What is a make-a-difference stretch?

A make-a-difference stretch is an opportunity for you to complete a challenge that involves service, contribution, or personal responsibility under a specified time constraint. Stretches empower you to expand your learning about yourself and others while simultaneously teaching that you have the ability to create extraordinary results whenever you choose.

Where did make-a-difference stretches begin?

Make-a-difference stretches were developed by ChoiceCenter Worldwide University in 1998 as part of the curriculum for the Center’s 100-day Leadership Legacy course.

On training weekends, students are often assigned a stretch to support a charity, with specific goal and time limit parameters. For example, Leadership students might be told they have 2 hours to collect 20,000 items needed for a local woman’s shelter. Students typically double or triple what they declare, thus breaking through any limiting conversations they have about what’s possible.

As a group, each Leadership team is also assigned a community service project with a narrow window for completion. This summer, one Leadership team of 40 students completed a $115,000 school makeover at Pat Diskin Elementary school in Las Vegas ... in just 10 days. To watch the CBS News coverage, click here.

How do you create the stretches?

Giver Game’s stretches are the brainchild of ChoiceCenter’s staff and trainers. They are also the result of partnerships with charities and philanthropic organizations who contact us about their needs.

Ultimately, Giver Game wants to be the “go-to” support system for any organization in need. Have a food closet that’s running low? Contact Giver Game. Have children without coats? Contact Giver Game. Hurricane cuts off power on the East coast and people need flashlights and blankets .... You get the idea - and it’s Givers to the rescue!