Charity and business go together like the
Wish and
Mika Long
necklaces. It’s a beautiful relationship built on sharing spaces and
complementing the other’s style. Understanding this relationship is important
because your involvement in it can impact a lot of people. Whether you are a
consumer, an entrepreneur, a volunteer or paid employee for a non-profit, you
can add your own sparkle to the overall look.
In a nutshell, the relationship is this: Every business
should be charitable and every charity should run like a business.
You know how we were led to believe that there was an ‘us’
and there was a ‘them’ and ‘we’ were more fortunate than ‘them’ and therefore
should feel guilty, sorry, sad, helpless…? I mean, really, being an ‘us’ or
being a ‘them’ was unfortunate. Everyone was always losing. People who didn’t
have what others had were supposed to feel inadequate, and people who did have
what others needed were made to feel guilty. Nobody won.
Let’s change that.
Everyone has something that someone else needs or wants. It
could be a talent, a skill, a passion, a space, time, energy, health, money,
and the list goes on. When you look at it like that, there is no longer a
dividing line between two groups of people. There is a circle of human beings
that have a lot of things to throw into the pot. Nobody has everything. But
everyone has something. The trick is to find the perfect balance so that people
are giving and receiving equally, and the circle is a wheel moving forward, not
a flat tire.
If every business were to creatively look at how they could efficiently
and effectively impact the community, that would be a huge step. If every
individual out there were to look at their assets and decide what they can
contribute to this circle, that would be another huge step.
But what about basic needs? Don’t people need food, access
to healthcare and housing before they can find a job? Yes, but let’s not forget
that the other basic need we all have as human beings is dignity. Believing in this circle and working from that mindset is
the way to move forward. Throw in some creativity and there is a lot we can do
if we are willing to put in the hard work.
As a consumer, it can be as simple as supporting companies
who have a social giving ethic – like Brooklyn Designs! Brooklyn Designs has
always supported my charitable endeavours. Brooke’s gift is designing and
producing these beautiful jewels that everybody wants! They want them so much,
they are willing to pay for them! Enter ‘the circle’: Brooke donates a piece to
a silent auction benefiting a charity, the charity receives the money, the
money is used for helping others, those who are helped are in an even better
position to keep the wheel moving forward. Everyone is doing their part.
Brooke has graciously donated some jewelry to a silent
auction taking place on Sat. Nov. 15 from 7-10 pm. The auction is part of a fun
night with a Midnight in Paris theme benefiting the Eating Disorders clinic of
B.C. Children’s Hospital. There’ll be live music, dancing, wine, canapes,
entertainment and swag. Proceeds from the tickets and silent auction will fund
poetry workshops by professional poets for the children and adolescents
receiving treatment at this clinic. To learn more about tickets or how to
donate online, please visit
www.pandorascollective.com/donate.
If you are coming, let me know to look out for you! Or if
you want more ideas on how you as a business, consumer or charity can be part
of this circle, drop me a line – I’d love to hear from you.
Our guest blogger Taslim Jaffer is a freelance writer, public speaker and mom of 3. Do you want to be creatively inspired? Find more from Taslim on her blog Let ME Out!!
Connect with Taslim on { FACEBOOK } & { TWITTER }
Our guest blogger Sarah Murray is the
agency director at Fashion Capsule, and the Fashion Arts Program
Coordinator, and Recruitment and Industry Relations at VCC.
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