by Suzanne on January 19, 2009
This year for Christmas, 500 families got an amazing present - their January mortgage payment was taken care of, paid, virtually erased from their to-do list.
Instead of their usual holiday party extravaganza’s, ING Direct gave $861,513.25 (about $1,700 per household) to 500 families. I’m not sure which piece I’m more blown away by, that they did something so generous or that they usually spend almost $1 million on holiday parties.
But, it has me thinking…If every big company did this, what would happen?
Would the parties really be missed? And couldn’t they happen anyway with some fancy sheet cakes from the grocery store on a Friday afternoon in December.
Think about how this would help the people in our country that are suffering because of our economy?
If you own a big company…or work for one, think about making this happen in your community. What an example ING Direct has set. What a high, and halo-lit, bar to reach….
by Suzanne on December 24, 2008
Well, we thought we’d have a white Christmas this year, but the snow is melting fast - as it usually does. Still, it was wonderful to wake up a few days ago and have everything be so beautifully white. The Vineyard is always beautiful - even when it’s cold, the leaves are gone and the sun isn’t shining - to me.
And, as always, our wonderful island community comes together to put on a show. This year, it was Edgartown’s Enchanted Christmas that really pulled on my heart strings.
On a cold night last week, families from all over the island gathered for this special parade of lights and treats - reminding us that if there’s one thing you can say about Vineyarders, it’s that we’re made of hearty stock! The wind was blowing, but kids and adults were dressed warm and wandered around the grounds greeting old friends and spreading holiday cheer.
My favorite part is the room that houses the ultimate Christmas scene…miniatures creating an entire village with Main Street, houses, horse drawn carriages, farms, kids skating on the pond - the detail is so complete, you can get lost in this old town scene.
Everyone stares in wonder, and then, looks around our own little village to see an almost exact replica - if not physically, then certainly in spirit.
Merry Christmas!
