Creative energy, at times, seems to generate more ideas for local businesswoman Constance Wolfe than she can keep track of.
She has ideas to help increase charitable contributions to non-profits, improve local businesses and even help with funding shortfalls in Lawrence schools.
Wolfe, 41, established and operates a network of local restaurants - a group called the Lawrence Originals. In addition, she heads up the Lawrence Give Back program, the Lawrence Fireworks Festival, and she’s put her ideas to work for the benefit of local businesses and the Lawrence community.
Under the Give Back Program, which she started in 2009, local shoppers help generate charitable donations to local organizations when they use a card at local businesses. It has raised about $75,000 for area non-profits.
"It’s really easy to convince people to take a card and use it," said Lori Harse, director of operations for the Lawrence Habitat or Humanity, one of about 100 non-profits that receives funding from the program.
Harse said she appreciates Wolfe’s outside-the-box thinking.
"She’s got a lot of creativity," Harse said.
Using that creativity to increase local business, while helping the community, is at the heart of Wolfe’s life ambition.
For instance, at the Fourth of July event she’s planning for the second year with the Lawrence Originals in Watson Park, revenue and booth fees from area businesses will help fund the fireworks show.
"It’s just the passion that I have" said Wolfe, a Lawrence High graduate and Lawrence native.
Wolfe said working with businesses is easy for her because she understands the needs of small businesses. Wolfe’s mother founded the local bed and breakfast, the Halcyon House, in 1985. Wolfe left the area in 1986, received a political science degree at the University of California at San Diego, but came back to her hometown in 1995 to help her mother run the business.
Though she says she has yet to pay herself, the Give Back program is a for-profit marketing business, and she has hopes to expand the business in the coming years. Her goal is to someday generate more than $200,000 annually for local charities, while also being able to hire staff and make a living through the work.
But it’s really about an investment in the community she grew up in, she said.
Wolfe and her husband, John Novosel, have a 3-year-old daughter, Chloe, who in a couple years will enter the Lawrence public school system. Wolfe gets particularly fired up when talking about cuts to local school funding.
Which of course, generates more local business community problem-solving ideas for Wolfe.
The wheels start turning in Wolfe’s head as she talks about her continuing mission to get Lawrence residents to spend their money locally, thus generating more tax dollars for local schools.
"Imagine if they (Lawrence public schools) got behind this," Wolfe said.
She doesn’t have a creative formal plan yet to increase funding for area schools, but if her past success is an indication, she might have one soon.
5 June 2010 Midge Grinstead, Executive Director of the Lawrence Humane Society, talks about Give Back on The Jeremy Taylor Show
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18 February 2010 Restaurants to boost school district budget
Donations to help the Lawrence school district battle its budget crisis aren’t pouring in.
Still, there are plenty of avenues for people to help, including by eating next Tuesday and Wednesday at 19 Lawrence restaurants that will donate proceeds to the district as it faces a $5 million budget shortfall because of the state’s budget crisis.
"The school board is facing some really tough decisions right now with the cuts they need to do," said Constance Wolfe, founder of the Lawrence GiveBack Program. "We’re doing everything we can to support them."
Susan Esau, executive director of the Lawrence Schools Foundation, said Wednesday only one family had donated so far after the announcement last week the district had set up a budget assistance fund.
She said the lack of donations has not discouraged the district because the foundation encouraged donors to wait and contribute after the school board identifies its budget cuts in March or April.
"We’d be better able to meet our donors’ intent if we all wait," Esau said. "Then we can all look at specific programs and specific price tags."
A group of 19 restaurants known as the Lawrence Originals has been donating 5 percent of purchases made through the GiveBack program every Tuesday and Wednesday this month.
So far the program has only raised a little more than $300, but Wolfe said she hoped a recent push could spur more people to go out to eat next Tuesday and Wednesday to donate.
If diners present their GiveBack cards to servers, the restaurant will donate 5 percent of their tab to the school fund.
Wolfe said people who don’t have cards can get one for free at the restaurants. Card owners can also go online at lawrencegiveback .com and select the "general school fund" as their beneficiary.
It’s modeled after a program at the restaurants in the last year that has donated about $60,000 to local charities and agencies.
1 February 2010 Dine Out in February and raise funds for our local schools
It’s very simple...
Go to any Lawrence Originals restaurant anytime on Tuesday or Wednesday the whole month of February 2010.
Present your Lawrence Give Back Card and the restaurant will donate an additional 5% to Lawrence Public Schools. If you don’t have a Give Back Card, the restaurant will provide one to you for FREE.
You will enjoy the normal benefits of your Give Back card in addition to the 5% donation to the schools.
7 December 2009 Card carrier: 'GiveBack' promoter thinks global, shops local
Constance Wolfe, 41, co-owner of Halcyon House, creator of the Dining Card Group and Lawrence GiveBack card, is passionate about supporting local businesses and helping nonprofit organizations in spite of the gloomy economy. Although she’s traveled throughout the United States as a competitive Ultimate Frisbee player and halfway around the world as a fifth-grader, her heart’s in Lawrence.
"I believe we can all do something to support our local community in spite of these tough economic times," she says.
Wolfe’s own sense of community was challenged when her parents divorced and her mother sold their Wichita home and took 10-year-old Wolfe and her 17-year-old brother globe-trotting.
"We traveled throughout England and Europe, staying in bed and breakfasts and living out of suitcases," she recalls.
Plans to meet an older brother in China were abandoned when her maternal grandfather died. She moved to Lawrence in 1985 when her mother and business partner acquired Halcyon House.
Wolfe’s internal unrest was mirrored in world events such as protests in China and efforts to topple the Berlin Wall, and inspired her to travel again after graduating from Lawrence High School in 1986.
"After graduation I decided to go to the University of California to study political science for personal benefit and understanding of world events," she recalls.
As part of the university’s intern program, Wolfe worked in the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s international relationship department in Washington, D.C. She remained in D.C. after her 1991 graduation and worked for the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones.
In 1995 she returned to Lawrence. She became co-owner of Halcyon House and worked in real estate. She became involved with the distribution of Lawrence Dining Cards, a program for real estate agents to purchase dining cards and personalize them for clients. The program was a success and expanded into the Kansas City and Denver markets.
"I created the Dining Card Group as the umbrella organization for all these outlets and to cover future expansion," Wolfe explains.
A casual breakfast conversation with a Halcyon guest inspired her to study business models and eventually led her to develop another dining card program to benefit charitable organizations and local restaurants.
"Once the program was implemented and I saw how local charities made it a successful fundraising program, I was hooked," she says.
She was hooked in another way, too. Friends arranged a blind date with John Novosel Jr., and they’re now married with a 3-year-old daughter.
When state and city budget cuts began affecting local businesses and nonprofits, Wolfe stepped into action. She worked with 20 local restaurants, Checkers Foods and several other businesses to develop the Lawrence GiveBack program. When the free card is presented at a participating business, a percentage of the bill is donated to the cardowner’s named charity. The card has generated nearly $3 million for local businesses and more than $40,000 for local nonprofits since its February 2009 inception.
"I enjoy working with local business owners," Wolfe says. "The GiveBack card’s a great fun way for all of us to support our local community especially in this season of giving."
19 November 2009 Lawrence Give Back Gift Cards
Just in time for gift giving season, we are now offering Lawrence Give Back Gift Cards and Gift Card Donations. It is important that we give back during the holidays, and shopping within the Lawrence Give Back network is the perfect way to show others that you care. When people use the Lawrence Give Back Program, it’s benefiting YOU.
New Gift Cards can be purchased or you can even load money onto a friend, family member or loved one’s Gift Card that they can redeem at any participating Lawrence Give Back merchant.
Also, consumers can choose to make a Gift Card Donation, which is simply a donation made as a gift on behalf of a recipient by the gift giver. This is a great way to give someone a thoughtful, heart-felt gift without having to spend a lot of time. Plus, it helps the community!
*NOTE: Funds are not immediately added to gift card at time of purchase. Recipient must add funds to card to activate it.
17 November 2009 Lawrence Give Back Pocket Directories
Get a go-to guide (with a holder for your Give Back card) listing all the places which accept Lawrence Give Back cards. Pick one up at one of our participating charities or merchants.
7 December 2009 Card carrier: 'GiveBack' promoter thinks global, shops local
Lawrence nonprofit agencies are getting their first glimpse at how a new free dining card program is paying off.
Patrons of local, independently owned businesses have generated $20,000 in charitable contributions for multiple organizations since the inception of the Lawrence GiveBack program, which started in late February.
Participating establishments said they’re pleased by its success and hope it continues to grow.
"The more people become aware of it, the better it’s going to be," said Doug Holiday, owner of Bigg’s BBQ, 2429 Iowa, one of 17 Lawrence restaurants that participate in the program. "If people start tuning in on that, it’s going to help our economy."
The confederation of restaurants, known as the Lawrence Originals, and Checkers grocery store are participating in the program. Each time a patron presents a free GiveBack card at one of the businesses, the business donates money to a local charity of the cardholder’s choice.
To date, about 7,000 people carry the card and have spent about $1.3 million at the participating businesses, said Constance Wolfe, who is paid to manage the GiveBack program.
The restaurants donate 5 percent of food bills, and Checker’s donates 1 percent of grocery bills, to the cardholder’s chosen charity. The cards are available at the participating restaurants and charities, which are listed at the program’s Web site, lawrencegiveback.com.
"People are using it, but I think it will continue to grow as people see the amount of money that is going to go to local charities," said Hilary Brown, owner of Local Burger, 714 Vt., which participates in the program.
Wolfe said the program has started cutting the first checks to participating charities, many of which are searching anywhere they can for money, as they deal with budget cuts and rising costs.
The payoffs, which were celebrated at the Fourth of July festival the groups sponsored downtown, been highest for the Lawrence Humane Society, 1805 E. 19th St., which received a check for $5,700 through the program.
"Our costs are huge, so having some extra money come in really makes a difference," said Midge Grinstead, humane society executive director.
National Public Radio and Habitat for Humanity were each issued $1,300 checks. Other checks have yet to be cut, Wolfe said.
Diners, themselves, also are rewarded for participating in the program. They receive one point for every dollar spent at the participating restaurants. For every 200 points collected, they’ll have $10 added to their card to spend at participating businesses.
Each quarter, Checkers will place dollars on the card equal to 1 percent of total spending at the grocery store.
Locally owned Lawrence businesses are stepping up once again.
A group of 17 locally owned restaurants, along with the locally owned Checkers grocery store, have initiated a program that will divert a portion of their profits to nonprofit agencies in Lawrence. As icing on the cake, people who use the cards also earn points that can accumulate and provide them with bonus dollars to spend at the participating businesses.
The program is called Lawrence GiveBack. Customers can designate any verifiable nonprofit agency in Lawrence to receive a donation equal to 5 percent of their restaurant bill (excluding tax, tip and alcohol). They also accumulate a point for every dollar they spend; 200 points earns the cardholder a $10 credit that can be used at any of the participating businesses. Checkers will donate 1 percent of a customer’s grocery bill and, each quarter, return another 1 percent to the shopper’s card for future purchases.
There are many positive things about national restaurant and retail chains. They contribute to Lawrence’s retail choices and supply thousands of jobs. But there simply is no denying that when it comes to supporting local schools, organizations and nonprofits, locally owned businesses are the stars. A full list of the restaurants participating in Lawrence GiveBack is available at LJWorld.com.
That’s especially worth considering in light of the fact that many locally owned businesses are struggling now. Three Massachusetts Street retail stores - Arensberg’s, Silverworks and Second Chance - that have done business in Lawrence for more than 30 years have closed since the beginning of the year, and another long-time retailer - Palace Cards & Gifts - has indicated it likely will close its doors if a deal goes through to lease its space to a restaurant chain.
Not only is it sad to see these longtime retailers go out of business, but the loss of retail stores and a corresponding shift to more restaurants or entertainment venues will have a significant impact on downtown.
It’s all a reminder of what an important role local business owners play in our community. The Lawrence GiveBack card is just the latest example of how these businesses help support Lawrence; local shoppers and restaurant customers should make it a point to return the favor.
13 February 2009 Dining Program Lets You Give Back
If Lawrence residents maintain healthy appetites during these rough economic times, tens of thousands of dollars may be headed toward Lawrence social service agencies.
A group of 17 locally owned restaurants and the Checkers grocery store have teamed up to create a free dining card program that will donate money directly to Lawrence nonprofit agencies.
"The only thing we’re reading in the newspaper right now is how much the city or the state is going to cut from these organizations,” said organizer Constance Wolfe. Here’s how the program - called the Lawrence GiveBack Card - will work:
You can go to any of the 17 participating restaurants and present your card. The restaurant will scan the card through a special reader, and then automatically donate 5 percent of your bill - excluding tax, tip and alcohol purchases - to a Lawrence nonprofit agency that you have designated on your card. You’ll also be awarded one point for every dollar you spend at the participating restaurants. For every 200 points you collect, you’ll have $10 added to your card to spend at participating businesses.
You also can present your card at Checkers, 2300 La. Checkers will automatically donate 1 percent of your purchase to your chosen charity. Each quarter, Checkers will place on your card dollars equal to 1 percent of your total spending at Checkers that quarter.
Consumers don’t have to pay anything to get a card, and the cards will be valid for at least a year, Wolfe said.
Local nonprofits are hopeful that the card program can provide a significant boost in funding. Midge Grinstead, executive director of the Lawrence Humane Society, said that conservative estimates are that the program could provide $30,000 to be split among participating nonprofit agencies. If the card is widely used, Grinstead said it could easily generate more than $100,000 for nonprofits.
"It could make for a heck of a year," Grinstead said. "And it is so much better than having my hand held out. I feel like I’m doing that all the time. People are great, but you always would like to give them something more than the satisfaction they get by giving."
Local business owners are hoping that the card program serves as a reminder of the importance of shopping locally.
"We’re obviously hoping to get more business out of it," said Doug Holiday, an owner of Bigg’s BBQ who helped organize the local restaurant group. "We’re hoping it will generate more repetition and more loyalty, and give people a reason to dine at the local restaurants instead of the national chains."
The restaurants and Checkers are paying Wolfe - who started a separate dining card program in 2004 - a fee to manage the program. But the social service agencies do not have to pay a fee. They keep the full 5 percent donation from restaurants and the full 1 percent donation from Checkers.
The program also will include a monthly e-mail to cardholders to update them on how much the project has raised, and how much they have individually donated through their purchases.
Wolfe said all the businesses have committed to try the project for a year. She said if the program goes well, she hopes to allow other locally owned retailers to join the program. But she said the program is designed to allow only locally owned businesses to participate.
"We’re trying to stimulate our local business community as much as possible," Wolfe said. "There’s so much that is out of our control with the economy these days, so if we can do something to help our local economy, we should."
Businesses are expected to start accepting the cards on Monday. The program has been in the development stage for about 15 months.
"But it looks like it is going to be amazing timing for the social service agencies," Holiday said.
