Fall Bucket List Activity: Utilizing a GBU Give Back Group
August 29, 2024
In today’s fast-paced world, it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life. And once fall begins, there’s no slowing down!
Many people like to create a fall bucket list full of fun activities to accomplish during the autumn season. If this is something you like to do, we have an idea to add to your lineup ... a GBU Give Back Group!
What is a Give Back Group?
If you are working to raise funds for an organization that impacts your local community, GBU will match the funds your group raised up to $1,000 per insured GBU member or $500 per social member to a maximum of $5,000 for a five-member group. Fundraising can be organized in any way preferred: in person, through a mail campaign or even via Facebook. The funds matching must be for a qualifying 501(c)(3) organization that impacts your local community. The organization must have a listing on Charity Navigator.
GBU recognizes that individuals working together can achieve far more than they could on their own. Give Back Groups
give you the framework and support to make your vision a reality. This initiative is about tapping into the strength of community, and through it, you’ll find that your ability to do good multiplies with every member who joins your cause.
Forming Your GBU Give Back Group
The first step in utilizing a GBU Give Back Group is identifying a cause that resonates with you and your community. This could be anything from supporting local families in need, raising funds for a community center, or organizing a neighborhood beautification project. Once you’ve chosen your cause, the next step is to gather like-minded individuals who share your passion.
Don’t limit your group to only GBU members! While having GBU members in your group allows you to access the matching funds and sponsorships, involving non-members can increase your reach and impact. Invite friends, family and neighbors to join your efforts. The more people you have working towards your goal, the greater the impact your group can make.
Tip: any non-members who are participating in your volunteer effort can purchase a GBU social membership
for only $25 a year. This allows them access to member benefits such as discounted events, birthday match program and even Give Back Groups, allowing their membership to count towards the matching funds.
Sharing Your Success
One of the beautiful aspects of forming a GBU Give Back Group is the opportunity to share your success with others. After your project is completed, GBU Life asks that you submit photos and a summary of your efforts. These stories inspire others to get involved and highlight the incredible impact that ordinary people can have when they come together with a common goal.
Start Making a Difference Today
Utilizing a Give Back Group is a powerful way to harness the strength of community and make a lasting impact. With GBU’s support, your group can accomplish more than you ever imagined. Whether through fundraising or event sponsorship, the resources provided by GBU can help turn your ideas into reality. Take the first step today by identifying a need in your community, gathering your team and applying for support through GBU Life. Together, you can make a difference that will be felt for years to come.
Since December 2024, donors have contributed an impressive $1,443,000 to
the GBU Foundation, establishing new scholarship, educational grant and
donor-advised charitable funds. These gifts help to shape a brighter future for
students, communities and charitable causes across the country.
Legacy giving, also known as planned giving, is a meaningful way to leave behind an impact on the causes and organizations you care about. By incorporating life insurance and annuities into your estate planning, you can maximize the benefits of your legacy gifts, ensuring they are both impactful and tax efficient.
As we move into the second quarter of another exciting year, I want to take a moment to reflect on our accomplishments and share some of the new initiatives we are implementing in the realms of sales, marketing and community engagement. Over the past year, GBU Life has reached significant milestones thanks to the dedication and hard work of our team and the trust and support of our members. Our sales department has exceeded targets, and we have expanded our reach to more communities than ever before. We have launched several successful marketing campaigns that have not only increased our visibility but have also strengthened our brand's presence in the industry. For this year, our focus will be educating potential new members on the importance of securing their financial futures through life insurance and annuity products while serving their communities as part of our great Society. Looking ahead, we are committed to enhancing our sales strategies to better serve you. We are introducing some tools for our agents to enhance our products. One new tool is our Defined Benefit Annuity program which combines the Future Flex Fixed Index Annuity (FIA) with a software tool that can help determine retirement savings needs and break them down into contributions over time to help you meet your retirement goals. Be sure to keep in touch with your GBU agent to review your plans and products to see how adding an FIA to your retirement planning can help boost your savings efforts
GBU members between the ages of three and nine years old can enter their colored page in this year's contest, which is themed Pawprints on My Heart. Three age categories will be judged as follows: Category I: Ages three and four Category II: Ages five and six Category III: Ages seven, eight and nine Entrants may use crayons, colored pencils, markers or watercolor paints. Entries will be accepted through Monday, August 18, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EST. The picture on the next page can be reproduced, or copies can be obtained by calling the Community Engagement Team at the GBU Home Office (800-765-4428) or by printing the image above. Cash Prizes for Each Category First prize: $75 Second prize: $50 Third prize: $30 How to Enter Send the three- to nine-year-old GBU member's coloring contest entry with their name and address on the colored page to: GBU Life ATTN: Member Benefits 4254 Saw Mill Run Boulevard Pittsburgh, PA 15227-3394. Or email contest@gbu.org with "Coloring Contest Entry” as the subject line. General Information Judges reserve the right to accept or reject any or all entries. Their decisions will be final. Artwork will be handled at the GBU Home Office with the utmost care. GBU reserves the right to reproduce entries for whatever use it wishes, provided proper credit is given. Permission does not include the sale of such work.
GBU has designated four Community Pillars - Wellness, Education, Charitable Giving and Hometown Hero Support - which are a concentrated list of causes that resonate with our values.
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