Local Small Business Takes #GivingTuesday to a New Level

givingtuesday gratitude Dec 01, 2020
I hope you had a great Thanksgiving, even though it might have been weird, small, and quiet.

If your Thanksgiving was difficult, you're not alone. My hope is that you found some moments to be grateful for.

Last month's post was a great reminder that no matter how difficult things are,
 
gratitude is the first step towards a more generous life.

Just this month, I saw a real-life example of this that I wanted to share with you. 
 

In case you're not familiar with what we do around here, it's this:

  • We find real life stories of generosity, from the everyday to the extravagant.
  • To inspire others to live a life a greater generosity.
  • Because the generous life is the abundant life.

So here's the story:

A local small business, FONA International, had a record year despite being in a pandemic. 

​​And what they did with their $7.1 million surplus is astounding. Frankly, it's upside-down from how most of the business world thinks.​​

They gave a $2,500 bonus to each of their 225 employees.
For each year they have worked at FONA.​​​
One person has been there since 1998.  

​​That's a $55,000 bonus for that employee.

​​​J​oe and Mary Slawek started FONA international in 1987, and I picked out the best quotes from their news interview.

They start with gratitude. 
"We recognize that it all came from the hard work of our people"​​
They look to make invest intentionally. "We were looking at what investments we could make"
They look beyond the right here, right now, and instead look to create a lasting impact"As we enter the 4th quarter of our lives, we don't want to be in the spot where we wish we did this"

If you want to watch the NBC news interview, here's the link.


Here's the key for you and me.

You don't need a big surplus.

You don't need to run a company to make a difference like this.

Joe and Mary are doing good with what they have been given. 

What have you been given?

And who can you help, bless, encourage today?

Giving Tuesday, which is now it's own organization, started in 2012 with a simple purpose. Create a day which encourages people to do good. I think their byline says it best:

"Everyone has something to give and every act of generosity counts."

Have a great #GivingTuesday.

I hope you feel encouraged and inspired.

 

- Tim

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