Do Good - ryanbalton.com

Syracuse University

CitrusTV is the student-run television studio at Syracuse University.

As a past general manager of CitrusTV, I provide the organization with engineering support by volunteering at an annual visit to the facility with other alumni. I also provide mentoring to the current students through virtual calls, alumni panels, and meet-up events.

When the CitrusTV and neighboring radio station Z89/WJPZ facility was renovated in an expansion project I initiated as a general manager, I donated to the fund and volunteered my time to consult.

While administering the CitrusTV/HillTV/UUTV/Synapse alumni Facebook group, I have overseen several outreach projects for current students and fellow alumni. I also am an alumni judge for the annual CitrusTV awards.

Outside of CitrusTV, I was a benefactor for the renovation of the Newhouse School's "Dick Clark Studios." I have spoken in several classes and mentored students across the Newhouse School of Public Communication and the Maxwell School of Public Affairs Policy Studies program.

Pike County Public Library

My hometown library was a pillar of my childhood. My photography is featured on the library's website – pikecountypubliclibrary.com – and in its promotional publications. I also organized a fundraising event to honor the retirement of my childhood librarian and raised a couple thousand dollars for the library's new children's room.

Delaware River Cleanup

Ecumenical Food Pantry of Milford

Since 2020, I have produced an annual holiday video special that has raised over $2,500 each year for my hometown food pantry.

Volunteer Projects

Steadicam and Jib / Camera Operating Workshops

I have volunteered my time, vehicle, and equipment for workshops with the Syracuse University Newhouse School, the Steadicam Operators Association, and the student television production program at Livingston High School, New Jersey. Please feel free to contact me if your educational program or institution has this need.

Pennsylvania Odyssey of the Mind

Odyssey of the Mind is a K-12 and college creative problem-solving STEAM program.

As a participant in the program – or "OMer" – from 2nd grade through my freshman year of college, I have served on the volunteer board that oversees the program in northeast Pennsylvania since 2007. I have also served on the board of directors of Creativity Unlimited in Pennsylvania, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that administers Odyssey of the Mind across the state of Pennsylvania, since 2015.

In my roles at the regional and state level, I primarily focus on public relations, which includes maintaining the organization's website and social media presence, securing local press coverage of our events, designing materials and signage used at our events, and producing an in-person show and webcast for our tournaments' awards ceremonies.

I also created the JumpStart Grant program to offer grants to teams at schools and community organizations that are new to Odyssey of the Mind in Pennsylvania. The grants cover any registration fees and provide each team with a stipend to get their program started. I promote and administer the grant program, and am responsible for fundraising $7,000 per year to offer new opportunities to hundreds of children across Pennsylvania.

Delaware Valley School District

Delaware Valley is my alma mater K-12 public school district in Milford, PA.

• Journalism class scholarships – as a past editor of the high school newspaper, "The Del.Aware," I fundraise for and administer an annual scholarship to a graduating high school senior (or two) who plans to further their education in communications. I have presented $3,500 in scholarships since 2011.

• Career speaker – each year I speak in classes and at career day events across the school district, bringing along my Steadicam and a lot of pictures and stories to share with the students. I focus on encouraging students to develop hard and soft skills through co-curricular activities.

• Media projects – during summer 2020 of the Covid-19 pandemic, I recorded and produced a video of the class of 2020 graduation ceremonies as a special that aired on local television and was shared online through the district's social media. I also captured aerial drone photography and video that is featured throughout the school district's website and publications.