Maxim Gorin Discusses the Importance of Serving Your Community
The idea that you need to be rich or have a lot of free time to give back is entirely false. Serving your community is one of the most rewarding experiences out there! Some people believe that volunteering and giving back are only for those who can afford it; however, this couldn’t be further from the truth. All you need is motivation. Max Gorin believes in the importance of giving back to their community.
A study from The Chronicle of Philanthropy found that America’s wealthiest households give an average of 3% of their income to charity every year. 3% may seem like a small amount, but when combined with other philanthropic activities such as volunteering and investing in nonprofits, it can profoundly impact a community.
For example, Maxim Gorin’s company LifeLine Ambulance has been donating thousands of boxes of hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, and other personal protection equipment to cities and organizations in the greater Los Angeles area to help stop the spread of the Covid19 delta variant.
Gorin feels that one of the best ways to give back to the community is to make sure that your contribution brings value now and in the future. Here are a few different ways you can give back to your community.
Establish a Scholarship
Establishing a scholarship fund is a great way to create a legacy and provide the next generation with the financial assistance they may not receive anywhere else. However, it can be challenging to know where to start.
The first step to creating a scholarship is identifying an underserved community sector and its pain points. Next is establishing the application process, establishing the requirements, and setting deadlines for students interested in applying.
Do you want every applicant from one school district in Kansas City, Missouri, to have an equal chance at winning based on academic merit like most scholarships do? Or would you instead provide money to someone who has overcome cancer? There are even scholarships for those pursuing STEM (science/technology/engineering/math) careers.
No matter your criteria, this is how you focus your funds toward the specific community you wish to serve. Knowing how you want the money to be used is vital in deciding where the funds should go. Maxim Gorin says personal finances, or lack thereof, shouldn’t stop you from helping others. Apply for grants or use your network to find donations to fund your scholarship program.
Organize a Charity Drive
Organizing a local charity drive for an organization you wish to benefit from your efforts is a great way to give back. So many groups could benefit from these events like food banks, soup kitchens, or job training programs for recently released inmates.
Max Gorin’s favorite part of organizing events like these is generating funds but, more importantly, the attention they receive on social media like Facebook, Instagram, etc. So teams should be sure to include ways to engage with the community through these digital channels, so they feel more engaged when donating or revisiting their experience with the drive.
Sponsor a Youth Sports Team
Youth sports are essential for every community. While it’s no secret that sports help children and young adults stay active, it also teaches them valuable skills besides the sport. One of the key aspects of playing sports is learning to achieve a goal through teamwork. There is nothing we do professionally or personally that doesn’t require help from someone.
Learning to win and lose with grace, sacrificing personal achievement for the good of the team, and dedication to becoming better tomorrow than you are today are some other invaluable life lessons.
Sponsoring a Youth Sports team is the perfect way to connect with your business’s community. Maxim Gorin believes youth leagues allow children to develop valuable relationships, while adults can give back by volunteering as coaches or fundraisers for team uniforms.
Final thoughts
There are many benefits to giving back and helping others. If everyone offered their time for free once per month to their community to set up scholarships, start a charity drive, or support youth sports, we all might feel a greater sense of purpose and connection to our neighbors. How great would that world be?
