GUYS WHO GIVE

and a great place to meet new friends that share the same desire to inspire. The events were designed with busy life schedules in mind. They open the events by hearing from the previous quarter’s recipient so that they can see how their collective donations are impacting our community. Next, they draw three organizations from the nominated charities and those three members have up to 5 minutes each to tell the group about the amazing organization they nominated (no brochures, no power points, no guest speakers, just one of their own speaking from the heart). After the presentations they vote on the winning charity, everyone writes their check to the winner for $100 and that’s it! The events are simple, fast, and full of impact. Though the total event takes about 45 minutes, they find that members come early and stay afterwards to mingle with everyone, grab a beer, and enjoy the evening. With the huge amount of good that they’re able to bring to our communities, there is an internal Guys Who Give community as well and the fellowship is something that brings a lot of fun and new friendships to their members! All events follow the same format: Registration opens at 5:30 p.m. / Events begin at 6:00 p.m. The Kalamazoo Chapter meets quarterly at Revel and Roll West on the second Wednesday of the second month of each quarter, the next meeting will be held on May 10th. Revel and Roll is located at 4500 Stadium Drive in Kalamazoo.

I was introduced to this amazing group of guys when a long-time friend, Tom Comes, called to inform me that a charity that is near & dear to my heart, Kairos Dwelling (an amazing home that cares for the terminally ill, free of charge), was chosen as the recipient of their 2022 fourth quarter impact event with donations totaling $18,600! Tom and I formed a personal connection to Kairos Dwell- ing, when my late husband (Tom’s close friend) was a guest at Kairos during the late stages of his terminal illness in 2004.

As of January 2023, Guys Who Give’s 14 chapters have donated $1,517,800 to 161 non-profits across the country. Justin Livingston in Boulder Colorado founded Guys Who Give. His brother, Cody, brought the mission to this area when he started the Kalamazoo County Chapter, which just kicked off its fifth year and has already raised more than $270,300 for local nonprofits.

To learn more about the guys that are making a difference in their local communities, visit their website at guyswhogive.org, or contact the local chapter leader, Cody Livingston at (269) 568-2565 or kalamazoo@ guyswhogive.org.

Jackie Merriam