The Gift of 218: A Noble Enterprise

Happy Saturday morning, Heather here with a compelling story and a call to action.

About two weeks ago I had a really horrible experience at Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Let's just say I finally left with a car 15 miles away from the original location, 2 hours after my reservation time and with a VERY cranky toddler. Typically I'm the type of person who doesn't complain but I was upset by the manager's response so I called their Corporate Customer Service Line. The next day I got a call from Matthew Hamilton, the regional manager for this area and he turned my experience around. You see, Matthew made me an offer, "think about it over the next few days and give him a call if there was something they could do to win me back as a customer." I hung up thinking I wouldn't take him up on that offer. I really didn't NEED anything and I wasn't sure they could do anything to win me back as a customer. But then it hit me like a lead balloon. I didn't need anything but there are plenty of people out there who do...so on Monday morning I called Mr. Hamilton back and told him I'd like to take him up on the offer he had made the week before. You see I had realized that Enterprise could win me back as a customer if they would give a voucher to the Gift of 218 so we could send a family on a family vacation. He didn't skip a beat in saying that he thought that was a great idea and consider it done. He also asked me to send information on the Gift of 218 his way as he'd like to see if maybe his Regional Vice President would be interested in forging a longer term relationship with our organization.

So...that is how the Gift of 218 got a gift from Enterprise Rent-A-Car. The voucher has arrived in my mailbox and now I'm on the search for a hotel that might be willing to jump in to offer the same type of customer service.

So how does this apply to you? I'd like to challenge each of you to think in this same mindset...what do YOU have to offer the Gift of 218 that could help us give a family an experience? How might you compel others to give of themselves for the cause?

Katie and I are completing our paperwork to become an official charitable organization so that we are tax deductible. We are still soliciting people to join us in our Dine by Design Challenge to help us raise funds to grant experiences, will you host a table? Do you know a family that you think would make a great Gift of 218 recipient? If so complete the nomination form located here and email it to us at highlowaha218@gmail.com.

More than anything, think of how you might contribute to spreading the Spirit of 218 through the Gift of 218 after all it is a noble enterprise.

Signing off until tomorrow...