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There is so much beauty in the simple act of reading a book to a child. A book ignites imagination, encourages literacy, and creates a connection between the child and the reader. A book on its own cultivates beautiful. But, add meaningful lessons of friendship and unity while also funding causes for kids, and the beautiful multiplies. That’s what happens at The Joy Market. The Joy Market’s first published book, Animals of the Nativity, provided food for children in the West African country of Benin. Through their partnership with the non-profit Aide La Vie, special life-saving food was distributed to malnourished kids, such as Liana, who was unable to walk. Once she received the special food, Liana was walking again. Luckily, the Joy Market’s idea and impact have grown from that first book. They’ve since published two more books, with another on the way. Last year, the book, The Bear Hug, helped to fund a school of 150 refugee children in Syria. The book addresses the “us versus them” mentality, and kids in the US wrote cards to the Syrian children, who then in turn wrote cards back. As founder Erin Burchik wrote in her grant application, “It was so beautiful to hear them talk about their new, cross-cultural friends and to see this grassroots peacemaking shape the hearts of these precious children.”  The Joy Market is well on its way to fulfilling its mission of bringing joy to children through cultivating “compassion, creativity, and curiosity through a crazy love for books.” With the See Beautiful Milestone Grant funding, the Joy Market plans to expand programs in schools, introducing more children to the joyful and beautiful acts of reading and giving. AuthorJannan Poppen, Giving Coordinator
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“If we give girls and women the chance to change their lives, they can change the world.” -Frida Giannini  A wise and trusted teacher or counselor. A guide, adviser, influential supporter. Someone who helps a less experienced person. A mentor can be all of this and more. And for high school girls who are underserved in their communities, a mentor relationship can mean everything. The right mentor can help build confidence, skills, and self-worth and help open the space for girls to see and create more beautiful. Girls Grow Inc supports college women to serve as mentors to high school girls through weekly meetings. Through the Girls Grow curriculum, mentors lead activities and small group discussions “to help foster a sense of Growth, Openness, Respect, and Worth.” College women guide the high schoolers through defining their values, coping with negative emotions, and developing positive self-esteem. The curriculum also covers how to prepare for the future, create and maintain healthy relationships, and even how to develop mindfulness.  In addition to the amazing individual growth that occurs as a result of the mentorship, the group aspect of Girls Grow demonstrates something else transformational to the mentees: the realization that they are not alone. This core element of Girls Grow inspires Natalie, the founder, to keep building and growing the organization. In the two years since its inception, Girls Grow has supported 77 mentors who have empowered more than 230 high school girls. And the impact of Girls Grow is certainly not stopping there.  The $1000 See Beautiful Milestone Grant will allow Girls Grow to develop more training for the mentors. The skill-building that occurs through increased training not only strengthens the impact for the high schoolers, but the mentors carry with them lessons in leadership and relationship-building as well. Relationships and the deep connections formed through Girls Grow are beautiful, indeed, and we are honored be a small part of this uplifting community. AuthorJannan Poppen, Giving Coordinator Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference has never tried to fall asleep with a mosquito in the room. Just because kids are small does not mean they are not able to make a difference and create beautiful in the world. In fact, children see beautiful in their own unique way. By giving kids the chance to follow their own ideas about how to create beautiful, Kids Boost helps build confidence in kids and invests in their creative ideas to positively impact a cause they are passionate about. It works like this: A donation is made to Kids Boost (that’s where you come in!), and a child chooses a cause that is meaningful to him or her. With coaching provided by Kids Boost’s awesome coaches and some start up funds for the kids, the child is able to carry out their idea. The start-up funds are the launching point for the idea, which then earns more money and awareness for the charity or cause the child has chosen to support. Eighty percent of the child’s earnings go directly to the charity, while the remaining twenty percent go back to Kids Boost to help pay forward the good work they are doing.  In the words of Kristen Stock, Kids Boost founder, “I’ve learned that kids of all ages have the innate need and desire to do something great in the world. I’ve also learned that adults don’t always give kids enough credit. Kids are capable of so much; they just need the opportunity and the support.” With Kristen’s dedication and passionate spirit, Kids Boost has grown from supporting three kids to fifty, and has helped kids earn more than $50,000 for a host of deserving charities. Nudging forward with a big dream to encourage kindness, self-confidence, and generosity in kids, Kids Boost has already had a huge, multi-layered impact to those lucky enough to enjoy its successes.  With a waiting list of 75, the demand and interest from kids to create beautiful exceeds the current resources. As a See Beautiful Milestone Grant recipient, even more kids will be able to sign on with Kids Boost. We are thrilled to support Kids Boost and the wonderful kids who aren’t afraid to not only dream big, but to also take the action to help make others’ dreams come true, too. AuthorJannan Poppen, Giving Coordinator |
See beautiful in yourself.
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