Meet Rich: Writing his way to pro bono excellence

Rich Rhodes joined Taproot with 18+ years of professional writing experience; ranging from marketing and advertisement to sitcom screenplays, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and creativity. His motivation to volunteer came from a desire to give back to the Los Angeles community by applying his professional skills as a writer in a different voice. Rich appreciates the sense of work-life balance that Taproot projects have provided by allowing him to use his extensive experience and talent as a writer in an environment that is new, surprising, and extremely rewarding. Excited about the opportunity to work with education and youth based programs, Rich has worked on two Taproot projects, with the second almost ready to close.

“Being part of a Taproot team is a lot like being on a sports team. You are one particular player on a team working to accomplish one goal. The whole experience is enriching, you learn more about Los Angeles and more about yourself.”

Rich’s first project was a Key Messaging & Brand Strategy Service Grant for Side Street Projects, a mobile afterschool program that uses woodworking and artistic creation to engage youth throughout Los Angeles. Being partnered with this organization was a particularly enriching experience for Rich because of his passion for creativity and imagination as a writer. He truly enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate with the “fun and artistic” people of Side Street.

Karen Borchgrevink, Account Director for the project, had high praises for Rich, both in his quality of work and his strong commitment throughout the process.

“Rich did exemplary work condensing and distilling everything learned in the discovery process down to a clear and concise message for the nonprofit. He was extremely dedicated from beginning to end and he remained consistently engaged.”

Just one writer can make a difference

Energized and inspired by his first project, Rich joined the pro bono team of St. Raphael School for an Annual Report Service Grant. Rich found the process of this project especially rewarding, as he had the experience of working with the main stakeholders of the school and learning about their unique history and needs. This project particularly appealed to his interests as a writer, by allowing him the opportunity to bring a voice to all of the great work the school does, which can be carried forward into their donor outreach and capacity building. Rich summarizes his Taproot experience with an analogy fitting of an ESPN writer, “Being part of a Taproot team is a lot like being on a sports team. You are one particular player on a team working to accomplish one goal. The whole experience is enriching, you learn more about Los Angeles and more about yourself.”

Thank you Rich for all the work you do with Taproot to make LA a better place! You MAKE IT MATTER!

Ready to get involved? Volunteer your skills today!