This quarter we are highlighting Robert & Bethany who are investing both their time and money to make an impact in their California community as well as overseas.
Client Overview
Robert & Bethany are in their 30s with two young children. Robert owns a manufacturing and distribution company in California.
Impact Overview
Years ago Robert and Bethany made the decision to set aside 10% of their income to give to various people and organizations so they could make an impact with their finances both locally and globally. Additionally, as they hear of needs, they sometimes choose to give above and beyond this amount. More recently, with the growth and success of Robert's business, they decided to increase their annual giving by at least 1% and intentionally began searching for a specific organization in which to donate each month. One year ago, Robert's company joined Orange County's "100 Companies that Care" (https://www.100ctc.org/). This is a big part of their involvement in giving back and making a difference in their community.
Who Have They Impacted
While a student athlete in college, Robert was part of Athletes in Action where he was mentored by an AIA missionary couple. This made such an impact on Robert that he not only became a mentor himself for a season but also wanted to use his success in business to financially support the missionary couple that mentored him. Robert and Bethany continue to support this AIA couple today as they minister to student athletes at UCLA.
Additionally, on a global scale, a friend from high school is a missionary in Guatemala so Robert and Bethany decided to sponsor two children that are part of his program in Guatemala. These children, who are required to maintain certain grades as part of the program, are able to attend school because of their support.
As Robert & Bethany were searching for an organization to support with the additional 1% that they had set aside for giving, they were invited to attend a For the Children gala where they learned about all of the work For the Children is doing to support foster youth. With a passion for helping children and students, they knew this was the opportunity they had been looking for to make an impact with their additional funds.
Lastly, aside from donating with their finances, Robert has also been donating his time for the last 7 years on the Board of Directors for the same private school that he attended for part of his youth. He loves being able to give back to the school that made such an impact on his life.
Favorite Memory
One of Robert and Bethany's favorite memories is being able to write notes to the children in Guatemala that they sponsor. One of the children, Ashley, is about to enter high school and recently wrote them a letter about how grateful she is for their support and how much she appreciates them. Reading this letter aloud to her young children was impactful for them as well as they learned that not every child in the world has the ability to go to school.