Never grow weary in doing good

Do you ever get overwhelmed by all the good there is to be done in the world and wonder where to start? I recently had an epiphany that went a little something like this – “just start somewhere”

For those of you who missed the post about my new closing gifts, I will catch you up real quick before I dive in to what’s new. Basically, I believe it should be proper protocol to include a bottle of champagne as part of these gifts. After all, buying a house is something to celebrate, whether it’s your first home or your 10th! It is the start of a new chapter, which should always be accompanied with some bubbly from your realtor.

That said, I really wanted there to be some meaning behind my gifts so I started searching for the perfect bottle. You may have seen the ads on Facebook already or maybe they just target me because of my love for wine, but I recently stumbled upon a company called One Hope. If you haven’t heard about them yet, their goal is to make an impact around the world by tying every bottle to a specific cause and giving back to that cause for every bottle purchased. Their slogan is “Indulge. Do Good. #WineNot” – which the marketer and wine lover in me did cartwheels over. I immediately fell in love with their business model and knew I had found the bottle I had been looking for.

So, if you’re working with me, expect to see this as part of your closing gift. AND as you celebrate in your new home, know that you are also helping fund healthy meals to end hunger! Don’t drink? No problem – I will gladly figure out something else celebratory for you!

In addition, every month, I’ve decided to pick a cause and donate a percentage of my commission from each of my closings toward that cause. We are all busy and I know the opportunity to give back sometimes gets away from all of us. So, instead of asking for donations each month toward a specific cause, this is simply me deciding to give back on behalf of the both of us!

I will be working on a 2018 Gives calendar in the coming months but here is a snap shot of what you can expect as we close out 2017:

September is Suicide Prevention month so a percentage of my commission from each closing during this month will be donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Donations to AFSP fund research looking at the causes of suicide, care for those at risk and help those who have lost someone to suicide. You can learn more about the mental health charities that make the most impact here.

Next up is the month of PINK (and pumpkin) everything! During October, a percentage of my commision from each closing will be donated to The American Cancer Society in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month. The American Cancer Society offers opportunities to donate and/or walk in memory of those who lost the battle to cancer and to celebrate those who have fought and survived. Proceeds fund research and provide information and support to help people reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Trevor and I will be participating in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk again this year. If you would like to walk with us or simply donate, be on the lookout for an opportunity to do so soon!

For those of you who don’t know our family well, both of these causes happen to mean a lot to us. So, I am very excited to “just start somewhere” by kicking this initiative off in the months ahead.

I will release November and December’s causes next and then I will tackle what is to come for 2018. In the meantime, if you have a great charity/cause that you would like for me to consider, please share in the comments below or send me a PM. I would love the suggestions!