BridgesUS Aims to Empower Grassroots Leaders at Annual Fundraiser

BridgesUS, a nonprofit empowering grassroots leaders, will host its Annual Event on Saturday, June 8 to raise funds for expanding its vital services nationwide. The evening gathering at a private home aims to attract new supporters to bolster the organization’s mission.

“We’re particularly focused on getting people who have never heard about BridgesUS’s mission and vision,” said the Rev. Dr. James A. Milley, Bridges Executive Director. “We’d love to see more people go online and tell us they’re coming.”

Currently assisting 29 leaders across six states, BridgesUS provides mentorship, nonprofit status, online tools, training and coaching to enable launching micro-nonprofits. It has trained over 150 leaders since its 2010 legal founding.

The 6 p.m. event will be held at the La Cañada Flintridge home of John and Kerry Cervenka. Attendees can mingle, dine and join impactful discussions on BridgesUS’s grassroots work.

“Through BridgesUS, you can extend life to the people who need it most,” Milley said. “This is not a program run by government that passes out mass money – it’s grassroots.”

BridgesUS sees such events as crucial for fundraising and community engagement. “These events create a lot of energy for BridgesUS,” Milley noted. Sponsors have covered ticket costs for first-time guests.

The evening will feature Mike Veerman of Hope IT teaching computer skills to disadvantaged youth. Funds will help onboard new leaders like Tanya, serving domestic violence victims.

Milley hopes to convey that BridgesUS enables “a new model of nonprofit with a new pattern of leadership” maximizing community impact with fewer overhead costs.

“America is in a bad place right now,” he said. “There’s more division than people getting along. We think there has to be a change.”

For more information about purchasing tickets and sponsorship packages, visit https://bridgesus.org/2024-annual-event/.