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Founded by a group of parents, Autism Breakthrough of Knoxville provides support and services for adults with autism and their families. Breakthrough’s services include a residential community and respite and recreation opportunities, as well as individualized services unique to the participant. First and foremost, Breakthrough strives to build and nurture a community of support and friendships. So much beautiful happening there.  Judi Brookshire, the Chair of the Board of Directors, shares her thoughtful personal account partnering with See Beautiful: My husband and I first met See Beautiful Founder Lydia Criss-Mays when she was a student at the University of Tennessee. She came to us having agreed to help with our son who was diagnosed with autism and had a significant history of behavioral issues. My husband had his doubts given Lydia’s slight stature compared to that of our son (6”8” tall and stout). I could tell from the first day, however, she was an answer to our many prayers for help in what was a very difficult and trying time not only for us but also our son. She worked hands-on with Luke for several years. Lydia was one of those special people who was destined to devote her life to improving the lives of others, particularly children and the disadvantaged. It came as no surprise to us that she founded an organization like See Beautiful with its simply stated but wonderful mission. Thanks, Judi, for your willingness to share! And See Beautiful is beyond thankful and proud to have Breakthrough as part of the family. AuthorJannan Poppen, Giving Coordinator
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It’s hard not to be instantly inspired by the mission of Mavuno: ending extreme poverty in Eastern Congo by focusing on empowering villagers. Through leadership, training, and people-focuses solutions, Mavuno helps individuals make an impact in their own communities. This sustainable, life-giving approach is right in line with what See Beautiful is about.  The Mavuno agronomist provides technical training to community members who have been chosen by their peers as agriculture monitors for a growing season, representing our model of community-driven development, with technical assistance and mobilization from Congolese staff. As a Giving Initiative partner, Mavuno and See Beautiful worked together to raise money to provide training for an Eastern Congo community to build latrines. Here’s what our friends at Mavuno had to say about the Giving Initiative: Mavuno initially connected with See Beautiful through a simple Instagram comment. Since then, See Beautiful has turned into one of our most valuable and aligned partnerships. Lydia and her team worked with us to build an effective (and rapidly successful) campaign that will fund the construction of several latrines in rural communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where we are based. Beyond that, the See Beautiful team has continually demonstrated a passion for continued involvement in our cause. No other grantmaking organization we've worked with has been so invested in our vision in such a personal way. We're proud to be a part of the See Beautiful family. There's nothing quite like it!  The sanitation project that See Beautiful funded has yet to be constructed, but here’s a photo of a latrine in another village similar to the one that will be built with See Beautiful funding. AuthorJannan Poppen, Giving Coordinator “When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed. Sometimes it’s easier to give than to ask for help. If you’re constantly in giving mode, you may not pause to think about what you need. But, if you neglect to care for yourself, you may quickly find yourself on the road to burnout. And that’s no good for anybody! Here are five ways to nourish and replenish yourself when you’ve given what seems like more than you possibly can give. 1. Get back to basics. Some of the most important aspects of caring for yourself are often the first to get when you get overwhelmed or busy. Sleep, proper nutrition, breath, movement, and water. A good night’s sleep can do wonders for a weary body or mind. Eat three meals a day. Get a little exercise if possible. Remember that the body needs breath and water to function at full capacity. The simple act of taking a few deep breaths and drinking a glass of water can provide some needed energy and replenishment.  Photo used with permission courtesy of Unsplash.com 2. Ask for help. What can you get off of your plate today that someone else can support? Most people want to be helpful but may not know exactly what to do, so be specific. If you’re in a position to delegate, then do it! If not, cash in on a favor, or offer to buy a colleague a cup of coffee if they help proofread that report. At home, ask your partner to stop at the grocery or make dinner. 3. Take a break. This might just be as simple as taking a five minute mental break. Or, maybe you need a vacation! This goes back to asking for what you need and of course, being able to recognize what you need. In order to reveal what you need the most, pause to listen to yourself and your body. 4. Do something you love to do. Take a hike. Grab a cup of coffee with a friend. Read a book, or go dancing. Spending time doing what you truly love will help reignite your motivation to keep going.  Photo used with permission courtesy of Unsplash.com 5. Let it go. When all else fails, don’t be afraid to let something go if you need to. Is this a life or death situation? If not, sure, you may let someone down, but sometimes your well being has to come first. Let it go and move on. AuthorJannan Poppen, Giving Coordinator Giving is fun! It puts a smile on someone else’s face, spreads love and kindness, and allows dreams to come true. That’s enough of a reason to give. But, sometimes you have to spice it up a little bit to keep the motivation flowing. Make giving even more fun by turning it into a game while still doing good. Family Dinner GamesBring something special to a typical family dinner with a Family Giving Dinner. The Family Dinner Project shares some giving-oriented games to not only add a little fun to the dinner table, but to also encourage families to think about and talk about giving and what it means. Print out the free Giving Pledge Mad Lib resource the next time company comes over. You’ll have fun, learn something about one another, and open the door to meaningful conversation. Free RiceEvery time you get a correct answer when playing the vocabulary game at Free Rice, 10 grains of rice is donated to the World Food Programme. In just a few minutes of spare time, and a few churns of the noggin, you can help feed people who need it. It’s also completely free, since advertisers fund the game. Watch the bowl fill with rice with every right answer.  The Giving GameMeant to be played on a larger scale at events or at universities, The Giving Game, created by The Life You Can Save, encourages teamwork, communication, and real-life giving. Over the course of the event, the group must work together to determine which charity to give to. It’s a total win-win. Gamers for GivingIf you’re a serious gamer and giver, check out Gamers for Giving. This yearly tournament held in Michigan unites PC and console gaming enthusiasts for some friendly competition, fun, and charity giving. For two full days full of events and activities, players put on their game faces, all while raising funds for Gamers Outreach charities, such as providing portable gaming devices in children’s hospitals.  Photo used with permission courtesy of Unsplash.com Beyond Virtual RealityThe idea of incorporating positive social change into video games is catching on. More than the concept of a donation being made with every Pokemon you capture, for example, this version of gaming for giving requires you to make actual effort and action to advance in the game. You might have to participate in a real-life water conservation activity, or do something related to civic engagement to unlock features or move to the next level. With a little creativity and a whole lot of heart, game-lovers are creating a mash-up of giving and gaming that brings giving into our everyday lives. Have you participated in game-related giving? Share away! AuthorJannan Poppen, Giving Coordinator A small book published in 1923, Kahlil Gibran’s work The Prophet has stood the test of time and offered simple guidance to countless readers (almost 2,000,000 copies have been sold of the American edition alone). With a short chapter devoted entirely to the concept of giving, his careful words share some insight into one of See Beautiful’s favorite topics. “You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” - Kahlil Gibran “There are those who give little of the much which they have--and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire to make their gifts unwholesome. And there are those who have little and give it all. These are the believers in life, and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty.” - Kahlil Gibran “There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.” - Kahlil Gibran  A reminder of the joy of giving from our friends at Be Glorious “Therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors’.” - Kahlil Gibran “You often say, ‘I would give, but only to the deserving.’ The trees in your orchard say not so, nor the flocks in your pasture. They give that they may live, for to withhold is to perish.” - Kahlil Gibran AuthorJannan Poppen, Giving Coordinator If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one. — Mother Teresa Luckily for the children and families in the Casper, Wyoming area, Wyoming Food for Thought feeds more than one. As one of our Humanitarian Giving Initiatives, they were able to provide food bags to hungry children. With every purchase you made through See Beautiful that supported WFFT, you helped to feed a child for a weekend. That may not sound like a lot, but for children who don’t have enough to eat, it is everything. Here’s a great shot of the food bags ready to be delivered.  We are so pleased to share these kind words from our friends at Wyoming Food for Thought: Wyoming Food for Thought Project exists, first and foremost, to feed our children. But equally as important as nourishing little bodies, our food bags serve as a reminder that these children have not been forgotten. And what more powerful way to show them they are valued than a project supported by strangers across the country through partnership in See Beautiful's Giving Initiatives? The food funded by the See Beautiful Giving Initiative creates real change in our students' lives, allowing them to reach milestones in school, and in their personal lives. Thank you to everyone who supported WFFT, and of course, thank you to Wyoming Food for Thought Project for all of their hard work. For an added dose of inspiration, read more testimonials from our funded partners. AuthorJannan Poppen, Giving Coordinator If the thought of making and delivering a meal to a friend or family member in need is overwhelming, you’re not alone. Most days getting dinner on the table for your own family is more than enough, so adding a second dinner into the mix might instill a sense of panic. Don’t panic. Here’s the perfect meal as well as a few tips to make it as easy as can be.  Photo courtesy of Unsplash Veggie Chili4 tsp olive oil 1 medium butternut squash, peeled and diced 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced 1 medium onion, diced 3 tbsp chili powder (or more to taste) 1 28 oz. can tomatoes 1 4 oz. can green chiles 1 cup vegetable broth ¼ tsp salt 2 15 oz. cans black beans, drained and rinsed ¼ cup chopped cilantro Sour Cream or Yogurt for topping
Thank you to my mother-in-law for providing this recipe. Why is this the perfect recipe? It’s vegetarian and gluten free but is still hearty. It reheats well and feeds a crowd. It’s healthy and delicious. It’s versatile. You can add in cornbread, or pasta, or rice, some avocado, and you have a full meal. And you can throw it in the crockpot in the morning and not think about it (just cook for 6-8 hours on low). If this just isn’t happening, it’s totally fine! There are plenty of other ways to provide a meal for a family.  Photo courtesy of Unsplash A few more tips...
A little extra effort on your part will go along way to a family going through a challenging time. A home-cooked meal graciously shared provides nourishment beyond a house of full bellies. It can provide comfort in times of stress and uncertainty. It spreads love and compassion. And it lets someone you love know you care. What are your go-to recipes to share with friends and family in need? What’s your favorite meal you’ve received from others? Share away in the comments! AuthorJannan Poppen, Giving Coordinator Can you imagine giving away fifty percent or more of your income? For most people, this is totally unrealistic, because...bills. But, for the mega-wealthy, (aka billionaires), even if they give away ninety-nine percent of their wealth, they are still a millionaire ten times over. This is the idea behind the Giving Pledge. The world’s super rich commit to giving away a lot of money to do good in the world. Despite the fact that committing to the Giving Pledge may not actually change these folks’ lives at all, it’s still a huge commitment. It's interesting to think about the reasons why someone would make this pledge and where they find their giving spirit. Every person or family that joins the pledge submits a letter stating their reasons or intention in joining. A prevalent them throughout the letters is the reluctance of many people to join initially. As Ted Forstmann stated, “I’ve always believed that you don’t really talk about giving; you just do it.” But, part of the purpose of the pledge is to encourage others to also pledge. By publicly stating one’s intention, the hope is that others will join in as well. This also echoes another theme that emerged, which is that the influence of others often profoundly impacted an individual’s propensity to give. Whether it was parents, a teacher, a mentor, or a friend, many of these individuals had great examples in their lives of what it means to give. I think this further demonstrates the above point as well as the nature of giving in general. We all give in our own way, but one of the strong messages the Giving Pledge sends is don’t be afraid to share with others that giving matters and that it’s important to you as an individual or family. The act of sharing on its own may just change someone else’s life.  Here are ten great quotes from the letters from individuals that committed to giving away the vast majority of their fortunes. "It is much easier to be generous if you have more than you need, so this is not a difficult thing for us to do. That said, I don’t think being charitable is innate. In my experience, it is learned from the examples of others." - Bill Ackman "Fortunately, early on in my life I realised that personal ‘stuff’ really didn’t matter. Joan and I lived on a houseboat and one day it sank. We realised that we missed nothing except our treasured photo albums. Later our house in London caught fire, destroying everything inside. Last year our home in the British Virgin Islands was completely gutted as a result of a lightning strike. We were so relieved that everyone got out safely that even the loss of photo albums and notebooks were of little consequence. ‘Stuff’ really is not what brings happiness. Family, friends, good health and the satisfaction that comes from making a positive difference are what really matters." - Richard Branson "Making a difference in people’s lives—and seeing it with your own eyes—is perhaps the most satisfying thing you’ll ever do. If you want to fully enjoy life—give. And if you want to do something for your children and show how much you love them, the single best thing—by far—is to support organizations that will create a better world for them and their children." -Michael R. Bloomberg "While there is often a defined division between “for profit” and “not for profit” sectors—with for profit focused on making money and not for profit focused on making a difference—our experiences suggest that can be an overly simplistic way of looking at the world. Instead, we first focus on a societal problem or opportunity that needs to be addressed, and then decide the right strategy to achieve the greatest gains. Sometimes that is backing or starting a non-profit organization. Other times, that is backing or starting a business that is focused on doing well while doing good." -Jean and Steve Case "From day one, my parents have been instrumental in instilling in me the ethos of philanthropy, particularly my responsibility as a Muslim to give and care for the less fortunate in our society. Our role as citizens of this world is to truly support the betterment of our society so that future generations and their offspring grow up to live even better lives and strive for even more than they think is possible today." -Mohammed Dewji "Many years ago I asked my young children what two things they needed from their parents. They said ‘food and money.’ I told them ‘roots and wings.’ My goal in pledging 99% of my assets to philanthropy is to help others with roots—food, warmth, shelter, healthcare, education—so they too can have wings." -Judy Faulkner "As human beings, we will carry nothing with us to the other world – the only things we shall take are the good deeds that we accomplish in this world. We are in this world to be tested, and each one of us must grant the fruit of his abilities." -Elie and Susie Horn "But for the vast majority of people who are tirelessly devoted to a particular cause; devoted to making the world a better place - giving is hard. When you’re barely able to pay the bills, every dollar matters. When you’re working around the clock and raising a family, every minute counts. Yet, remarkably, people still find a way to give. Whether it’s writing a check in whatever amount they can afford, or volunteering to serve on a committee, people somehow find a way. It’s this spirit that has always inspired me and my wife, Liz, to give." -Eric Lefkofsky '“In poverty, sustain yourself. In prosperity, help others.” This time-honored philanthropic principle, which has been passed down through generations in China, has given me great motivation and inspiration." -Gensheng Niu "Looking back, if I had to live my life over, there are things I would do differently, but the one thing I would not change is my charitable giving. I’m particularly thankful for my father’s advice to set goals so high that they can’t possibly be achieved during a lifetime and to give help where help is needed most. That inspiration keeps me energized and eager to keep working hard every day on giving back and making the world a better place for generations to come." -Ted Turner Oh, and there’s so many more! Check out the full summary of letters if you want to read more. Where did your giving spirit originate? What inspires you to give? How do you feel about the idea of sharing with others that you give? AuthorJannan Poppen, Giving Coordinator Giving is so much at the heart of See Beautiful, and it truly depends on you. So, we’re excited to share more Giving in Action with you guys. Once a Giving Initiative is funded, good stuff happens, and we want you to be a part of the celebration! Forever We encourages generosity through purposeful play. By providing dolls to children with cancer, Forever We gives those children and their families a way to communicate about what they are going through. The dolls inspire compassion, story sharing, and a spirit of playfulness that is so important for these kids. Here’s a word from Chantel and the team at Forever We about the funded See Beautiful Giving Initiative: Thank you, See Beautiful, for sending so much love our way! We were able to send 50 Forever We huggable companions to kids with cancer at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. There's nothing we love more than connecting kids with cancer and families who care through purposeful play. Our dolls and books represent their experience and engage the community at large in a conversation about kindness and friendship. Despite cancer stories of devastation and loss, we also hear touching stories of beauty in the midst of all that pain. Working with See Beautiful to see more beautiful in the children we serve is the hallmark of our work this year. Thank you for your investment. Forever We See Beautiful.   This act of joy and kindness during what can be such a dark time for families is what See Beautiful is all about. Want to hear from more of our Giving Initiative partners? Check out these amazing testimonials. AuthorJannan Poppen, Giving Coordinator Plant flowers in others’ gardens and your life becomes a bouquet! — Unknown Plant the seed of giving and watch it grow. As spring emerges (well, at least here in the south), this quote reminds us to stop and ask, what are we doing to plant flowers in others’ gardens?  Photo used with permission courtesy of Unsplash We often think that giving has to be grand gesture rather than a kind word, or a giant check rather than a collaboration. When we define giving only as money, we forget that often a helping hand might really be what’s needed. Even a simple act like smiling at a stranger might be what you can give that day. And smiles are beautiful! Practice Random Acts of Kindness A kind note left on a teacher’s desk. Picking up trash in the park. A home cooked meal for your family or a neighbor. The opportunities to share a bit of kindness with those around you are endless. If you need a little inspiration on how to practice kindness in your daily life, we at See Beautiful love the book Kindness Boomerang by our friend Orly Wahba. Kindness Boomerang lays out one simple act a day to make a big difference in the lives of others, as well as our own lives. Because kindness, after all, like a boomerang, always comes back around. Ask How You Can Help Sometimes it’s pretty clear what kind of help is needed for an individual, family, or organization. For example, an organization may have a list on their website of donations needed. Simple enough. But other times, you may know of an individual, family, or organization in need, but you are not sure what would be most helpful. In this case, don’t be afraid to ask. Offer what you can to help.  Photo used with permission courtesy of Unsplash Volunteer This one almost goes without saying, but often, time and attention are the greatest gifts you can deliver. It’s great if you can consistently volunteer, but even helping at a large event every once in awhile counts. Volunteering is also an opportunity to find and share your unique gifts. Check out volunteermatch.org or idealist.org to find the perfect organization or event to offer your time to. Be an Example of Giving to Others This doesn’t mean you need to shout from the rooftop, “Look at me! I give!” But, rather, this means exemplifying a spirit of generosity and helpfulness to others. When others catch wind of your giving spirit, it may inspire those around you to do the same. Children especially are influenced by your actions. One of the best ways to encourage giving in children is do it yourself. Nourish Yourself Sometimes we need to stop and plant flowers in our own garden before tending to other’s gardens. Sometimes we are in such a season of giving, that our soil is depleted. We might begin to feel tired, uninspired, or even resentful. When this happens, you must give to yourself before you can give to others. Don’t forget to regularly check in with yourself and take time to recharge. Do what energizes you. Whether it’s taking a walk in nature, finding time to catch up on your sleep, or finally checking out that yoga class, self care will go along way in getting you back on the path of giving. This list only scratches the surface. How else do you give? Please share your brilliance in the comments below. AuthorJannan Poppen, Giving Coordinator |
See beautiful in yourself.
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