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Our Press Releases
LAFAYETTE, CA— Jan. 2008 — Capital Advantage Gives Locally (Contra Costa County EHSD Public Information Office) — by Jackie Johnston
John Hayman is the owner of Capital Advantage, Inc., retirement planning and investment management specialists, in Lafayette. He found VESTIA in 2005 when he and his employees were looking for a way to give to local families. He says, “I’m charitably inclined as I think most people are, but I don’t want to just give a donation to a big agency. I like to see my hard-earned money used in the community locally, and I told VESTIA that I wanted to be involved in what goes on. It’s different when you can see what your contribution means to a local family.”
“Everyone here has a family,” explains Aimee Schwartze, Capital Advantage’s Director of Client Services. “We wanted to do something, and I thought we could adopt a family for the holidays. I did some research and found VESTIA’s Angel Tree that first year. We bought toys for that program, and then in 2006 and 2007, we contributed gifts and cash donations to VESTIA for theHoliday Helpers Warehouse.”
Aimee is the organizer of the holiday campaign at Capital Advantage, and she recruited coworkers and clients to give to VESTIA too. “We sent a letter to everyone on our client list asking for their donations. We made it easy for them to drop things off at our office, and set up cookies and coffee for them when they came by. If they also wanted to meet with us or ask questions about their investments while they were here, we made ourselves available to talk business too. We had a good response to our letters.”
John believes, “People want to give, but they don’t know how or where. Our firm has a circle of influence, and we do make certain representations, so we want to be sure that the agency we contribute to is really giving the donations to the people who need help the most. I personally want to talk to the mom I’m helping and see what she needs.”
John and his wife Nicola contributed $1,000 to VESTIA at the holidays, and John says he also made a few calls to clients to urge them to match that contribution. Aimee made numerous trips back and forth to Martinez to deliver all the donations Capital Advantage received for the Holiday Helpers Warehouse. And John made good on his intention to be involved in seeing where the money goes by spending some time at the Holiday Helpers Warehouse as a volunteer. He says “I was the only man there the day I volunteered, and I talked to people and saw for myself how it worked. It was a good experience.”
Aimee also volunteered at the Holiday Helpers Warehouse, and came away with her theme for the 2008 drive. “We noticed that no one donated blankets,” she says, “And a lot of people asked for them. It’s sad to me to think that someone needs a new, warm blanket, and we didn’t have that to give. So, we’re going to ask for new blanket donations this year. I’d like to set a goal for us, and try to get 1,000 new blankets.”
John responds a little hesitantly to Aimee’s lofty goal. He suggests, “Maybe we should try for 500 blankets…1,000 might be a little high.” Aimee though is enthusiastic about her plan, “We could call stores and ask them if they could donate blankets too. It’s something we could do year-round. If we start getting them early, maybe we’ll just rent a storage unit to keep them in! We could do that, couldn’t we?” John agrees, “Sure, sure. You just start calling those stores, and we’ll see what they say.”
VESTIA thanks John, Aimee and all the employees and clients of Capital Advantage for their generous support of VESTIA. If you'd like to help Aimee with their 2008 Blanket Drive, call her at (925) 299-1500, or aimee.schwartze@capitaladvantage.com.
LAFAYETTE, CA— Dec. 2007 — Capital Advantage, Inc. Donates to East Bay Charities and Schools (BUSINESS WIRE)
Aimee Schwartze, Director of Client Services at Capital Advantage, Inc., organized another successful campaign to raise needed money, toys and warm clothes for the neediest of the needy in the East Bay. Schwartze said, "It's truly heartwarming when you can provide a warm blanket, coats and toys for a woman living out of her car with her children." Aimee received donations from family, friends, co-workers, Capital Advantage, and clients of Capital Advantage, Inc. totaling over 45 toys, 125 articles of clothing and cash for a total in excess of $2,229. Ms. Schwartze worked through VESTIA (Volunteer Emergency Services Team in Action) a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization where approximately 100% of the donations go directly to the recipients.
In addition, Gary Clarke, Director of Sales at Capital Advantage, Inc., organized a school fund raising activity where 50% of Capital Advantage's holiday purchases were donated to the Bollinger Elementary School of San Ramon, California. The purchases netted the school fund $1,100 where Gary's daughter Courtney is a student. The proceeds of this fund are used for needed art, music, library and athletic supplies.
Capital Advantage, Inc. is a provider of 100% Fee-Only financial advice in the Lafayette, Orinda and Moraga cities. Capital Advantage, Inc. provides a complete range of Financial Planning services that includes Retirement, Inheritance and Estate Planning.
LAFAYETTE, CA— Aug. 2007 — Capital Advantage, Inc. Announces Gary Clarke Promoted to Director of Sales (BUSINESS WIRE)
Capital Advantage, Inc., a provider of 100% Fee-Only financial advice with over 350 Clients and $270 million in Assets under Management, has promoted Gary Clarke to Director of Sales.
Clarke moved to Capital Advantage, Inc. in 2005 as a Senior Financial Advisor from Charles Schwab & Co. He has developed a successful track record managing and developing new business relationships with high net worth individuals, business owners and centers of influence.
Capital Advantage, Inc. is a provider of 100% Fee-Only financial advice in the Lafayette, Orinda and Moraga cities. Capital Advantage, Inc. provides a complete range of Financial Planning services that includes Retirement, Inheritance and Estate Planning.
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