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The month of January is a time of preparation, isn’t it?
We’re preparing for all that’s to come in the new year: work and life feats, goals we’re crushing and challenges we’re overcoming.
It can be exciting.
Besides all the high-level thinking, there are events to attend for causes that matter.
I make sure to keep my eyes open for community-related events because that’s where we see the great impact organizations are making on our neighborhoods and people.
Take the Fallen First Responders Association, which will be the featured nonprofit at the Wilkes-Barre POWER! January networking event at Jonathans in Wilkes-Barre.
The group will be highlighted, and representatives will speak about the purpose of the association (to financially assist the families of fallen first responders killed in the line of duty) at the Jan. 15 event that begins at 6 p.m.
There’s nothing as noble as helping families of law enforcement, firefighters, corrections officers, probation and parole agents and EMS who’ve sacrificed so much for civilians.
As POWER! welcomes the nonprofit that night, we hope it will be a time for reflection on how we can all do our part to help those men and women in uniform.
It’ll also be a night of top-notch networking with local professionals in one of the area’s best restaurants.
Besides that event, there’s Big Brothers Big Sisters Game Night on Jan. 30 at the Woodlands in Plains Township.
Teams show off their skills in competitions of Pictionary, Family Feud and Celebrity.
All you need is to get three friends or co-workers together, register at bbbsnepa.com/gamenight/ and you could show up at 5:30 p.m. to participate.
The night benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters during one of its most important times – National Mentoring Month. Nonprofit leaders are working hard to increase volunteers so that children locally in need of a mentor can be paired with one.
I’ve done Game Night in the past and, even though I’m not the quickest when it comes to pop culture, it’s a fun night and reminded me of playing the games as a teenager.
Not to mention it’s a worthwhile program that you’ve learned more about in today’s edition of this paper.
And something in the beginning of February that I think you should save the date for is the Celebrity Happy Hour at Rodano’s in Wilkes-Barre. It’s from 5 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 6.
This is another night I’ve participated in before, and all I’m proud to say I survived without messing up any libations during my stint behind the bar.
This evening is for Family Service Association of NEPA, in partnership with Leadership Wilkes-Barre.
As of press time Friday, I’d only investigated enough to uncover a few of the celebrity bartender identities. It seems Ryan Hertel from the fabulous creative agency Socialocca, Hayley Bianco from WBRE’s PA Live and Sam O’Connell of the esteemed marketing agency Coal Creative will be pouring brews during the night.
When I know who else will be participating, I’ll pass along the names, in case any of them entice you to attend.
If you’d like to show your support, come out. I won’t be tending bar this year, which means there’s more time for fun on the other side.
See you there.