Why Donate

Why Donate?

When you receive good service at a restaurant, you typically leave a 15% or 20% tip for the server. Maybe you have only been there an hour or so, but restaurant workers depend on tips to supplement their incomes. And most of us want to thank the server for his or her efforts on our behalf. We realize that our tip is meant exclusively for the worker, not the restaurant manager or owner.

The year-end cash appreciation gift from the VEBF to our POA workers, not the management, is for the same purpose: to thank the workers for their efforts on our behalf. Here in Hot Springs Village, those efforts are made day in and day out, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The work performed by POA employees is the "meal" in our restaurant analogy, and your monthly POA assessment is the price of the meal. Your donation to the VEBF is the tip!

While the VEBF can’t give each worker a 20% tip, thanks to the generosity of our Fund members, we are able to help our workers pay an electric bill, make a car payment, or provide some nicer presents for their children at Christmastime...a very meaningful “thank you” for all their hard work and dedication.

The Village Employees Benefit Fund publishes a full page ad in the Hot Springs Village Voice, listing the names of all the donors we have, thanking them for their contributions. When a donor was asked by our board president her reaction to the ad, she said “I’m surprised there aren’t more names there."

Below are some reasons Village residents have provided as to why they choose to donate to the Village Employees Benefit Fund.

A Note from the VEBF Co-Founder

The VEBF was the brain child of Dr. Bud Holt in 1999. Bud asked Bob Smith and me to help him form the original board to put together a fund that would be a Christmas gift from all of the people in Hot Springs Village to all of the employees of the POA…sort of like a tip to a good wait staff.

I liked the concept then and I still like it today. So many of the POA employees go way out of their way to do things for the Village residents, and this is a great way for us to tell them thank you. In addition to the annual Christmas present to all of the POA employees, we kept a little back every year to have funds to help an employee through a catastrophe such as the loss of a child or a house being burned down.

As long as I am alive I will continue to make contributions to this fund, and pray that every household in the village will make a contribution no matter how small."

- Bill Brusenhan, Co-Founder VEBF

Testimonials from Villagers

"Village employees, both full and part time, are the backbone of the Village, and without them we would not enjoy all the amenities that we all are afforded. Thanks for all you do. "

- Dave Coombs

"The Village Employees Benefit Fund is a wonderful way to show ALL of our dedicated employees how much we appreciate their hard work. Every department has proven that we are fortunate to have such loyal and able people here in Hot Springs Village. I wholly recommend all Villagers support our wonderful employees."

- E.B. & Wanda Selman

"If anyone deserves a Christmas bonus, it’s our Village employees. I’m talking about the daily employees. Take the sanitation department: they work in all kinds of weather. And a call to the sewer department brings them out the same day! For they’re paid, we are blessed to have such dedicated employees. Spread the spirit of Christmas!"

- Darlene Pittman

"Hot Springs Village neighbors, please join me and my husband in contributing what you can. This annual “thank you” gift goes to our 450 non-executive employees for their service. In addition, a donation of $1,000 was recently made to injured firefighter, Lt. Zach Sykora. When we have an ice storm, crippling snowstorm, fire, tornadoes, or some other emergency, their services are very visible; what isn’t visible is their day-to-day effectiveness, even though our workers must do their jobs in heat, cold, and sometimes other dangerous conditions."

- Diane Bielanski

Few Villagers comprehend the hard work and dedication displayed every day by POA employees. We wouldn't have the Village we have today without them. What amazes me is how they "just get on with it" day after day, usually operating way below the radar, always with a smile and a willingness to help. Our POA employees deserve our support 24/7/365.

- Frank Leeming

(former POA Board member, former editor of the Hot Springs Village Voice)

"In the 14 years we have lived in Hot Springs Village, we have experienced many reasons to appreciate the courteous, efficient service we receive from POA employees. To us the POA staff members are not nameless city employees; they are friends and neighbors, and we appreciate all they do for us. We appreciate the men who pick up our trash every week, often in very uncomfortable weather. We appreciate the two men who showed up promptly when lightning killed our grinder pump. We appreciate the friendly person at the customer service counter who greets us when we walk into the POA office and quickly takes care of our business.

The Village Employee Benefit Fund is an excellent way for all Village residents to show their appreciation for the outstanding service we receive from our POA employees. Not only does the Fund provide an appropriate gratuity to every employee at the end of the year, but also it provides funds to assist employee families who experience an emergency such as damage to their home or a major medical issue. We are happy to have the opportunity to give to the Fund every year to say thanks to our great employees."

- Harv and Millie Shelton

"We’ve had the good fortune during our years here in Hot Springs Village to have developed and maintained a close relationship with the employees of our HSVPOA… Our POA staff at all levels has become to us “family”. They are dedicated, knowledgeable, and committed to serving all of us in these idyllic surroundings that we call home – Hot Springs Village. And one of the reasons we quickly fell in love with this unique Village was because of the service that we receive from our POA family every day.

We give to the POA Employees Benefit Fund because these folks are part of our family, and we love them all."

- Bob & Connie Shoemaker

Employee morale is precious. It can’t be ordered or bought. It only grows when there is a sense of loyalty to the community. But for that sense of loyalty to grow, the community needs to step up and recognize when someone from the public utilities department responds quickly to a complaint, or when a police officer responds to a vehicle accident, or when a golf course worker tends the greens on a favorite course. And since you often don’t come in contact with the workers who make those things happen, a donation to the VEBF is your best way to say “Thank You!” to those workers.

We appreciate your donation—and so do they! Check out some of the ways your donations are used by the workers on the “Who Benefits” menu option.

Village Employees Benefit Fund

Why Donate?

A Note from the VEBF Co-Founder

Testimonials from Villagers

Submit a Testimonial

Thank your for supporting the VEBF

Village Employees Benefit Fund

Why Donate?

A Note from the VEBF Co-Founder

Testimonials from Villagers

Submit a Testimonial

Thank your for supporting the VEBF

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