36 DECEMBER 21, 2017 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Simple ways to give back all year long
The old saying, "It is better to
give than receive," is never
better illustrated than during
the holiday season when gift giving
is at its peak. But, how oft en does the
purpose of giving get lost in the rush
of shopping and deadlines?
It's easy to forget that there are many
ways to give that don't have to rely
on a purchase. Just showing someone
that they are appreciated can be the
most memorable gift of the season. In
many ways, it is the gift that keeps on
giving. Being appreciated can make
a person feel fabulous and in fact can
motivate someone to pay it forward.
In a time when discourse seems to
permeate so many areas of our lives,
a small note of appreciation can stand
out even more.
At Bigelow Tea, where the company
mission is to enrich life's everyday
moments, the culture is to remember
all who make our lives so much better
and show them appreciation. "We
try to pay attention all year long, not
just during the holidays. The purpose
of our company is to create an
environment of pride that brings out
everyone's desire and ability to make
a positive diff erence every day," says
Cindi Bigelow, CEO and third-generation
family member.
Bigelow Tea was started by Ruth
Campbell Bigelow aft er the Depression
hit. Perhaps it was her brush
with the hard times of the Depression
that heightened her compassion for
others, but her generous spirit built
appreciation into the formula for the
company's future. In 1963, she adopted
a school in Kentucky, where she
sent truckloads of books, coats and
shoes. She would even buy glasses
for kids who needed them so they
could read.
Today, Bigelow continues to carry on
that tradition with the company's support
of the USO and veteran's programs
like Ride 2 Recovery, Tea for the Troops
and the annual Bigelow Tea Community
Challenge, which has contributed $1.5
million back into the community.
There are many simple ways to
give back all year long - whether as a
parent, a sibling, a corporate executive
or a partner. Some of the insights
Cindi has learned as a parent and
the third-generation business leader
include:
• A "good" education should make sure
it's teaching young people about values
like kindness, niceness and compassion
- things that our parents and
grandparents practiced so naturally,
but are oft en overlooked today.
• Her father's simple philosophy, as
relevant today as yesterday, is to be an
inspiration, be honest, be fair, be concerned
about others and remember that
success has many different definitions.
• It's important to take the extra
time for two-way communication.
Listening (maybe over a cup of tea)
to what others have to say is a good
way to make people feel valued and
appreciated.
• Always remember that you are a role
model that sets the standards for life
all around you. What you do, how
you act, good times and bad, behind
closed doors, in front of other people,
sets the tone and inspires others.
To learn more about Bigelow Tea and
its corporate responsibility programs,
go to bigelowtea.com/responsibility.
Courtesy BPT
HOLIDAY
GLENDALE, MASPETH,
MIDDLE VILLAGE
AND RIDGEWOOD RESIDENTS!
BEST WISHES FOR A
MERRY CHRISTMAS
AND A HAPPY HEALTHY
AND SAFE NEW YEAR!
104th Pct. Civilian
Observation Patrol
Join us for a
General Membership Meeting��
��������������������������������������������������������������������������
������������������������������������������
St. Pancras Pfeiffer Hall
68-20 Myrtle Avenue, Glendale
“All it takes for evil to thrive is for good men and women to do nothing!”
For more information visit: www.104cop.org
or Call: 718-497-1500
