Before I explain, I first want to emphasize that this idea involves a charitable act that will garner both publicity and goodwill as a byproduct, provided you are truly motivated to help someone in need.

But if your motives are just to promote your business, people will see through your self-serving motives in a heartbeat and you will garner nothing but a backlash of bad will and bad publicity.

With that said, here is how you can use your business to help, and possibly produce a benefit your business in the process.

At this moment, someone in your community has a severe or tragic need. It could be the family of a slain or injured police officer, a child in need of a very expensive medical procedure, a family that has lost their home and all their possessions in a fire, or a single parent who has just received a very grim medical diagnosis.

When you read about this need in your local newspaper, do something. Become a hero.

1. Offer to use your business to raise funds for this person or family. For example, if you own a restaurant, set aside one day to donate half of that day’s receipts to help. If you own a store, offer your parking lot for a car wash. If you own an auto repair shop, offer to donate the labor cost for any repairs on a certain day or week.

2. Mobilize volunteers to pass out fliers in the community, local schools if you are helping a child, the parent’s place of employment, the family’s church.

3. Contact the media to suggest an article about this person or family, along with information about your fund raising activity so people will know how to help.

4. Put signs up in your place of business to tell the public about what is going on.

5. Even before the day arrives, place donation jars on your front counter
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   just to promote your business, people will see through your self-serving motives in a heartbeat and you will garner nothing but a backlash of bad will and bad publicity.

   With that said, here is how you can use your business to help, and possibly produce a benefit your business in the process.

   At this moment, someone in your community has a severe or tragic need. It could be the family of a slain or injured police officer, a child in need of a very expensive medical procedure, a family that has lost their home and all their possessions in a fire, or a single parent who has just received a very grim medical diagnosis.

   When you read about this need in your local newspaper, do something. Become a hero.

   1. Offer to use your business to raise funds for this person or family. For example, if you own a restaurant, set aside one day to donate half of that day’s receipts to help. If you own a store, offer your parking lot for a car wash. If you own an auto repair shop, offer to donate the labor cost for any repairs on a certain day or week.

   2. Mobilize volunteers to pass out fliers in the community, local schools if you are helping a child, the parent’s place of employment, the family’s church.

   3. Contact the media to suggest an article about this person or family, along with information about your fund raising activity so people will know how to help.

   4. Put signs up in your place of business to tell the public about what is going on.

   5. Even before the day arrives, place donation jars on your front counter
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      mily of a slain or injured police officer, a child in need of a very expensive medical procedure, a family that has lost their home and all their possessions in a fire, or a single parent who has just received a very grim medical diagnosis.

      When you read about this need in your local newspaper, do something. Become a hero.

      1. Offer to use your business to raise funds for this person or family. For example, if you own a restaurant, set aside one day to donate half of that day’s receipts to help. If you own a store, offer your parking lot for a car wash. If you own an auto repair shop, offer to donate the labor cost for any repairs on a certain day or week.

      2. Mobilize volunteers to pass out fliers in the community, local schools if you are helping a child, the parent’s place of employment, the family’s church.

      3. Contact the media to suggest an article about this person or family, along with information about your fund raising activity so people will know how to help.

      4. Put signs up in your place of business to tell the public about what is going on.

      5. Even before the day arrives, place donation jars on your front counter
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         person or family. For example, if you own a restaurant, set aside one day to donate half of that day’s receipts to help. If you own a store, offer your parking lot for a car wash. If you own an auto repair shop, offer to donate the labor cost for any repairs on a certain day or week.

      6. Mobilize volunteers to pass out fliers in the community, local schools if you are helping a child, the parent’s place of employment, the family’s church.

      7. Contact the media to suggest an article about this person or family, along with information about your fund raising activity so people will know how to help.

      8. Put signs up in your place of business to tell the public about what is going on.

      9. Even before the day arrives, place donation jars on your front counter
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         the parent’s place of employment, the family’s church.

      10. Contact the media to suggest an article about this person or family, along with information about your fund raising activity so people will know how to help.

      11. Put signs up in your place of business to tell the public about what is going on.

      12. Even before the day arrives, place donation jars on your front counter so people can give before, during and after the event. Some people won’t be able to come on that day, so give them a way to help too.

      13. Invite the media again on the day of the event. Afterwards, tell the media how much was raised and possibly get your picture taken of you giving the person a check.

      With the right amount of pre-event effort, this should cost you nothing but your time. The extra business on the day of the event should more than cover your operating costs.

      If you follow these steps, without self-serving motives, you will receive many rewards in addition to helping someone in genuine need. You will receive thousands of dollars worth of free publicity, gain the respect and goodwill of your community, and you will get many first time customers.

      COPYRIGHT(C)2006, Charles Brown. All rights reserved.