These days, it feels like there are an endless amount of causes to which you can donate both time and money. As a business owner, you hold a special position in your community and philanthropy is a honorable way to connect, engage, and aid those in need. I’ve truly realized how much my community has done to support me, so I always view charity as my turn to pass that support on. I’m a firm believer in the “pay it forward” movement, so it’s only right to return the support that I receive from my local community. Plus, it really does feel great to give back whenever possible.
Take a step back and think about what causes speak to you. Are you an advocate for animals? Do you want to support survivors of trauma? Are you drawn to helping those who have suffered from a natural disaster? Or are you passionate about protecting the environment? The opportunities are countless — be sure to pick a cause that really resonates with you. Better yet, connect with your team and learn more about what hits them at the core. Find a way to incorporate these causes into your workflow, whether it’s through regular donations, event sponsorships, or participating in an annual 5k as a team.
For me, giving back to children is my biggest cause. In that, my company has done a lot of fundraising and sponsorship for local youth sports teams like the Livermore Little League baseball team and the Rhonewood Swim Club. For others with a similar inclination for helping kids, it doesn’t need to be sports-related — consider supporting local booster programs, big brother/big sister organization, food kitchens, and other public welfare resources that provide aid to children. We also ‘adopt’ families during the holidays to ensure that the festive spirit is spread to those who most need it.
It’s worth noting that there are a number of ways to help other event professionals in dire situations, especially during the event of a natural disaster that can displace people for extended periods of time. There are often crowdfunding campaigns and fundraising events put together to help event professionals. The SEARCH Foundation is also a great way to help industry peers in need — it provides assistance to event professionals who are suffering from a life threatening illness or other catastrophic life event.
Charity and philanthropy does not have to be a publicized matter; therefore, it doesn’t matter what cause you choose to donate your resources to so long as it’s something that is meaningful to you. Simply give from the heart and you can’t go wrong.
Kevin Dennis is the editor of WeddingIQ and the owner of Fantasy Sound Event Services, a full-service event company based in Livermore, California. Dennis is the past president for Silicon Valley NACE, and national vice president for WIPA.