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Normally I talk about our students in Uganda, but I am terribly saddened by last weeks news and feel the need to share my thoughts. Last weekend 58 innocent people were killed and more than 500 injured during America’s deadliest mass shooting in Las Vegas. Being based in Las Vegas, this hits home. A week later and we still have no clue why Stephen Paddock decided to gun down so many people, and the survivors, and families of the deceased, are left to pick up the pieces.

And while the event took place in Las Vegas, its impact was felt around the world. Among the victims was a single mother of four from Canada. Several more victims came from across the US. Many of the victims were from Las Vegas and some were friends of my family. The loss has been tremendous. Equally as tremendous though, has been watching the amount of love and support for one another in this time of need.

We talk a lot in this blog about how people need to come together and support their friends and neighbors, not just locally, but around the globe. Within minutes of the first gunshot, Las Vegans rallied to provide transportation, housing and medical assistance to strangers via social media. Within hours hundreds of people lined up to donate blood, blankets, food items, water, etc. Thousands more jumped online to donate money to help the survivors and families of the deceased. The outpouring of initial support has been so great that some donation centers are actually receiving more than they can take at this time. I’m not suprised by the tremendous amount of support given by the Las Vegas and global community to come together in this tragic time.

Now, as the initial shock begins to wear off, it’s time to turn towards the future. As we start to move on with our lives, remember that many people will have to live with the memories and effects of this attack. And the nonprofits you donated to before will still need your help to support the next person in need. There will be a continued need to donate blood, to thank our first responders, to provide food and water. #VegasStrong isn’t just about our ability to come together and rebound for our city, it’s about our compassion to help others in the global neighborhood.

Please continue your work to be a good neighbor by donating to those in need after this tragic event. I know I will! Here’s an ongoing list from Vegas Seven on support resources and how to donate: http://vegasseven.com/2017/10/02/help-aftermath-las-vegas-mass-shooting

Wishing you peace,
Cristen

Philosophers have been around for centuries, providing deep and insightful thoughts on the world around them. Today just happens to be the day we celebrate one of the earliest, and perhaps first great philosopher Confucius. Born in China on Oct. 18, 551 B.C., Confucius was a great teacher, scholar, and politician who gave us several meaningful words of wisdom to live by in all aspects of life.

Today we celebrate Confucius Day by sharing 10 of our favorite teachings from the great ancient philosopher. Most of which speak to perseverance, the value of education, and the road to success. Whenever you need a little boost in motivation, reflect on these words…

“It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.”

“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

“The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential… these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.”

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”

“When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.”

“If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people.”

“He that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.”

“A man who has committed a mistake and doesn’t correct it is committing another mistake.”

I love these. When our children hit roadblocks in learning, our teachers help guide them so they do attain their goals. They work harder than anyone I know to increase their knowledge, to better their life.

I will leave you with my favorite. “Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.”

Peace and Love,
Cristen

Today is American Business Women’s Day. A day where we celebrate the achievements of women in business and women business owners.

Sponsored by the American Business Women’s Association, the day was first celebrated in 1982, 40 years after the founding of the organization. It aims to “bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and to provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership; education, networking support and national recognition.”

You can honor this day by supporting women in business. I’d humbly be grateful for your support in my business. Many people see nonprofits as a service organization, and while it is, it must be run like a business to be done effectively.

I take my business very seriously because there are children in need who desperately need our help in Uganda, that need a hand up so that they too can become business leaders. Our schools provide them with basic necessities for today, and the education and essential job training skills so that they can have a better tomorrow.

And as a women business owner, I’m particularly fond of helping other women business owners develop and succeed. Like Najjuuko Resty “Kalisizo” who started out working as a free maid and begging by day, prostituting by night just to survive. After completing our program at St. Eizabeth’s Girls Academy, she is now a self-employed seamstress living in St. Balikuddembe. Or take a look at Ayeni Grace, who spent hours learning how to cook in our culinary training program, and now owns a roadside food stand.

Every time you support my business, you are supporting the dreams of young women in Uganda to become self-sufficient future business leaders who will leave the country in a better place than they found it. What’s more, you can spread the support for women-owned businesses by purchasing one of our handmade necklaces “kambulagos.” Each one is hand-made by a female entrepreneur in Uganda, and the proceeds benefit the children at our schools.

So, as we take a day to celebrate and promote the development of our women business leaders in America, I again humbly ask you to support my business here at Hope for Hearts. With your support we can help pay it forward to create even more business leaders of the world.

With Gratitude,
Cristen

Thanks to the movie Pay it Forward, many people know about Random Acts of Kindness Day. But before Random Acts of Kindness Day existed, there was Be An Angel Day. Founded in 1993, the goal is the same… do something nice for someone. Whether your task is small or large, your efforts will make you an angel in the eyes of the recipient.

There are thousands of orphaned children in Uganda waiting for an angel to make a difference in their lives; children living on the street, struggling to survive and find basic necessities. At Hope for Hearts we provide shelter, food, clothing, a loving home, friends that become family, and most importantly – an education that lifts them from poverty to prosperity. When young adults leave our schools, they go on to live self-sufficient and independent lives free from the burdens of living on the street.

While we may not be able to support every orphan at once, like the famous starfish story, if support Hope for Hearts, you can be an angel to one of these children in need by doing any of the following:

Make a Donation

Large or small, you’re making a difference in the life of an orphaned child in Uganda. Just $25 will feed one child for one month, and a $240 donation provides a year of education for one child.

Buy Kambulagos

Our handmade Kambulagos make a big impact for a small cost. Each necklace is handmade by a woman in Africa, providing them with a means of earning a paycheck. Additionally, all proceeds benefit the orphaned children at our school. Purchase one today for you or a friend/family member and you’ll be supporting independence for women and children in Uganda.

Sell Kambulagos

Do you own a small business with a high amount of traffic? Contact us to see how you can sell Kambulagos to raise money for our cause.

Spread the Word

As a Las Vegas-based non-profit with a global reach, we’re always looking to get the word out about our efforts. Please share our content (including this blog) with your friends on social media, email, etc. From sparking additional donations to sharing our message, you never know the impact a simple share can make.

Stay in Touch

Not ready to be our angel today? Like our pages on social media, sign up for our newsletter, or check back frequently for blog updates. While today gives you an extra reason to donate, it’s never too late to be our angel!

Remember the starfish story? A man walking on a beach sees miles and miles of starfish washed up on the shore after a terrible storm. He sees a young girl throwing the starfish back into the ocean one by one. The man says “Why are you throwing the starfish back in? You’ll never be able to make a difference and save them all!” The young girl picks up another starfish and throws it into the ocean and replies “But I was able to make a difference to that one.”

Be the girl in this story.

With Gratitude,
Cristen

As one of the only women superheroes in a world where men dominate the comic book pages, Wonder Woman has been a fictional hero that young girls and women across the world could look up to. The past few decades have seen a lot of male superheroes making their big screen debut, and this Summer it was Wonder Woman’s turn. Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Comics brought her character to life as the amazon princess made her big screen debut.

While we’re happy to see a female superhero get the spotlight – you know we don’t believe that superheroes and role models only exist in comic books. So we’ve created a list of six real-life women who we think demonstrate proof that ordinary people can make an extraordinary difference.

Joan of Arc – A real life wonder woman, who despite being the opposite of a pacifist as Wonder Woman was, led a French revolt to victory at Orleans. Bringing freedom to her people. This patron saint of France proves that any person, no matter their size, age, or gender, can inspire a nation and do extraordinary things.

Amelia Earhart – This aviation pioneer, author, teacher, and suffragette is a leader who proved that in a man’s world, women can do anything. At a time when men were still in charge, and women were seen as largely submissive homemakers, Earhart made her mark in Aviation history by setting several records including the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She was also a founding member, and first president, of the Ninety-Nines, an organization dedicated to supporting women in aviation. Her mysterious disappearance only proves that Earhart was willing to take new adventures, despite dangers that lay ahead, in an effort to advance women’s role in flight.

Coco Chanel – It may seem stereotypical to add a fashion designer to the list of extraordinary women, but if ever one deserved to be on this list, it’s Coco Chanel. In the post World War I era Chanel liberated women from the confines of the corset. At the time her ideas were considered revolutionary. She had taken typically male style and redesigned it to fit the needs of modern woman, defining feminine style for the remainder of the 20th century. Chanel is credited as one of the most innovative designers of our time.

Julia Child – Whether it was cooking, eating, or teaching – Child had a profound love for food. She channeled her passion into several TV shows, cookbooks and magazine articles that brought fine French cuisine to dinner tables across America. Women of the day particularly enjoyed her programs because the challenges they faced were largely ignored on television. Child not only taught them the art of cooking culinary delights, but did so in a way that felt relatable.

Malala Yousafzi – Our list would not complete without this amazing and inspiring modern-day activist. The Taliban had been banning women from going to school on and off again for years. In 2008, Yousafzi began speaking out about the ban and fighting for women’s right to an education. By 2012, she had become so influential that death threats were pouring in – leading to the infamous Taliban assassination attempt on her life on October 9, 2012. Needless to say, she not only survived, but continues to fight for women’s education and stands tall today as the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate.

Sylvia Acevedo – If you don’t know this name by now, you will soon. Acevedo is a rocket scientist who recently took over the helm of leading our nation’s future female leaders at Girl Scouts of the USA. Acevedo began her career working as a rocket scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and was involved in Voyager 2’s flyby of Jupiter in 1989. Since then she’s held engineering roles at some of the world’s largest companies including Apple and Dell. Acevedo fights hard in every role she takes to champion education for poor and minority children. As a businesswoman, rocket scientist, philanthropist and now CEO, Acevedo proves to young girls everywhere that women can have, and do, it all!

From revolutionary leader, aviation pioneer, fashion designer, culinary enthusiast, activist, rocket scientist, to just about anything you can dream of – these women’s real-life stories are proof that ordinary people can do extraordinarily super things. We’ll be shining a spotlight on each of these women all week on our social media page. We encourage you to “like” and “share” their stories to show your friends that real-life superheroes do exist.

However, not all battles are fought publicly, and not every hero gets the spotlight. The kids at our schools are constantly fighting their own battles in an effort to become the future leaders, designers, chefs, and overall superheroes in their community. You too can do extraordinary things by supporting their efforts and making a donation today.

Boldly Yours,
Cristen

Images: Joan of Arc, Emilia Earhart, Coco Chanel, Julia Child