Anyone who knows us knows that we love projects that are easy to understand and simple to use. So when Christian and Nate of Qoins approached us about being the first business partner of the #GivingCards Project, it was easy to say yes. Their fast-growing startup provides a service that lets you round up everything you buy to the nearest dollar, and uses all that “spare change” each month to help pay down your debts. Allowing you to get closer to becoming debt free without changing any of your habits. Simple!
In talking to these guys, we decided to try out something a little different for the month they partnered with us (March 2017). In addition to distributing our usual stack of $20 #GivingCards, we wanted to use some of their funds to provide three $100 #GivingCards so that a few of the people in our community could go out and do some even bigger and better things for those they loved. Here were the results :)
#1. Ping-Pong, Pizza, and The Library
From Independent Hoosier:
Going into the month of March, my father and I already knew who we wanted to help with our monthly $40 #GivingCard Project. As we started to set the wheels in motion, I saw a post from Nate, J. Money, the Rockstar Finance Team, and one of their partners, Qoins, that they were giving out three $100 #GivingCards this month!
To obtain, all we had to do was submit a form and state how we could best use the $100 #GivingCard.
Easy enough, yeah?
Fortunately, my father and I had already had a plan in place to support a large group of people. A group of people that, collectively has been a major influence on my life since the time I could read and even more so in the recent months – the staff and patrons of the Monroe County Public Library (MCPL). I lived at the library between sports and work as a kid, and I was always devouring books (still do). In fact, I am such a library nerd, that I dedicated an entire page on Hoosier FI to my Library Project where I keep an updated spreadsheet of savings I obtain through borrowing books from the library.
I submitted the form stating my reasons why and how we would use the $100 #GivingCard with the caveat that the only way we would take it is if someone else did not need it more. A few days later, I received an email from Nate stating that I would be getting the $100 #GivingCard in the mail in the coming week.
With our $100 #GivingCard and monthly $40, my father and I now had a total of $140 to spend this month on the MCPL.
Now came the hard part – I had spoken, albeit lightly, to some of the staff at the MCPL about buying pizza for the staff and patrons. I was graciously told that it had been done before, but I would just have to contact the proper people to make sure and follow the correct protocol. So far this was going way too easy so I kept waiting for something to creep up and ruin my master plan down and I would have to explain to Nate, J. Money, and Qoins, how I would not be able to use the #GivingCard as intended.
To quote The Joker, “I’m a man of my word.” So, having to explain that I could not follow through on a task is not something I wanted to do.
I decided to navigate to the MCPL contact page and scanned the names and phone numbers and picked the one I thought would fit best.
Folks, in case you haven’t noticed, I have a real scientific method to my madness.
THE INITIAL CALL
The fortunate individual who was lucky enough to be picked by me was Mr. Josh Wolf – Community Engagement and Learning Services Manager at the MCPL.
His title seemed the most appropriate so I thought ‘What the hell? That is a good place to start.”
Josh was excited about the idea when he called me back and said he needed to run it past the other staff members before moving forward.
Fast forward to the next day, and I have an email in my inbox from Mr. Kevin MacDowell stating that he is the Teen and Digital Creativity Specialist (if that is not a bad ass job title, I do not know what it is).
From the very beginning, I could tell Kevin was going to be a great person to work with. I gave him a call to tell him more about the RCF Community, the #GivingCard Project, my blog, and reassured him that I was not some scumbag trying to buy my way into the MCPL. Which, unfortunately, tends to happen from time to time. Kevin never said it, but if you know me well enough (or read this blog long enough) I can start rambling, especially when I am nervous. I explained the whole idea behind this project in a matter of about 62 seconds (Sorry, Kevin).
But, he trusted me and stated it was awesome how there were still the people in the world who just wanted to good things for people. He explained that by donating lunch to the library, we would allow the MCPL to save money in their budget and utilize it for more library activities within the Bloomington community.
He stated that we could not technically just “buy” pizza for patrons and staff, but we could donate it to a library program and he just so happened to have one coming up – one that involved a spring break ping-pong tournament. The event is for all ages, with a focus on teenagers, as a local activity during the spring break time period of community schools. According to Kevin, it is planned through their Ping Pong Palooza Club, which is also all ages and meets to play twice monthly.
Sold.
THE PIZZA
I always try to shop locally. However, for this project, I was wrestling with the idea of purchasing pizza through a chain restaurant, simply because we wanted to make sure we had enough pizza to feed as many people as possible. Thankfully, Kevin suggested a local place, Cafe Pizzaria, who was gracious enough to work with us, and even gave me a great discount to make sure we stayed under our $140 budget. Seriously, I cannot stress enough how cool these guys were – I called, explained to them what they were doing, and they hooked us up.
THE TOURNAMENT
I walked into the library and was led to the room where Kevin and the participants of the spring break ping-pong tournament were being held. I was met with classic rock blaring from speakers, the rapid voracity of teenagers recreating scenes of Forrest Gump’s ping-pong career with the speed and precision of semi-pro players on two very nice ping-pong tables, and a large whiteboard detailed with the winners and losers of the double-elimination tournament that would rival the best of any NCAA tourney bracket challenge.
I totally dug this.
Kevin greeted me with a large and loud introduction, and for everyone in the room stopped and stared and yelled a very vibrant and welcoming “thank you!”
Any fears that I had about screwing up or interacting on a large-scale were quickly diminished by the feeling of open-arms that I received while being greeted.
THE MAIN EVENT
I am not sure if you have ever walked into a room full of hungry teenagers, but we were almost bowled over by the stampede of everyone rushing for the pizza.
As patrons, teenagers, and staff made their way in and out of the room, I had the lovely opportunity to chat with almost everyone. I was able to play multiple games of ping-pong, meet with a very entertaining group of teenagers, listened to a variety of different music, and time literally flew by we were having so much fun.
The most common question I received was, “So…How does financial independence (personal finance) and giving back to the community go together?”
It is an excellent question. I explained to everyone that the personal finance blogging community and the RCF are some of the most intelligent, intuitive, driven, and giving people I have never met (see what I did there). I made clear to those that asked that most of the bloggers I follow who are seeking financial independence or have achieved it, do not stare at their bank accounts, but want to get out of the 9-5 grind and their confined cubicles. They want to have time to dedicate to greater causes such as volunteering at the library, shelters, or a number of ways to make the world a better place.
THE MCPL
I have spoken about the RCF and Cafe Pizzaria, but one thing I have not spoken much about is the MCPL and the staff.
Working in public service through my 20’s, I understand what it is like to interact with the public on a day-to-day basis. I have mentioned many times my love of books and libraries, but what inspired the idea to give something back to the MCPL was ‘the heart’ aka, the wonderful staff members that make up this archive of knowledge and public service.
I have touched briefly on this in a previous article I had written about one of my earlier experiences at the MCPL. However, on the day we were able to give back those ideas of grace and servitude about the staff were only entrenched more. Every, single staff member I interacted with talked about how much they loved the library and how thankful they were to be part of such a great community.
However, most of all, I need to speak of Kevin who plays a vital role in the shaping and forming of such young minds. He is a man who is truly passionate and lives for his job. The excitement that streams from his mouth when he speaks about the teenagers that he influences cannot be placed into words. Kevin has focused on one thing – creating the best environment he can for the young people of tomorrow. He brings a fervent joy to his job discussing music with the teenagers or the way he actively engages the other staff members. If anyone is passionate about their job, it is Kevin MacDowell.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I stated to Kevin and the staff and patrons of the MCPL multiple times that the RCF is amazing in the fact that it is not “just about writing a check or throwing cash at something” and calling it a day. To quote the RCF #GivingCard page, it is about “the REAL benefit has nothing to do with the money and everything to do with the LIVES we’re affecting.”
When I left the MCPL that day not only did I feel simply wonderful, but I had that continued motivation of the “Why” that many of us wonder when we speak of being financially independent. Not because we dislike our current jobs, but rest assured folks, spending our days volunteering at places like the MCPL, surrounded by people wanting to learn and a great environment, beats a cubicle any day.
#2. Furniture for Justin
From: Nicole Stephani
I want to tell you about my friend, Justin. Justin was been my friend since 2010. I met him in Chicago when I was at an extremely low point. I had finished graduate school, and for months and months, I could not find a job. I began waiting tables at a restaurant called Palette Bistro in the meantime. I felt like I was floating aimlessly, with no family nearby, and the restaurant was the only place where I belonged.
Justin became my family there. He was my brother, he was insanely intelligent and introspective, and we were struggling through life together. When I met my husband in 2011 working at the restaurant, he stuck by my side and was present at our wedding in 2014. Justin and I were both hard workers with empathetic spirits, and I knew we would know each other for a very long time.
In 2016, about one year ago, my husband and I decided to relocate to my hometown of Birmingham, Ala. I felt like I was leaving a part of myself behind, leaving my dear friend Justin. It became even more difficult to be apart when I realized that he had fallen on hard times and had lost his job and his apartment.
We all fall on hard times, but I knew he was hurting and I felt helpless. When he finally told me about a month ago that he was signing a lease on a new apartment, I wanted to do something special for his home that he has worked SO incredibly hard to attain. That’s where The #GivingCards Project comes in. Justin needed a bed, and the $100 gift card I requested for him helped provide that. There isn’t anything better I could have done for him – giving this special person a place to rest his head at the end of a long work day.
I am SO incredibly grateful for my journey in life with my friend Justin, and for this project that allowed me to gift something he needed. I wasn’t able to capture our tears on video when we reunited and when I told him about the $100, but we have just cried in the last picture. :)
Thank you, thank you, from the bottom of my heart!
#3. Cupcakes for Servicemembers
From: Grace Hong
I was able to help and serve my community here in Fort Carson, CO. My dad is in the U.S. Army and I wanted to thank our troops and local fire station for all their hard work by baking cupcakes. With my card, I bought baking supplies and baked five dozen cupcakes. My family and I delivered them to our firefighters and to my dad’s co-workers. Here are some pictures on our baking adventure.
We’d like to thank Qoins for working with us this month, and especially thank them for making all this love possible out in the real world. We believe that giving back doesn’t always have to involve just adding a few more dollars to a charitable cause, because when you provide real people a way to give back to someone in their own lives, in a way that’s meaningful to them, amazing things can happen. Even with just a hundred dollars :)
To see the rest of the results across all projects, you can scroll down to March 2017 here.
If you’d like to sponsor a month of The #GivingCards Project, we’d love to customize something with you! Reach out to us here to get started: Contact Us
