Copyright cleveland.com
An unexpected challenge arrived last Halloween from a Money Talks reader — a good-natured wager about stock options. The reader suggested that if, a year later, I still thought trading options was wise, they’d donate $20 to The City Mission of Cleveland. I didn’t take the bet, but the idea stayed with me, like a quiet nudge to think less about profit and more about purpose. At Money Talks, we’ve always tried to connect money with meaning. Supporting The City Mission feels like a perfect alignment of missions. In a city with deep need, The City Mission meets people where they are, offering food, shelter, recovery programs, and long-term support for individuals and families seeking stability. Its work is steady, serious and full of grace. The kind of mission that reminds you what community truly means. For 115 years, The City Mission has served Cleveland without relying on government funding. “All of our funding, everything we do comes from community support,” said Rachel Pelaia, manager of marketing and communication. “We move as God moves through our donors.” Thanks to this faithful community support, the Mission has created something rare — a full-focused rescue center with long-term programs that truly transform lives. When someone walks through the Mission’s doors, the journey isn’t quick. Residents live at the Mission for nine to 12 months, receiving housing, education and holistic care that addresses physical, emotional and mental needs. At Laura’s Home, the largest crisis center for women and children in Cleveland, more than 330 women and children wait for a bed. “The need, especially for women and children, is staggering,” Pelaia said. Pelaia has spent four years at the Mission, witnessing hardships that still leave her choked up. “I saw a young boy, probably 9, walking into Laura’s Home with his several siblings, carrying everything they owned in a garbage bag,” she said. “And you just take a minute and think what impact does that have on a young boy? That trauma? But also being encouraged that walking through our doors is the beginning of something completely different and that will hopefully change his story. That’s our goal.” The Mission also provides transitional housing for mothers graduating from Laura’s Home and supports about 90 men annually through its Crossroads program. “Many people will say for the first time in their lives — I’m talking 50- and 60-year-old men — ‘someone believed in me,’” Pelaia added. It’s this belief and support that turns shelter into a fresh start. Hearing stories like these made the decision easy. As the holidays approach, Money Talks is donating $1,000 to The City Mission — a gesture supporting a mission tackling the hardest work: helping people start over. I hope you’ll learn more about The City Mission and consider supporting their work or a similar organization this holiday season. A gift, your time or even a small act of kindness can make a real difference. You don’t need a fortune to make an impact. It’s astonishing how far even a little can go. At the Mission, just $3 provides a meal. One child, one adult, one family closer to hope. Supporting The City Mission feels like an investment that actually counts. Its value isn’t measured in charts or P&L statements, but in meals served, beds provided and lives transformed. Trading stock options taught me how fast money can move. And watching that speed, it’s impossible not to notice how many get left behind. Thanks to a reader’s friendly wager last Halloween, I emerged from my first year of options trading with a heart that still beats for people over profits. It’s a different kind of return, one that truly matters.
