"Team Giving"

Planning meetings for my teams, I always liked to incorporate team-building activities. I have done axe throwing, escape rooms, Top Golf, etc. These events are always fun and bring the teams closer together. However, they are also expensive, and I left feeling I could do better.

Years back, I adjusted my approach and started focusing on “Team Giving”. “Team Giving” is also fun and builds team chemistry, but it provides a few additional benefits. One benefit is that these events are free or considerably less expensive than traditional team-building events and activities. Often, I take the savings from not doing a typical team-building event and instead donate to the organization we’re serving. This expands our gift to be both time and financial support. The second and biggest benefit is that the team gets to experience the gift of giving. Every team I have ever done “Team Giving” with has left the event energized and filled with joy.

One of my favorite organizations for “Team Giving” activities is Ronald McDonald House Charities, RMHC. RMHC has a vision of a world where every family has what they need to ensure the best health outcomes for their children and a mission to provide essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families, and promote healing when children need healthcare. This would not be possible without nearly 300,000 volunteers worldwide dedicating their time, talent, and services. These Houses need volunteers to make cookies, gift bags, babysit, coordinate activities, be greeters, or make and serve meals for the families.

Our homes are filled with more than help; they’re filled with hope…

I have taken multiple teams to volunteer at RMHC, and we made and served meals for the families.  This entails planning a menu, shopping for ingredients, preparing the meal, and serving.   These activities have always brought the teams closer together, and we have been forever touched by interacting with these families and hearing their stories. 

I can relate to these stories because RMHC impacted my life.  Growing up, my best friend, Jeff Van Lieshout, was stricken with brain cancer.  The medical care needed was not available in our area, so they needed to travel for hours to have access.  This made an already devastating and extremely stressful situation even more complicated and costly.   Fortunately, their medical team recommended RMHC.  They could stay there for free, and meals would be provided.  They could not believe it.   Ronald McDonald House brought a glimmer of light into what otherwise was one of their darkest times.  “Team Giving” provides the opportunity for teams to grow even stronger together by helping bring a ray of light to others.