I had a closing last week. I got a commission check on Thursday and ran right to the bank to deposit it. I wrote checks to my creditors but the first two checks were to a commitment I made for this year. I donate one per cent of every commission check to my local public radio station because I believe that public radio is an important source of music, news and information about various points of view that are not commonly available through other sources. Whether I necessarily like or agree with all of them is not the point. The point is that they should be freely available so that people can hear a diversity of opinion, news,music ,and drama.
The other check was for another one percent to THE HOUSE THAT ACTIVE RAIN BUILT for the MAKE IT RIGHT NOLA Foundation. Whatever your commission, 1% to help enrich someone else's life will be enhanced and multiplied when it is joined with the funds of others. It is not enough for you to miss it in the larger scheme of things but it can make a huge difference. Mu counter shows almost 137,000 Active rain members. A Make It Righthouse only costs $150,000. The House That Active Rain Built has $153.00 in donations so far.....even one dollar will help. Donations of five dollars or more can be made online. Donations of less than five dollars must be mailed but all you have to do is put a note i the envelope saying that the donation is for the House that Active Rain Built and it will be credited to our house.
This is a great idea and gesture. Hopefully this will promote more giving, even with these tough times. Another way of giving is to donate your time and volunteer.
Hola Deb,
This is very nice! I know some offices contribute a certain dollar amount for each transaction that goes through the company, so why can't us agents do the same? We all have a corporate social responsibility to the communities in which we work and live.
Imagine how much money all of the agents in Albuquerque could raise for a good cause if we all donated one cent per transaction. One cent out of thousands of dollars will not even be noticed!
Christopher
Hey Christopher! Good to hear from you. It really is a painless way to make a big difference over time. My last closing, I wrote a check to Make It Right for $33.00. (1% of my half of the total commission) Will I miss it? Of course not. If I have 10 closings this year at that same level I will have donated $330.00 to a good cause without even noticing it and it will have helped build a house for someone who really needs it. You are exactly right. Companies do it on a corporate scale all the time. We are independent business owners and we can do the same. If we expect corporations to step up to the plate and be responsible for what they do to the planet and to their employees then we should walk the talk.
Deb, I was just thinking last week that I should donate to KUNM and KNME. They are what I listen to and watch most. I have not been a member for years, but I think it's time to start again. My favorite show is Native America Calling with Harlan. I learn so much there, and it humbles me. Free form is always exciting, too. Anything on PBS is great for the simple reason there are no commercials. Your post was an affirmation for me. Thanks!