MANSFIELD — The Richland Young Professionals (RYP) held its inaugural nonprofit spotlight Thursday, May 24 at the Raemelton Therapeutic Equestrian Center. 

The series will feature at least one local nonprofit per quarter in an effort to connect young professionals with volunteer opportunities. 

“We want to be a conduit for the young professionals to the nonprofit,” said Michael Thoma, co-chair of RYP’s community engagement committee. “What we really want to accomplish is to serve nonprofits in the area as well as the young professionals.” 

He’s seen firsthand the needs of nonprofits through his experience on boards. 

“I know how badly volunteers are needed, especially young people,” he said. 

But he’s noticed a disconnect.

“Often young professionals, they are so driven to start their career. They may think they’re too busy,” Thoma said. “But by doing a spotlight like this, they can come out and they may realize I have an hour to give every other month or whatever it may be.” 

The needs of nonprofits vary greatly. Some need board members or volunteers. Others need advocacy or sponsorship. 

Thoma’s co-chair Megan Blankenship hopes the series will encourage young professionals to be more involved. 

“I think philanthropy is always so associated with dollar signs, but that’s not necessarily true. It’s about the time and energy that you’re putting forward,” she said. “And being young professionals, maybe that’s where we’re at in our career. So we’re trying to find those nonprofits that accept that openly.” 

Further, she recognizes that the spotlight events may provide an opportunity for people to visit places they haven’t yet. 

“A lot know Raemelton is here, but they’ve never been here. They don’t know what it looks like,” Blankenship said.

At the first spotlight event, RYP members observed a class, and the equestrian center’s executive director Dawn Miller led the RYP members on a tour.  

“We’re really excited,” Miller said. “We’re hoping maybe they’ll give an hour a week. Any little bit that anyone wants to help, helps.” 

The equestrian center opened in 1995 with 35 riders and four horses and has since expanded to include 125 riders. The fully handicap accessible facility can accommodate up to 20 horses at a time. 

The spotlight series was initially imagined as a large nonprofit event, where many nonprofits were in the same room at once, but with some direction from other RYP board members, they decided to hold more focused, quarterly events.

“We think it will be a series that is a Richland Young Professionals staple for years to come,” Thoma said. 

He and Blankenship encourage nonprofits to reach out if interested in participating in RYP’s spotlight series. For more information, reach out via Facebook or visit richlandyp.com.

“We hope that maybe as time progresses, we’ll have a situation where the nonprofits are seeking us, and then maybe we can ramp it up, have it monthly or every other month,” Blankenship said. 

Future dates will be announced on Facebook. 

Anyone interested in learning more about Raemelton can visit raemelton.org or attend the community open house and student horse show from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 23.