Astrana Health’s Post

Great when businesses step up

What could be better than shelves of free books selected by the most word-loving minds in the business? That was what we thought when we started putting FAIR libraries out into the world. It turns out that the answer is, "shelves of free books selected by just about everyone who walks by": it's been delightful and fascinating seeing this library, in particular, grow as the Neighbourgood community takes and leaves the books they love. If you'd like a little free library in your space, let's have a word.

Our newest blog post is live! Here's a snippet from the blog, where our Founder, Tammy Kyte, shares her reflections on her appreciation for our Share Funds feature and its impact on her personal life. Generosity as a Family Tradition: "Every Christmas since our kids were young, we've incorporated a special tradition. Instead of the usual holiday presents, we've shared funds with them from our Giving Fund, encouraging them to support causes close to their hearts. Now, as they stand on the cusp of adulthood at 19 and 21, it's incredible to see how this tradition of generosity has influenced their lives and shaped their paths." Connecting Through Generosity: "Another way I've embraced shared giving is through our interactions with partners and professionals. On the back of my business card, there's a QR code offering $100 for the bearer to donate to their favourite charity. This simple yet profound gesture has opened countless conversations about the power of giving and introduced many to the joy of philanthropy. The impact of these cards can go beyond the initial $100 donation, as it can act as a ripple effect, starting a wave of shared funds to be passed on to the next person, and sparking their passion for giving as well." Whether you aim to instill a culture of generosity within your family or integrate giving into your professional sphere, Share Funds stands out as a distinctive and powerful tool to positively influence the lives of those around you. To read the full blog, visit our website!

When we are grateful for all the gifts we have been given, we want to give it back or pay it forward. It's a way to express our gratitude and to pass it on. There are so many ways to do little things for someone else in our daily activities, such as providing a resource, making an introduction, volunteering time, making a donation, randomly paying for someone else's meal... Giving is a gift both to yourself and the recipient and is a practice of gratitude. https://conta.cc/3xTAJRF

At #Vulnerability #Matters, we know you are busy, so we pack each conversation into just 20 minutes. So why not walk the dog/cat, get to work, or (like me) look aimlessly out of the window, while listening to *Lyndsay Edgington* from the UK charity STAMMA? Because if you do, you'll learn about living with a stammer, and how you can practically better understand and meet the needs of the 1 in 100 customers who stammer or have difficulties with their speech. https://lnkd.in/g7kXMpke

How would you react if you woke up in the middle of the night to see a ghost at the end of your bed? Would you be calm like Scrooge, hide under the covers, or be somewhere in-between? 👻 Last week, we looked at what you can learn from Scrooge and his first late-night visitor, the Ghost of Christmas Past. This week, we’ll help you understand what the Ghost of Christmas Present can teach you about looking after your finances: In “A Christmas Carol”, Scrooge was shown how much less fortunate some people were compared to Scrooge. So take a leaf out of Ebenezeer’s book and see if you can give something back to your local community. That could be anything from making a donation to volunteering your time. While Scrooge’s penny-pinching might have gone a little too far, you could apply this vital lesson to your own finances. For example, he did have the right idea about not living beyond your means and tracking everything you spend. So, this festive period, take a look at your finances and see if you’re living within your means. You could set a New Year’s resolution to create a budget and stick to it in 2024. If you do, let us know how it goes ✊

What are the small things which could revolutionise the charity board room? How about: 🙂 Paying trustee out-of-pocket expenses (e.g. travel to meetings) as standard 🙂 Recruiting trustees openly 🙂 The expectation that trustees should get some training (and then helping them to get it) 🙂 Good inductions 🙂 Having trustee terms and using them religiously 🙂 Chairs equipping excellent contributions from trustees 🙂 Positively welcoming debate Common sense? But are they common practice...? For those interested in this topic, we have a free webinar on Monday 24th June for Small Charities Week to discuss the small changes which might make the difference between an engaged and effective board and one which, well, isn't... Jumara Stone, Shaminder Rai and Catherine Hemingway will talk about the changes they made on their boards, and me, Colette Harrison and Laura Lowther will talk about how small changes can make boards (and volunteering as a trustee) more interesting, engaging and inclusive. Event details in the comments.

***ANNOUNCEMENT*** So I did a thing. A graphic of me was created for me for my birthday. I thought it was dope, and since I'm always looking for new ways to increase my personal efforts in the community, I decided to make a play with it. I'm officially launching M.E. (Matching Everything) With this brand, 100% of proceeds will ALWAYS go to charitable efforts in the community. I'm calling it M.E. (Matching Everything) for a few reasons: -First reason is simple, those who know ME, know I'm always Matching Everything. -Second reason is since 100% of proceeds will go to charitable efforts in the community, and my passion for giving back, I'll personally be matching all contributions. -Third reason is when people are rocking or showcasing something from this brand, I can legitimately say they're wearing ME. The goal is to keep pricing as low as I possibly can, while continually adding various products and accessories to this online store, while also creating and adding new designs and new color variations. I greatly appreciate any and all support, and just know your support will help the community, in some way. https://lnkd.in/g8RDhfPh FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, ENTER THE CODE "COMMUNITY" FOR 15% OFF YOUR ORDER! https://lnkd.in/gvjH6Zfp

Looking for branded merch, custom gift boxes, or an online gifting platform that offers a choice of physical gifts + charities for your team & clients as the holidays approach? Gifts for Good® would love to be your partner in not only making a premium product, but also in tackling pressing social & environmental challenges (last year we assisted over 1.5 million people globally & donated over $1.1 million to charity). 🌎  Comment below or direct message me if you'd like me to send you a copy of our holiday catalog; or set up a meeting with your team to discuss product options! 😊🎁 Check out a preview of our holiday catalog below. Each of our gifts supports one of over 70 nonprofits & social enterprises, & comes with a story card explaining the impact of the gift! 👇 https://lnkd.in/gcDaTGMU #corporatesocialresponsibility #csr #socialimpact #corporategifts #corporategifting #corporategift #corporategiftsforclients #employeeappreciation #clientappreciation

#WorldBloodDonorDay Every donation counts and makes a significant impact. Let's take this opportunity to recognize the importance of donating blood and encourage others to join this noble cause. Your contribution not only provides essential support to those in need but also strengthens the global community's health and well-being. #BloodDonation #DonateBlood #SaveLives #Health #Community #GivingBack #BloodDonors #LifeSaver #atappisoft #softwaredevelopment #atappisofttechnology #atappisoft #webdeveloper #webdevelopment