By Olivia Yang

Alison Flangel is a rising junior at the University of Maryland, pursuing a degree in Government and Politics along with General Business and Public Leadership. This summer she is working as a marketing intern for EGBI. In her free time, Alison loves cooking, playing tennis, and hanging out with her dogs.

Alison shares her experience as a volunteer with EGBI below.

To get started, would you mind telling us a fun fact about yourself?

In my free time, I love to play tennis.

How have you volunteered for EGBI (tasks, projects, etc.)?

Thus far in my time at EGBI, I have done a lot of work on various programs such as Excel and Canva. I really like being able to help with the company’s organization, as that is something I enjoy doing in my own life as well. In addition to this, I have taken on helping with our annual report by conducting interviews and writing feature articles. 

Why do you think it is important to volunteer at EGBI?

EGBI is a unique organization — I love the mission that targets minority business owners. I think that by providing tools and resources to individuals who usually lack this knowledge, EGBI is rare. I am very proud to work for an organization with such a powerful objective. 

What has your favorite experience with EGBI been so far?

My favorite experience so far has been getting to meet with business owners and hear their stories. It is so inspiring to hear first-hand the obstacles individuals have overcome to get to where they are today. 

“I don’t think there is a better organization to volunteer for than EGBI. Within the non-profit sector they are top of their game.” – Alison Flangel

In 2021, EGBI volunteers put in more than 130 hours to help EGBI support and serve over 400 small businesses. Volunteers like Alison make this possible and continue to help EGBI pursue their mission of training, coaching, and supporting aspiring and existing business owners who face barriers to growing a successful business.

Want to get involved too? Contact us to find out how you can volunteer or donate.