Earlier this year, Ramey employees were challenged to submit big, bold ideas for consideration for the new Reach Higher grant program. By submitting “bucket list” goals we had always been hesitant to act upon, we’d be pushed out of comfort zones to “Reach Higher” than we ever thought possible.
At the annual Ramey crawfish boil this spring our CEO, Chris Ray, revealed the Ramey Reach Higher grant award winners. Julie Staires received a grant to travel to Haiti to serve women and children for a week at a malnutrition center.
“My trip to Haiti was a leap of faith to Reach Higher out of my comfort zone of suburban Madison,” said Julie. “Thanks to God, the amazing team I went with, the unbelievable staff and interns with But God Ministries at the Hope Center and the Pen Lavi Malnutrition Center, and the Ramey Agency Reach Higher grant and other contributions, I was able to serve, love and be blessed by the people of Haiti. I may not be a painter, gardener, pharmacist or nanny in the US, but God allowed me to tackle a few of these jobs in small ways; meeting needs, no matter how small.”
Tania Romano received a grant to travel to Tanzania, Africa, to meet the child she and her husband had been offering financial support to. She stepped outside of her comfort zone and traveled to a country where she did not know the language or the people.
“Our journey to Tanzania helped show our sponsored child, Sikitiko, that he and his family are not alone and long distances are no obstacle,” said Tania as she reflected on her recent trip.
Seeing our fellow Ramey team members reach goals they never thought possible has been inspirational to all of us. By traveling the world and pushing themselves, we’ve seen that stepping outside of comfort zones not only benefits the person doing it, but all of those who witness it as well. Julie and Tania did not just attempt to “Reach Higher” – they succeeded.
