Day 18: The Ripple Effect

If you are able to pin me down at any moment during the day, I am running between a number of different jobs. I am full time stay at home Mom. By definition, as founder of 365give, I am a “philanthropist.” I am also the owner of an Event Production company.  My forte in the event business in the past has been fundraising events (which I continue to produce) and on occasion, I get the luxury of producing a corporate event. A corporate event means I have a budget to spend money without  pursuing  sponsorship money or in-kind donations which are generally required.

This past week I produced one of those big expensive corporate events. I was responsible for the decor – making the venue ( District 319) look fantastic, illuminated in yellow. We rented white leather furniture, bought dozens of pillows, candles and spent thousands on the floral alone.

You might wonder what happens to all this “stuff” at the end of the event. Food, flowers, gift bags the list goes on. After this event a few of these items were going to do some good.

GIVE 18 / DAY 18

Today’s GIVE proved to accomplish a few goals.

We fed some hungry people.
We helped a not for profit organization with their fundraiser event.
We saved some waste going into a landfill.

Today, after my corporate event,  I gave an organization called Intersections Media thousands of dollars in floral arrangements for their yearly fundraiser. Intersections Media’s mandate is altogether unique and inspiring. This organization provides opportunities for at-risk youth. They offer a variety of skills and development programs in the lower mainland who face multiple barriers to employment. They teach them the skills they will need in the media industry (television, movies and corporate film making) that will allow them to get them a job when they are through the program.

I got a lovely note from the Director of the organization Doug Holliston: ”

“On behalf of everyone at Intersections, I just wanted to take the opportunity of thanking you, again, for the use of the incredible flowers for our event last night. As we discussed, normally non-profits don’t get the opportunity of having such an incredible floral display at events – it’s just too cost prohibitive.  Your foresight and generosity in leaving the display at District 319 for an additional day after the event on Wednesday, was a very kind gesture. Thursday’s fundraiser was a wonderful event and your beautiful work added something truly special to the evening.”

I had also asked the caterers to take all the leftover food (all the food not touched by guests) and give it to the local homeless who happen to live just a few blocks away.

All I did was offer people the opportunity to benefit from the event. I could have brought all the flowers home and filled my house and my friends houses to the rim with stunning arrangements. Instead they were enjoyed by hundreds of others over the course of two days and made both our events, ones to remember.

Time Commitment: 0

Cost: 0