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Yes, I know that we're not even past Thanksgiving yet, but I can already smell the festive spirit in the air, or at least radiating from some boots ;-)
I can attempt to cough up a witty blog post, but how about I show you a video instead?
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AUCTION? YOU CAN CHECK IT OUT HERE! And if you want to donate some funds to Feeding America and have a chance to win Stephen's sweater and stockings, then go to MySpace for even more COLBERT GOODNESS!
Here is your quick hit of the day. Billy Joel will be playing an exclusive and intimate (less than 500 seats!) show on October 27th at the Hard Rock in NYC. The event is part performance, part Q&A and 100% charity. Proceeds of the event benefit Charity Begins At Home, which is celebrating it's 30 years.
I think this is great, but I'm celebrating my birthday this coming weekend and no one close to Billy Joel is playing my event. If I'm lucky, I may have RBH stop by and buy me a pint.
So back to the auctions, while the the waitress practices politics and the businessman slowly gets stoned, you should check these auctions out ;-)
And if you do get to ask a question and are stumped, ask him "What was better? Playing Shea or Yankee Stadium?"...I'm sure that will create some awkwardness in the venue!
In my opinion, invigorating conversation and a good cup of coffee pair well. So, naturally I was stoked to hear about a weekly series of pamphlets called GOOD Sheets that are now available at Starbucks. Each GOOD Sheet breaks down different issues that many socially-minded individuals, such as you and me, may find relevant. A new issue is available every Thursday with an unbiased glance at diverse issues that seek identification and exploration. Want to learn about past GOOD Sheet issues? You can find archived issues of GOOD Sheets through the GOOD website, or you can find a link on the Starbucks homepage.
You may be wondering, “Who’s responsible for these ‘GOOD Sheets,’ and why are they available at Starbucks?” Well, my friend, I’m glad you have pondered this. GOOD is a collaboration of businesses, nonprofits, and individuals who have joined together since 2006 to create magazines, videos, and events across our communities in a continuous mission to define (and keep defining) what GOOD is. Starbucks is an inviting environment to host the distribution of GOOD Sheets, as well as a prime example of a business that ethical owns its corporate responsibility. If you know of many other businesses who give their employees full medical, dental and vision benefits at 20 hours a week, please inform me.
GOOD gets even better. You can sign up for a Super Account with GOOD and receive GOOD magazine for a year, with 100% of your chosen contribution to go to the charity of your choice. That’s right, you pick the amount, and you receive a year’s subscription of the magazine all while benefiting the charity of your choice. I’d say that’s a pretty fantastic deal!
I challenge you, let’s meet up for cappuccino and discuss the next issue of GOOD Sheets. Don’t drink coffee? Grab a hot chocolate or caramel apple spice and join in on the conversation. I’ll bet you have lots to contribute to defining the definition of GOOD. You can even post your comments about issue on the GOOD website for an even broader audience.
Every once in a while, you hear about an idea that just lifts your spirits. So, thanks to yesterday's Daily Candy for letting readers know about the Good Envelope Party.
According to their website:
“The Good Envelope Party is a bi-monthly women's collective in Silver Lake, California. We make handmade recycled stationery from salvaged books and magazines, with love, for the good of others and the earth. These unique envelopes and recycled card inserts are voluntarily made for the purpose of donating their profits. Proceeds are directly donated to non-profit organizations, underfunded schools, and local families struggling to fulfill their basic needs.”
This concept is genius. First of all, the whole idea is built around upcycling – taking something that might otherwise fall out of use or be thrown away, and transforming it into something beautiful, giving it a new life. Second, the sales of the beautiful upcycled cards benefit worthy nonprofits. And finally, in this time of fascination with online community, virtual friends, tweeting and superpokes, this is a group of women who actually get together and enjoy eachothers’ company, conversation and support. All of this to create a product -- notecards -- that almost always carry kind thoughts or thanks and bring a smile to someone's face. (Can you imagine going to the effort of writing a beautiful handmade notecard just to say, "hey, wish you'd take a long walk off a short pier?" Yeah, I think you'd probably just use someecards for that.)
They’re pretty low on stock due to their new-found fame, but check back soon to support the Good Envelope Party. It’s a seriously Good idea.
I was mountain biking this weekend in the hills of Santa Cruz and did what bikers call an "endo" - fell over the handle bars. Luckily I survived (and even had a few laughs afterwards with my friends) but it made me realize that 1) helmets are very important and 2) I'm going to keep riding not for myself and the adrenalin but my cause -- the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
I've always been a strong proponent of work-life balance and one of the ways in which I recommend to my friends and co-workers is to find a nonprofit that you can volunteer your time (and in my case sweat) for. I started volunteering for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society back in summer of 2001 when I trained for my first marathon with no previous running or fundraising experience. My time was spent on the running trails as well as helping the Society on awareness campaigns and fundraising crucial dollars for cancer research and patient services. It changed my life forever and learned how important it is to give back.
Here are the top 3 reasons why you (or your company) should give back:
1. You Need to Step Away from Your Cubicle Life
It's not always the next product release or finish that one last status report. Sure you need the paycheck but you are going to burn-yourself out if you don't have a balance and see other walks of life / other cultures. Choose a few nonprofits that you and your friends can be a part of and put in a few hours a week or a month (whatever your schedule permits). You'll come back to the office more focused believe it or not.
2. Build a Relationship with Your Customers and Employees
Customers are real people too that believe in causes and giving back to the community. Also, your employees are your most important asset so if an employee is doing a bake-sale to raise money for a girl who has leukemia then gosh darn it support them. By your company donating to that employee or customer the word-of-mouth of your brand is going to have positive effects. Customers tell their friends of what your company has done and employees enjoy coming to work and are more productive.
3. Be Strategic In Your Thinking
This isn't a one-time project but an opportunity to change the company's culture. It needs to start from the top and permutate throughout the organization. Start an employee-driven committee that manages the grants to nonprofits and volunteer activities. Give employees at all levels the ability to participate and make real decisions that affect local nonprofits.
Here is a video from one of my favorite tea companies - Republic of Tea -- that took the idea of helping the Susan G. Komen for a Cure foundation and combined it with their marketing campaign. After watching the video, post a comment on what causes you and/or your company support.
Thanks.
Randy Ksar
photo provided by PR Photos
I am a concert aficionado, I have been to over 300 concerts in my lifetime. If you give me a few hours and a pot of coffee, I can name them all. I am the type of person that prefers to wait 'til the last minute to decide whether I should attend a show or not. Did you know that on any given day, there are hundreds of tickets that are listed to benefit charity? And we're not talking about tickets to your nephew's elementary school's adaptation of "Sweeney Todd " either! All the hottest tours this year, and we're talking prime seats as well!
So next time you're looking for good seats and want to do something good at the same time, look for the ribbon in the Ticket section of eBay. I have my eye on a Coldplay ticket with that ribbon, I was on the fence...but thanks to Tiana, I am in :)
