Six Dollars = ?

Remember in grade school when you exchanged names at Christmas time to secretly give small gifts to that person. Well, Secret Santa is alive an well in Toledo, Ohio.

Jeff Pettit is the owner of Artistic Memorials, a firm that creates markers for grave sites and other public locations. Jeff is the first to admit that the economy is affecting his business. Recently Jeff and his wife attended a Dave Ramsey financial seminar and Jeff came away knowing that he wanted to give back in some way. He called me and asked if he could subsidize the December Certified Networker monthly lunch at six dollars per person. Now what nice surprise.

At the lunch Jeff explained his reason for making this offering. He hoped that each six dollar amount given might be a catalyst for that person to "Pay it Forward." And he hoped that the six dollar gift would multiply as it moved forward.

What would you do if you had received that unexpected six dollars to continue the gift giving?

Wish List

Would you like an easy way to help a five-star organization?

Becky Knapp, is the Job Placement Coordinator for The Autism Model School. This charter school is one of only two who received highest marks from the State of Ohio for the level of education they are providing the students. As with many institutions, The Model School got hit with funding cuts from the state. What this means to Becky is that she has NO BUDGET for projects that she organizes within the school walls. These projects help the students to learn skills that make them more employable outside the school walls.

I encouraged Becky to create a wish list of items that we could donate that would help to fund the micro-enterprise projects. By the way the school is a 501(c) 3 organization.

Here's the list:

Mosaic Tile Setting Grid (perhaps you were once into mosaics, but have moved on????)
Glass Mosaic Cutters (same as above!)
Tile Scorer/Nipper
Mosaic Mirror
Book "Making Mosaics-Designs & Techniques"
Book: "The Encyclopedia of Mosaic Techniques"
Book "The Mosaic Idea Book"
Clay Pots
Joint Compound
Marbles
Wooden Plaques/signs/letters/numbers
Nails & Hammers
Wood Stain
Paint & Related Supplies
Beads and beaded jewelry supplies
Cement
Glass Tiles

Yeah, yeah, I know. Just another charitable ask, right? Well, let me give you some figures and also put a face to the figures.

Mary Walters is the founder of the school and she continues to lead it. Education was not her career focus. Then she had THREE autistic children. When her daughter Maria, now 18 years old, was diagnosed, the chances of having an autistic child were one in 10,000. Recently statistics were released by The Center for Disease Control and Prevention that the statistics have now changed. Now for every 100 children born, one will have autism spectral disorder. Yes, that is right, one in one hundred.

So look around. Do you have something to spare? If so, you will have a hand in helping the students to become contributing members of our society.

Tears to my Eyes

I was blown away today.

After visiting the Hannah's Socks blog the other evening, I read about the opportunity to become a recurring donor. I signed right up. Today in the mail as promised I received a package that contained some Hannah's Socks goodies AND

a personal thank you note from 8 year-old Hannah.


Now, I'm sure you have received a thank you note from the charities you have donated money to -- it just makes good sense for them to go to the effort. But I must admit that I thought I would get a word-processed letter perhaps with Hannah's signature.

But oh no! This note was on cream-colored construction paper, with a beautiful crayon drawing of socks. In her third grade printing style, Hannah wrote this note:

"Dear Ms. Deby, Hi, Thank you for donating to Hannah's Socks. We have a lot of homeless people to take care of. I am glad you are helping me. Love, Hannah"

Now I ask you? Does this 8 year old have her head on straight?????

Ask for What You Want

As I mentioned several times, I am working with the non-profit Hannah's Socks to help them get organized. Currently we are working on developing a board of directors for them. We are meeting with people to find out if they are interested in such a position and also if HS is interested in them.

During one of these conversations, I mentioned to Jack Hollister, president of the Employer's Association here in NW Ohio, that Doris Turner, the founder of HS, needed a laptop computer. He said, "Consider it done. Doris come to my office on Thursday and I'll give it to you then."

If you don't ask, you won't get.

Friday night I attended the Rotary charter night dinner with Steve. I spent a lot of time talking with Jenna Wasylyshyn. Jenna is the wife of Rotary member, Mark Wasylyshyn and he also happens to be the sheriff of our county. They live out in the country like we do. Jenna is a horsewoman and works at Serenity Farms. This is an organization I had not heard of before, so Jenna shared quite a bit about what they do. Of course, I asked the question about board members for Hannah's Socks. I figured Jenna might be too busy, but that she would know some other good people.

Flash forward to Saturday. Jenna and Mark attended a wedding in Perrysburg. At the wedding Jenna took it upon herself to talk with two people about this opportunity and both women were interested.
Like I said, "If you don't ask you won't get."

What should you ask for?

Bedding Down

Last night Steve and went to the annual Dine for the Y event. It is a fundraiser for the local YMCA, of which Steve was a member of this board till this year when he termed out. Even though it is to raise money for the Y, it is a tremendous networking event, too.

For example, I was talking with Andrea Gurcsik, mother of "Muddy" (but that's a whole 'nother story!), a very successful HR manager and also friend of ours, about the details of a board she sits on. During the conversation she told me about how this group, Neighborhood Properties Inc or NPI, is trying to raise money for 30 beds at $175 each. It seems that they found out that 31 clients of NPL, including ten kids, are sleeping on the floor. So they are asking for help in purchasing the beds and bedding.

NPI's mission is to end homelessness for people with mental illness and addiction disorders and since they started twenty years ago they have acquired 100 buildings with 650 apartments. Wow!

So here's the deal. If you or a group of you and your friends would like to help, you can send a check to Neighborhood Properties, Attention: Nancy Murphy, 2753 West Central Avenue, Toledo, OH 43606. On the memo line note Bed Challenge. You don't have to even have the whole amount, but certainly they wouldn't turn that away. It is tax deductible. Andrea shared that the board has divided themselves into two teams to have a little contest to see who can bring in the most beds, so you might want to note that the credit should go to Andrea's team.

So this is what networking is all about. It is not about selling but about finding out the needs of others so you can help them. Simple!

What would our world be like if every single person had this philosophy.

Yep, I'm Proud

Last Wednesday evening, I attended the Way Public Library Foundation board meeting. The first item on the agenda was for a check to be given to the foundation.

That's right. The financials from the Evening with Masters event had just been finalized the day before and we could begin cutting checks for the three chosen charities.

Sandy Pirwitz, owner of Sandy's Stuff for Women, and chair of the event, came to help with the presentation. The library was surprised with the size of the check -- $1,000. That's Sandy on the right presenting the check to Lisa Richard, administrator of the Foundation. (No, Lisa is not sleeping, we only have one picture to choose from, darn it!)

Yep, I was a proud mama!

Lynda's Ladies

Saturday, I walked with a group of women, Tracee, Nicole, Amanda, Kelly, Pam, Kelly and Tina. We were were honoring our friend, Lynda Goodremont ("Good Copiers, Good People") Kelly Elton, who works for Goodremont's organized the team. She set a goal of $500 for the team and thanks to a late donation from Dave Musteric of FISH Window Cleaning we surpassed the goal.

This was the first time for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk and for once it was fairly easy for me, being only five minutes from my house.

I walked a fair share of the ten laps with Tracee Swank, a new business friend. Within the last several months Tracee has decided to open an independent insurance agency and also add business coaching to her repertoire. It was invigorating to hear all her creative ideas. It helped the pain of the walking on the hard surface be manageable.

At about four laps, I was bored and ready to quit, when I thought about our friend, Lynda, who kept living life to the fullest to the very end of her life. I realized that the little bit of discomfort I was feeling in my hips was nothing.

So I have to thank both Lynda and Tracee for helping me to honor my commitment.

Do you have an accountability partner for your various activities or one for everything?