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There’s More to Life Than Just Living It, It’s in Giving It
By: Cyi Blog
Tags: Giving, Affect Your World, Living

Each one of us desires to live our best life.While living our ‘best life’ may mean different things for every individual, a ubiquitous truth remains:

Identifying a need in someone’s life and making a move to meet that need is truly rewarding.

We definitely cannot deny the beguiling nature of getting and grasping more for ourselves, because each of us, to an extent, has a voracious appetite for everything that makes us feel good about ourselves and makes life more comfortable and desirable for us.

If we are not careful to pause, however, and evaluate ourselves periodically, we are likely to keep feeding our narcissistic nature and morph into self-centered monsters, insouciant to our immediate surroundings.

It’s OK to live or work towards living our best lives, but we must remember that an important piece to the ‘best life’ puzzle is to be a blessing to other people even in the smallest ways we can think of.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

God allows us to have needs because he has also made provision for those needs to be met through the wisdom, resources, gifts, blessings and skills he has placed in people. And no one is left out, we each have something unique to offer.

I write from a Christian perspective, where love for God is extrapolated to love for your neighbor. In practical terms, many of us are guilty of being too busy professing our love for God and ignoring the rudimentary task of seeking the welfare of the person next to us. If we were intentional about seeking opportunities to bless each other with what God has graced us with, we would inadvertently be approaching God’s ideals for the world He created.

And pleeeeease, can we not limit this to the clichéd giving out of food and [used] clothes to the needy? These are great acts of service we must keep at, but if we are keen-eyed enough we will find so many other needs beyond food and clothes waiting to be met:

Can you talk to the cleaner in your office about his long-term goals for life and spur him on? Can you befriend that teenager with identity issues and become her mentor? Invest your time in the young person who needs career guidance?

Don’t look too far, someone needs to hear your story so they don’t give up, people need encouragement, hope to cling on to in desperate times, people need SALVATION!

people need salvation

Someone needs a shoulder to cry on; a mother/father figure; a listening ear; a prayer partner; a friend; an honest opinion. Teach someone a skill you’ve acquired; go the extra mile as you serve your clients, customers or patients. The elderly need love, care and attention…

This list is definitely not exhaustive, and these things may seem insignificant, but they may go a long way to make a difference in someone’s life. Go and be a blessing to someone, don’t just live your life, give it! You just may be God’s answer to someone’s need.
Entrepreneurial Philanthropist Spencer Shaver Denver Encourages Businesses to Give Back
By: Spencer Shaver
Tags: Spencer Shaver Denver, Giving, Philanthropy, Give Back, Spencer Shaver

Spencer Shaver of Denver, CO, a renowned composer, and entrepreneur, is the epitome of a Renaissance man. From composing scores for major networks like PBS, FoxSports, and ESPN to producing groundbreaking documentaries like the Lost Temple Film, and leading dozens of small businesses to success through strategic HR, marketing, staffing, and motivation, he is a man of many talents. But the common thread which ties all of his vocations and passions together is his determination to make the world a better place.

A lifelong student and teacher, Spencer Shaver Denver has always loved learning as much as empowering others with the gift of knowledge. After years as a martial arts teacher and more as a successful composer, in 2009, he applied his talent, skills, and passion for marketing, sales, and business management to the development of a professional consulting firm.

He has since helped hundreds of small businesses overcome challenges, including the national economic recession, and regain their footing, laying the foundation for long-term success. Subsequently, the entrepreneurial philanthropist encourages businesses to return the favor by giving back to their communities.

A devout Christian, Spencer Shaver’s business philosophy, like his documentary films, reflects the teachings of Christ. “We all have the power to make a positive impact on our environment,” he said. “And we all have an obligation to make a powerful difference.”

With this philosophy in mind, Spencer Shaver Denver empowers business owners and managers to believe in their dream and themselves while extending a hand to others who have not yet achieved stable footing.

Spencer Shaver Denver said he plans to use the data he has gleaned from teaching entrepreneurial philanthropy policies to fellow businesspeople to construct college-level courses that can help him reach and inspire more people.

More on Spencer Shaver Denver

Spencer Shaver’s resume is mightily impressive, with a broad range of titles from business consultancy and entrepreneurship to philanthropy and filmography. But behind everything he does is his steadfast faith, inspiring him constantly to create in His name.

Since becoming a martial arts instructor in 1995, Spencer Shaver Denver’s fighting spirit has given him the drive needed to succeed in all of his professional ventures. He looks forward to creating more meaningful work, from documentary films to business plans, while helping other creators and businesspeople explore opportunities, follow their dreams, and achieve their goals.
Pig Farmers “Give a Ham”
By: David Newman
Tags: Food, Giving, Community, Donations, Holidays

Pig farmers are more than farmers. Pig farmers are also local community members, and it is important to take time to give back to those communities. During the holiday season, it’s especially important to do so. That’s what the fourth annual Hams Across America campaign is all about.

A joint effort between the National Pork Board, National Pork Producers Council, Smithfield Foods and pig farmers across the nation, Hams Across America is about pig farmers paying it forward by donating the pork products they’ve work so hard to raise. The pork industry is a giving industry because farmers are passionate about what they do and are willing to share that with others whenever possible.

My farm has taken part in Hams Across America for several years now. My wife, Kristin, is active in the Parent Teacher Organization at our local school, and one of their projects is the backpack program to supply kids in need with food after school. We’ve been able to use this program to identify families in our community that may not be able to afford a holiday meal, and we send home a fully-cooked ham in those students’ backpacks.

It’s a funny sight to see kids lugging home a big ham in their backpacks, but the smiles of appreciation and excitement on their faces are simply priceless. In my mind, that’s what the holidays are all about — giving back to others in whatever way you can. For my farm, that means ensuring those families in our community can enjoy a healthy, delicious meal together without worrying about the cost of it.

Hams Across America is a wonderful tool to start the conversation about giving, whether you’re a pig farmer or not. I would encourage all people to get involved and give a ham, give their time or give their money to a beneficial cause. If we are all willing to give a little, it can make a big difference.

If you’d like to learn how to get involved, visit www.pork.org/hamsacrossamerica or your state pork association website. To follow the action with this year’s Hams Across America campaign, follow @RealPigFarming on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
Don’t get me wrong
By: Hilina Tibebu
Tags: Giving, Knowing What You Have, Love, Values

I am a child

A grown up one

Who would neither Judge

nor discriminate.

Yes I am a child

Who loves to fly

Who loves to play

That kind of child

Who laughs in crowed

And cries in hide.

Yes I am a child

Who loves you fearlessly

Without thinking

The consequence

Pushing the mountain

Destroying the wall

Just to see you smile.

Yes I am a child

With the purest heart

With all the innocence

And the thoughtful mind

Yes I am a child.

Don’t get me wrong

I can be the root of evil

Who destroys Everything that is built,

I can be the source of hate

Who doesn’t see anything good,

But I choose to love

I choose to give.

So please don’t take me for granted

It requires a fine work of self training

To love instead of hating

To give instead of taking.

Don’t get me wrong

I know my value

Before I loved you

And while loving you.

Yes don’t get me wrong

I don’t need you

But I want you

I chosen you

I chosen all,

The qualities

The downfall.

I am loyal

To love you

To hold you,

I am loyal

When you stand

When you fall,

I am loyal

When you get it

When you loose it.

So please don’t take me for granted

It requires a fine work of self training

To love instead of hating

To give instead of taking.
The Best Gifts are Free
By: Teacher Joy Abaquin
Tags: Holidays, Christmas, Giving, Kindness

The Best Gifts are Free

Banksy’s Christ with Shopping Bags was released in 2004 as a limited edition of 82 prints signed by the artist. The artwork serves as a commentary on modern materialism.

When I was around 12 years old, my father had a heart attack. Due to the many expenses, my parents declared a “no gifts” Christmas. My younger brothers & sisters were too young to understand and looked forward to opening gifts on Christmas Day. Being the eldest, I wanted to make them happy. I went through my own precious possessions and decided to wrap things I had that I knew they wanted, such as a jacket I had. It was the first time that I mindfully gave a part of myself with my gifts. My siblings were very happy to get the gifts, and I was the happiest, to have shared something to make them happy. I have carried this profound lesson all throughout my life. The best gifts are free. The gifts that matter are those that come with love. And that we are never too poor that we have nothing to share.

This Holiday season, let’s teach our kids the joy of giving.

Parents should challenge kids to show kindness through sharing. Our children are fortunate to have so much — clothes, food, toys, books. They do not need to accumulate more material possessions to be happy. Let us teach them the JOY OF GIVING. I assure you it will be a priceless lesson. Remember, the reason for the season gave up His own life as His gift to us!
Loving Unconditionally
By: Silently Noisy
Tags: Giving, Love Unconditionally, Respect, You, Love

What does loving unconditionally actually mean? It means that a person loves someone without expectation. It means that whether or not the opposite person feels the same way, one continues to give without wanting anything in return.

But does such love exist in today’s world? Well, it absolutely does exist, however, the “UNCONDITIONAL” is losing its value cuz it’s been used rather cheaply by people without realizing its worth.

The purest form of unconditional love is of the mother and the child, where the mother does not expect anything in return and continues to give her unwavering attention, love, and care to the child.

Love is a language that has the power to heal, whether spoken or expressed it conveys what it needs to when done with good intent.

However, I feel sometimes people lack gratefulness and therefore fail to acknowledge the ever-giving nature of people around them; be it friends, family, partner, spouse, siblings, etc. And that’s when I think everyone should draw a line as to how much one should keep putting effort into.

There is a very thin line between intent and self-respect; your intent may be genuine but one should also know that if the opposite person doesn’t value the effort put in, one should know when to stop.

Stay away from people who will only want you to be around when they need you. Of course with the busy schedule, everyone cannot give ample amount of time to each other. But, If one cares enough one will make time and effort, remember that. There is nothing like “I don’t have time.” It is just about setting priorities right.

If it is important enough they will make time, or you move away. Simple!

Though unconditional implies not setting any expectations, however, you should know who is deserving of your unconditional love.

Love unconditionally but also know when it is not valued.
Angel Protocol — building a world where all charities are financially free
By: Angel Protocol
Tags: Giving, Charity, Fundraising, Defi, Cryptocurrency

Angel Protocol — building a world where all charities are financially free Angel Protocol Jun 16·3 min read

Angel Protocol is a global social enterprise that leverages revolutionary decentralized finance (DeFi) yield mechanisms such as Anchor Protocol’s 20% ‘Earn’ functionality to create perpetual charity endowments.

By doing so, we build a world where all charities can have financial freedom.

In short, Angel Protocol enables charities to get a better return on their deposits, and donors get to know their money is being put to more efficient use. Powered behind the scenes by the incredible possibilities created by ‘DeFi’ and importantly, Angel Protocol abstracts away the complexity of crypto for the everyday user.

Rather than have to go through multiple steps and have an in-depth knowledge of DeFi and Cryptocurrency, prospective donors will engage with a simple interface that allows them to donate to a charity or cause of their choice by selecting from a menu. In the MVP launching in the coming months, donors can choose to donate to a basket of charitable indexes aligned with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

Importantly, charities will have a very easy onboarding process to enable them to collect the donations and benefit from a sustainable and continual source of income with as little fuss as possible.

Each charity will have their own page that includes additional information on that charity or cause (background, supporting information on the cause, data on charity’s use of user funds).

Charity leadership dashboards will be developed to help highlight community giving “heroes” with NFT badges available in the future thanks to partners such as Talis Protocol.

Angel Protocol provides easy access to endowments with no on-boarding cost or setup fees. An endowment is a donation of money or property to a nonprofit organization, which uses the resulting investment income for funding. Endowments are designed to keep the principal amount intact while using the investment income for charitable efforts.

To borrow phrasing from Terra’s defining white paper, there is demand for a decentralized, price-stable and transparent charity protocol in both fiat and blockchain economies. If such a protocol succeeds, then it has the potential to be the largest community-owned charity in the world.

Between the power of, initially, Anchor’s Earn yield and the magic of compounding interest, Angel Protocol has the potential to be the most effective charity protocol the world’s ever known.
Are you a giver or a taker?
By: Pranav Tiwari
Tags: Giving, Ted

Day 41 / 365

Givers are people who are concerned with what can they do for them. Takers are the opposite, they are concerned with what can others do for them. You would have surely seen both these type of people around you at work or at school. So do you think you are a giver? and if so is it of any advantage to you to be a giver?

Some of the worst performing people are givers

In his study of numerous schools and workplaces, Adam Grant found that unexpectedly the worst performers in each of these places were givers. These were people who were so busy doing things for others that they couldn’t get their own work completed. They took on too much spread themselves too thin and they paid the price.

The silver lining here is that although these people sacrifice themselves, they make the organizations better.

givers spend a lot of time trying to help other people and improve the team, and then, unfortunately, they suffer along the way.

So if the worst performing people were givers, who were the best performing people?

Some of the best performing people are givers as well

We would have thought that takers might be the best performers, but the study found that they were average at best. Takers did rise very fast, but they fall very fast as well. We can say that for the takers, what goes around comes around.

In every job, in every organization I’ve ever studied, the best results belong to the givers again.

So we have givers at both extremes. We have givers who are performing exceptionally well, and on the other hand, we have people who are generous at the expense of their own careers.

We know how important givers are for the success of the organizations. What can we do to ensure we have more and more givers at the top?

Creating a world where givers can excel

How do we provide an environment for givers to thrive, and to encourage more and more people to transform into givers? Adam makes 3 suggestions-
Weekly Roundup: Moorestown Doctor, Barbara Rich top this week’s stories
By: Kelly Flynn
Tags: Giving, Wellness, Health, People

Weekly Roundup: Moorestown Doctor, Barbara Rich top this week’s stories

Dr. David Condoluci has been awarded for his years of service, and Barbara Rich is getting special recognition from Moorestown Township Council. Catch up on everything from the past week in the Weekly Roundup.

Moorestown doctor recognized for his service, passion for healing

At a time when many doctors were afraid to treat patients with HIV, Dr. David Condoluci wanted to help.

“There was a lot of fear,” Condoluci said. “My values were there. There was a need, and I had a passion for trying to serve this group, and I really loved doing it.”

The New Jersey Hospital Association has taken notice of Condoluci’s unfailing desire to give back by awarding him its Distinguished Service Award at its 100th annual meeting. The award is given to health-care leaders who “demonstrate strength, integrity, professionalism and a relentless commitment to a New Jersey-based hospital or health system.

Rich recognized for her trailblazing environmental protection efforts

Blink and you might miss it, but along Creek Road in Moorestown is an unassuming open space known as “The Little Woods on the Rancocas.” With shrubbery and trees lining the small path, the space might not look like much to those speeding by, but follow the path a ways and you’ll find an unexpected 11-acre open space that opens up to a priceless view of the Rancocas River.

Unassuming might also be a fitting a description for the open space’s new namesake. As of February, the space will be renamed “Barbara Rich’s Little Woods.” Small in stature and exceedingly modest, Rich doesn’t like to call attention to herself, but that hasn’t helped her escape notice from the Moorestown Council, which is honoring her for her stewardship of Moorestown’s open spaces.
Students help school ‘Pack the Bus’ for a local food pantry
By: Krystal Nurse
Tags: Studnet, Donations, Giving, Education

Students help school ‘Pack the Bus’ for a local food pantry

By KRYSTAL NURSE

The Sun

After spending a week collecting boxed and canned goods from their families, students packed the items into a school bus.

On March 4, students assembled in the back of Harrison Township Elementary for the school’s “Pack the Bus” event. They sent items such as boxed pasta, cereal and soups to Your Place at the Table, located within Trinity United Methodist Church. Prior to the day, the students had to use their math skills to calculate how much food could fit in a bus.

“We measured it with the length and width, and we had to calculate and figure out what the height was,” said student Lilah Matz.

Students said they collected the donations from within their homes by scouring their pantries for new items that they didn’t want and could be donated. The donation period lasted just over a week.

Principal AnnaLisa Rodano said the idea of packing donations in a school bus came after seeing health and physical education teacher Mickey Fox’s stacking competition, which had donated items. Rodano added they wanted to do something different this year and collect items in February since YPATT receives an influx of donations around Thanksgiving.

“We use the bus to incorporate different parts of the curriculum like mass, volume and weight into their Innovations and Design class,” she added. “Then our whole community came out and donated things to the kids. It’ll be donated to Trinity, who holds donations for many in the community.”

During the packing event, students dashed and grabbed items to bag or place in boxes to be safely transported on a shortened school bus — the original plan was to pack a full-length school bus, but it was later changed to a shorter one — to YPATT.

“It would have been funny if they strapped in the foods with the seatbelts, so it wouldn’t fall,” said student Braydon Robinson.

Students were also instructed to continue using their math skills to count the number of donations before handing them off to their peers. Just over 300 items were donated.

“I love that they have an opportunity to extend their learning beyond the classroom and into the community,” said Rodano. “I think it’s super important to be focused on global initiatives and doing things beyond the classroom and the school walls.”

Students exclaimed their excitement about the event saying they hope it “continues forever.”

“I think it was a hugely successful event the first year that we did it,” said Rodano. “It will only continue to get larger. I want to integrate more learning in it.”
Small acts of kindness
By: Peter Abela
Tags: Life Hacking, Caring, Giving, Kindness

William Wordsworth once said, “The best portion of a good man’s life are his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.”

I was privvy to a small episode recently which reinforced this for me. I was chatting with a colleague — let’s call him Bart — when we were joined by Marie from HR. I prepared to introduce Bart to Marie, but she interrupted.

“We’ve already met,” she said.

“That’s right,” Bart agreed. “In fact, Marie helped me the first time I conducted a recruitment process. It was about fifteen years ago.”

“Do you remember that?” I asked Marie.

“I certainly do,” she replied. “Bart sent an email to my boss after the recruitment was over telling him that I was very helpful. I was on contract at the time and it helped me obtain permanent employment. I’ve never forgotten.”

Bart was surprised. “I don’t remember writing that note,” he confessed.

“It’s not often that someone goes out of their way to express thanks,” said Marie. “Small acts of kindness are never forgotten.”

This little incident has played on my mind ever since. It has helped me realise there are numerous opportunities every day when I can make a positive difference in someone’s life. I’m now challenging myself to recognise the opportunities and act on them.

Who knows, my actions may also be remembered with gratitude and fondness many years later.
What’s at the Root of the Gender Gap in Women’s and Men’s Giving Habits?”
By: Rabbi Shmulik Greenberg
Tags: Charity, Women, Judaism, Giving

Speaking of International Women’s Day…

A Market Watch article quotes research showing that women are more likely to donate money to charity than their male counterparts. It also tells that women were also more likely to volunteer their time: 56% did so, compared to 41% of men.

This isn’t news. In the the past few weeks’ Torah portions, we have been immersed in the story of the building of the desert Temple (Tabernacle)- A beautiful structure that was built through the donations and contributions of the Jewish people. One guess for who showed up first to donate? The women! (“And the men came after the women” Exodus, 35:22)

“What’s at the root of the gender gap in women’s and men’s giving habits?” The Market Watch Article asks. “One theory suggests that women tend to have more ‘empathetic concern’ than men, and that trait is linked to giving to charity.”

According to Jewish teachings, because of the source of their soul, women are more naturally included to do the right thing. Men are given more mitzvot (commandments) because they need external motivations to ensure they follow the right path, whereas women have an internal compass that directs them towards G-d’s will.

The Rebbe points to different Kabbalistic teachings which suggest that Men generally follow “the letter of the law”, while women tend to go beyond their call of duty.

The Midrash says that G-d created the world in a way that the nature of man is to follow the lead of the woman. For this reason, when we received the Torah on Mt. Sinai, Moses was directed to first teach it to the women, and only afterwards to the men. Moses was the ultimate sales-person following G-d’s directive to first get the women to “buy into it” and then the Torah would be an easy “sell” to the men.

I don’t know what International Women’s day is supposed to mean, but I do know that you ladies carry a huge responsibility. The future of your family, of our people (and our communities at large) lies in your hands. You must take the role you play quite seriously and make your decisions accordingly.

And gentleman, we would be wise to follow their lead. They know what they are doing.

Wishing you a Shabbat
Evening Rotary group lends a hand
By: Kelly Flynn
Tags: Help, Children, Giving, Photography

Evening Rotary group lends a hand

At their Feb. 19 meeting, the AMP Evening Rotary Group of Moorestown assembled “love bags” for the organization Hand N Heart. These bags consist of a toothbrush, coloring book, crayons, socks and a stuffed animal. They are distributed to children in the South Jersey/Philadelphia area when they are placed in foster care.

This is just one of the many service projects which the AMP Rotary Evening Group has either created or in which they participated. Previous activities included sewing dresses for girls in Africa so they can attend school, the opening event for the Moorestown Dog Park and the twice-a-year Dog Park clean-up.

The AMP (“Alternate Meeting Program”) Rotary Evening Group is part of the Moorestown Rotary Lunch Club. Its purpose is to accommodate people who want to join Rotary, but whose schedules make it hard to attend lunch or breakfast meetings.

The group meets on the first and third Tuesday of the month, at Harvest Seasonal Grill and Wine Bar at the Moorestown Mall from 5:45 p.m. to 7 p.m. Guests are welcome and they are looking for new members.

Follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/amprotarymoorestown/, email geri@gcforganizing.com or call (856) 296–6605.
Be Generous
By: Benjamin Mwila Chitakwa
Tags: Giving, Motivational, Inspiration, Creative, Life

Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash

To those who draw,

To those who sing ,

To those who write ,

To those who create,

To those who are,

Be generous.

There is this fear that anyone who has ever endeavored and created or made something has had. The fear is, what if this is the best one and only one I have in me. Will I have another? I remember sitting on stories for months cuddling them like Smeagol holding the ring( my precious), you would need a wrench to pull them out of my hands. I thought I couldn’t come up with anything better, they were all I had in me. What I forgot to ask myself was, what’s the point if only I read these stories. After getting guts also known as overwhelming pressure from close friends I finally posted and shared. And at that moment they were not only mine but also whoever reads. For the first hours, I buried my head like an ostrich in the sand. But I couldn’t resist to peak and to my surprise people didn’t want to burn my house down. They liked it, of course, they did it was the best I had to share. I thought I was done for, what else could I write, would it even be good. Was it a fluke?

After practicing social distancing from my notebook for a couple weeks I sat with it. The ideas didn’t come, and my fear was coming true. And after what felt like the infinity of waiting for your food in a restaurant I wrote a line. I left it and did that over a couple days and finally got to something that wouldn’t make people roll their eyes or throw up. Then I did it again and again, missing more times than landing, but it seemed like the 5 people who read most of my posts were getting something out of them, so I kept writing. The more I wrote the more I realized that I was not dipping into a finite well but more like fetching from a river. The more I shared the more stories and ideas I had. Some came easy and others took extreme effort but they kept coming. And now there were 6 people(excluding family of course) who genuinely enjoyed and benefited from the slightly more palatable chicken soup I was serving. (Side note: chicken soup here means cheesy heartfelt motivational stories, the phrase is commonly used in China).

Give more get more, huh. Seems to be counterintuitive but it’s true. If you do not let out how can more come in. It is like eating and never going to the bathroom, it’s only biology. Same for investing, relationships, and so on. So if you are generous with your ideas and creations, you will get more of them. If you sit on the only ones you have they will be the only ones you have. But if you are generous you are tapping into an infinite river.

And as an added benefits people will get to see more of your work which helps them more than most things. So be generous, create and share more so that your river can start to flow. We aren’t reservoirs where ideas and experiences come to die but rather conduits that transfer them into the world. Where they belong.
How can we help?
By: Erez Zukerman
Tags: Climate Change, Helping Others, Giving

We’ve been extremely fortunate over these past few years. We started with a crowdfunding campaign that gave us enough revenue to get off the ground. We had an amazing manufacturing partner from day one. Open source was part of our DNA from the get-go, and still is. We shipped to our backers on time. We built up a small team of pros, each stellar in their field. And we’ve been going strong ever since, keeping quality high and culture strong, growing steadily year over year. Whew.

As a small business, this is a lot. It’s something I feel compelled to acknowledge — we can’t take this for granted. It’s true that we don’t make billions, but that’s not why we’re here. We are here to build a sustainable business. We’re here to do something good.

And we are now in a position where we can finally take this a step further, and do more for others.

And this is where this post, and you, come in: I would like to use some of the revenue from our keyboard sales to do good. I have some ideas on how to do this: It may be 1% For The Planet, or a high-impact Canadian charity (we are a Canadian corporation), or helping children in third-world countries.

But these are my ideas. I would like to hear yours. I don’t want to start massive comment threads on this post, though. In fact, I won’t be responding to comments at all. Instead, please email me personally at ez@ergodox-ez.com and tell me: In your opinion, what causes and charity organizations should ZSA Technology Labs be supporting, and why?

If you can introduce me to individuals working in those organizations, that would be wonderful. While I can’t promise I would respond to every email about this, I will be reading them carefully and reaching out as we work towards this decision.

Thank you for reading — now, let’s do some good!
NGOTechnologies Amassing Change
Tags: Giving, Charity, Ngotechnologies, Ngotech, Jasel Patel

Most companies, small and large, donate some funds to a charity or charitable organization of their choosing. This instills a positive feeling about the corporation in the public eye. Donating, no matter the size of money given, is a kind and thoughtful thing to do.

But money only goes so far. Unfortunately, many fund-raising organizations take a large portion of the funds donated to propel their own business. Any little bit of money given where needed makes a difference, but providing people resources they need to put themselves in better situations is often argued to be more valuable. NGOTechnologies does just that.

NGOTechnologies is a company that specializes in technical support. With their innovative platforms, small businesses, nonprofits, and more are able to simplify and expand their work capabilities. NGOTech is dedicated to the development of technological infrastructure. Each of their technological solutions are unique to the client, resulting in the maximization of their potential workflow.

Excess funds collected through their various projects are utilized to provide underprivileged communities across the world a break in the cycle of poverty. To some, that simply sounds like a company providing donations to needy communities, but it is far more than that. NGOTech plays an active part in getting these men, women, and children what they need to better themselves and the world around them.

Credit: BASF

Take NGOTech’s IndePedals + Megabook Initiative, for instance. It all started as a Princeton engineering project. A set of pedals are connected to a 12-volt dynamo, enabling them to power just about any electrical appliance. NGOTech supplemented the project, allowing IndePedals to be distributed to rural locations were this sort of access is limited — sometimes even non-existent. With the IndePedals at hand, children are able to provide power to eReaders, which is all a part of the Megabook Initiative. Each eReader has an educational program installed, allowing children education they may have not had access to otherwise.

NGOTechnologies CEO, Jasel Patel, has this to say about his work:

“Working with NGO Technologies for almost ten years now has helped me grow exponentially. It is incredible to see how the things I do for this company impact others on such a huge level. It inspires me to keep going and to keep growing, because I wish to continue making an impact on the lives of people who need it most.”

NGOTech CEO, Jasel Patel

The IndePedals + Megabook Initiative is just one of many initiatives put forth by NGOTech to assist needy community across the world. Impulse4Humanity, Save the Weavers + Friendship Initiative, Teach4Bali, and so much more has been designed by NGOTech to hopefully garner the results NGOTech strives to see: real change.

For more information, call (917) 420–1222, email info@ngotechnologies.org, or visit their office.

​36 Newport Drive, Princeton Junction, NJ 08550
Anthem Foundation Lends a Hand During Nationwide Disasters
By: Anthem Foundation
Tags: Giving, Disaster, Disaster Response, Philanthropy, News

When it comes to disaster relief efforts, Anthem Foundation believes that the best approach is to be proactive.

From rising COVID-19 cases caused by the delta variant, to California wildfires and the devastation from Hurricane Ida, we are experiencing intense and frequent large disasters nationwide — and Anthem Foundation and its disaster relief nonprofit partners are helping respond.

Red Cross

Every eight minutes, someone affected by disaster is helped by donations to the Red Cross through feeding, sheltering, meeting emergency needs, mental counseling and more. As a proud member of the Red Cross, our proactive $1 million annual funding enables the organization to distribute resources as soon as a disaster occurs. Ahead of Ida, Red Cross was able to activate responders and shelter support on the ground. Emergency Response Vehicles were on the ground immediately to deliver food and emergency supplies, like comfort kits and clean-up kits.

Direct Relief

The Anthem Foundation also collaborates with Direct Relief on their United States Emergency Preparedness and Response Program. Direct Relief responds quickly to ensure medical resources are available to save lives.

Americares

Americares is the world’s leading nonprofit provider of donated medicine and medical supplies. This partnership allows for the delivery of medicines, medical supplies and aid to people in need around the world and across the United States when disaster strikes.

Anthem Cares, Inc.

Anthem Cares, Inc. was created to provide for our communities and care for our associates in the best way possible. The Anthem Cares Fund is a part of this organization, working to distribute funds fairly and efficiently to qualified associates in need.

In addition to the support our Foundation is providing, our associates are stepping up to help, too, and through a 200% match from Anthem Foundation, their support goes even further.

While supporting these organizations is important for disaster relief, it is also valuable for you and your household to develop a plan in the event that you are personally affected by a natural disaster.

In observance of Natural Disaster Preparedness Month this September, we are sharing tips from our partners for you and your family to review including:

Bookmark helpful resources in advance: To find an open shelter, visit the Red Cross website, download the Red Cross Emergency app, or save 1–800-RED-CROSS to your contacts. You can also visit the Feeding America website to locate a food bank in your area.

Learn how to prepare for and respond to power outages by visiting the Red Cross’ Power Outage Safety resource.

If you know of people looking to get in touch with people impacted by the storms, try either our Red Cross Safe and Well site or Facebook’s Safety Check.

For more information on what the Anthem Foundation is doing within communities around the country, visit https://www.anthemcorporateresponsibility.com/anthem-foundation
Live the Moment
By: David Jebaraj
Tags: Giving, Uncertainty, Living, Options, Antifragile

It’s not about the ongoing pandemic, Uncertainty can be always closer than we think…

It will not happen always as u think… You always need to keep your mind open to accept whatever happens… It is also important to develop the habit of accepting whatever happens to be Antifragile in your life…

Life is not a problem to be solved. Just remember to have something that keeps you busy doing what you love while being surrounded by the people who love you…

Much new information and many new skills we could learn are out there, but they are so buried that we don’t even know they exist…Almost everything in the world that has lasted a significant portion of time has an antifragile system in place….

“Antifragility is beyond resilience or robustness. The resilient resists shocks and stays the same; the antifragile gets better. This property is behind everything that has changed with time: evolution, culture, ideas, revolutions, political systems, technological innovation, cultural, Economic success, Corporate survival, the rise of cities, legal systems, equatorial forests, bacterial resistance … even our own existence as a species on this planet.”

To be more Antifragile:

* Create more options

* Bet conservatively in certain areas and take a small risk in others

* Get rid of things that Make you fragile

* Stay active and don’t retire

* Take it slow

* Surround yourself with good friends

* Smile

* Reconnect with nature

* Give thanks

* Live in the moment

* Start giving

* Focus more on avoiding things that don’t work than trying to find out what does work

Avoid being a group, As groups grow in size, they become less stable and more diverse…

Life is pure imperfection and everything is fleeting…

Each moment will hold so many possibilities that it will seem almost like an eternity….

Be happy by making others happy:)

When you see someone who has very little and they are still giving, it hits a reset button in your head right… We have seen peoples like them in our daily life… Start Giving and Enjoy its happiness…

Bad things happen: — Every day. — To everyone. The difference is in how people deal with it…

Good day:)

-dJ
Community Champions
By: Emmanuel Agbeko Gamor
Tags: September, Giving, Community, Rotary, Volunteer

Rotary & ending Polio

September has always been a fascinating month in my personal life as it represents the four weeks where I celebrate the birthdays of my loved-ones the most! Birth dates of my grandfather to both my parents: mom, dad; my young sister, and loved ones, the list keeps growing… September turns out to be a great month for me to keep giving, so here goes:

source: www.rotary.org

At the community level, an organization I am deeply passionate about (spending the better part of the last decade volunteering with), Rotary is seeking the complete eradication of a disabling and life-threatening disease, polio. Ahead of World Polio Day, I have volunteered with the District 9400 Polio Plus Committee and the Rotary Club of Johannesburg to amplify the work that Rotarians on the African continent are doing to end the disease through various forms of vaccinations.

source: www.endpolio.org

In development work, building empathy is an incredibly challenging task. With the global drive to find a vaccine for COVID19, however, we find some common ground in fighting misinformation, appreciate advances in medical innovation, and drive the welfare for our and future generations with impactful next steps. We all can better imagine and empathize with dilapidating disease and the urgent need for collective action on preventable yet dangerous diseases. Polio Plus and the initial fight on infectious diseases such as Ebola helped with interventions such as contact-tracing and emergency responses in many a region in my Africa. There is more to be done, still.

source: www.endpolio.org

My asks are for you to join us for Zumba to have fun with some of the most empathetically kind and fun people I know and yes, raising funds for the cause in permanently keeping polio eradicated. #KeepPolioZero

Lastly, if you know of survivors who would like to share their stories with us, I shall be hosting Zoom interviews to help create awareness on behalf of our Rotary district campaign.

source: facebook.com/EndPolio RC JHB

Be well, be safe, be loved.

p.s. Amplifying voices: If you know of podcasters looking to learn, share tips and tricks, and amplifying African voices, we curate an amazing group that shares resources, hosts guest speakers, and supports podcast engagement here. Podcasters Unite!

If you have recommendations for my next Unpacking Africa podcast guest, do fill this brief form here.

p.s.s. Recipe on Finance: Register for my conversation with Flutterwave’s Olugbenga GB Agboola and Payfast’s Jonathan Smit with our friends and collaborating partners at Heavy Chef. Tickets here. Note: Business owners get 60% off, use the promo code DATAPROMO. Students get 100% off, use the promo code DATAFREE.

Originally published to Unpacking Africa newsletter’s 15,000 + subscribers on September 17, 2020.
B1G1X: Business For Good
Tags: Global Goals, Business, Giving, United Nations, Impact

The global B1G1 community is made up of wonderful people who all share the same purpose: Business for Good. B1G1 events are not your typical industry expo’s and the B1G1x, Northern Hemisphere Conference was no exception. #TeamClarity were left reeling after B1G1x last week, empowered and determined to create a better business, a better life and a better world for our #Clariteers and all those connected.

Aynsley (CEO) and Steve (COO) have both been key contributors and ambassadors of the B1G1 global giving initiative through their previous businesses and individually for many years. Despite this, learning about the causes and people that the community supports is always a powerful eye-opener. Nicki Mih of Free To Shine Cambodia, started off day one with a number of humbling stories and reality checks for the B1G1x delegates. It is so important for us all to see the positive impact that the B1G1 community in particular is having on the girls in Cambodia.

Day one was full of fantastic speakers, including our very own Aynsley who shared his thoughts on how to ‘Bring Your Team With You’ in business. Centred around making sure the directors are leading from the front, Aynsley’s talk neatly incorporated many themes from previous talks in the day about conscious leadership. In particular, by ensuring your team is onboard with your companies culture and core values, we get one step closer to achieving the Global Goals objective to irreversibly eradicate poverty by using business as a force for good.

The key message from the first day of B1G1X was that any business can change the world by making small, continuous, habitual impacts. And as we are living through the fast-changing digital age, there are no excuses not to embed and automate giving back into business processes or systems. As Paul McGivillary pointed out in his talk; love, joy, compassion and life cannot be automated. But, we must use technology to enable and enhance our generosity, rather than worry that it is going to replace us.

At Clarity, we are proud of our partnership with B1G1 and therefore were very excited to learn how the giving initiative is growing and taking off in other countries across the world. On day two founders Paul and Masami shared valuable insights of their plans to grow the Business for Good movement in 2019. They also shared brilliant stories from their Impact World Tour which appears to be going from strength to strength. We love being able to support them and the wider Buy 1 Give 1 community in whatever way possible. If you would like to find out how you too can make your organisation a ‘Business for Good’, please check them out on https://www.b1g1.com/businessforgood/
🎁 Giving without expecting anything in return
By: Niki Birkner
Tags: Generosity, Habits, Giving, Adam Grant

Takers, matchers and givers are the three reciprocity styles that exist and dictate how we interact with people around us, says Adam Grant. Here’s the breakdown of what each of these behavioral tendencies look like in people:

🤫 Takers try to get as much as they can from people while contributing as little as they can

🤗 Givers enjoy helping others and tend to give more than they receive

🤝 Matchers aim for quid pro quo, “I help you, you help me”

Many people think that successful people are either takers or matchers. But that’s not the reality…

The least successful and the most successful are the givers. Wait, that doesn’t even make sense? Well, there so happens to be two types of givers:

🥵 Selfless givers are always helping others, even if it means sacrificing themselves

✋ Otherish givers try to be as helpful as they can, without losing sight of their own goals and responsibilities

It turns out that Selfless givers lie at the lower echelons of the performance scale, and Otherish givers lie at the upper echelons of such scale.

Why are the most successful people otherish givers?

Because being a giver pays off in the long term. When you give to others, you build a better reputation, cast a wider net(work) and build stronger relationships.

Qualities of givers

They believe in the potential of people, creating positive self-fulfilling prophecies for those around them They give up power, ask questions and seek advice When they succeed, it spreads and cascades

“Givers, takers, and matchers all can — and do — achieve success. But there’s something distinctive that happens when givers succeed: it spreads and cascades. When takers win, there’s usually someone else who loses. Research shows that people tend to envy successful takers and look for ways to knock them down a notch. In contrast, when [givers] win, people are rooting for them and supporting them, rather than gunning for them. Givers succeed in a way that creates a ripple effect, enhancing the success of people around them. You’ll see that the difference lies in how giver success creates value, instead of just claiming it.”

How to give

Giving is not only about volunteering or donating money. In fact, giving can mean many things — giving advice, helping those around us, and doing random acts of kindness, just to mention a few. There are several techniques you can follow to become a better giver: