Charity and the Golf Pro - Growing Together

When it comes to charity, the PGA Tour sets a great example for those of us in the golf business.  Over 2,000 charities have benefited  and as of this post, the amount raised is closing in on 1.5 billion dollars.  But for most golf professionals, whether we are in management or instructors, sometimes the financial resources aren't always there to support charity as much as the PGA Tour.  And successful golf professionals love to give, whether sharing information with their colleagues or donating to their favorite charities.  


The true meaning of charity is to give unconditionally expecting nothing in return.  But why not make our charitable contributions conditionally and create partnerships with the charities that we are passionate about?


When I was in sales, we always compared the prospecting process to going out to a dance club.  You can stand against the wall and hope Miss Right comes to you or ask every woman in the room to dance until someone says yes.  Now typically, you have a good time dancing once she says yes and have a great night together never to see each other again.  Or you can build a relationship and dance for a lifetime!


I love building relationships with the charities I support.  I want them to grow, so I become a champion for their causes and in return I ask them to be an evangelist for my business.     There's nothing wrong with asking a charity for their help.  The truth is that we both benefit together and we can change the world, one life at a time.

Women helping women in Berrien County - one woman at a time.

Most times, to receive financial assistance a woman has to be down and out.  What happens when a woman is down but not quite out yet.  100 Women Strong is a group of women in Berrien County whose mission is to be sure that women who need a little "hand" and not a hand out get that help.  

Many of the woman they have helped are single moms with a job and going to school to find a better life for their family.  So many of us live our lives from day to day, but when an unexpected financial crisis arrives, it can mean the difference between paying a bill and eating.  In the movie The Saint of Fort Washington, Jerry, a homeless man, says, "We're all one paycheck away from being homeless."  Whether it's an unexpected breakdown in their car, an unexpected bill, or a cut in hours at work, this could make the difference in that paycheck.  Imagine not being able to get to work because the car isn't running or being too sick to go to work because you can't afford to turn on the heat.

I'm very thankful for 100 Women Strong for stepping in.  They are allowing many women in my county to continue to reach for their dreams and not end up as a statistic.  What I really admire about this group is all of these women involved with 100 Women Strong lead extremely busy lives and I wonder how they can add one more thing to their busy schedules, but they do out of true compassion.  

I've become involved with them because I realize this.  For every woman they help, it means one more person is out there contributing to the economy and many children who have benefited will know that there are people out there looking out for them.  I also am thankful that they are changing lives and making sure that women can still reach for their dreams.  If only we could reach out to all of them, but maybe we can.  Think about it.

If you agree that what they are doing is great like their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/100womenstrong.