Six Steps to Happiness (November Newsletter)
/Our November blog is often dedicated to things to be thankful for. Maybe there is only one on my list this year, and that's the gift of empathy. With so many issues and challenges to our collective mental health and well being, viewing real world challenges with kindness and concern is just the ticket to gaining insight into solutions that are only visible to the optimists among us. If you are with me, here are 6 Foundations in our city and space that we believe are worthy of our attention and a donation of any size.
- Lucky Duck Foundation: Join LFD in their mission to house the less fortunate among us, not someday, tonight! SDSI’ers have purchased over 250 “sleeping bag /jackets” in the last two years. Your contribution can help us buy more before winter sets in. (contact info)
- Rob Machado Foundation: Rob is an excellent role model for us all. His giving nature is wrapped in his Foundation’s dedication to empowering young people to make sustainable choices, with a particular focus on water. (contact info)
- SurfAid: Doctor Dave’s surf trip to Indo decades ago resulted in a true humanitarian force of nature that today reaches the last mile to remote island townships, delivering self-help strategies to fight malaria and infant mortality and promote the many, many steps toward good civic health and hygiene. (contact info)
-Freedom Dogs: Lori Walton’s dream is to match at-risk Service Veterans with companion dogs to fight the severe mental challenges of PTSD and traumatic brain injuries. Go to the website and see these amazing success stories! (contact info)
- Father Joe’s Villages: The historic, monumental Father Joe, has faced the homelessness of so many with kindness and love and a very scrappy knack for fundraising into an organization that houses 2500 “neighbors” nightly…and far, far more. (contact info)
- Challenged Athletes Foundation: CAF has a simple mission: Empower lives with Sport. Since its founding in 1994, CAF has helped over 26,000 individuals with challenges get access to sport. You can join the famous charity “ride” from San Francisco to San Diego or donate with the click of a button (here) and do your part to help match athletes with adaptive sports gear, defer travel expense or provide the “extra” it takes to help great athletes get over the finish line. (contact info)
There is one more thing: a heartfelt thanks to all the people who have made SDSI into the amazing community that we all enjoy today. Our collective businesses have either recovered nicely or prospered at record levels. To all of you who have started a business and can recall how hard that was….our Accelerator has now helped jump started over 120 companies. Now that's amazing!
- bob
