Empowering Individuals

I thought the example in the Forces for Good book about how Habitat for Humanity empowers individuals really highlights how organizations' impact can be more than making a difference in the lives of people in need, it can also be making a difference in the lives of people who contribute to the organizations.

As I read about this, I thought about another example of an organization that empowers individuals - the American Cancer Society through Relay for Life. For those of you who may not know what Relay for Life is - it's an event to raise money to fund cancer research that takes place in communities across the U.S. (often yearly). It is a 12-hour or 24-hour event (or longer, in some cases, I think) in which people form teams and take turns as a team walking continuously around a track, gym, you name it, for the entire length of time. Relay for Life is an extremely well-known event in the U.S. - I think you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who either has not participated in a Relay for Life event or knows someone who has participated in a Relay for Life event. It has a similar name recognition as Habitat for Humanity.

The reason Relay for Life is empowering is because it allows people to feel that they are contributing not only through raising money for cancer research, but also through participating in a "team" event in which they must reach a goal (walk continuously as a team for 12 or 24 hours). The event also allows for reflection about ways that cancer has touched the lives of all of the people at the event, either by knowing someone with cancer or having cancer. This type of event brings people together as a community and allows people whose lives have been affected by cancer to connect - and perhaps new support systems for these people can be formed.

Can you think of an organization and/or an organization event that empowers individuals?