In the domain of doing good, we all know it's not a competition. An aim to keep up with the generosity of the Joneses or out-do the do-gooder next door is a misdirected one. And yet...
There is something altogether awesome about the power of a little healthy head-to-head philanthropic combat.
Maybe it's the juxtaposition of compassion and generosity with hustle and bloodthirst. Or the evidence that social impact is as primal a need as ultimate victory.
Whatever the root, we tapped into the magic of friendly rivalry at an enthusiastic partner’s recent CSR event. With one hundred members of its sales force and leadership traveling to Kiawah Island Golf Resort for a national meeting, we saw a robust roster for a cause-driven contest. And to know it’s beneficiary, One80Place, is really all the motivation needed.
For nearly 40 years, the nonprofit that began as a small interfaith ministry has been feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, and bolstering the underserved in the Holy City. In that time, its staff and volunteers have served millions of meals and saved thousands of Charlestonians from a lifetime of homelessness. From the immediate comfort of a meal and a bed to a long-term path forward with skills training and legal aid, One80 Place meets critical human needs.
Toward that end, a hallmark of the organization is smoothing the transition from temporary shelter to permanent residence with a tradition of providing “move-in kits” at each homecoming. And that’s where our creative contest came in. In the arena of a resort conference room, 11 corporate teams found themselves surrounded by shelves of household essentials, presented with piles of empty bundle boxes, and tasked with a test of speed and agility: be the first team to complete assembly of all assigned cleaning, linen, and kitchen kits.
Mercifully, most team members wore sensible footwear. Readers went on focused faces, and hair ties pulled obstructive tresses. The DJ’s set list delivered high energy, and cold beer assured proper (well, sufficient) hydration. At the room’s center stood a huge ball pit, within which smaller kit items were submerged. First visits to the pit were conducted with decorum, as participants gingerly sifted through, respectful of colleagues around the perimeter. By the third trip to the pit, frantic for a missing pot scrubber or stain stick, competitors abandoned dignity in favor of domination, scaling the low walls and wading frantically through the knee-high fill.
At the buzzer, there was a clear victor. Actually, there were 66. That’s how many families would be receiving boxes of brand-new essentials for the simple tasks of daily life. And, tucked inside each box, were the notes of encouragement and humility that every single team member stopped their own clock to pen, seal, and insert.
We're generally pretty bullish on the human race. But this human race pumped our blood, warmed our hearts, and totally won the day.
