If there’s one lesson in life Mike and Karen Crovetti have taken to heart, it’s that lending a hand to a good cause doesn’t require a black tie.
“It’s easy to get the wrong idea about ‘charitable giving’ in general, when you read stories about how this gala reception raised $100,000 for a worthy cause, or that formal event brought in $250,000 for a certain celebrity’s favorite organization,” according to Dr. Michael Crovetti, a successful and well-liked orthopaedic surgeon here in Southern Nevada. “Of course evenings like those are great successes. But sometimes I think it causes people to forget the powerful impact you can have on someone’s life – with just one person, doing one good thing, one day at a time.”
Many years ago when they chose to make Las Vegas their home – the place they live, work, and raise their family – Dr. Crovetti and his wife, Karen, were like many young couples, working hard and doing the best they could, day by day. According to Mike, “Our life together has been an incredible journey, and such a blessing. Karen and I are so incredibly grateful to the people of Southern Nevada for helping us achieve success we never anticipated.” For them, finding ways to give back to the community from which they received so much support is, well, a ‘no-brainer’ for Mike and Karen.
Together, the Crovettis are living proof that a sense of gratitude, charity, and philanthropic tendencies can pop up at any given moment. Their criteria? When either one sees a need that they can help meet, they’ll do what they can, when they can.
“Getting involved with the National Charity League in Las Vegas has had a tremendous impact on my life,” states Karen Crovetti. “Through the NCL, I’ve been introduced to many excellent organizations that are doing truly good things here in the valley.” Among the many non-profits that Karen and Mike support are the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada, Three Square, and Goodie Two Shoes.
“What people often don’t consider is that volunteer organizations like these not only need financial support – but ‘people’ support, too,” continues Karen. “Mike and I know that we are so lucky to be able to help many of these charities with monetary donations – but we also give our time and efforts as much as possible. In some cases, we do it as a family, too. We believe it’s important for our children to get involved and understand that a simple human gesture can help change someone’s attitude or their immediate circumstances. And sometimes, perhaps even the path they choose to follow.”
Setting an example for people outside their own family may not be what Mike and Karen Crovetti set out to do, but it is a happy byproduct of their own commitment to helping others and be of service. “We’re thrilled that many of our friends and co-workers have chosen to take part in food drives and other events, and also recognize that the work doesn’t just ‘magically’ get done – we all need to actively participate and give our time,” adds Karen.
Time, money – and perhaps a willingness to step outside the box, so to speak. Just one example of taking personal responsibility and action for a tough situation: In response to learning about a student who couldn’t afford his schoolbooks for the year, it took only a moment for Dr. Crovetti to help provide an impactful solution: He purchased new Kindles for the student’s entire class. “It was something I could do, so I just did it.”
And while this was a quick solution to a problem that a student should never have to face – the fact is, this one gesture could have a long-term positive effect on every one of those kids – for reasons Mike Crovetti may never even come to know. Did it help a family out financially? Did it encourage a student to read more than he might otherwise have? Did a kid avoid physical problems by not having to carry pounds of books every day? It’s a powerful example of how easy it can be to help others, and how the ripples of our efforts grow and affect the community at large.
“It’s important that people realize there are opportunities all around us, every day, where we can choose to make a difference,” remarks Karen Crovetti. “That’s the message we’d really like to help people ‘get.'” Mike agrees, adding, “It’s true – we’re all busy with our own lives and families, and just taking care of our own business every day. But it’s still possible – and easier than you might think – to look outside your own circumstances, see a need, realize you can help, and then just do it.”
Mike and Karen Crovetti strongly believe that it’s a message worth spreading. When to give? What you can, when you can.