The holiday season is a time of reflection and deep gratitude – and since “Give a damn” is one of our core values, it’s also a time to put those grateful feelings into action. For the second year in a row, everyone at E&S participated in our give-back event: the Thankfulness Giving Challenge.
The challenge is simple. Employees were given $100 each and a simple directive: Go and make the world a better place. The beauty of the challenge is not just in how those funds are spent, but why. This type of autonomy doesn’t just empower individuals to lean in to their interests and beliefs, it allows us to understand each other better and spread the wealth to impact more people.
Once all the donations have been made, each employee prepares a slide outlining where their donation went (with as much detail as they feel comfortable sharing). Before our big holiday break, we gathered to hear how each person spent their funds this year. Tissues are a must for this meeting as we learn about the issues and causes most meaningful to each team member. Afterwards, we shared our thoughts and agreed that it’s truly fulfilling to know that we can use our small amount of influence to make a difference for individuals across our community, our country and people across the world.
While amplifying donations through Giving Tuesday matches or friends and family contributions is encouraged, it’s not required. This year, we were able to just about double our contributions to donations totaling $5,225 distributed to 23 different organizations and causes.
A snapshot of how dollars were spent:
- As a parent to four kids, Aaron Christensen wanted to support other parents with basic supplies like diapers, paper towels and baby wipes through Bethlehem House.
- Abbie Chmelka, Abbie Perry and Kelly Heavican supported Go Fund Me campaigns for their friends and loved ones experiencing deep losses and challenging diagnoses this time of year.
- As a proud immigrant, Alfredo Lang supported the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement to support others on their difficult legal paths to citizenship and resettlement.
- Inspired by her family’s own experience in the NICU, Laine Skeen donated directly to the family currently occupying the room they spent so much time in earlier this year.
- In loving memory of her mom, Megan Jenkins donated to the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge.
- Allison Hillyard, Andrea Blankenship and Connie Brown each donated to research and advocacy foundations related to serious health conditions they have personal connections to.
- As animal people, Ryan Schreurs and Paige Searl each donated to rescues that help dogs receive lifesaving medical care and find their forever homes. Paige donated in memory of her mom, a longtime Nebraska Humane Society volunteer and dog lover. Ryan chose the beagle rescue that connected him with his beloved pal Bingo.
- Leanne Prewitt adopted a mother and her five young children through Big Brothers Big Sisters, providing household supplies, necessities and gifts for each family member.
All Thankfulness Giving Challenge recipients:
- 402 Arts Collective
- Access Period
- American Cancer Society Hope Lodge
- Basset and Beagle Rescue of the Heartland
- Bethlehem House
- Big Brothers Big Sisters Adopt-a-Family
- Breakthrough T1D
- Breast cancer patient support
- Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement
- Classroom library donation
- Downtown Women’s Center LA
- Elevate
- Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE)
- Justin Kemerling Memorial Fund
- Keefer Kearns Memorial Fund
- National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center
- Natural Resources Defense Council
- Nebraska Humane Society
- NICU family support
- Omaha Venture Group
- Parkinson’s Foundation
- PLCS Community Closet
- Save the Children