Do You Want to Win Money?

New Yorkers will get a chance to win raffle items, giveaways, and money for neighborhood improvement projects at the 2018 Queens SOUP, which will take place on Sunday, April 15, 5-7pm, at the Flushing Quaker Meeting House, located at 137-16 Northern Blvd in Flushing NY 11354.

"If winning money for your grassroots community project, and getting the check in your hands on the same day sounds good to you, SOUP might be for you!" explains Cody Herrmann, Queens SOUP Coordinator. "Queens SOUP is a great chance to get involved with and invest in your neighborhood, submit ideas and initiatives to better the borough online by March 4, 2018."

The best proposals to improve our borough will be selected for competition in Queens SOUP, a crowdfunded micro-granting community dinner where participants vote for the one they feel will have the biggest impact. Any community initiative based in Queens can apply for a chance to win no-strings-attached funding. The deadline is March 4, 2018 and the registration form is online at flushingchamber.nyc/soup.

To enter Queens SOUP, a $5 donation will be collected at the door. In return, attendees will have the opportunity to eat food from local restaurants, meet neighbors, and learn and vote for the best proposal. At the end of the dinner, ballots are counted and all of the money collected at the door, plus additional funds from outside sponsors, will be awarded to the project with the most votes.

Queens SOUP was started in 2016 by the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce to encourage grassroots fundraising and promote neighborhood improvement projects.

"SOUP brings together local residents and business owners to address community needs under the banner of self-reliance and collective action," stated John Choe, executive director of the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce. "By bringing SOUP to Queens, we hope to jump start innovative, grassroots economic development and civic engagement in America's most diverse county."

Last year, Queens SOUP awarded $1000 to the Lewis H. Latimer House Museum for their Summer Tinker Lab, a STEAM education program, which helped them expand their program to low-income families.

"Queens SOUP was a great opportunity for Latimer House to connect with our community and build relationships through a unique grass-root crowdfunding philosophy," said Ran Yan, Program Director at the Lewis H. Latimer House Museum. "The recognition coming from Queens SOUP is gratifying and motivates us to continue advancing our mission and expand access to Tinker Lab's Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math (STEAM) education to the low-income kids."

In 2016, The Flushing Chamber raised $832 for neighborhood improvement projects. Adopt-A-Block (Earth Citizens Club of Flushing) was the winner of the 2016 Queens SOUP. It was a seven-day project that cleaned the streets and sidewalks between Roosevelt Avenue, Union and Main Street.

“We see SOUP as a powerful tool to engage our community, raise awareness about important issues, and connect social entrepreneurs with potential funders,” said John Choe. “Along the way, we hope to promote businesses that support our community and provide an opportunity to re-imagine our future.”

Queens SOUP is currently looking for sponsors- businesses and community groups can get involved by donating funds, food, supplies, or giveaway and raffle items; or volunteering and contributing to programming during SOUP. If you are interested in sponsoring Queens SOUP, or getting involved as a community partner can contact cody@flushingchamber.nyc.

RSVP on Facebook: fb.com/events/213313445880818/

RSVP or make individual donations on Eventbrite: queenssoup2018.eventbrite.com

For more information, visit flushingchamber.nyc/soup and Queens SOUP Photos.