Ken Hertz is a true saver soldier.
He uses the best platforms to make a difference to the world. I’ve known him over a decade, and he never ceases to amaze me in terms of his brilliance. On Monday, I received an email from him, announcing that he’s skipping his 50th birthday. No party, no gifts, no cards, nada.
Instead, here’s what he countered with:
“I am turning 50! I think it is fair to say that all of our lives have been “changed” in the last year, and that we all see the world through with a bit more “empathy.” The world is more connected now, and so are the people in it. Like many of you, our family often discusses the challenges Americans face, and our role as global citizens. We often reach the same conclusions:
We are blessed. We have family that we consider friends, and friends we consider family. We are appreciative for the love, laughter and support that fills our lives. In this spirit, I have decided to give up my 50th birthday – instead of the big bash we might throw – we’d like to gather our community to celebrate in a different way. Please follow the link below…
http://mycharitywater.org/KHBirthday
http://mycharitywater.org/KHBirthday
*
When I clicked on the link, I was floored by the response. Over $20,000 had been donated by his friends (email distribution list) in $50 to $1000 increments. I checked back on Wednesday, and the number had climbed again. Today, he’s raised over $50,000 by giving up his birthday. I’m sure that his 50th is probably turning out to be his best, his most significant to date.
He’s not a big Tweeter, social media connector or spammer. He’s a guy with some friends and a creative (and generous) mind. I’m sure if you asked him about this, he’d smile and say “It’s better to give than receive.”
Takeaway: Lend your status and your network to a good cause. We spend far too much times using these for self-gratification or marketing. Once we apply our networks for good, trust me, they will grow exponentially.
