The Start of One Donation and My Family's Giving Journey

When my brother and I started One Donation, we had a simple goal which eventually became our tagline - Changing the world One Donation at a time. On a more personal level, I hoped to teach my three kids the value of giving back. 

A few weeks ago, my two oldest kids came home and started to look all around the house for loose change. I was not quite sure what was going on, but I was not going to argue with the side effect of tidying up the house a little in search for hidden treasure. 

At the end of the workday, I did what I always do and looked through their folders for any important handouts or graded papers. I came across a paper announcing a school fundraiser for a local cancer research center. The fundraiser would last four days and each grade at school was grouped into three groups of two. Grades who raised the most money by the end of the four days would bonus extra recess and their achievement announced at an upcoming cancer walk the following week. 

Large clear jars were placed on top of a table at the entryway for all students to see, but there was a brilliant twist. Pennies and bills would all count as positive points for a group but silver coins would count as negative points and could be placed in an opponent’s jar! ($1=100 points, Quarter=25 points, Dime=10 points, etc.) 

Fundraising Gamification - what a great way to get the kids excited AND raise money for a great cause! 

At the Cancer walk, the principal and a special guest announced that the kids had raised $4,951.40! As a dad, I was proud of my kids and the rest of their classmates for raising so much money in only four days. 

Here is where the giving challenge became super personal and life-changing for our family. 

This past fall, the school resource officer passed away after battling cancer. The officer was a staple at the school before my kids began. He knew everyone by name, and he became much more than the school resource officer. He was a friend, a confidant and a true hero to every kid at the school. I still can see him in my head giving all of the kids high-fives as they walked into the school - every morning! 

On the morning when the total donations were announced, the special guest given this honor, was none other than the wife of our fallen officer. From where I was standing, I could see the tears building in her eyes as she looked out at all of the tiny faces and it was reciprocated by the joy reflected back to her on the kids' faces. To make it even more meaningful, the kids had made special signs to show their support and love for their officer, who was also their friend. 

This was so much more than a fundraiser, it was personal.

Similarly, the One Donation app was a response to a donation opportunity, because I was once given the opportunity to give and was dismayed to find out that I had no cash on me and there was nowhere for me to virtually donate. In response, I developed the app to help solve the gap between wanting to give and not having the resources conveniently to do so. 

I don’t know about you, but the stories behind the way in which we give are so much more meaningful and I look forward to seeing how my children continue to continue along this pathway in life. 

This is why we exist. To change the world One Donation at a time.