Vivint Gives Back - Detroit

This summer, Vivint gave all of the summer employees the opportunity to donate some of their commission to the charity foundation they have established, Vivint Gives Back. Over the course of this 2013 season, Vivint raised over 2 million dollars to donate to local and international charities. Another perk, they gave us the opportunity to perform the services needed. Cam and I were lucky enough to venture off to Detroit and help out at the Boys and Girls Club of America.

I am beyond impressed by the organization and have been humbled by the good they do there. I had no idea what a necessity this organization is, especially in Southeast Michigan. Some things you may not know about the BGCA is:

• They provide a place for children to go after school 'til about 8pm and all day during the summer.
• Most children have their first drug, alcohol or sexual experience between the hours of 3 and 8 pm. 
•  90% of Boys & Girls Club members graduate from high school as compared to 58% in Detroit.
• The Boys & Girls Club is ranked number 12 of nonprofit organizations in the nation. 
• They serve nearly 4 million kids every year and are found in all 50 states.

One thing that stuck out to me, among many great qualities of the BGCA, was that it only costs $50 to enroll each child in the program for a YEAR. That is less than $1 a week. This is 10% of the actual cost for them to provide the programs and services to that same child. I was touched when I also heard that they have a policy to never turn down any child needing or wanting to come. They provide them with a scholarship or they welcome them with open arms when the scholarship money is dry. This program truly is incredible and I feel so blessed to have experienced it for a short week.

If you find $50 is an amount you wouldn't miss from your bank account, I would encourage you to give a child a safe and uplifting place to go for a year: DONATE.

We worked long days and worked hard, but it was very rewarding. We cleaned up the place by repainting bathrooms, refinishing gym floors, removing lockers from an old locker-room, landscaping and more. I would be speaking for many of us by saying our favorite part was hanging with the kids. They stole our hearts and it would've been easy for us to take a handful of them home. The pictures and video I captured don't give the trip justice, but at least they will help us remember.

It's incredible, the love that follows service. Gordan B. Hinckley said, “The best antidote I know for worry is work. The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired. One of the great ironies of life is this: He or she who serves almost always benefits more than he or she who is served.” This proved to be true in Detroit, and any other time you lose yourself in the service of others. I am grateful for the reminder.

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