Sustainable Excellence Xtras #80 - The Power of Giving with Elizabeth Noyce

If you were asked the question, "What do you give?" how would you respond?

Would you talk about the money you give to your favorite charity or church? Would you discuss your volunteer work at a retirement community or local YMCA? Would you mention your time as a Room Mom at your child's school or cleaning up the graves of your friends and relatives who have passed?

Would you ever think to talk about giving of yourself?

Cultural anthropologist Margaret Meade said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

When floodwaters from the Red River devastated almost 90% of the towns of Grand Forks, ND, and East Grand Forks, MN in 1997, Joan Kroc, widow of McDonald's founder, Ray Kroc, saw an opportunity to give of herself.

She donated over $15 million and asked town officials to allocate $2000 to each family impacted by the flooding. She further requested the local government to cut through the red tape to distribute the money as quickly as possible and requested her donation remain anonymous.  

Please watch the video below to learn more about another woman, Elizabeth Noyce, who also gave of herself to help the people of the state of Maine.

Also, leave me a comment about how you give of yourself and how the contributions you have made positively impacted the lives of others.