By Amanda Ponzar For a few years now, I've been working on a partnership with the Walmart Foundation, United Way, One Economy and the National Disability Institute's Real Economic Impact Tour. The partnership offers eligible tax payers free online tax filing through MyFreeTaxes.com plus free, in-person tax preparation services through... Read more →
By Amanda Ponzar This week I attended a memorial service for a colleague, only 47 years old when she passed away unexpectedly. What does it mean? Why does this happen? How do we respond? What are we supposed to learn? How do we come away wiser, deeper, better? At times... Read more →
By Amanda Ponzar A new study, “Gender and Corporate Responsibility: It’s a Matter of Sustainability” by Catalyst and Harvard Business School finds companies with more women board members and leaders outperform financially but also give significantly more to philanthropy. For example, “the average donations of companies with three or more... Read more →
By Amanda Ponzar Now more than ever, during this joyous holiday season with all the hustle and bustle, it's a good time to think about what really matters. Like patience -- not giving other drivers the finger during bad traffic (I can't tell you how often this happens to me... Read more →
By Amanda Ponzar Remember it’s not about you or snagging the latest must-have gadget. It’s about peace, joy and love, giving to others, taking time to relax and the real story of Christmas. Here are some of the season’s best to enjoy. 1.) Visit Hershey Candy Lane or any other... Read more →
By Amanda Ponzar Here’s a true account of my experience this week. Got a sore throat on Friday, probably from all the relatives here for Thanksgiving. TRADITIONAL DOCTOR’S OFFICE Called and made a sick appointment, waited an hour in the waiting room, dealt with disinterested office staff, paid co-pay, saw... Read more →
By Amanda Ponzar On this day when we focus on being thankful, I can’t help but think of people who’ve risen above tough circumstances and are grateful for what they have. J.R. Martinez on Dancing with the Stars could have given up because of his military injuries (burns), but he... Read more →
by Amanda Ponzar I'm jazzed, just returning from the grand opening reception in Tyson's Corner for the first Microsoft Store on the East Coast -- it's the 14th Microsoft Store in the U.S. to date (most are on the West Coast) with 75 more planned in the near future. The... Read more →
By Amanda Ponzar Have you noticed how many inventions make our lives easier? Dishwashers, vacuums (like my Dyson), computers (so we don't have to use white-out and typewriters for those of you old enough to remember that), email, the internet, DVD players, and the list goes on. What about cell... Read more →
By Amanda Ponzar This morning, NPR covered the "economic investment" some countries are making in babies -- "When governments pay people to have babies". (Interesting that some countries need to pay people when others are overrun with children; we've hit 7 billion people on the planet!) It's all about the... Read more →