How To Make A Difference Through Community Outreach

Salon & Spa Group believes it is our duty and responsibility to help those less fortunate and we have devised a program in which 1% of all of our sales will be donated to various Non-Profit organizations.

There are literally thousands of charitable organizations out there, all of which represent beautiful, tear-inducing causes. Part of the process of choosing an organization involved hours upon hours of research on our part to ensure that we choose someone who will truly benefit and ensure that the donations actually go to help the cause and not get consumed by operating costs and red tape.

The Kids First vision is to create educational and vocational opportunities for the disadvantaged young people, some with disabilities, in Quang Tri Province^ so that they may mature into adults with equal opportunities, full community inclusion, self-reliance, and economic independence.Learn More by visiting their website. Kids First Vietnam at www.kidsfirstvietnam.org/default.aspx

We can all benefit from the act of giving to charity. "Giving" can, of course, be in the form of a monetary donation but donating items or your time to those in need is just as important.

Allan Luks, author of The Healing Power of Doing Good, describes many scientifically documented accounts of people gaining physical, mental and emotional benefits from doing good. For instance, holding an abandoned baby may help get rid of your backache, he says. Luks even describes a "helper's high" that is similar to the high we feel after exercising. Volunteering provides:

A heightened sense of well-being

Relief from insomnia

A stronger immune system

Happier, Healthier Outlook

....and many obvious benefits as well, such as a sense of "making a difference".

Financial experts recommend "charitable-giving tactics and strategies" as a way to improve your financial portfolio. Rather than giving willy-nilly, this means that you come up with a giving strategy that ultimately allows you to be more generous over time.

We at Salon and Spa Group have used just such a plan which allows us to make charitable donations on a quarterly basis.

Once you've decided to donate, it begs the question: Which charity should I donate to? There are over 1 million non-profits in the United States, according to Forbes.com, and while you may have a favorite cause in mind, deciding where to place your hard-earned money can be a daunting task.

Do a little research to ensure that you choose someone who will truly benefit and ensure that the donations actually go to help the cause and not get consumed by operating costs and red tape.

With finances becoming tighter for many individuals as well as businesses in the  United States, giving to charity may not be at the top of your list of priorities. Yet, while giving to charity is always an optional thing, doing so on a regular basis can have very real benefits that far outweigh the financial difficulties we all face.

Salon and Spa Group