Ward and Eis Gallery owners Jennifer Eis (left) and Don Ward (right), continue a tradition of philanthropic giving with recent donations to local nonprofit organizations totaling $20,500. Pictured at the donation ceremony are (from left) Eis, Michael Walker, Nehemiah Project; Pat Fralick, Health Department of Northwest Michigan; Gail Kloss, Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan; Sue Engel, Friendship Centers of Emmet County; Carrie Harrison, Petoskey Club; Deb Noblett, The Manna Food Project; and Ward.

Ward and Eis Gallery owners Don Ward and Jennifer Eis could be described as uncommon, even unorthodox. Their humble gallery featuring Native American jewelry, leather goods and art has flourished for more than 30 years without much in the way of traditional advertising. They do not maintain a website, Facebook page nor have they tweeted their own horn via Twitter. They simply put people first, provide quality products and participate in philanthropy.

Amazingly, their local giving has reached a total of $390,000.

Ward and Eis explained the Native American tradition known as the Give-Away Ceremony at a recent donation presentation held at the gallery. This is the practice of giving away useful, even beloved possessions to others.

“The Give-Away is a gift from the heart, it teaches the importance of giving,” said Eis. “When you reach a point of transition or a significant stage of life, you give gifts to everyone in your community as a thank you for helping you reach that point in your life.”

Ward further explained that if you hold onto gifts with a tightly closed fist from fear of losing it, you are unable to reach out your hand to help another person. Yet if you give these gifts away, they move in a free-flowing manner and their value increases.

In that same spirit of giving, Ward and Eis have made financial gifts to several local health and human services nonprofit organizations. The donated dollars represent 2% of annual store sales, 20% of holiday weekend sales and 100% of the proceeds of the book Magpie Papers, co-authored by Ward and Eis. The resulting $20,500 was shared as follows: Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan, $4,500; Manna Food Project, $3,500; Friendship Centers of Emmet County, $3,000; Nehemiah Project, $3,000; Petoskey Club, $3,000; and Health Department of Northwest Michigan, $3,500.

Over the past 28 years, the Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan (WRCNM) has received financial support from Ward and Eis totaling $70,500. “Don and Jennifer’s commitment to this community is compelling,” said WRCNM Executive Director, Gail Kloss. “They wholeheartedly abide by the notion that when each individual flourishes, so does the whole community.”

“We are here to be something beautiful,” said Ward, referencing a Native saying. “If the reciprocity of receiving and then giving stops, we stop being human.”