Being charitable can come in many shapes or forms. For example, here at bodyshop, we have collections and raise funds for local animal home and wildlife rescue centre, and support BEN – the automotive industry charity, at our industry events.
Reading this, you can probably think of someone who donates time and energy to support a section of society or can think of someway that you do. Being charitable is not just about giving money, as it is often considered to be, and there are many ways that support can manifest itself.
It is difficult for people to understand why charity should continue in a time of economic recession but with careful consideration and explanation it is clear to see why it is actually the most important time. If you think the recession has hit you particularly hard, take a minute to think of people who went into the recession with less than you, as society tightens its belt – where do they fit in?
There is research that suggests an individual can draw in more support than an organisation; there is an eye opening online video where an experiment in America managed to pull in direct mail donations for a cannibal serial killer and a banking fraudster by focusing on their invidual ‘needs’.
Thankfully, the work of those we spoke to is not to support cannibals. Our examples are individual and interesting though, and we’ve included a few examples of how different groups of people can impact their environment.
James Alpe should by now be known to everyone, having won the bodyshop large bodyshop of the year award a matter of months ago, and they’re the first charitable company we’re looking at. The Clitheroe-based business was contacted for sponsorship, as often happens due to its size, by local modern pentathlete Samantha Murray. The request was nontypical though and centred on Samantha’s car which had, at the time, failed its MOT and she could not afford to replace it.
James Alpe stepped up to the mark and offered a long term loan of one of their courtesy cars, providing a 2012 Olympic hopeful the means and ability to travel from Lancashire down to the National Training Centre of Excellence at Bath, where she trains. As a pentathlete, Samantha competes in fencing, swimming, show jumping and a combined run/shoot event. She hopes, with the help of James Alpe, to get into the world’s top five rankings and, possibly, take a medal away from London this summer.
Explaining the decision, James Alpe said: ‘After reading Samantha’s highly professional sponsorship request, we decided to assist with the long term loan of one of our courtesy vehicles. It’s a great opportunity to help a prominent Lancashire athlete in getting to the Olympics and, being well known in the area, Samantha will be a great ambassador for the company’.
James Alpe is using its charitable nature to indirectly promote the business; whilst the generous act can remain out of the frame, the association with an Olympic hopeful does work in their favour and therefore comes as an added bonus (added to the warm fuzzy feeling one gets for doing something good).
Our second charitable example is an individual: Jeff Manricks, business development manager, JCA Coatings. Jeff’s charity story is probably more typical, but no less excellent; he is raising money for a sponsored climb. This isn’t the only Jeff story we could run, he also helps out at homeless shelters with his partner Justine and two year old daughter Lola. The man’s a hero.
Inspired by Lola, his own mother’s successful battle against cancer and the efforts of his friend, Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles, Jeff will take on Africa’s tallest mountain, Kilimanjaro, in February 2012 to raise money for MacMillan Cancer Support (UK).
Jeff decided he wanted to raise money for MacMillan after seeing firsthand the great work it does. His mother, who lives in Australia, fought cancer 20 years ago and Jeff feels MacMillan was instrumental in her win against the disease.
Jeff said: ‘It was a complete shock when my mother was diagnosed with cancer. Luckily she won her battle and as a result now works in cancer research in Australia. It’s my mother who inspired me to raise money for MacMillan and having spoken to Chris Moyles before and after his adventure up Kilimanjaro, I knew it was possible for me to follow in his footsteps. I’ve been very lucky to have the support of the people who set up Chris’ trip, London based charity Challenge, as well as MacMillan’s trekking fundraising department, who have really helped me get organised.’
Jeff sets out on 1 February 2012 on what will be a 12-day African adventure, reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro on the ninth day. Money is being raised in a variety of ways which to date include: club nights in Hoxton, comedy and magic shows, flipping burgers at Waitrose and a great deal of tin shaking.
The final charitable example is from industry group – I Love Claims – who are currently promoting a great BIG Charity Challenge. This means asking companies to participate in the event to help reach a fundraising target of £500,000 for The Rainbow Trust, who provide emotional and practical support for families with a child facing a life-threatening or terminal illness.
The challenge is simple; those that sign up (and raise a minimum of £250) receive the Olympic-type Rainbow Torch for half a day at their business, before having to take it on to the next location and the next company. Prizes, including Olympic tickets, will be given to the company that raises the most money for Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity and also the company with the most innovative method of transportation. One company has planned to take the torch up Snowdon: a very unique and a likely prize contender.
In return for participating, I Love Claims will put the company’s logo on an event wall, provide regular updates on social networking sites and promoting the Challenge, and therefore the image of this industry, through the media.
These three examples are merely that: examples. They do show, however, how easy it is to make a difference whether you’re a company, an individual or industry group. As Jeff says, ‘Help is always needed!’
Jeff has raised an amazing £4,000 and would love to make it more so is asking anyone who uses Facebook to visit www.facebook.com/ConqueringKilimanjaro4MacmillanCancerSupport page and click the Like button, in the hope that this will help him in his efforts to secure corporate sponsorship.
Personal sponsorship can be given by going to www.justgiving.com/Jeffers-does-Kili-for-MacMillan-Cancer-Support. Jeff is offering to take company logos and messages with him for a photo opportunity at the summit of Kilimanjaro. These will, of course, be printed in lightweight, folding materials.
Jeff would also like to extend an invitation to like minded people to possible join him in a future challenge as he feels that it would be nice to show that as an industry we do care.
To register interest for the I Love Claims Challenge, visit: www.iloveclaims.com/ilc-charity.php