Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Connect… Give… Grow… Community


It’s a novel concept, doing something that not only benefits you but also benefits others around you.  You may have heard of it as a ‘win-win situation’ – designed to benefit all participants.  People have heard about it, but not many of us have seen it in practice.  It’s more like some unachievable goal in a distant far off land, it’s possible, but takes too much effort.  Often times the mindset is something like this: for everyone to benefit – I’ll need to benefit first and then I’ll help everyone, which can results in a perpetual ‘me’ state.
SoRewarding helps you, your business, or your organization to make a positive and long-lasting impact for everyone in your neighborhood.  For this blog entry, let’s elaborate on how Businesses can use SoRewarding.

Connecting

For businesses, the goal is to make connections with people.  As a business, you make connections with a positive, kind and generous audience by creating a page on SoRewarding.com.  Individuals, fellow businesses and Nonprofits will see your business page on SoRewarding.  You’ll want to make sure your information is complete (links to your website, FB, etc.) so that users are able to explore who you are and make that initial connection.

Giving

To give… is easier said than done.  How can my business give?  I’m sure it’s something that every successful business owner has put some thought into.  After all, we’re here because of the loyal support of our friends, family and community… It’s only natural to want to give-back. 

How about offering your product or service at less than the normal rate?  This rewards your current customers and attracts new ones to try your business.  How about giving a percentage of the sales to a local non-profit?  … ready for the Matrix moment? 

What if I told you that you could do both, through SoRewarding.com and it’s easy.  It doesn’t take more than a couple minutes if you have your business page set up.  As to not detract from this blog entry, you can learn more about publishing discounts, here. 

Growth

I’ve connected with a new audience by having my business page on SoRewarding.  I’ve published an offer that rewards my customers and that also gives to local Nonprofits.  My question is this, has this really helped the growth of my business? 
Well, let’s look at the numbers.  In 2011, 65% of households donated to charity.2 As a household that donates to charity, you should assume that that same household will also be more inclined to support businesses who donate to charity versus those who don’t.  A study conducted by Cone Inc. in 2010 found that 90% of consumers (about 278 million people) want to know what cause your business supports. A whopping 79% of consumers would switch to a brand associated with a good cause and 83% wish more of 
the products and services they purchase and retailers they use would support causes.3

Community

If you’ve followed along up until this point, I hope you’re able to paint a picture of how everyone in a community benefits from socially responsible businesses.  Focusing on philanthropic work as a local business has the added benefit of being able to see the people you are helping too.  So now that you’ve been given the information and the tools… get to giving! I invite you to use www.SoRewarding.com for an easy-to-use site that connects with kindness.

  1.              http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=42
  2.              http://www.nptrust.org/philanthropic-resources/charitable-giving-statistics
  3.              http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/marketing-sales/2012/01/31/philanthropy-and-small-business-win-win-situation/

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Morgan Adams Foundation & Thrifty Shades of Cray


Thrifty Shades of Cray, not to be confused with Fifty Shades of Grey is tomorrow!  Instead of bringing your book, throw on your thriftiest outfit and head downtown to The Ginn Mill… where 30% of all sales between 8-11PM will be generously donated to The Morgan Adams Foundation.  That’s huge..!!

Companies like SmashburgerPopchips and Demetrio Tequila have hopped on-board and teamed-up with SoRewarding and Gin Mill to put this night over the top!  You can expect some pretty snazzy giveaways… BUT better than that, you can also expect some awesome outfits. No thrifty stuff? No worries.  There’ll be a rack of clothing for those of you who don’t have anything thrifty enough for such an occasion.  Have some fun, spread kindness and enjoy yo’self is the motto of the night.

Connecting the community & Spreading Kindness

This event is completely free.  More info, directions and RSVP:  Here



Tuesday, January 15, 2013

The Launch of Kindness Bands: A Generosity Movement!

As you know, since our launch, we have been using our website and events to try and change the mindset of the younger generation of Denverites and emphasize the importance of giving back. But for the SoRewarding team, creating this original platform for helping local nonprofits raise money through the activities of the community is not enough. We want to do more.

Our CEO, Marion, truly inspires our team to go beyond the website and events and spread generosity. “The idea is not just to get people to donate to local causes, but to give back to the community in general and spread compassion” says Marion Mariathasan, CEO. “Giving can be very sporadic for many and what we really want to inspire is a lifestyle change. We want people to take pride in doing good and spreading kindness to others all the time. That’s how we came up with the idea for the new SoRewarding kindness bands.”

This belief is why we are launching a wristband movement with the intention of having people give their “kindness bands” to others when they engage in random acts of kindness. These wristbands can then be tracked using a unique ID code on SoRewarding.com by every individual that the band is given to. This feature allows each person to see what acts of kindness their band has been involved in and where in the world it has traveled.



We will be spreading the first batch of kindness bands as we begin to engage community members in random acts of kindness. Kindness bands will also be available for purchase on SoRewarding.com later this month. So, if you want to become part of a community around the globe that is united through random acts of kindness, visit www.SoRewarding.com to learn more and get your hands on some wristbands!

Monday, December 3, 2012

Spread Holiday Cheer!



At SoRewarding we feel very strongly about giving back to those less fortunate… hence the website where every action leads to giving back! And what better time of year than the holiday season to share the spirit of giving with others?

There’s lights, caroling, sleigh rides, eggnog (yum), and presents (of course)… but every year we are reminded that many families are not as fortunate as we are. One way we are trying to help others out this holiday season is to throw a RewardingCrew party for The Denver Santa Claus Shop!

The Denver Santa Claus Shop is a volunteer-run, nondenominational nonprofit organization that is all about children and toys. Their mission is that every child should have a toy at Christmas! I know you remember that special Christmas morning when you got exactly what you wanted and we are trying to spread a little bit of that joy this year!

This nonprofit organization has helped more than 1.5 million local children in the last 82 years. The Denver Santa Claus Shop is Metro Denver’s largest annual toy drive for needy children during the holiday season and is believed to be the longest, continually running charity of its kind in the United States.

The Shop sets up a giant, temporary “toy store” that opens for four days in December each year. The nonprofit relies on generous people, companies, organizations, etc. to donate new and gently used toys to fill this store. The Denver Santa Claus Shop distributes gift certificates to parents, enabling them to shop and select toys for their children. Families can then visit the “toy store” to pick out a gift for the holiday season.

So, how can you get involved? Join us on December 4th at Baker St. Pub and Grill in the DTC area for the “Santa Social” as we toast to toys! Stop by after work for this happy hour event and bring a toy for a less fortunate tot in the area!

Make sure to check www.SoRewarding.com for tickets and we hope to see you there full of holiday spirit!


Wednesday, October 24, 2012

SoRewarding.com Update!


Drum roll please…..

SoRewarding has officially launched its new and improved website with all sorts of exciting features! You asked and we listened, so check it out!

One of the anticipated features of the revamped website is the “Events” feature that allows anyone to easily create their own public or private events. For whatever type of event you may be planning (birthday party, concert, reunion, graduation, etc.) you can use this feature to manage your attendees, communication efforts and organize the event in one easy-to-use location. And check this out, you can even sell tickets to your event by using the “Event + Tickets” feature. Oh, and looking to save some money? Use the “Event + Discount” feature to request discounts from local merchants for the attendees of your events.

But don’t worry all you philanthropic party-goers, SoRewarding’s giving back component will not be lost with the new website. In fact, supporting local causes has become the main focus of the site. Every action taken on SoRewarding.com gives users the ability to donate to a non-profit of their choice! So start thinking about who you want to support when you buy that next concert ticket or discount to your favorite sushi joint!

Another new aspect of SoRewarding.com which adds to the charitable nature of the website is the “Fundraiser” feature. With this feature nonprofits, merchants, your dad, your second grade teacher, or ANYONE can easily organize their own fundraisers for whatever their cause may be! Now online fundraisers can be created, publicized and managed in a few simple steps.

To get the fundraising going, the SoRewarding team has started some fabulous fundraisers for local non-profits right here in Denver:

•             Rocky Mountain MS Center (yeah, you remember them from our last RewardingCrew event!)
•             Brent’s Place
•             Smart-Girl, Inc.
•             Mile High Youth Corps
•             Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver
•             The Rise School of Denver
•             Parent to Parent of Colorado
•             Shiloh House

So when you visit the website help us out a little by donating whatever you have to spare to one of these awesome causes!

Here at SoRewarding we cannot WAIT to present the new website to the public! Help us spread the word! As you all know, SoRewarding’s social network brings communities together through giving back while engaging in fun day-to-day activities. So what are you waiting for? Go check out the new site and send any feedback our way… we’d love to hear from you!

Monday, October 15, 2012

Rocky Mountain MS Center & Candlelight Tavern!


Hey gang!

Sheesh, where to start?!  It was an absolutely awesome night this past Friday at Candlelight Tavern… so awesome in fact, it was record-breaking!  We had 113 people buy a ticket and get their party on in support of the MS Center!  Yes you read that right, 113!  We were even on pace to sell more but we hit capacity at Candlelight at around 11:30PM!

You didn’t know it, but Candlelight was packed with philanthropic people!  Of course each person who bought a ticket automatically made a donation, but on-top of that we had people donate through Koozie and T-Shirt purchases!  100% of proceeds from Koozie and T-Shirt purchases went to Rocky Mountain MS Center.

It’s SoRewarding:) to see the mission of giving back, connecting the community and having a great time gain momentum in Denver!  There’s no magic to it, all of us have gone out and had a good time.  But these events are a way to have a Good time AAAND support a Great cause!

To each of the 113 people who made a donation with your ticket purchase; Cheers!  With your support, you made it possible to give a check of $1050.00 to Rocky Mountain MS Center!  Not too shabby for a group of heathens running amuck.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Mile High Support for Rocky Mountain MS Center


The RewardingCrew and Candlelight Tavern are teaming up to present the city of Denver an Event you do not want to miss!

Friday, Oct. 12th at 7:30pm the Candlelight Tavern on South Pearl St will be the venue for Mile High Support for Rocky Mountain MSCenter.

The focus of this event is to give-back to the community (Rocky Mountain MS Center) and have a good ol’ time doing it.  What better way to help others than by enjoying a few drinks, meeting like-minded people and hearing about a great cause in your neighborhood.  Who knows, you may even find your calling to become a passionate difference maker in your community.  We can hope, right? J

Each ticket price is $12 – included in your ticket purchase is a generous donation to Rocky Mountain MS Center, also included are 3 drink vouchers.

Just being there, enjoying a few drinks, you’re giving back to a selfless organization that will use the funds raised to positively impact the lives of countless people. 

Over 75 came out to the last event.  For $12 you get 3 drinks.  From that same $12 you are making a direct donation to Rocky Mountain MS Center.  What are you waiting for – visit www.SoRewarding.com to purchase tickets.


"Thanks @SoRewarding for an awesome evening!!"