Community Involvement

Community Involvement and Social Entrepreneurship are very important to me.  I am very active in the community and in organizations that focuses on world change.  I believe my business should be at the forefront of social responsibility, and I am passionate about others joining with me.

I have served on the Cottleville-Weldon Spring Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors from 2007 to present, and head up the Scholarship Committee.  http://www.cottlevilleweldonspringchamber.com/

In 2010 I created a Cottleville location for a local produce coop called Community Helpings Produce.  Community Helping Produce is a community based produce coop in the St. Louis area and the surrounding communities who support local suppliers when possible.  Deliveries are made every two weeks and consist of a basket full of fresh fruits and vegetables for $23.  Anyone from the community is welcome to participate. To sign up for a delivery please visit http://communityhelpingscoop.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=42.

I also serve on the St. Peter’s Rotary Club Board (http://www.rotaryinternational.org/) as Secretary/Treasurer, and soon to be Vice President.  Rotary International is a worldwide organization of more than 1.2 million business, professional, and community leaders. Members of Rotary clubs, known as Rotarians, provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.

In 2008, I founded the St. Louis Chapter of Room to Read after seeing the founder John Wood on TV.  I read his book, “Leaving Microsoft to Change the World” and decided to get involved.

Room to Read believes that World Change Starts with Educated Children. We envision a world in which all children can pursue a quality education that enables them to reach their full potential and contribute to their community and the world.

Room to Read seeks to transform the lives of millions of children in developing countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Working in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations and governments, we develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children, and support girls to complete secondary school with the relevant life skills to succeed in school and beyond.

To learn more about Room to Read and how you can get involved locally visit www.roomtoread.org or www.facebook.com/RoomtoReadSTL.

Sincerely,

Nate Vogel