Lovers have eHarmony and Match.com, and now service organizations can find their perfect matches, too.
Citizens for Social Justice, a non-profit organization, is making it easier for campus and community service groups to find each other with a program called Gharmony.
The project, originally developed by students at Yale University, will launch the free, online prototype in December.
Dirk Sampselle, president of Citizens for Social Justice, said the project was necessary because a reliable resource to unite service organizations didn't previously exist.
"So there's that initial gap at the university and then there's the gap between the university and the community, so we're trying to bridge both gaps at the same time," Sampselle said.
The Web site will be a listing of current service organizations and their projects. Users will initially click on interest areas and proceed in ways similar to dating sites, as they are matched with organizations that fit their criteria.
The program can be accessed through Citizens for Social Justice's Web site.
As a UF alumnus, Sampselle decided to bring this idea to Gainesville because he was shocked at the disconnection between UF's organizations.
"Everyone's running around blindfolded, reinventing the wheel," Sampselle said. "Literally, you could be out doing stuff for the community for years and never know about another organization that's doing the same exact thing."
Gharmony will be the facilitator and the central resource to connect these organizations, Sampselle said, but Citizens for Social Justice will require groups to help spread the word and market the Web site once a month.
Sampselle believes Gharmony will make it easier for students to get involved and carry out effective service projects.
David Boneparth, academic programs coordinator at the Warrington College of Business Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, believes Gharmony is a link for other opportunities in and out of Gainesville.
"I think that's what's important," Boneparth said. "Understanding that this is something that everyone can take part of, not just student groups, not just, you know, people here at the university, but also here in the community, statewide if it gets big enough."
