SVS Vision Employees Pay It Forward By Giving Out $10,000 in Cash

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—As this Midwestern regional optical retailer does every year at its annual meeting, SVS Vision paid it forward, and this year it did so by giving company employees $10,000 in cash and telling them they could do anything they wanted with the money. They decided to give it all away to people walking around Grand Rapids.

So, last month on April 28, 2015, SVS Vision employees handed out cash as part of the "Paying It Forward" initiative, which also included donations to local charities. The paying it forward momentum was contagious as one person who was handed cash on the street said that she planned to give it to Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The generous gesture made the Grand Rapids evening news where president Ken Stann was quoted saying, "My wife [Lisa Stann, executive VP and COO] and I took $10,000 cash across the state of Michigan, keeping it in our hotel room for the last week."

Television reporters describing the initiative said, "Every year the owners do something to help out the community, but this year they left it up to their employees to decide how to donate." Employees followed the company's example and paid it forward themselves.

The program benefits everyone involved, Stann explained: "The outcome of the 'Paying It Forward' initiative was two-fold. First, we were able to help multiple charity groups within the Grand Rapids community (see 'Charities Helped' box at right). We also helped numerous individuals and families who looked like they could have their day brightened up a bit. Our staff was allowed to donate in the manner in which they believed would do the most good.

"Secondly, our staff and the vendors that participated all said that they got more out of the event than the associations/people that were on the receiving end of the contributions. We also had each team document their morning via cell phone photos and then present them to the entire group. What amazing stories we heard. Several presenters had a difficult time speaking as they would get so emotional. It truly is better to give than to receive."

"It's been wonderful to hear the stories since Wednesday about how our staff is still trying to pay it forward," Lisa Stann told dba during the week of the initiative, "including my husband who bought lunch today for the lady next to us without her knowing because she didn't have enough to get the sandwich she was hoping for. The waitress saw the wink and made it happen. It doesn't always matter how one pays it forward, but the goal is that it spreads throughout the community. The more people who participate the more we all benefit. I was just told by our accounting manager that her life and heart were changed forever because of the event."

The company has sponsored similar initiatives at past annual meetings. Ken Stann described a couple to dba: "One year we had our team do a 'team building' event where they had to put together bicycles. No small feat unto itself. Later in the afternoon we invited in some kids and their families, all of whom were down on their luck for one reason or another, to join us for lunch. The kids didn't know, and neither did the teams, but the bikes were purchased with the size of the kids in mind. When the kids left the lunch, they all had a brand new bike. There wasn't a dry eye in the house.

SVS Vision president Ken Stann and Lisa Stann, executive vice president and chief operating officer.

"Also, one year as a team building exercise we packed care packages for troops overseas. We then sent those packages to service men and women associated with some local troop units. We received thank you notes that were just heartwarming."

Another noteworthy program in which SVS participates is RaquetUp Detroit. "SVS sponsors free eye exams, school eyewear, and court eye protection," Stann told dba.

"The community event for next year's annual meeting has already been discussed behind closed doors," he added, "but if we told anyone that would ruin the surprise!"