National venture philanthropy group and social change platform welcomes its seventh cohort of 15 nonprofits, growing its network of organizations fighting poverty across U.S.

Bethesda, Maryland, Jan. 28, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Give an Hour is proud to announce it has been selected to participate in Stand Together’s Catalyst Program, joining the growing national network of more than 100 high-performing organizations that are transforming communities across the country and helping people break the cycle of poverty.

A highly selective six-month management training and mentorship program, Stand Together’s Catalyst Program brings together the nation’s most effective, community-based nonprofits to support, strengthen and scale their impact. Organizations typically fall within one or more issue-area portfolios, such as: Addiction and Mental Health; Financial Empowerment and Entrepreneurship; Housing and Homelessness; In-Prison, Re-Entry and Second Chances; Workforce Development; and Youth and Education.

“We are proud to partner with Stand Together through this opportunity to spend time focused on our organization’s health and growth plans,” said Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, Founder and President of Give an Hour. “This network has the ability to connect us to some of the nation’s most influential philanthropists and social change leaders as well as an intimate group of fellow social entrepreneurs working alongside us to address some of the issues we’re all facing in our respective communities together.”

Organizations invited to join Stand Together’s Catalyst Program have a unique opportunity to improve organizational health and multiply the change they’re driving in their communities through business management coaching; skills-based volunteer support; and connection to national networks of both peer nonprofit leaders and influential philanthropists and business leaders. At the core of the program is the Market-Based Management philosophy, which has been successfully implemented by Koch Industries for decades, to become one of the most profitable enterprises in the country.  

“We're thrilled to welcome these organizations to our Stand Together network and empower community leaders to grow the incredible impact they’re already making,” said Evan Feinberg, executive director of Stand Together. “This Catalyst cohort is a group with impressive capabilities and dedication to truly transformational change in their communities, and we couldn’t be more excited to elevate their work through our platforms.”

Founded in 2005, Give an Hour, pairs qualified mental health professionals with individuals from at-risk populations, providing free mental health services to them. Although primarily focusing on veterans, active-duty, National Guard and Reserve members of our armed forces as well as their families, the organization is actively seeking to extend its services to individuals from other at-risk populations. Through increasing accessibility, Give an Hour seeks to change the culture, service and care surrounding mental health.

In addition, to Give an Hour, organizations participating in the Catalyst Program as part of Cohort Seven include:

• BUILD – Redwood City, CA | Youth and Education
• College Bound Dorchester – Dorchester, MA | Youth and Education
• DC Central Kitchen – Washington, D.C. | Workforce Development
• Embarc – Chicago, IL | Youth and Education
• Envision – Wichita, KS | Workforce Development
• Exalt Youth – Brooklyn, NY | In-Prison, Reentry and Second Chances
• Illumination Foundation - Irvine, CA | Housing and Homelessness
• Juma Ventures – San Francisco, CA | Workforce Development
• My Possibilities – Plano, TX | Workforce Development
• Outdoor Outreach – San Diego, CA | Youth and Education
• PowerMyLearning – New York, NY | Youth and Education
• Prison Fellowship – Lansdowne, VA | In-Prison, Reentry and Second Chances
• Recovery Café – Seattle, WA | Addiction Recovery and Mental Health

Cohort Seven of the 2019 Catalyst Program will kick off on February 4, 2019, in Arlington, VA. For more information on Stand Together’s Catalyst Network and how to get involved, visit stand-together.org. 

About Give an Hour:

Founded by Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, a psychologist in the Washington, D.C., area, Give an Hour’s mission is to develop networks of skill-based volunteer professionals capable of responding to both acute and chronic conditions prevalent within society. Since 2005, the nonprofit organization has provided free mental health services to U.S. service members, veterans, and their families. In 2015, Give an Hour expanded efforts to address the mental health needs of other populations including at-risk teens, survivors of gun violence, victims of human trafficking and those affected by natural and man-made disasters. In addition, Give an Hour is now working internationally to provide information and services to address the needs of those who are in emotional pain around the world. Through the generosity, compassion, and expertise of Give an Hour’s skilled volunteers, we are able to increase the likelihood that those in need receive the support and care they deserve. Thus far, the U.S. network of nearly 7,000 licensed mental health professionals has provided more than 265,000 hours of care and support to those in need. Learn more at www.giveanhour.org.

ABOUT STAND TOGETHER

Stand Together is a social change organization committed to breaking the cycle of poverty by supporting the creative solutions of individuals and communities around the country. Founded in 2016, Stand Together draws from a talented pool of social entrepreneurs and committed individuals to select, invest, build and develop community-based, for-purpose organizations with a demonstrated ability to transform lives. Stand Together strengthens communities by investing in social change-makers that can break barriers for individuals in poverty so that they can realize their full potential. For more information visit: https://www.stand-together.org.

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Allison Fried
Stand Together
(571) 236-2589
Allison.Fried@stand-together.org