Left to right: Tiffany Early, ACQ Philanthropy Chair, Karen Singer, Executive Director YWCA/NorthShore, Joseph Flanagan, CEO Acquirent
This morning we did something we’ve never done before at Acquirent, we presented $500 to the YWCA from selling pancakes. That’s a lot of pancakes!
The YWCA Evanston/North Shore and the great work of Executive Director Karen Singer, the many volunteers who give their good energy to the cause of eliminating racism and empowering women is a focus of many philanthropic endeavors here at Acquirent. That’s why when Tiffany Early, the ACQ Philanthropy chair proposed a Friday Pancake Fundraiser for the YWCA, I wholeheartedly agreed to it. Every Friday morning during the month of August ACQ volunteer chefs arrived early to work packing a skillet, spatula and pancake batter and cooked at least one hundred pancakes which were sold for $1 each. ACQ Teammates had the chance to enjoy breakfast together and support a great cause each Friday and we had no idea we would raise $500. (Truth is we raised $490 but someone threw in a $10 at the end to round things off.)
The other key element to the pancake fundraiser is the YWCA had no idea we were doing it. They had no idea that every Friday morning a group of people were eating pancakes and sharing a meal and raising money on YWCA’s behalf. That’s why it was so rewarding to call Karen at the end of the month with the news of our donation.
I’m proud to help lead a team of people like the folks here at Acquirent who make it a priority to engage in the community and pursue philanthropic endeavors on top of all the other tasks they manage at work. People like Tiffany Early show that even the smallest efforts can make a huge difference and that having one more reason to connect with your colleagues at work is a key to keeping people happily engaged at work.
I encourage you to create volunteer opportunities at your company, there are many organizations in need and even more people willing to help given the chance.
I know $500 won’t build a new wing at YWCA Evanston’s building but I do know that money will make a difference in at least one person’s life and that makes it worth the effort.