When I realized that I would be turning a half a century in December of 2018, I knew I didn’t want a big party, a fancy trip or even an extravagant piece of jewelry.  I wanted to plan something memorable and do something for others.

I shared with my friends that I wanted to celebrate each year of my life by doing an act of kindness.  My friends and I planned out the day by searching for ideas on Pinterest, making sure to include some intentions that directly touched each of our lives.

On a busy Saturday in the middle of the Christmas shopping season, seven of us loaded up into a minivan and went out to perform the 50 Acts of Kindness. We ended up doing more and were at it for over 12 hours. Some were extravagant and some were small, but our goal was to make an impact, however big, on 50 people.

We paid for two families eating breakfast at a local restaurant, brought treats to a very special city firehouse, filled up the gas tank of a stunned teenager at the gas station, paid for three pet adoptions, left a jar of pennies in front of a fountain for easy wish-making, gave blankets, foods and socks to the homeless, dropped off coats and toys to a crisis nursery, gave a roll of quarters and lottery tickets to several people at the laundromat,  hung homemade bird feeders in the park and delivered flowers to residents at my mother’s assisted living center, among a list of other things. It was beautiful, impactful, and memorable and lots of fun!

We posted a short video made from photos we took during the day on Facebook and suddenly—our acts of kindness exploded!  In just 2 days—over 1,200 people had viewed the video and many of those commented on what they planned to do to keep the acts of kindness going.  Friends from near and far have since contacted me asking for the list of all 50 acts and how they could duplicate them for their own birthday celebrations.

My family still hosted a fabulous KINDNESS-themed party to celebrate my birthday and instead of presents, many of the attendees shared what bit of charity they had shared that week in celebration of my birthday. It was a wonderful way to extend the acts of kindness long after my birthday celebration was over.

Numerous studies confirm that selflessness decreases stress levels and lengthens your lifespan- I guess I better get busy planning the 100 acts of kindness for my 100th birthday!

 

 

 

 

St. Louis, Missouri (July 18, 2018)—The Oasis Institute has earned the 2018 Platinum GuideStar Nonprofit Profile Seal of Transparency, the highest level of recognition offered by GuideStar, the world’s largest source of nonprofit information. By sharing metrics that highlight progress The Oasis Institute is making toward its mission, the organization is helping donors move beyond simplistic ways of nonprofit evaluation such as overhead ratios.

“In accordance with our long-held belief in being transparent about our work,” said Paul Weiss, president of The Oasis Institute. “We are excited to convey our organization’s results in a user-friendly and highly visual manner. By updating our GuideStar Nonprofit Profile to the Platinum level, we can now easily share a wealth of up-to-date organizational metrics with our supporters as well as GuideStar’s immense online audience, which includes donors, grantmakers, our peers and the media.”

To reach the Platinum level, The Oasis Institute added extensive information to its Nonprofit Profile on GuideStar: basic contact and organizational information; in-depth financial information; qualitative information about goals, strategies, and capabilities; and quantitative information about results and progress toward its mission. By taking the time to provide this information, The Oasis Institute has demonstrated its commitment to transparency and to giving donors and funders meaningful data to evaluate the organization.

“I encourage you to visit our profile on GuideStar to see what we’re all about,” added Weiss. “We’re thrilled that our GuideStar Platinum Nonprofit Profile and its associated benefits help us better communicate our organization’s exciting initiatives at a global scale.”

Read the updated GuideStar Nonprofit Profile here.

About The Oasis Institute

Oasis is a national education organization that promotes healthy aging through lifelong learning, active lifestyles and service. Offering stimulating programs in the arts, humanities, health, technology and volunteer service, Oasis brings people together to learn, lead and contribute in their communities. The Oasis Institute in St. Louis is the headquarters of a national network that serves a broad audience in 40 U.S. cities through nine educational centers and community partners. For more information, visit www.oasisnet.org

About GuideStar Nonprofit Profiles

The GuideStar database contains a profile for every tax-exempt nonprofit registered with the IRS. GuideStar encourages every nonprofit to claim and update its profile at no cost to the organization. Updating allows nonprofits to share a wealth of up-to-date information with the more than 8 million people who visit GuideStar to learn more about nonprofit organizations each year. Updating also allows nonprofits to share information with the more than 200 philanthropic websites and applications that are powered by GuideStar data. To reach a given participation level, organizations need to complete all required fields for that participation level. The GuideStar participation levels, acknowledged as symbols of transparency in the nonprofit sector, are displayed on all updated participants’ profiles in the GuideStar database.

“Every time we sit down in an Oasis class, there is somebody interesting sitting next to us,” says Tom Stafford.

It’s part of the reason that he and his wife, Ann, feel compelled to give regularly to Albuquerque Oasis. But over the years, their giving has become more focused because of an Oasis program they’re watching from afar for now: Oasis Intergenerational Tutoring.

“We get a lot from taking Oasis classes, but because we travel so much, we’re limited in the kind and amount of volunteering we do. We don’t actually have the schedule to commit to being tutors ourselves yet, but we feel our giving is a good way to ensure that the young people living in our community continue to get the support they need through this amazing program.”

Tom and Ann are active participants for most of the year at the Albuquerque Oasis, where Ann also volunteers once a week, but they find themselves gravitating during the months of January and April to classes offered at San Diego Oasis. The couple lived in San Diego for about ten years before moving to Albuquerque to be closer to their children and grandchildren, and still go back for long visits.

At both Oasis locations, the Staffords attend a lot of classes together, but feel just as free to go solo if it looks like a topic is going to satisfy an individual interest. Tom likes to learn more about science and history, and Ann find herself drawn to the arts, health and wellness and current events.

“The fact that we can both find so much that we are drawn to shows the breadth of the programming that’s available,” says Tom, who shares Oasis with others when the opportunity presents itself, which is pretty often.

“I find it’s interesting to relate just about any conversation to an experience or something I’ve learned about with Oasis. It’s a pretty easy segue,” he adds.

In addition to pursuing lifelong learning classes, Ann volunteers once a week at Albuquerque Oasis front desk, Tom volunteers with some other organizations in the community and they travel.

Learn more about the many ways to give to Oasis.

Being a part of Oasis means embracing a culture of lifelong learning, building connections with peers and finding purpose through volunteering.

Barbara Bluiett understands that. When she’s not wearing her technology instructor hat, lending a hand as a volunteer on a wide variety of special projects or taking classes, she finds herself serving as an ambassador for Indianapolis Oasis.

“I have become friends with so many people along the way that I might have never met, and it has added pleasure to my life,” she says. “Having a purpose each week only extends the enjoyment of my days. I want others to experience that feeling, so I am always talking about Oasis wherever I go. I just keep catalogs with me and give them out when I have the opportunity.”

Barbara has also found a convenient way to contribute financially to Oasis by making a registration gift every trimester when she registers for classes. She’s taken a little bit of everything, from current events to Spanish, and most recently, Tai Chi for Falls Prevention. For Barbara, this kind of regular giving makes sense. “It’s important to give what you can of your time, talent and also financially,” she adds. “It’s how an organization stays vital.”

Learn more about the many ways to give to Oasis.

“Learning new things is like a care package for both body and mind,” says Elinor Spring-Mills.

She has taken nearly 100 lifelong learning classes over the last three years at Upstate Oasis, in Syracuse, New York, where she has experienced and embraced the culture of lifelong learning, building connections with peers and finding purpose through volunteering.

“Oasis has been a source of great happiness to me,” Elinor says. “I have explored new subjects, refreshed others and made many interesting new friends.”

Elinor has been so impacted with her own experiences that she’s taken a generous step forward to ensure that others can have access to Oasis programs. She established the Elinor Spring-Mills, PhD, Educational Endowment Fund.

“The purpose of my fund is to promote and sustain education and learning for older adults who may not otherwise be able to participate,” she says. “Being retired may limit participation because of potential reduced income, medical expenses or limited mobility. I want others to be able to participate in Oasis now and in the future.”

Learn more about the many ways to give to Oasis.

Every year at this time, I find myself thinking, “I can’t believe the year is almost over. I have so much to do!”  As the year comes to a close, it’s easy to focus on family celebrations, buying presents and making sure our homes are ready for the holidays. It’s a time of year steeped in tradition, and a way to create new memories.

What about creating a tradition of giving back?  As a mom of a 2-year-old, this is something that is immensely important to me.  I want my daughter to see my actions and know that the holidays are time for celebration – and to know that a great way to celebrate is to give back to others who are less fortunate, and to support the things we love that fulfill our lives.

How does Oasis fulfill your life?

Ann has taken nearly 600 Oasis classes over the years and leads a hiking group:

“I get to see parts of the city that I didn’t even know existed. The people are the loveliest you will ever meet. Plus, I love to exercise and be outside. I really don’t think there is a downside.”

Pat finds a sense of purpose working one-on-one with students as an Oasis tutor:

“My student was completing the page in the Oasis ‘All About Me’ book this week, which asks the student to write a note to her tutor. On that page she wrote ‘I love you.’  Over this past year I wasn’t sure if I was making progress, but her note said it all.”

Jane learned to use Skype in an Oasis computer class, giving her the ability to see and speak to her grandkids on the West Coast. Kathy loves her tap dance class, where she shares laughs and stays in shape.  Charlie enjoys discovering new places in the community and making new friends through Oasis outings.

These participants are among the nearly 130,000 people taking classes or volunteering with Oasis nationwide. 

Supporting Oasis

I feel privileged every day to provide people the opportunity to support the Oasis programs they know and love. Will you consider supporting Oasis this year with a donation? Please join us and continue your lifelong adventure.

If you would like to make a gift to Oasis, please visit www.oasisnet.org/donate today, or mail a contribution to your local office.  Thank you for considering Oasis among your charitable priorities.

To learn more about Oasis programs and their impact, check out our 2016 Annual Report.

Once a teacher, always a teacher. After 40 years of working in public schools, Tom Henry still finds himself in the classroom. And he loves it.

“Being an instructor for Oasis allows me to take part in all the best parts about teaching,” he says. “The classes are great because there are no tests, no one looking over my shoulder to tell me how to teach and the people who are there want to be there.”

Tom’s tenure at Upstate Oasis in Syracuse, NY, started in 2007, when he was invited to teach classes for a national program on immigration. It didn’t take long to get hooked.

“When I got there to teach the course, I found fun, enthusiastic people to teach,” he says. He’s been teaching at Oasis ever since, having offered a wide variety of courses, primarily related to history. His classes about the Civil War, Native American history, the Supreme Court and the U.S. Constitution are popular, but he’s always game for new ideas.

“As people suggest things, I teach them. We just finished a class to recognize the 75th anniversary of World War II,” Tom says.

Tom travels a lot, and shares photos and stories about his adventures in a popular “Travels with Tom” series. Those who attend have enjoyed front row seats to some amazing places: Yellowstone, Grand Teton, German and Italy to name a few. There is no fee to listen in, only a donation to help raise money for Oasis. Tom also serves as Chair of the Education Committee for Upstate Oasis, as well as on the advisory council. 

In addition to volunteering, Tom is a committed donor.

“If we’re going to give good service, then we need the financial means to be able to do that,” he says. “One of the joys of giving is to be able to give back to an organization that I think is doing important work. Oasis provides an avenue for older adults to keep learning in a friendly environment. It is an important part of who I am.”

There are a number of ways to give to Oasis.

Tom is featured in the 2016 Oasis Annual Report.

After she retired from teaching, Thelma Willis took advice from a friend and checked out Oasis in St. Louis. That was in 2001. And a lot of wonderful life has taken place since then.

“I can certainly say that my life has gotten better since becoming a member of Oasis,” Thelma says. “I have learned more about myself and how to keep my body and mind healthy.”

Thelma admits it would be hard for her to choose which Oasis classes have been her favorites. She’s taken more than 100, everything from line dancing to genealogy to African American short stories. 

“I have learned many new things by attending classes, but I think I have learned even more from other participants. We all come from different backgrounds, and it feels good to come together despite our differences. Everyone at Oasis is so friendly. The people I have met are so easy to talk to.”

Volunteering has proven another sweet spot for Thelma, who has worn a number of helpful hats for Oasis—answering phones, making calls, data entry, attending health fairs and coordinating classes, to name a just a few. For her, giving her time is another way to connect to others and grow even more.

“Before I joined Oasis, I was more of a follower, but I have learned about how to lead,” she says. “I want to learn even more about myself as a person.”

Thelma gives regularly to Oasis through the Friends of Oasis annual giving campaign.
“I love it so much, and I want to help,” she says. “I donate because I want other people to know about Oasis. I get so energized by Oasis and I see so many other people who are energized, too!”

There are a number of ways to give to Oasis. 

Thelma is featured in our 2016 Annual Report.

When you want to grow, learn and give back, where do you turn?

Across the country, more than 368,000 older adults find Oasis the perfect place to grow – mentally, physically and socially.

The opportunities are many. Whether you are tutoring a child through the Oasis Intergenerational Tutoring Program, taking lifelong learning classes on interesting topics such as local history, arts and humanities or technology, or improving your health through exercise or falls prevention classes, you are growing with Oasis.

We deeply value our participants and want to make sure your involvement helps lead to a healthy and fulfilling life. In a participant survey conducted last spring, 89 percent of you told us that participation in Oasis has enriched your lives; 90 percent shared that your experience with Oasis was intellectually stimulating. This fall, many of you shared what Oasis means to you.

• Tutor Ann Wexler from Washington DC Metro says, “You get to an age in your life where you start thinking about legacy building. What better way to do that than help the youngest generation one child at a time?”
• “I feel right at home with Oasis,” says Parks Smith of St. Louis, MO. “I get satisfaction out of helping people. But more than that, Oasis members are a support system for me. Plus, our programs are important. They keep people in shape, teach them how to use technology to improve their lives and provide a way for people to stay social.”
• Jean Shafer of Rochester, NY, says, “Oasis classes provide great stimulation of mind and body. There is such a wide variety of offerings taught by superb instructors. The spirit in the place is amazing! It is important to give back to an organization that provides a sense of purpose and community.”

We are committed to keeping our costs lower than similar programs offered by universities or other providers. Reaching underserved adults who are most at risk and can benefit from education and preventive health is also a priority. A nonprofit organization, OASIS does this with generous support from local communities, corporations, foundations AND individuals.

The Friends of Oasis annual giving campaign is underway. We are thankful to everyone who has already given. If you have not yet had the opportunity to make a contribution, please visit us online at www.oasisnet.org/donate to make a gift or mail a check to your local Oasis office. We appreciate the opportunity to be among your charitable priorities.

To learn more about Oasis programs and our impact, check out our 2015 Annual Report at

www.oasisnet.org/annualreport.

 

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Oasis was such an integral part of Carmen Garcia’s later years that honoring her memory with a tribute gift seems natural to her children, Gilda, Gina and Gilbert.

Carmen took classes and volunteered in the office of the San Antonio Oasis for more than 20 years, an achievement that she was thrilled to share with her family during a 20-year pin ceremony in 2011.

 

“That was one of the happiest days of my mother’s life,” says Gilbert. “She was so excited. I will always remember that because it was such a significant moment to be recognized for her work, which she took very seriously.”

 

The impact Oasis had on Carmen’s life was evident, even from afar.

 

“We were all living out of town for most of those years, but Mother was independent, happy and had a full plate because of Oasis,” says Gilbert.

 

 

“Mom set the bar pretty high for the level of engagement and activity after retirement,” says Gilda. “She told us, ‘These are the best years of my life.’ And she meant it.”

 

Extended family, extended life

The Garcia siblings knew that through Oasis, their mother had bonded with people who became her extended family. They were pleasantly, thankfully surprised to discover the extent to which people cared about her.

 

“Brenda Schmachtenberger, the executive director for Oasis in San Antonio, would reach out to us and tell us how Mom was doing,” says Gilbert. “When Brenda knew that Mom’s abilities were diminishing, she would just find something else for her to do in the office, something easier to deal with.  It allowed her to stay engaged and keep her dignity. That sort of personal touch meant a lot to us.”

 

When Carmen passed away in February 2015, her children were again moved to know more about the impact their mother had on others.

 

“At the wake, we had a celebration of Mom’s life. It was attended by such a large number of people who were part of Oasis,” says Gilda. “There was a choir and drummers. They all came and performed. It was such a loving and fun way to remember her. You could really see how they all considered themselves to be connected and part of a family.” People spontaneously started getting up and telling stories about Mom and what they remembered about her.  It was great to hear those stories.”

 

Celebrating a life well lived

All three of Carmen’s children agree that their mother would be pleased to know they’ve chosen to thank Oasis with a legacy gift in her memory.

 

“We’re all the first generation to go to college and we wouldn’t have the quality of life we have or the success we have, without our mother’s spirit and effort and support,” says Gina. “Giving to Oasis is a way of celebrating her.”

 

Gilbert agrees.

 

“Oasis was such a significant part of our mother’s life. We want to extend Oasis as much as we can to make sure it is around for others to take part in. Mom’s is one of the best end-of-life stories I’ve ever heard.”

 

To learn more about how to make a gift in honor or in memory of a loved one, contact Lyndsey Reichardt, National Development Manager at lreichardt@oasisnet.org or 314-862-2933, Ext. 240.