#MeToo

This week’s Stalking the Accountant edition is special. We had another drawing for cash prizes here at The Wealthy Accountant and it ended up a humbling experience where dozens of people will benefit far more than the minor investment of cash would indicate.

The drawing pulled names from subscribers who opened their email of the latest blog posts. The winners of the $50 prize are:

Ben O of Essex Junction, VT, and

Jeff H of Santa Barbara

The prize is awarded as either a PayPal transfer or an Amazon gift card. Both took the Amazon card.

Here is where it got real. When I informed Jeff of his win he sent the following email:

Keith,

 Awesome! It’s great to be a winner!

 I’m actually a blogger myself (www.themoneycommando.com) and rather than sending the money to me I’d like to propose something else.

 My wife is on the board of a local charity called Domestic Violence Solutions (DVS). Basically, they provide a shelter for women and children who are the victims of domestic violence. The shelter gives the women and children a place to stay while they look for a new place to live. They usually leave at a moment’s notice and don’t have kid’s clothing, a crib, bottles, etc. DVS supplies these things in the shelter and lets the families keep them to help them get on their feet. 

 How about if you donate the $50 Amazon gift card to DVS? You get the tax deduction, DVS gets a bit of exposure (maybe it will encourage somebody else to donate too), and DVS can use the gift card to get whatever baby supplies they need (it’s always changing from week to week).

 Here’s the DVS website: https://www.dvsolutions.org/en/

 What do you think?

 Jeff H. from Santa Barbara

 

Of course I agreed! It was an awesome idea!

This was a perfect opportunity to put some of TWA profits to work. I’ve dedicated 100% of the profits of this blog to charitable causes. I doubled the award to Domestic Violence Solutions to $100. Not a lot, but a gesture of good will.

Jeff’s wife responded as such:

Hi Keith,

Thank you so much for matching the gift card! Our emergency shelter is in great need of about 25 new pillows and this will allow for us to buy almost half!

We are deeply grateful.

 Heartfelt thanks,

 

I couldn’t let it alone. A simple comfort most people take for granted — a comfortable place to lay your head — is unavailable to some victims of abuse. I knew what I had to do.

If $100 bought nearly half the pillows needed, another $150 should finish the job. A drawing meant to engage my readers has turned into a $250 gift to a domestic violence shelter giving dozens of people comfort.

Here is the reply:

WOW, you just made our day Keith!!!

 Most of us take having a soft pillow for granted, but when a victim and her children enter our shelters (usually in the middle of the night) they arrive with nothing but the clothes on their backs, traumatized and thankful to be alive. Having a warm, comfortable and safe place to sleep means so much to our clients.  

 From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!

Would it be OK to acknowledge your generosity on our social media?  

With sincere gratitude,

 

Before I take a bow, let me remind you I didn’t do this. You did!

This blog has revenue because of you, kind readers. That revenue is destined to change lives for the better in our communities. You need to take the bow. I’m only the conduit. You did this. You changed the lives of those women, often times kids in tow, surviving violence.

I know you’re as moved as I am by this. It’s okay to take a moment here to reflect on what our group has just done.

Finally, if you want to add to the gift to Domestic Violence Solutions you can do so here:

Please provide comfort to a child – donate now at https://comfortandjoyforachild.funraise.org/

A child’s future is in your hands.

 

The Other #MeToo

In 2017 women started to speak out in waves. It was 100% necessary! It had to happen. The violence and assault of women had to be exposed before the problem can be addressed.

Even some men came forward. We sometimes forget about men who suffered sexual assaults as children.

The #MeToo movement has another side gaining ground fast. This part of the #MeToo movement is dedicated to supporting the survivors of violence in any way they can.

Guys can come across as dicks at times. We are not talking about that kind of behavior. When a man does something to offend a woman it may have been with good and honorable intentions. What we are talking about is verbal, mental and physical assault. Violence against a woman of any kind is never acceptable. EVER!

The other #MeToo movement, the movement of men determined to support the rights of women to live peaceably without threat of violence and intimidation, needs to grow more.

I’ve supported the women who have come forward (and the silent survivors struggling with the demons) from the beginning. Now, finally, I can stand up and say, “#MeToo.” Not as a survivor, but as a supporter of every woman who has had to deal with the trauma of assault.

Please join The Wealthy Accountant and me in supporting this cause.

 

After such a heavy start to the weekend edition it’s time to relax with some entertainment.

What I’m Reading

The stock market was tame for so long (every month of 2017 was a winner) I had to pull out an old favorite when we experienced a mild correction. Stocks for the Long Run by Jeremy J. Siegel is a classic. It’s not an advice book for investing in the market. Rather, the book is a treasure trove of data on the market’s performance from the beginning. The accountant in me can’t resist.

 

What I’m Watching

Elon Musk sent a rocket into space the week before last with a Tesla Roadster as the payload. The publicity stunt gave Musk plenty of bang for his buck and I’m adding to the benefits by sharing the following video here. In this video we learn what space will do the Starman and the Roadster. We also learn about several Easter Eggs hidden in the Roadster traveling to the stars.

 

What I’m Listening To

I worked in silence most of the week. Tax season is in full swing now and time is tight. I’ll be at the office for a short day on Sunday to get some larger returns done without interruption.

Here is one album is listened to earlier in the week:

I know my taste in music can be out there. But by sharing hidden gems I uncover is the reason for the weekend edition of Stalking the Accountant.

 

Have a great weekend, kind readers. See y’all back here in a turn.