Thank you, Givers!

I have just finished reading and voting on 103 letters of inquiry affecting seniors for the Home Instead Senior Care Foundation. (www.homeinsteadseniorcarefoundation.org) Hard to believe we have given away over $700,000 to this point, and will likely pass $850,000 in 2009. We are coming up quickly on our million dollar mark...almost a million dollars given away to benefit seniors! I've been on the board for five years now, and I never get tired of the impact we have on bettering the lives of seniors around the country.

This is the way it works: the money comes from sales of Home Instead Merchandise, gifts from franchise owners and donations from other sources. Twice each year, the non-profit organizations submit letters of inquiry, basically a draft of a proposal they would like us to fund. The board members read the letters of inquiry independently, and vote for the ones they want to fund. Then the votes are tallied and the "winners" get invited to submit a full-fledged proposal. We read the proposals, vote again, and the winners get funded. We have donated money to non-profits to fund adult day health services, senior advocacy, alzheimer's, research, meals/grocery delivery, home repairs, Parkinson's, respite services, transportation, and other services.

We try to watch our expenses. All meetings take place on the phone, except once a year we meet simultaneously with the Home Instead Senior Care leadership conference.

It's one of the most rewarding things I get to do. I'm so glad I've had this opportunity to sit on the national board of this foundation, and help so many seniors. I feel really blessed that I get this chance to make a difference! The way we treat our seniors and the helpless in our society defines us. I'm glad to see so many organizations out there trying to make an impact in the lives of the seniors I love!

What is frightening is that with the current state of the ecomony, less people are giving to non-profits. I really hope that our citizens can find it in them to reach out to those who are less able to provide for themselves, and give time, money and means to help each other. We are all interconnected! When you help someone else, you are really helping yourself at the same time.

Hugs to all you givers out there!!!

April