Philanthropy

PlattForm’s internal philanthropic committee – the aptly named “Team Phil” – has a laundry list of charitable organizations that we work with throughout the year. Some are our charities of choice – like our upcoming ADA “Step Out To Fight Diabetes Walk” on September 27th.

Other Team Phil events are of a much smaller-scale, but still wildly important. A few weeks ago, there was a local story in the KC Star about Jana Mackey, a young woman from Lawrence, KS who was brutally murdered by her boyfriend. Even more tragic was that she had been a well-known advocate for women and assisted victims of rape and domestic violence.

There’s a Public Advocacy fund being set up in her name right now. One of PlattForm’s team members was friends with the victim. Our co-worker was so incensed at this senseless crime; she quickly rallied Team Phil to help raise awareness about domestic violence.

Typically, PFormers aren’t usually wan to just shell out miscellaneous dough for any ol’ cause. So Team Phil decided to make a day of it … an upcoming bake sale, BBQ, winner-take-all trivia contest and pool tournament. And I’ll guarantee it’ll be a successful event.

Why?

1) It’s for a good cause.

2) It’s for a good cause AND there’s food involved.

According to a recent Fort Hays University study, more than 100,000 Kansas women are the victims of domestic violence every year. And while a bake sale might seem trivial or old school … hopefully, the money we raise will help raise awareness. And, more importantly, keep Jana Mackey’s legacy alive.

This is not the first time Team Phil has helped combat domestic violence against women and children. Last year, PlattForm’s Video Production Department produced a powerful pro-bono video for the YWCA of Wichita. Some of the women’s stories and some of the statistics in the piece are both heartbreaking and woefully disconcerting. You can see it below.

But in the end … the more the word gets out, the more we can do to stop this on-going cycle of abuse.

When you join PlattForm, you are automatically expected to be adept in planning/throwing/hosting parties and/or showers and/or wingdings.

It’s borderline mandatory.

We are a company that lives for Happy Hour. We thrive on streamers. Our lives are not complete unless there’s confetti.

So it’s really no big surprise that PlattForm has branched out to hosting a benefit concert to raise funds for our upcoming American Diabetes Association walk. Best of all, YOU’RE invited!

On Saturday, August 16th, I’d highly suggest traipsing down to Jerry’s Bait Shop to eat, drink and make merry. (Jerry’s is conveniently located within stumbling distance of PlattForm’s new digs. Specifically, 13412 Santa Fe Drive Trail in Lenexa.) A $10 donation gets you in the door for a free pizza buffet from 4pm- 8pm … and the opportunity to listen to some of KC’s finest local musicians.

You like acoustic? Check! We’ve got the one and only Jason Kayne keeping it unplugged for you. Blues rock more your speed? Check! BB Miller Band will keep you rockin’ in the free world! And if you’re ready to kick up your spurs, you won’t want to miss the one and only Billy Doores Band’s country-fried country music. Of course, Billy’s band features PlattForm’s own Trey Bland on drums. (Yes, a shameless plug — I know. But it’s still for a good cause.)

In case you didn’t know – diabetes has gone from being rampant in America to becoming a national epidemic. Nearly 8% of the population suffers from diabetes. That’s a whopping 23.6 million people! Five million of whom are undiagnosed. And diabetes does not discriminate. It is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.

So stop on out to Jerry’s Bait Shop on Saturday, August 16th. Drink some beer. Listen to some rockin’ tunes. Eat some pizza. All for only $10 … with proceeds going to benefit the American Diabetes Association! (Visit www.jerrysbaitshop.net for more info!)

Can’t make the concert? Never fear – you can help sponsor one of PlattForm’s employees in our upcoming ADA Walk on September 27th. Or, even better, feel free to join us. We always say the more, the merrier.

Speaking of merry, I gotta go … I’m late for another Baby Shower. Mercifully, NOT mine. At least not that I know of! Must be something in the water around here.

For the past week and a half, the weather in Kansas City has been suspect … if not downright sketchy. Torrential down pours. Hail storms. Thunder. Lightning. Or as they say in Kansas … typical.

Needless to say, I was starting to sweat PForm’s annual Day of Caring at SAVE Inc. – where PFormers from every department converge upon our charity of choice to do some much-needed outdoor maintenance and landscaping.

Imagine my surprise when about two minutes before I was going to call off the event, the sun suddenly came out and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Oh, and did I mention perfect 75 degree weather … complete with breeze?

Sometimes, all the planets align … and when they do, magic happens. Or magical weather … whichever. A majority of my co-workers who participated in the event were newbies and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Heck, I even had a couple interns volunteer to plant, weed, mulch, prune, fertilize, water and do whatever other sundry items needed to be done.

This annual event at SAVE Inc. – a local charity which provides housing options to folks living with HIV/AIDS – gets bigger and better every year. From humble beginnings, the event has really taken off in the last couple years. Residents of SAVE, who used to just peer through shades, now mosey outside to grill out and kibitz with the volunteers. This year residents helped to cut back overgrown trees and spread mulch. Or as one resident put it, “Look at us spruce up the joint!”

As a company, it’s nice to have a charity that you can throw your arms around and call your own. Not only do we take pride in our volunteer work at SAVE, it makes the residents take pride in their homes. SAVE’s slogan is — appropriately enough – “No Place Like Home” … and it’s fitting because many of the residents of SAVE have gotten their health back simply because of safe, affordable housing. It’s not just a place to live … it’s home.

And just for the record … their home is currently rife with flowers, perfectly mulched, and weed-whacked within an inch of its life. I can’t WAIT for next year.

Last week, I was dragged into a meeting in our sub-freezing Rec Room. On deadline and a bit frazzled, I went in hoping that it would be short and sweet, crossing my fingers that I would not walk away yet another project to complete by 5 pm on Friday!

Much to my surprise, this meeting was not about budgets, clients or anything in the career college industry. It was about giving away PlattForm’s money to help eliminate global poverty. Yes, that’s right, instead of discussing how to increase our company’s profit, we brainstormed ways to give it away and save the world at the same time!

Several members of our interactive team stumbled upon www.kiva.org, an up-and-coming online organization. This non-profit was founded in 2004 with a simple idea: allow individuals to loan money to entrepreneurs in third world countries. This is not your typical donation; in fact, more than 95% of the money you loan will be repaid within months. With just a $25 donation, you can help eliminate global poverty one business at a time.

Like PlattForm, most companies start with an idea, an entrepreneur and a little cash. As that idea and entrepreneur gains momentum, the money soon follows and the business becomes more viable. At Kiva.org, the entrepreneurs it supports live in impoverished communities, and the small loan is not just helping someone make money, it is helping a community rise above hardship.

Companies like PlattForm are now getting on the Kiva bandwagon. In addition to individuals and families providing loans for these budding entrepreneurs, businesses are using Kiva.org to support people thousands of miles way that have similar goals and interests. BeautySchoolsDirectory.Com lends to entrepreneurs that have businesses in the cosmetics industry. Jalia Mohamedy lives in Tanzania and owns a cosmetics company. The $450 she receives from Kiva lenders like BeautySchoolsDirectory.com will help her purchase haircare products and equipment. In 12 months, Jalia will repay her lenders, who then have the opportunity to give that money to another budding business.

Kiva.org the ultimate “Pay It Forward” and not a bad way to spend $25 of your boss’s money!