In the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey and its aftermath, it has been so encouraging to see how people have put aside their differences – political, racial, ethnic, economic, etc. – to work together to help those who have lost so much – their homes, their belongings, and, in some cases, their loved ones. Times like these make us review our priorities, and, I hope, think about how we can help those in need.
Companies often do team fundraising or volunteer events as part of their year-end giving. I’d like to suggest that you consider moving that up this year, or even adding an additional event to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey. Here are some ideas:
- Set a company fundraising goal and ask employees to help you reach it
- Match employee individual donations
- Have a team competition to see who can raise the most money
- Do something fun as a group and ask each employee to contribute a certain amount for the fund
There are many organizations that have established funds to support the region affected by Hurricane Harvey. Here are a few of them:
Also, Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) and the City of San Jose have launched the Californians Helping Texans – Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund to accept tax-deductible donations to help Harvey victims. SVCF has also vetted a number of national and local organizations accepting funds, which are listed on their site.
“No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.” – Aesop
