Veronica Beard’s Post

💖 One way to raise compassionate, empathetic, and socially responsible children is to encourage and support their passion for change, no matter how young they are. Children are naturally curious, kind, and creative, and when you empower them to turn their ideas into action, you give them the tools to become changemakers in their own right. Whether it's through volunteering, fundraising, advocacy, or simply being kind to others, you can make service and kindness a cornerstone of your family's values and build a better world together. Here are actions you can take to get started: https://lnkd.in/ggt_vmZz

Text MOH24 to 76278 What is this and why should you care? Today was the annual Menu of Hope fundraiser luncheon, and this is how you can donate. ...okay, what is Menu of Hope and why should you care? https://lnkd.in/guc_44Cu Menu of Hope is hosted by Children's Hunger Alliance, a statewide nonprofit; an organization that has been dedicated to a war on food insecurity in Ohio since the 1970s. Their mission is to ensure that children without access receive healthy food, nutrition education and physical activity. I don't fault you if you don't walk through life thinking about how many kids in our own backyards go day by day, unsure of where their next meal comes from. I hadn't thought of it in a long time myself; that is until I had the privilege and honor of working with Children's Hunger Alliance. Now it's one of those things that keeps me awake at night, and it's what drives me every day to do as best of a job as I can to provide them with an application solution that can scale with their ambitions. But to be clear, it's 1 in 5 kids. 1 in 5 children in Ohio don't know whether or not they are going to go to bed hungry. Children's Hunger Alliance serves thousands of Ohioan children in an effort to combat hunger annually. But as I said, they are a nonprofit, and they rely on our help, the Ohioan community, to continue this battle. So if you have a couple spare bucks to give today, you can text that number at the top of my post. I believe it's open until the end of the day. If you want to give later on, or you want to keep it in the back of your mind, bookmark this link. https://lnkd.in/gQgjAYii I have the privilege of getting a glimpse into their operations, and I know that every dollar given is a dollar that truly counts. You may not know me, and I might not know you; but many of those who are going to see this post live in Ohio; so give some thought about taking care of our kids. Thanks for listening to my Ted talk.

Yea it’s a five minute video, who watches those anymore! However, if you followed us over the course of Serve Week 2024 (The Ocho) this is an awesome wrap up and great work by the team. We try and use LinkedIn to open a window into our culture. And while Foundry Commercial isn’t perfect and we will always have work to do in pursuit of our standards, I think this is one of the things we get really right. We are a services company and spending time with these amazing organizations, which we encourage you to check out and support, reminds us what true service looks like. It is a week where we try to give back and we always end up getting so much more than we give. Great job Lauren and the entire Serve Week support team. #foundrycommercial #itspersonal #theocho #serveweek2024

This week, our Story of Service is from Alli Sharp, CEO & Board President of We Heart All. We Heart All is a Washington state-based nonprofit that partners with communities, groups, and organizations to create healthy, stable, and safe environments for vulnerable children and families around the world. - What is your "story of service"? How has it made a difference in your life? "I founded an organization called We Heart All, to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children in underserved communities around the world. Whether it was opening a safehouse and welcoming children into their new home, providing funds to help with education and nutrition, or implementing programs to prevent exploitation, every action was a stepping stone towards a better future for these children. I’ve witnessed children who were once silenced by fear and despair find their voices and unleash their potential, which filled my heart with indescribable joy. This experience became an integral part of my identity. The challenges I encountered along the way serve as constant reminders of the urgency and importance of my work. The story of my service is ongoing, as I continue to fight for the rights and well-being of vulnerable children. I am grateful for the privilege of serving, for it has given my life a purpose beyond measure." - Why do you choose to give back to others? Why is service a part of your life? "I have felt unwanted, small, and without a voice. I have seen the terrible things that happen to children. Once you see that and experience that, there is no going back. It's not something I can ignore. I serve because helping others is the true purpose of life." Do you have a story about service that we can share through our social media channels? Contact us through the link below or in bio to submit your story. https://zurl.co/OmDb #storiesofservice #service4good #multiplyinggood #communityservice #givingback #MGstoriesofservice

Hey folks! I need your help to wish my friends Blind Beginnings a sweet 16! Blind Beginnings was founded by Shawn Marsolais who encourages a limitless philosophy in all they do. "Limitless is about educating the public about the abilities and potential of children and youth who are blind or partially sighted. The idea that the only limitations that exist for these BC youth are the ones that society places on them is crucial to understand in order to fully embrace equity and inclusion in all aspects." Recently I was gifted the opportunity to spend time with two of their team members Rob Mineault and Lia Dicicco and it was incredible to see how their limitless philosophy is embedded in the essential and critical education programs and services they provide for children and youth in BC who are blind or partially sighted. If, like me, you don't have lived experience with being blind or partially sighted, then you and I need to educate ourselves on in how to create spaces that are welcome for folks who are. How we do that is by activating our learning to expand our understanding and knowledge to be better employers, colleagues, friends and allies. And before we get stuck in the "but where do we start" zone, we can skip directly to being activated in action as Blind Beginnings has ample ways to get our learning activated. As example, here is a non-exhaustive list of what activated action looks like: Follow Blind Beginnings! Book a Blindness 101 Workshop! https://lnkd.in/gwTH4jdb Listen to the Limitless podcast! https://lnkd.in/gfyr4JSq Read the Limitless blog! https://lnkd.in/g7e_ig6M Tell our networks about Blind Beginnings! Let's be activated action takers and give Blind Beginnings a fantastically impactful sweet 16 birthday celebration! #BlindBeginnings #DEI #BlindnessAwareness

If you're looking for something affordable and meaningful to get your loved ones for the holidays, check out The Jensen Project Holiday Gift Guide, featuring items sold by nonprofits that serve and hire sex trafficking survivors. All proceeds go toward nonprofit programs benefiting survivors. Also: If you like leather goods but you feel conflicted about the source, Rethreaded, below, repurposes leather and turns it into something new. I have a leather bound journal that was made from seat cushions on Southwest Airlines planes. How cool is that?? Check all your boxes by filling your gift boxes: https://lnkd.in/gvcJjB9s

⭐ It's so important that foundations invest in voter engagement work to help more people participate in our democracy. One common strategy is through direct grantmaking to nonprofit organizations that are already trusted by community members. Whether they are food pantries, health centers, or family service agencies, these groups and the communities they serve will be stronger as a result of greater voter participation. https://lnkd.in/gRwYVJcA 

Fatherhood engagement is much more than outreach or marketing. Father-inclusive practice recognizes the crucial role fathers play in their children's lives, and proactively engages and supports them in the parenting process. In turn, it benefits children, families, and communities. Join us next Wednesday to meet the dads from the Commonwealth Center for Fathers and Families (CCFF) of Kentucky, an innovative nonprofit focused on increasing positive fatherhood engagement and inclusion across Kentucky. https://ow.ly/Ivzs50R7RHk?

I know there are a lot of deserving organizations vying for your financial support today. Please consider including TASC in your giving today, and moving forward as we aspire to create a healthier, safer and more just society. #health #justice #tasc

September was Hunger Action Month, a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about hunger and to inspire action. Throughout the month, we asked our staff and volunteers to answer the question: Why is working/volunteering at MVM for hunger relief important to you? Now that the month has come to a close, we want to share some of their responses. 💚 "Sharing is caring. Believing is achieving.😊" 💚 "Giving everyone food is also giving joy, love, peace, & comfort. Community building." 💚 "No one should be hungry and I want to make a difference & impact for good." 💚 "It makes me feel good!" 💚 "It helps me understand how great the need is and gives me a place to do something concrete about it." 💚 "Because everyone deserves good food. Period!" We would love to hear your responses too! Why do you follow, share, volunteer, or donate to support hunger relief? #daytonohio #hungeractionmonth #hungerrelief #foodinsecurity #foodaccess