Phillyanthropy

Get Up, Get Out, Get Involved

by Lisa Tauber

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The Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation invites both casual joggers and competitive athletes to run for a different cause. Participants in the 3.1-mile race through Fairmount Park will raise money for ovarian cancer research and education. If the tingly do-good feeling isn't incentive enough, prizes (cash and otherwise) will be awarded to race winners and top fundraisers. Contact 877-730-1100, e-mail 5k@sandyovarian.org or visit www.sandyovarian.org.

It's safe to say that the Philadelphia Flower Show would not have been a success without the 3,500 people who offered free manpower this past March. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, which hosts the show every year, returns the favor by learning about interested participants and finding the right volunteering opportunities for them — be it administrative work in PHS offices, cleanups at city parks or teaching classes on plants. Contact Susan Strawbridge at 215-988-8876, e-mail sstrawbridge@pennhort.org or visit www.pennsylvaniahorticulturalsociety.org.

For P. Diddy, contributing to our nation meant donning a threatening T-shirt. For you, it can mean ensuring that Philadelphia's mayoral primary runs smoothly on election day. Volunteers hang around polling sites answering voters' questions, helping with check-in and surveying departing voters about their experiences. Who knows — you may help circumvent a nightmare of Floridian and/or Ohioan proportions. Contact Terry at 215-564-4544, e-mail terry@gpcares.com or visit www.gpcares.com.

No one should be denied the right to read, which is why Books Through Bars reads prisoners' letters and provides them with books they've requested free of charge. The Pack-a-Thon is a daylong "packing party" dedicated to raising cash for the postage needed to ship off the books. Volunteers will solicit pledges, then package the reading material. Snacks will be provided; door prizes will be won. Contact Books Through Bars at 215-727-8170, e-mail info@booksthroughbars.org or visit www.booksthroughbars.org.

Philadelphia has no shortage of venues for geeks who fancy themselves historians. The Philadelphia Historical Society, one of the oldest historical societies in America, is the best place to start. Volunteers act as visitor service representatives by greeting and directing guests, registering new members and providing information to visitors. For tech-savvy volunteers who prefer computers to customers, the Society also needs help designing and developing several Web projects. Contact the Philadelphia Historical Society at 215-732-6200, e-mail volunteer@hsp.org or visit www.hsp.org.