It’s all about making a difference…

VANTREO – an insurance brokerage in Northern California, decided that instead of the usual client gifts, they would give out VANTREO ReachOut! gift cards. The recipient could redeem the card personally or choose to give it away to make a difference in someone else’s life.

If you received a VANTREO ReachOut! gift card, and found a way to make a difference, please share your story here… and encourage others to do the same!

All you need to do is click on the “Comments” link above, tell your story where it says “Leave a Reply,” and we will take care of the rest!

Thank you for the ReachOut! gift card and the opportunity to use it well. I knew immediately what I wanted to do with the card but it took awhile to find just the right occasion.

I’m especially drawn to a Beechwood School single mom who works as a janitor and has three young children. (Two are in the school now and the third will join the kinder-prep. class in the fall.) Mom carries a heavy load and often seems depressed. We’ve arranged things (Christmas gifts, donated clothing, groceries, etc.) that benefit the children, previously, but not something for her directly. It’s a little tricky to not offend her and we have a language barrier which adds to the possibility of misunderstanding. Anyway, I decided Easter was a good opportunity to spread some love and started by buying appropriate gifts for the children. When I delivered them, I handed mom the card and said, “This is just for you.” It really broke my heart when she said, “Why are you so nice to me?” Her tone of voice let me know that she doesn’t have nearly enough people being nice to her. There’s more for me to do there. My next step is to try to establish a sort of “grandparent” role with the children. I know the first grader pretty well as I read to her class each week. (I’m also gathering a few other women to possibly “grandparent” other children in the school. They will start in June as Reading Buddies and see what relationships develop.)

Thanks, again!

– Marilyn Anderson, California Family Foundation

I gave my ReachOut! card to an older woman I met who was visiting from Belgium and who said that she was totally out of money and having a big problem just eating. She asked me if I would help her and so I gave her the money from the card.

– Ed Lewis, Keegan & Coppin

VANTREO continues to be forward thinking. Especially in this economy, how wonderful to be given a gift card with the suggestion to “reach out!” Every December the Index Tribune has a list of non-profits to whom we donate. In 2008, we didn’t shorten our list, but we did reduce our donation amounts which was very difficult. By following your suggestion and forwarding the ReachOut! gift card to one of our local non-profits, we were able to give them our “usual” donation…. VANTREO continues to rock!

– Sharon Ready Lynch, Sonoma Index Tribune

Thank you so much for the ReachOut! gift card. We passed it on to Second Harvest Food Bank so I’m sure it will go for a worthy cause! 

– Don and Carole Tanklage, Tanklage Properties, San Carlos

I donated my ReachOut! card to Food for People. This organization serves as the Food Bank for Humboldt County, and is a vital part of our North Coast community. They were appreciative, to say the least.

It was awesome to be able to make a contribution which helps ensure that the most needy among us are able to put food on their tables!

– Dave Weinstein

I passed my VANTREO ReachOut! card to my sister. She recently told me that she had fallen into hard times with recent cutbacks at her company. I was totally amazed when I found out that she had given her ReachOut! card to a fellow employee because “she needed it more than I did!” She told me that it gave her a sense of pride to be able to reach out to someone that could use a little help in these trying times. I think the idea is brilliant!    - Mike Lopez

I passed my VANTREO ReachOut! card to a young couple that was far from home attending graduate school. This helped brighten their holidays since neither had family around them.

 Thanks for helping make a difference in the lives of individuals!

– Kay Lovell

I would like to congratulate all the employees of VANTREO. The ReachOut! program is successful because giving back is part of the VANTREO culture. It’s not just one program that we support. Rather, our 28 employees volunteer their time and money to over 40 non-profit organizations in our community. During times like these, giving back is just the right thing to do.  - Steve Farmiloe

Vantreo, what a great idea with your “Reach Out!” cards!

Our company supports the Masters Program of Valley Mental Health in Salt Lake City. The “Reach Out!” gift card will be going to this deserving group along with the contributions our company and employees have made already.

Vantreo, you are a class act!

- Tom Callanan

What a unique idea! Many thanks to Lynne, Deanne, and the whole Vantreo team for this very thoughtful gift.

We decided to donate our gift card to Pets Lifeline of Sonoma, an organization that cares, and ultimately finds homes, for unwanted cats and dogs here in Sonoma Valley. We (and our business) also made separate gifts to this charity. As owners of two wonderful yellow labs ourselves, we know first hand how special our pets are to us, and the joy that they can bring.

Best wishes to all for a special holiday season and Happy New Year!

- Jim & Sharon Lynch