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| The "Meetings" For those of you interested in the people The Be Foundation supports; here are a few stories about those who've been chosen to recieve funds. May 14, 2010--Seattle, WA "Leslie's" simple but frank words she used to nominate "John" struck me as appropriate for the times we are living in. "John" is a 19 year old single father who just gained custody of his 3 year old daughter. Due to the economy, he was forced to move out of his mother’s home and into his own apartment where he must maintain all of the bills. He is in a pre-apprenticeship program and is working hard to build a stable foundation for his daughter." We are all living in a time of uncertainty; a time when many of us struggle with difficult predicaments every day. Questions like: Will I find another job? How will I pay the rent this month? Can I provide dinner for my family tonight? While I can't answers these questions, I do know that we are not the first generation to struggle with high unemployment, let alone raising families. However, because we are in a different time I believe our struggles have unique qualities. And somewhere within this unique time I've found meaning through giving to others. It is my small way of helping to answer just a few of these questions and I hope to be able to continue to do so for many years. With the challenges I face in moving forward, I empathize with the challenges of others and I find solace in the perseverance and hard work of those who forged difficult roads before us. Many great men have risen from humble beginnings to achieve our nation's highest honor, President of the United States to include our 30th president who is quite famous for the following words: “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race” --John Calvin Coolidge, Jr.
I only spoke with "John" for a few minutes during our meeting. However, I can see he is on the road of perseverance. His hard work will enable him to achieve great things. He has already started and is on his way to achieving one of the most important honor’s in any nation: an inspiring role model for his daughter. February 28, 2010--Seattle, WA "That could've been me." We've all watched a tv show, a movie or even just read an article and thought, "with just a slight change in that story, that could've been me." And that's exactly what I felt when I met "Vivien," yet I had know idea I would feel this way when I read the email sent in about her family. Late January, “Mike” emailed The Be Foundation about Vivien's family. Vivien's husband, “Clark”, had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. An excerpt from the submission describes the situation best: "He always seemed to be in good health, even during the time I spent with them. Unfortunately, as of last week, I heard his health is now failing. Clark is no longer able to work, and not able to walk very well. He has lost his medical insurance, and Vivien is unable to work as she now cares for Clark and their two young daughters." The Be Foundation committee read this submission and decided we wanted to help Vivien's family. Sadly, we later learned that Clark passed away the very morning after we had made our decision. With this surprising news the committee felt even stronger that the right choice had been made. I met Vivien on a chilly Sunday afternoon. She approached me first, remembering the description I had given her over the phone and I immediately felt at ease due to her outgoing and genuine nature. She was inquisitive, as many are, not having heard of The Be Foundation. After a brief discussion of The Be Foundation the conversation shifted and we began to talk about her. She had an unusual ease about her as she spoke which I found astonishing given the recent and devastating loss of her husband. Vivien summarized her situation succinctly, said she takes it one day at a time. How simple yet profound, her philosophy. I spent more time talking with Vivien than I have with any other recipient, because I just couldn't stop imagining that "this could be me." Vivien and I share so many similarities and yet she has gone through a struggle that I can't even imagine. She gave me a hug that I will never forget and her words stay with me, "We had a good run of it." Vivien takes the reins in her life and I can't wait to hear more about her amazing achievements. December 20, 2009--Seattle, WA To be honest, I had mixed feelings on selecting a recipient this time. For some reason I couldn’t see a clear choice and despite consultation with close friends and family, the final decision was very difficult. From helping to feed homeless pets to supporting a dedicated girl scout troop leader, each email equally justified $250. I say equally justified because there are no strings attached to this money. There are no requirements for the recipient of this money. All one must do to be considered is email thebefoundation@live.com during the open dates and that’s just what “Rosemary” did.  Rosemary wrote in about helping the homeless in Seattle. But this was not just about sharing food, it was about honoring loss. It was about honoring the memory of serving her afflicted sister and the surrounding less fortunate on the streets. It was about honoring the loss of her sister as Rosemary was never able to convince her late sibling to come home. Rosemary has lost many she cared deeply for and to cope with her loss she wanted to use the $250 to hand out meals to those currently living outside during these cold and lonely months. As I approached the meeting place I watched her small frame, still and peaceful. Rosemary was waiting outside on a park bench near a place she often lends her helping hands. She mentioned on the phone that the weather was ‘quite nice.’ I guess for Seattle the gray minus a downpour of rain sufficed. This was just the beginning of Rosemary’s silver lining. From the moment she looked up her kind smiling eyes told me that she was the right choice. Rosemary has struggled through hardships and through it all has only become more giving of her time and of herself. Her heart overflows with the kindness she shares with others. I can only wish for the grace to see life as Rosemary does; “I have been grieving over the loss of my mom, but God has given me something to do to, help others….This is the best Christmas ever.” Merry Christmas indeed. October 15, 2009--Kirkland, WA I had the opportunity to meet two outstanding women tonight. The first woman, let’s call her “Samantha” emailed me about her friend, let’s call her “Sarah”. Sarah is young and her baby is due in November. But wait, I’m getting ahead of myself. About a week ago, I met with a few friends to review the emails sent to thebefoundation@live.com in consideration for the $250. All of the submissions were uniquely qualified. That is because there were no qualifications. The point of giving away this money was just to spread a little good. We read through the emails: they were all across the board. One person requested the money to stay in ”booze and hookers.” Others were down-on-their luck real estate agents. There were even requests to help pay for prescription drugs and one from an ex-convict to help make ends meet. Something about Samantha’s email resonated. I can’t say for sure why, but when each of us read “… it saddens me every day that I can’t do more for her” in Samantha’s email, we related. We related to someone who was just a bit down on their luck and could use some help. Fast forward to tonight; when I met both Samantha and Sarah. Samantha did not tell Sarah where they were going tonight or why. In fact, it wasn’t until I handed the soon-to-be mother the envelope that Samantha explained what she had done for her friend. The surprised and appreciative Sarah then thanked us both. I felt honored. However, as I recapped the brief interaction with these women to my husband, who had patiently waited outside for me, he shared with me a small observation. As I departed, Sarah and Samantha again hugged behind me and my husband thought he caught a glimpse of a tear in Samantha’s eye. Thank you for letting me be a part of your lives. You have touched my heart. Best of luck to you “Sarah.” | |
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