Random Acts of Kindness
November 9, 2016 by Jamie Johnson
#RAOK
The giving spirit doesn’t stop after the holidays at Wink. We embrace this spirit every day and strive to make random acts of kindness become not-so-random. Our collective Wink family is grateful to feel blessed and as a result, we are diligent in “paying it forward” to our family, friends, colleagues, and strangers.
We want to share acts of kindness with you throughout 2016, not to draw attention to Wink but to draw your attention to how much difference we CAN make, all of us. A single act can influence dozens more. – posted January 5th, 2016
UPDATED: November 2016
Bingo!
Click HERE to read about our recent Courtyard Estates visit (updated November 8th, 2016.)
Mo Sistas
Wink joined the #movember movement this November and you can too! https://www.movember.com/
DonorsChoose.org
#EllaStrong
Below, in our first entry from back in January 2016, we tell a story about Ella, are special friend diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor in December 2015 and fighting ever since. We heard that Ella is a budding artist so we sent her a fabulous pink portfolio for her to store all of her masterpieces in. She has had a tough road with physical therapy on top of her surgeries, multiple treatments, and endless doctor visits. #EllaStrong!! We believe in her! #WeGodThis
OUT OF THE DARKNESS WALK
Sheryl J. Moore and members of the Wink team walked in Central Iowa’s Out of the Darkness Walk, to join in the effort with hundreds of thousands of people to raise awareness and funds that allow the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to invest in new research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss.
Top notch coaching
Wink’s VP, Victoria Peterson coaches a Wink-sponsored softball team made up of girls, ages 13-16, from around the Des Moines metro area, each summer. Click HERE to read more about Coach Peterson’s softball journey in 2016.
This next random act wasn’t by Wink however, it happened in our community and giving local support is very important to us. We love seeing our greater-Des Moines, Iowa-based insurers stepping up and helping out in their own backyards.
Des Moines, Iowa-based insurer graciously donates to local law enforcement during the mourning of two officers killed in a fiery crash on March 26th. Click HERE to read more…
It started with a simple text at Noon to my Sister….a joke really, as I was frustrated. “Your company wouldn’t want to donate food bags for 800 officers by tomorrow morning for the funeral would they?”
Her response…..”Our leadership team is in Florida, not sure who can approve that here, let me see.”
6.5 HOURS LATER, IT’S DONE.
To my sister Maria and the company she’s worked for almost 20 years…..AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY….Iowa COPS (and 800 police officers) are eternally grateful for your jumping in, without hesitation, to support Law Enforcement in their time of need. And to our friends at Costco who jumped in to get that volume done and load our poor car, that’s now so heavy it’s dragging. THANK YOU!!!!!!
Tears of joy and truly humbled!!
💙🚔💙🚔💙🚔💙🚔💙🚔💙🚔💙🚔Posted by Trish Felix Flaherty on Thursday, March 31, 2016
Forty Under 40 by Business Record:
We are proud of all of the local leaders featured in the Business Record’s Forty Under 40 2016. These individuals have demonstrated impressive career achievements and unparalleled community involvement. We are very excited to see representation from the insurance/financial services industry! We sent out a special congratulations to:
Katie Albrecht-Snell – Manager of Corporate Citizenship at Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co @Nationwide #katiealbrechtsnell
Annie Brandt– Community Engagement Leader at Thrivent Financial @Thrivent #anniebrandt
Ben Buenzow– Agent/Owner at Ben Buenzow – State Farm Insurance Agent @BenBuenzowAgent
Dylan Lampe– Manager- Administration Training & Quality Control at Sammons Financial Group @dylanlampe
Sunni Swarbrick– Associate Director at Diversified Management Services @SunniJoelle
Help us send them a shout out on Twitter. #BR40u40
Martin Luther King Jr. Day:
For MLK Jr. Day of Service, Wink wanted to spread some cheer to someone who tirelessly volunteers their time in our community. We knew Chef D is more than just a volunteer, this former homeless man is the owner of Rock Power Pizza, who closes its doors every Monday night to feed Des Moines’ homeless and less fortunate, as well as equip them with supplies to make it through the week.
We decided to pay Chef D a visit for lunch and brought him some piping hot Thelma’s Treats’ straight-from-the-oven dozen chocolate chip cookies for a sweet thank-you.
While at lunch, we learned that Chef D had been prepared to close his doors for good on February 1, if he couldn’t raise the necessary funds to pay the bills. Chef D and his friends at St Andrew’s Episcopal Church created a GoFundMe page, with a goal of reaching $2,500 by the end of the month.
“Since your story, our church wants to see him succeed more than anything else so we have members now pitching in help with a solid business plan, marketing and we even have a tax lawyer helping him to become a nonprofit,” St. Andrew’s church member, Lizzie Gillman, wrote in an email to Channel 13 last week. “The community has contributed donations from $5-$2,500!! It hasn’t even been 24 hours since your story aired and look at what is happening!” See story HERE
“Chef D says he believes the community’s swift and overwhelming response to his troubles is God’s work. With enough money to keep the lights on through February and into the near future, Chef D’s priorities now shift to establishing a concrete, long-term business plan, filing for status as a nonprofit, and increasing marketing efforts” Channel 13 reported.
#EllaStrong
Wink is starting off 2016 by sending a cheer-up package to a sweet, beautiful little six-year-old named Ella. Ella, her sister, and parents have been hunkered down in an Iowa hospital’s intensive care unit through the holiday season.
Ella recently received some very heart breaking news; she’s been diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor. She has been in the hospital recovering as recent surgery to remove the tumor brought a lot of difficulties due to the diagnosis of Posterior Fossa Syndrome. This particular circumstance happens to 1 in 72 million people per year. We not only want to make Ella happy, we pray for her full recovery and want to see her thrive!
The insurance industry has a rich history of giving and we know how powerful this spirit can be once it catches on. Share with us in the comments a recent cause or event that is near and dear to your hearts. How are you helping to make random acts of kindness not-so-random?
We’ll be updating this blog throughout 2016 and beyond so reach out and join us, spark the giving spirit as you give to someone else, who will pass to someone else, who will pass to someone else and this will continue on for years to come.
