Jackson Daily News
Collision Repair Education Foundation Donation
LIFT - An Uncommon Approach To Charitable Giving
LIFT - Life is Full of Transformation
Writing a check is common. At Solera, we do more. We weave giving into our everyday lives and contribute with uncommon passion, initiative, and accountability for results.
LIFT defines us. It starts from the top and is built on passionate, 90/10 accountability for output (lifting someone or a cause) versus the passive act of writing checks for favored causes. LIFT is embedded in our culture and our lives. For Solera associates around the world, giving is both spontaneous and integrated into our business operations.
Cambodia LIFT
Solera global leaders convened in Siem Reap, Cambodia for an Uncommon LIFT program to support Senhoa Foundation's Lotus Kids Club (LKC). LKC is a program dedicated to advocating education and putting an end to domestic violence and human trafficking. The LKC is based in the Banteay Chas area on the outskirts of Siem Reap, where families predominantly earn money by collecting recyclables from local garbage disposals. With an average daily income of 5,000 riel ($1.25 USD), the community suffers the harsh impacts of extreme poverty. The LKC is a preventative project against human trafficking, which began in 2009. Today, it operates in partnership with the Cambodian Center for the Protection of Children's Rights.
Solera leaders from 10 different countries around the world united to build an extension of the pre-school by adding a playground for the children, almost doubling their current space and recreation area. Opportunities to play with the children, meet with their families and share in their schooling were the highlights of this experience. While the Lotus Kids Club gained both space and support, Solera employees feel they gained much more through this interaction. The smiling faces and love provided by these children was an overwhelming gratification to all who participated.
To learn more about the Lotus Kids’ Club and how you can help, please visit www.senhoa.org.
LIFT Update - Hurricane Sandy Aid
In the wake of destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy, Solera’s LIFT program has partnered with the American Red Cross to execute relief efforts in the most affected areas during the holiday season.
Solera has made an initial $15,000 donation and will match all individual contributions made by its associates in an effort to lift their hearts, lives and hopes. Many are still without their homes and are not able to share meals with loved ones this holiday season. We are reaching out from our table to theirs and reminding them that we are one nation, in support of each other.
Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by Hurricane Sandy and we hope our donation will provide some comfort to those families in need this holiday season.
Please join us in LIFT and be uplifted…one of the most humbling joys of all is giving, and giving a second chance is paramount.
LIFT Update - Continue the Movement
LIFT is a movement that began with the conviction that everyone deserves a second chance. It is our hope that these actions help spark a pay-it-forward crusade, prompting another and another to give second chances and continuously harvest life full of transformation. In that spirit, we would like to share a recent LIFT story that demonstrates the movement of giving in action.
Over 80 Solera employees from around the world were invited to the second annual Solera Institute in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Ten teams, starting with seed capital of $2,000, were charged with applying the Solera principles to raise as much money and awareness possible for the Jackson Hole Therapeutic Riding Association (JHTRA) over a 3-day span.
In doing so, the Solera teams had the opportunity to learn more about the organization’s mission and observe first-hand the remarkable impact they have on so many lives in their community. The JHTRA works to provide physical and emotional therapy through the connection between horse and rider. Their volunteers and trainers witness absolute transformation in those they work with thanks to their dedication and care.
Solera leaders demonstrated their allegiance to the LIFT movement and served as catalysts for the local community in their support of this important cause. The majority of the funds raised were from items donated by local businesses. Everything from restaurant gift cards to original art, to a vintage car was donated for auction at Solera’s fundraising event. Members of the Jackson Hole community came to support and celebrate the organization’s efforts. Along the way, team social media activity helped to generate a buzz for the cause while spreading awareness on the JHTRA and adding to their network of supporters.
Team Solera was delighted to offer the JHTRA a $75,000 donation, made possible through the generous donations of many people coming together to pay-it-forward for second chances, and support a great cause – a true movement.
Solera LIFT Update – Partnering to Support Global Causes
Through our community giving initiative, LIFT, the Solera team is continuously looking for ways to incorporate giving into our daily lives with the belief that Life Is Full of Transformation. Our most recent LIFT efforts supported the incredibly worthy causes of these groups: Health and Disaster Prevention in Bangladesh, Allianz for Children and the Youth, and the Allianz Direct Help Foundation. These were personally selected by employees from both Solera and Allianz.
The Allianz Direct Help Foundation works with Allianz companies and trusted partners around the globe to provide aid to many different causes worldwide, with an emphasis on ensuring that all donations are handled with focus and care in local communities. We are honored to partner with Allianz in these efforts and admire their active community involvement and dedication to providing global aid with attention to local issues.
The Health and Disaster Prevention in Bangladesh initiative provides aid to those in the south of Bangladesh affected by repeated floods and is supported by the German Red Cross. This project aims to educate women and their families in health issues and disaster preparedness in order to provide them with the tools to be healthy despite their difficult living conditions.
The Allianz for Children and the Youth initiative has supported social services for children and youth services throughout Germany for over 10 years. This group is provides local funding for social projects benefiting disadvantaged children and young people and is dedicated to giving them a better start in life.
You may find further information about these charities in the following document - Solera and Allianz Charity Powerpoint - or visit the Allianz website to learn more about the Allianz Direct Help Foundation.
Lifting Our Communities Globally
The 80 of our LIFT initiatives is aimed at three causes globally: Children & Education, Wounded Warriors and Wildlife Conservation. LIFT is the crystallization of spontaneous actions by our Founder, Chairman and CEO, Tony Aquila, which quickly gained traction across the company. It started with his gift of the largest ever cash donation of $50,000 to the Collision Repair Foundation (formerly the I-CAR Education Foundation) to support students and schools in September of 2010. Solera matched the $50,000 and giving is now an organization-wide movement. A vivid example of the companywide enthusiasm is the leadership meeting in late 2011in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Over one weekend, 100 senior executives working in alpha teams used their brains, brawn and less than $2,000 in seed capital to raise nearly $50,000 for the local Teton County School District.
An Uncommon Commitment
Following the Jackson Hole success, Tony Aquila decided to forgo holiday gifting and instead donated $50,000 to children throughout the world, via the global 'Save the Children' organization. LIFT is all about building on each other’s actions. We believe every action that gives back inspires others to lift up their communities – Solera’s LIFT becomes a force-multiplier.
Our LIFT involvement has spanned the globe including giving to wildlife preservation and child care in South Africa, youth activities in Germany, veteran rehabilitation and family assistance in the United States, disaster relief in Japan, and more.
This page will be regularly updated with snapshots of LIFT moments as they occur throughout the global Solera organization. We'd also love to hear how you incorporate the LIFT principle into your own lives by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
"We do not weave the web of life,
we are merely a strand in it.
Whatever we do to the web,
we do to ourselves."
~Chief Seattle