Dating company combines charity, chance at love
At The Works Café in Portland this past Thursday, a group of young women seated themselves at candle-lit tables for two, while well-dressed men wound their way toward empty seats, nervously swirling the remains of their iced coffees. The pairs made small talk for five minutes before the men rotated to the next table, and at the end of the night, participants checked off who they'd like to get to know better.
It may sound like your typical speed dating event, but this one had a twist: 100% of the proceeds generated from participants' $30 registration fee went to Heifer International, a charity that fights hunger by providing livestock - in this case, dairy goats - to impoverished families.
Called "Get social, give goats," the July 9 event was the first official speed dating soiree from WeClick, a new company in Portland founded by husband-and-wife team Josh and April LaFrance. The venture is the first speed dating organization that combines matchmaking with charitable donations - appropriately coined "ethical speed dating" by the LaFrances. WeClick plans to hold about 10 speed dating events this summer in Portland and Lewiston, where globally concerned singles ranging in age from 18 to 60 cannot only search for a soulmate, but contribute to an international charity, like Habitat for Humanity and World Vision. The charity of choice will be advertised for each event, where a portion of the proceeds - at least 10% - will be sent, says April LaFrance, the company's CEO.
April came up with the idea back in November, sparked by the unsatisfying dating experiences of the couple's single friends and their prior experience in operating their own business, including a stint as beekeepers. They began researching other speed dating companies in the country. "I wanted to see it done well, so we went to the event of a well-known organization in Boston," says April.
Although speed dating is not a new concept, the ethical component of WeClick - part of April's original vision - breaks new ground in the dating world, partly inspired by the LaFrances' own charitable leanings and the work of companies like TOMS Shoes, which gives one pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair purchased. The couple is also hoping the charity aspect of WeClick events will coax participants who may have shied away from similar operations. "There's less of a stigma associated with coordinated dating than there used to be, and this will help remove it further," says April. "People like the idea of going to a fundraiser."
In the WeClick world, charity might even trump profit - an unusual luxury buttressed by the fact that Josh also owns Heritage Fine Homes, a construction company that builds homes in southern Maine. "We anticipate [WeClick] becoming profitable, but it is not our main source of income," April says. So far, WeClick's startup costs have come from "out of pocket."
The company hopes to grow not only the number of participants (registration for events averages around 15 people), but hire additional staff members and broaden the type of event offered to include activities like wine tastings and boating. And WeClick's charitable focus may turn local. "I've had local charities contact me," April says.
Though WeClick has only held one formal event and a handful of trial events, the idea is already starting to take off. Other franchises have blossomed in both Nashville and Pittsburgh, and in August the LaFrances plan to move to Redding, Calif., where they will introduce WeClick to West Coast singles. Once in California, April will continue as CEO, and Josh will still be the liaison between WeClick and charitable organizations as the Chief of Global Giving. A facilitator will be hired to work in Maine. And the couple will not stop there. "I'd love to expand internationally," April says.
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