Star Throwers assume the role the protagonists in our own respective stories by standing for four core values:

1. Action

Star throwers pick up the slack and mend the societal safety net that has been left to fray by choosing unique solutions in our respective communities.  As opposed to waiting on the sidelines while traditional institutions may or may not act, Star Thrower solutions involve organizing and taking action directly. We encourage you to be creative and to get involved with whatever solution fits your strengths and desires. Every community is different and ultimately what works for you could be different from anything we’ve thought up. Whether organizing a cleanup effort, fixing a playground, or spearheading a high school mentoring or apprentice program, in the same way that there are some 2,000 species of starfish living in all the world’s oceans, Star Throwers do not fit a one-size-fits-all description. That we are throwing stars is what matters: not how or where we are throwing them.

2. Triple Bottom Line

Originally coined by John Elkington, the “triple bottom line” concept suggests that to create better business value, proprietors need to satisfy social, environmental AND financial duties…all at once. With the help of our strategic branding platform, becoming a Star Thrower can transform an average vacation rental business into a businesses that travelers would be ashamed NOT to support. While the adoption of certain Star Thrower policies and practices have some up front costs associated with them, in the long run, these expenditures have a significant return on investment, helping our guests, our businesses, and our communities.

3. Adaptability

In the same way that starfish are famous for their ability to regenerate limbs, and in some cases, entire bodies, Star Throwers aim to handle industry shifts and market changes dramatically better than generic vacation rental businesses thanks to the Triple Bottom Line. Star Throwers judge success not solely by financial performance but by sustained financial performance and purpose in helping create a better world. A Star Thrower’s initiative addresses what’s happening on the ground, making it nimble and proximate enough to pivot focus and strategy with the times.

4. Sustainability

We are proud to align the Star Throwers with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) These 17 goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are universal, aiming to tackle global poverty, inequality and climate change.

For these goals to be reached everyone needs to play their part – governments, businesses, civil society and individuals. Our alignment to the SDGs helps us contribute towards social and environmental challenges and we can be most effective when all sections of society are involved.

Each of the Star Throwers projects addresses one or more of the goals and helps us recognize that ending poverty must go hand in hand with strategies that build economic growth and address a range of social needs including education, health, social protection and job opportunities while tackling climate change and environmental protection, importantly ensuring that no one is left behind.

Under the description for each of the Star Throwers projects you can see which goals are addressed. We aim to cover all the goals as part of the Star Throwers approach to giving back to our communities and making a difference.

The Star Throwers Program is all about looking beyond our own lives and our own businesses to our wider community and ask ourselves ‘what can I do to help?

“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” Dalai Lama

“Service to others is the rent you pay for the room here on earth” – Muhammad Ali

“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” Jane Goodall

“If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else” Booker T Washington

“A civilization flourishes when people plant trees under which they will never sit”  Greek Proverb