Giving Sagely – An Occasional Series from SageVest Wealth Management Highlighting Charitable Causes
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said: “The life of a man consists not in seeing visions and in dreaming dreams, but in active charity and in willing service.”
But what happens when you combine “dreaming dreams” with “active charity”? The answer is: World Champions!
No American cross-country skier has won Olympic gold. Ever. The US has only won Olympic silver once – in 1976. SageVest Wealth Management’s client, Liz A., decided to make a difference in the field of cross-country skiing, a sport that exemplifies strong endurance athletes, achieving their objectives with purpose and passion. A recent member of the Board of Trustees of the US Ski and Snowboard Association, Liz reached out after they missed out on medals at the Olympics. “What do you need to succeed?” she asked. “Let me help.”
One of the team’s responses was astonishingly simple: wax technicians. To be able to best represent their country and compete with the traditional Scandinavian skiing nations, they needed waxing manpower.
Liz helped launch a special campaign for the cross country team that paid for additional wax technicians. She also raised funds for training camps and physical therapists, contributing to other aspects of the US team’s recent bid for medals at the 2015 World Championships in February in Falun, Sweden.
Her support wasn’t just financial, either. Repeating Liz’s inspirational words to each other at the team meeting the night before the race – “The next time you meet an opportunity, drive a Mack truck through it” – two young Minnesotans, Jessie Diggins and Caitlin Gregg, went on to win Silver and Bronze medals in the 10-kilometer skate race. Liz Stephen, another American woman, placed tenth.
“Cross country skiing is an individual sport and our athletes compete against each other. However, the US team has a ‘secret sauce”, which is the extraordinary support and admiration they have for each other which results in an all-for-one attitude,” said Liz. “I’m so proud they represent our country, and I’m confident they will make history and bring home the gold at the next Olympics.”
Added US Cross Country Head Coach Chris Grover, “Unlike our competitors, the US Ski Team receives no government funding. There’s a team behind the Team that makes the successes possible and is behind our quest to win gold in Pyeongchang in 2018. Passionate people are what gets these world-class competitors to the starting line; people like Liz, and many others.”
Many individuals appreciate the opportunities, the independence, and the freedoms their financial success can bring. Many also appreciate the importance of giving back. There are many forms of giving: gifts of time, money, and knowledge. All are valuable. If you support a cause and have a story that you would like us to consider for a future ‘Giving Sagely’ post, please CONTACT US.
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