The Pitch10 Is Back Again And Bigger Than Ever!

One thing about Buffalo: there is no shortage of people doing the work.

Some of the most impactful organizations in our community started with somebody recognizing a problem and deciding they were going to do something about it. They may not have started with a huge budget, a large staff or major recognition. They simply had a mission, a heart for the community and the determination to keep going.

United Way Pitch10

That’s why I love what United Way of Buffalo & Erie County’s Pitch10 represents.

And this year, I get to experience Pitch10 from a different perspective because I have the honor of serving as a Pitch10 coach.

Being able to pour into an organization, help them strengthen their story, think about how they communicate their impact and prepare them to walk onto that stage with confidence is something I don't take lightly. Y'all know I'm big on helping people find their voice, own their story and be ready when the opportunity comes. This is that work in real time.

This year also marks the 10th anniversary of Pitch10, and the celebration is headed to Shea’s Performing Arts Center, where 10 local nonprofit organizations will step onto the stage and pitch their missions in front of an audience of up to 1,000 people.

But let me be clear: this is bigger than a pitch competition.

There’s $50,000 in prize grants on the line, including a $25,000 top grant. Each finalist will have the opportunity to share how their organization is addressing one of United Way’s focus areas: Youth Opportunity, Financial Security or Healthy Community.

What I really appreciate is what happens before anyone touches that stage.

The finalists receive personalized coaching and presentation training designed to help them tell their stories, sharpen their message and communicate the impact of their work. There are also opportunities for Executive Edge leadership scholarships and Board Leadership Training scholarships.

As someone who understands the power of communication, I know having a great mission is only part of the work. You also have to know how to tell the story, ask for the support and make people understand why what you're doing matters.

That's part of what makes being a coach this year so special for me. I get to see some of that work happening behind the scenes. Before the lights come on at Shea's and before the audience hears the final pitch, there has been preparation, practice, strategy and a whole lot of passion poured into that moment.

For the audience, you're not just sitting there watching either. You get to learn about organizations doing incredible work right here in our own backyard, hear directly from the people leading that work and vote for the organizations you believe can make an impact across Erie County.

Whether you're a business owner, donor, volunteer, nonprofit leader or simply somebody who cares about Buffalo, this is a chance to discover some of the people working every day to make our community stronger.

Ten years of Pitch10 means ten years of ideas being heard, organizations being elevated and people being given an opportunity to grow their impact.

And y'all know how I feel about an opportunity.

Sometimes all somebody needs is the right room, the right resources, somebody in their corner and the chance to make their pitch.