I was just thinking I needed to find a cool new charity to donate to.  Then out of the blue, someone from Wipro sent me a connection request on LinkedIn.  On his profile was info on a charity he volunteers for and rides his bike to raise money for.  http://www.holeinthewallgang.org/Page.aspx?pid=471 summer camps for kids with serious illnesses like cancer, hemophilia, etc.

Growing up I loved summer camps.  Meet new people, explore new hobbies, have fun and be a kid.  I can’t imagine not being able to go because of a disability or because I needed special medicines on a daily basis.  This camp makes it all possible for the very children who need a break from the painful lives they are living.  How awesome!

In little old Incline Village, there is one locally owned ice cream shop connected to a toy store with an old fashioned barber shop in the back.  Yep, you can get your hair cut and enjoy a cool treat.  Very strange, but the ice cream shop and toy store are popular among locals.  Spring has sprung early in Tahoe and 60 degree weather is almost like summer here.  Time for some ice cream!

Last week I tried to pay $100 for ice cream so the next however many people could have theirs for free.  The young high school girl behind the counter just couldn’t figure out how to do that and said she would need to ask her boss if that was ok.  Ha!  Even good deeds are hard to pull off sometimes….they are just so far out of the norm.

Yesterday I stopped back by the ice cream shop and the owner was in.  I was able to purchase $100 worth of ice cream and put a lot of smiles on kids (and adult) faces.  The message to customers was “someone bought your ice cream for you – have a great day and pay if forward!”

Our path is paved with more than good intentions.  At VHS we strive to act with integrity and honesty. Decisions are based on sound judgment and careful reasoning.  The mission of the Valley Humane Society is the prevention of cruelty to animals, the enforcement of animal cruelty laws, the relief of suffering among animals and the promotion of humane education. The facilitation of the adoption of the homeless animals that are seeking forever homes spreading community awareness of animal issues, and the prevention of pet overpopulation through spay and neuter programs.

Thank You Joe!!

The goal for the trip to Tully’s was to purchase a gift card for $100 and use it anonymously toward others as they walked In. When this Challenge was presented to the team, I hesitated a bit only because I wanted to do it, but not because I was mandated to. I wanted to WANT to do it. So in my rebellious way, I went to Tully’s and bought a $40.00 card. The first recipient of a free beverage was a gentleman who was very grateful and left a nice size tip in the jar for the employees. As people began to file in line, I wanted to give more, so I left my debit card and purchased another $60 gift card. IT WAS THE BEST 100.00 I’VE EVER SPENT. The woman who said that she was having a terrible day left with a smile on her face. The overwhelmed mom who said she just wanted to do something JUST FOR HERSELF today (I can relate) left feeling like she mattered a bit. The man who said “I didn’t think there were still people in the world like that” left with a different realization. Crazy Enough!!! I wanted to give even more! It was something about making someone smile that just did it for me. For the recipient, it only took $3 to make them smile. For me it was priceless.

IT GETS BETTER:

For every $10 spent on the card, a free drink is generated on the card. The gift just kept giving, I donated it to the store.

I will definitely do this again.

Michelle White

Hi Joe,

I’m not sending this email to “out do” any of the previous stories that you have been told regarding the $100 card gifting.

But it is appropriate to let you know what happen with our great giving back experience.

A week ago Friday my daughter Michelle came home from SF to Pleasanton for the night, and to get her “hair done” Saturday morning by her favorite stylist here in town.

So I asked Michelle if I could buy her a cup of coffee prior to her hair appointment that morning.

We went to the Starbucks near Safeway on Santa Rita. Michelle bought her hair stylist a gift card for her Birthday, and I then bought coffee for me and Michelle and then asked the young lady at the counter to put $100 on a gift card. Michelle looked at me and said what’s up with the card, so I said watch this, and turned around and handed the card back to “Kirsten” to pay for the next xxx drinks/food, until it ran out. I also told Kirsten, please do not point me out in the crowd and just let the customers know that someone wanted to give a little something to brighten their day.

I explained to Michelle that being a part of CVI is about giving back and that You had asked the team to participate in some good Karma over the weekend. She said “that is awesome and nice of Joe to promote giving back in a fun way.

Long story short…Michelle and I sat down, drank some of our coffee, and watched peoples response. We couldn’t hear any of the cashiers conversations since the only table available for us was over by the window. What we did see were a lot of smiles and grins and customers “looking around” like they were trying to find the hidden candid camera.

This giving back exercise was fun, got thumbs up from Kirsten at Starbucks and from me and Michelle.

Joe, you are always thinking ahead and setting the standard for us. Thanks, Dean

Dean A. Ellingsen
National Accounts Manager

I quietly went up to the Starbucks counter at the airport…everyone around me were heads down, lost in the daily grind thoughts…I pre-paid the $100 gift card and shared with the counter girl my plan.  She smiled and said that’s really, really cool.  I moved to a place hidden from the line and waited as the next 12 people in line heard the news, “your bill has been taken care of”, the cute girl would say at the counter.  Not a person went by that wasn’t shocked, happy, and non appreciative – this gesture woke them up…heads were up and they got lost out of their daily grind and into happiness for a few minutes.  They would ask who bought it and  the girl would point to me over in the corner.  Happily,  every single person came up to me and thanked me.  They all wanted to know why and I explained, “pay it forward.”  Two people said that they wanted their company to do the same thing.  One man asked for my card and said he worked for a $2 billion dollar company and that they’d be calling on us for work.  A father and his little girl smiled at me from ear to ear and thanked me, with the dad explaining to her what had happened.

This was so heart warming for me.  So cool.  It made me so proud to be a part of a company that promotes such good things.  Thank you for making me happy, making the 12 people happy and all the workers happy (they had never seen this).  There’s no doubt some of these people paid it forward after me.

Good Morning Joe,

You gave me a best gift this weekend a memory. Two of my daughters this past weekend competed at the state cheerleading championship. They were picked to win. The last two weeks they put in additional time and did everything they were supposed to do in order to be successful. Morgan, my youngest, said “we have this one we worked harder than everyone else.”

Saturday morning came they performed a perfect routine and it really was the best performance of the year. The best and worst part of any competition is sometimes you do the best you can do at that moment and it is not enough.

Tears and disappoint was the theme of Saturday night. Sunday morning I took the girls to Starbucks to “pay it forward.” This wonderful grandmother was at the register. Vanessa and Morgan went to the counter to “pay it forward.” I do know what they said but I could read the lips of the grandmother, “you two girls are so sweet, you made my day.”. They came to me with all smiles. First time they smiled since 4:00 pm Saturday.

After we left Starbucks they decided to attend cheer clinic at Northern University that on Saturday they wanted to cancel. Vanessa, the middle, told me that the works begins today for next year. With smiles they left.

Thanks for the wonderful memory. The best gift that you can give.