To Give is to Receive
FINDING GRATITUDE AMIDST THE GRIND
EUGENE / DECEMBER 12, 2022 – What are you thankful for? This question comes up a lot around the holidays, and it’s a valuable one to consider. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life and look over just how fortunate we truly are. There are many ways to practice gratitude, but recently we’ve learned that through giving, we can find new ways to be grateful. Here’s how we’re doing it – Hustler style.
THE DLX FAMILY FOUNDATION AND GIVING TUESDAY
This year, DLX has launched the philanthropic arm of the business called the DLX Family Foundation. As someone wise once said, you can’t keep what you have unless you give it away, and in the spirit of that sentiment, DLX is excited to start giving back in more meaningful ways. Giving Tuesday was our first major donation campaign, and we wanted our staff to be involved in the nomination process. We asked all Hustlers to think of a nonprofit organization that somehow impacted their lives. The nominees were voted on to determine what nonprofit would be awarded a $5,000 donation. Mark Punzel, one of our trainers and Shelter Hustlers, suggested the Willamette Family Carlton House, which our team voted to award the top-tier donation.
The Willamette Family Carlton House is a Eugene-based addiction treatment center for men. The organization takes a unique, holistic approach to recovery. For the last 17 years, the Carlton House has provided housing, counseling, family reunification services, parenting classes, smoking cessation programs, and, most importantly – hope – for up to 27 men struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. Mark Punzel is a graduate of this program and has more than four years clean and sober as a result. Mark credits the Carlton House for having his kids in his life today and being the kind of dad, and person, he has always wanted to be.
“It meant so much to me to give back to a cause that truly helped me become the man I am today. Today I have over four years in recovery and I have some really useful tools that have helped me stay that way due to Willamette Family. I am super happy and joyful with a full heart, knowing that I work for a company that truly cares about there employees and gives back. When I was asked if I would like to deliver the check personally, I jumped at the opportunity. It was quite an amazing experience that made me super excited and tear up all at once. When delivering the check, my heart was full of joy, gratitude, and excitement. I am truly grateful for DLX and Willamette Family. Thank you!” -Mark Punzel
On the afternoon of December 1st, Mark dropped off the check at the Carlton House and experienced a “full circle” moment. I was fortunate enough to tag along for this occasion to take photos and witness him engage with some of the people who helped him get where he is today.
As a company, we decided that none of the nonprofits could be ruled out entirely from our giving campaign. We chose to donate to three other organizations:
Dove Medical is a Eugene-based nonprofit that provides confidential pregnancy-related resources entirely free of charge. Although most of their clients are mothers, they also serve fathers with counseling and other services.
The National Academy of Artistic Gymnastics (NAAG) is also based in Eugene. NAAG offers “recreational and competitive programs for youth that instill the traits of hard work, ethics, time management, perseverance, courage, respect, and appreciation for the efforts of others while training world-class gymnasts.”
Camp Discovery, a Texas-based summer camp and nonprofit, provides an exciting camp experience for children affected by cancer. Jean-Louis Gomes, our East Coast sales director, has been a volunteer for Camp Discovery since 2017. He uses his paid time off every summer to donate his time and serve as a camp counselor for boys ages 11-13.
Each of these nonprofits has made a huge difference through their initiatives, and we are fortunate to have the opportunity to show them how grateful we are for the incredible work they do.
GIVING TREE
Another way the DLX Family Foundation is practicing gratitude this season is through a giving tree we have set up in our headquarters. The concept of a giving tree is simple, but the impact it makes on families in need is profound. A giving tree is a special Chris
tmas tree with tags on it that reflect the needs of people in our community. The idea is to grab a tag that says a general item (and sometimes, the age and gender of the recipient) and purchase a gift that will then be distributed to those in need of a little extra holiday magic.
This year the DLX Family Foundation has partnered with two local nonprofits that provide services for at-risk families:
Every Child Lane County serves underprivileged foster youth in our community. Last year, 1,530 children spent time in foster care in Lane County; 70% spent time in more than one foster home. Many were split from their siblings. The concept of this organization is to promote feelings of self-worth and value amongst children and families facing the unknowns and unfamiliarities of foster care.
United Way of Lane County strives to create a community where all kids can be successful in school and life. They are committed to providing youth with the knowledge, skills, and support necessary to reach their potential and pursue their dreams and seek to lessen the impacts of poverty on children and families in our community. The organization takes a holistic approach that emphasizes achieving reading benchmarks, kindergarten preparation, nutritious food, housing, and more.
Both of these organizations rely on donations and volunteers to function. We recognize that even if each of us gives a little, it can add up to a lot. While we hope to make a tangible difference in our community, we also recognize that personal gratitude for what we have can be the direct result of practicing generosity. “Making a living is what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Asking ourselves what we can do for others, individually and collectively, is how we build our legacy. While the work DLX does supports first responders and other people around the globe that make our world a better place, settling for this being the way we make a difference is to ignore the fact that people are struggling in our own community.
Lending a helping hand can look so many different ways: from volunteering to donating, to simply spreading the word about a cause…the ways we can come together and support one another are plentiful. The holiday season is supposed to be joyful, but it’s also the most challenging time for many people. Acknowledging this as we reflect on what we are grateful for serves as motivation to do what we can to help and share a little cheer with someone who might otherwise go without. This is our mission; this is our joy.