<img src="{filedir_1}playground.jpg" style="border: 0;" alt="image" width="150" height="200" class="floatleft" />What would draw you out in to the cold and blowing snow with dozens of old and new friends? 

Would changed lives?
A stronger community?
The smiling faces of the community’s children?

What does it mean to support ministries and charities in a “more significant and personal way?â€ For one WaterStone giving couple it meant collaborating with <a href="http://www.excellenceingiving.com/Home.aspx" title="Excellence in Giving" target="_blank">Excellence in Giving</a> whose team helped them define their passion for giving and then introduced them to <a href="http://kaboom.org/" title="KaBOOM" target="_blank">KaBOOM</a>, a national non-profit organization with a vision to build “great places to play within walking distance of every child.â€ 

Because of Excellence in Giving’s relationship and understanding of this family, a project was developed that reflected the givers’ faith and desires.

On one cold and snowy Colorado fall day, our givers gathered with family members, friends and community volunteers at the <a href="http://kaboom.org/gallery/center_hope_academy_lakewood_co" title="Center of Hope Academy" target="_blank">Center of Hope Academy</a>, a small local school. After opening the day with prayer, the group built an entire playground, picnic tables and benches there on the frozen ground. They did this work so that the school children and community residents would experience joy for many years to come.

Trusting in KaBOOM’s <i>Law of Incredible Returns</i>, these WaterStone givers believe that what they did that one day means changed lives, a stronger community and brighter futures for tomorrow’s kids.

Many times givers simply write a check and hope that their gift is used effectively by the recipient organization. Excellence in Giving has helped a number of WaterStone families tap into their passions and give more strategically with anticipated results clearly defined.  

These WaterStone donors were assured by their own personal participation that the results of their investment were achieved. Along with the other volunteers that day, they experienced the kind of joy only experienced in the faces of jubilant children.

<i>WaterStone calls this fellowship in common purpose.</i>

Do you want to learn more about funding a playground or some other project in your community through WaterStone? Please call 719.447.4620 or {encode="waterstone@waterstone.org" title="email"} us at WaterStone. 

For a print version of this article, <a href="{filedir_1}Common-Purpose-2.pdf">download the pdf</a>.

