How Do You Give Back to the Community?
The weather forecast for Houston was grim on August 24th, 2017. Hurricane Harvey, weakened by its passage through the Caribbean, had regained its strength and was now a Category 4 storm. It was barreling across the Gulf of Mexico and had Houston dead in its sights. The result would go on to make history, and not in a good way.
Record rainfall pounded the Space City for days, as the hurricane stalled out rather than continuing inland. In the aftermath, over 350,000 people were left without power and tens of thousands required rescue. The storms claimed over a hundred lives and damaged or destroyed nearly 50,000 homes and businesses.
For Houston Texans star defensive end J.J. Watt, the storm was more than just a disruption of his upcoming season in the NFL. It was personal. After all, he lived there. Through tireless work, including TV appearances, online appeals and personal appearances, Watt managed to raise over $37 million dollars to help the water-logged city rebuild. The donations weren’t from just a few large donors either. While celebrities like Drake and Ellen DeGeneres, and business owners like Charles Butt of HEB, Inc. contributed large sums, the bulk of the funds came from small donors - $10 dollars here, $50 dollars there.
If you were ever looking for an example of giving back to the community, there you have it. And it’s an important example if you have a business. With online sales being such a major part of a company’s marketing strategy, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that your business is surrounded by a community of people. Every sale, even if it’s just made with a few taps on a cell phone, has a face and a story behind it.
Of course you’ll want to support your community in its time of need, but you don’t have to wait for a major crisis to get involved. Give back by:
- Sponsoring a Local Charity Event.
- Partnering with a local group.
- Volunteering your time.
Pick organizations that have goals that align with your own interests and passions, and if possible volunteer in ways you’re good at. If you’ve always wanted to be a teacher, get involved with after-school programs. If your company specializes in high-tech solutions, why not offer to help the local Rotary Club or Red Cross with its website?
J.J. Watt may be an NFL star, but you don’t have to sack quarterbacks for a living to help. Get involved and help your community tackle some of its biggest challenges.