creator Michael Hemphill 900 586 Michael Hemphill

I’m always encouraging nonprofit leaders to be more fearless about proclaiming the good they do so that more donors and volunteers will be attracted to their cause.

“Your organization is doing incredible work,” I’ll say. “Tell everyone about it.”

I should be following my own advice! Because Wednesday is GIVE Roanoke Day and we could use a little $$$ buzz of our own.

Give Now

Our work through the American Advertising Federation of Roanoke is funded 100% through charitable contributions and foundation grants.

We’re fortunate to have raised funding to produce upcoming episodes on YMCA of Virginia’s Blue Ridge, Art and Economic Development in Roanoke, Literacy Volunteers of the New River Valley, The Hokie Way, Alta Mons, Community Foundation of the New River Valley, and more!

For every new episode we produce each month, we try to host a Watch Party (usually at the Grandin Theatre) where the featured nonprofit can enjoy the experience of seeing their mission on the big screen with their donors, volunteers, friends and fans. 

Each Watch Party costs about $500, so on Wednesday we’re seeking to raise $4,000 to fund the rest of our 2023 Watch Parties.

If you appreciate our work, please consider a gift on GIVE Roanoke. Every donor will be credited onscreen for all 2023 Watch Parties. Thank you!

Tips for Nonprofit Giving Days now on Buzz4Good podcast

 Tips for Nonprofit Giving Days now on Buzz4Good podcast 900 634 Michael Hemphill

Just dropped on Buzz4Good podcast: Tips for Nonprofit Giving Days.

Listen Now

We often relegate nonprofits and our charitable giving to the Christmas season when, perhaps, we ourselves feel more charitable. But the work of nonprofits isn’t confined to just the month of December. It’s year-round. 

On today’s show, BUZZ creator Michael Hemphill features two upcoming days when you can learn about — and hopefully support — hundreds of nonprofit organizations that are working daily to enhance the quality of life in our community.

To talk up GIVE Roanoke on April 19 and Give Local NRV on June 28-29, we chat with the event organizers: Alison Jorgenson of Council of Community Services, and Jess Wirgau of the Community Foundation of the New River Valley

Our 30th BUZZ stars The Least of These

 Our 30th BUZZ stars The Least of These 900 600 Michael Hemphill

As originally broadcast March 29, 2023, on Blue Ridge PBS … our 30th episode of BUZZ!

A gap shelter for those suffering homelessness, The Least of These Ministry provides basic services for people living on the streets.

A hot showers and laundry. Snacks, clothes, sleeping bags and medical supplies from a converted ambulance. A warming bus for sleep on cold nights. Outdoor lockers that offer a secure place to stash their possessions. Free medical care for them and their pets.

TLOT operates on faith, hope and a shoestring budget from area churches, individuals and an annual fundraiser: Hustle for the Homeless 5K.

Wheeler Digital returns to BUZZ to donate a social media campaign to inspire more runners and sponsors to join the cause. Learn exactly which campaigns they created to help The Least of These Ministry build brand awareness in the Roanoke community.

We thank the Louise R. Lester Foundation for underwriting the production of this episode!

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NEWS RELEASE – Watch Party on March 29 celebrates 30th Episode of BUZZ

 NEWS RELEASE – Watch Party on March 29 celebrates 30th Episode of BUZZ 749 299 Michael Hemphill

NEWS RELEASE

Watch Party on March 29 celebrates 30th Episode of BUZZ

March 15, 2023 (Roanoke, Va.) – The Southwest Virginia-based television show BUZZ, featuring nonprofits receiving pro bono marketing resources, will premier its 30th episode on March 29 on Blue Ridge PBS.

A free community Watch Party will be held at the Grandin Theatre for the episode, which stars the Roanoke homeless ministry, The Least of These. Wheeler Digital is donating the marketing “buzz” in the show. Funding for this episode is provided by the Louise R. Lester Foundation.

“We remain honored that so many incredible marketing agencies throughout Virginia have been willing to give their time and talent to help our nonprofit community,” said Michael Hemphill, creator and host of BUZZ. “In turn, these life-giving organizations are able to attract more donors and volunteers to their cause so they can better fulfill their missions.”

BUZZ is produced in partnership with the American Advertising Federation of Roanoke.

Launched in 2020 during the pandemic, BUZZ has featured dozens of nonprofits across the Commonwealth on its 30 episodes, spanning a range of causes from Arts & Culture (Southwest Virginia Ballet, Roanoke Arts Pop); Social Services (R.A.M. House, Feeding Southwest Virginia); Healthcare (Children’s Assistive Technology Service, Brain Injury Services of Southwest Virginia); Environment (FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge); and Children and Families (West End Center, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia).

Episodes currently under development include Literacy Volunteers of the New River Valley; YMCA of Virginia’s Blue Ridge; Art & Economic Development in Roanoke, Va.; The Hokie Way; and Community Foundation of the New River Valley.

Virginia is home to hundreds of nonprofits – from homeless shelters and food banks to children’s choirs and art museums. As skilled as these organizations are in fulfilling their missions, they often lack the time, expertise, personnel or bandwidth to properly promote themselves. This lack of good marketing – this shortage of buzz, if you will – limits their ability to further their cause.

All episodes of BUZZ are available on demand at buzz4good.com/episodes. In fall 2021, Hemphill added a weekly radio show, Buzz4Good, airing Saturdays 4 p.m. on WFIR (also available on buzz4good.com/podcast) that interviews nonprofit leaders throughout Southwest Virginia. 

Contact:

Michael Hemphill, Creator of BUZZ
540.556.2879 | michael@buzz4good.com