Senior Wishes/UCHS’ Post

On this National Stress Awareness Day, let’s take a moment to reflect on the power of giving back. The simple act of helping others can significantly ease the holiday stress for families in need. By supporting Marine Toys for Tots, you’re not just spreading joy to children; you’re also lightening the holiday burden for many. This season, instead of stressing over gift lists, let’s focus on making a difference. Find out how you can help: https://lnkd.in/gbQkvrnr

Every so often, generous friends or family members gift my kids money for birthdays or Christmas. When that happens, I find myself asking, What’s the best way to handle this gift?🎁 There are plenty of meaningful ways to put that money to good use… And that’s exactly what I’ll be writing about today! ➡️https://lnkd.in/eDp-TJHi

With the high costs of daily essentials, low-income families across our community are facing impossible choices this holiday season. Choices like deciding between buying Christmas gifts for their children, putting food on the table, or keeping the lights on.     Together, we can fill in the gaps and meet local needs. Discover more about how you can do your part to give back: https://lnkd.in/gF-zRMjz   #SalvationArmy  

So, you want to make a gift to your child, but you have questions. Why should I give? When, what and how should I give? Will gifts impact the self-esteem and initiative of the child? Can a gift plan transfer values to my child? Learn about the ‘why’, ‘when’, and other points in our short article. https://buff.ly/3y9HU8M

Holiday season is filled with joy and excitement, but it can also stretch your budget during what often becomes the most expensive time of the year. Especially in families with young children, it can be hard to rein in the impulse to get everything on the wish list. Here are a couple of tips that might help, while also teaching your children a little about money: Make a list of people you need to buy gifts for and set a budget for each person. If you’re shopping with children, try to shop with cash (and only bring enough cash to cover the things on your list). It’s easier to demonstrate the value of money when using cash instead of credit or debit, and allows your shopping buddy to ensure they are keeping the budget on track.  In addition, planning a family volunteer activity can help shift the focus away from material goods while making lasting memories together and building a new tradition. These are just some ideas to help you and your family enjoy a less stressful season. #happyholidays #kidsandmoney

You want your appeal letter to get to folks before Thanksgiving. That means you need to get your mailing to the post office the day after Election Day. Time is of the essence! If you are doing your appeal yourself, keep in mind the story formula: The Community has a Problem, Your Organization has a Solution, but Donor Dollars are needed to Implement. Follow this pattern for a successful appeal message. Make sure you have the logistics figured out: How are you going to get the appeal printed, stuffed, and to the post office. Maybe you are thinking... there has to be a better way- If that is the case for you, head over to www.amponow.com and create your appeal through the website. It will take less than 30 minutes and you will be able to check year end appeal off your things to do list. Give it a try. Amy #AMPO

Christmas is a magical time of year, especially for young children who will be eager to see what Santa has left them under the tree. Along with their gifts, your child may receive money that could be put towards long-term goals and milestones. So, here are three ways you could use your child’s Christmas money to build a nest egg - https://bit.ly/3W1F5zu #NestEgg #NewYear #Christmas #Presents #MoneyManagement

The following article includes a FREE $5.00 gift card (no purchase necessary). What do you think of a firefighter who had an easy opportunity to rescue one extra child but refused to do so, even though he had already rescued the other four children? Whatever your thoughts about this hypothetical firefighter, I encourage you to read the "Incredible Potential!" article. https://lnkd.in/eD5NVwCq

National Make-A-Will Month Kicks Off Today! It should be a national holiday, with banks and markets closed. You should be home right now celebrating, not working. Until proper recognition arrives, I’ll use this month to share my "18 Reasons Why Wills Are The Way To Launch Your Planned Giving." Here are reasons 1-3: 1.     Wills are the most popular planned gift, by far. Expect 75-90 percent of your planned gifts to be in wills. They're the low-hanging fruit. 2.     You don’t need to educate your potential donors. Nearly everyone knows what a will is, how a will works, and that they need one. 3.     You don’t have to educate your staff before they can have convos with your donors. Ditto. That’s our kickoff! Please party responsibly during this weekend’s National Make-A-Will Month celebrations near you. I wish you a good (safe) weekend.

With Christmas day approaching, giving gifts as an attorney or deputy can raise some questions.     We have shared guidance to help you decide what is an appropriate gift and have pulled out key things to consider when deciding what, if anything, to gift. Find all our guidance on gift giving as an attorney or deputy in our blog: https://lnkd.in/gCuHtHUZ