Getting some of the busiest people in one of the world's busiest cities to take time out of their busy schedules is no easy task. But last May, Laura Rubin got about 15 fellow members of the New York City CoF cell to prepare and serve a spaghetti supper for 100 people at Common Ground Community, a low-income housing facility in Manhattan. The facility is home to 650 people -- including artists, actors, and formerly homeless people who are being trained for meaningful work.

'For most of us, giving back is far down on our To Do list,' says Rubin, 26, a writer in the marketing department at Ernst & Young. 'But service needs to be a strong part of the Company of Friends.' The next step: a mentoring program in which cell associates will team up with Common Ground residents.

So how does Rubin get hyperbusy New Yorkers to make such a commitment? The key, she says, is to take some of the work out of doing good works. After asking other cell members for suggestions on which organization to help, Rubin organized the Common Ground event and then invited people to join her. 'A lot of people want to volunteer, but they aren't able to put the effort into finding the right opportunity. I try to take the red tape out of volunteering.'

From: September 1999 issue