One Day... One Day Closer

My sons are grown men now, but if there were Emmy nominations for reading to your kids, I'd probably have a series of trophies on my mantle (I delight in character voices, accents, suspense and timing when reading a kids' book). Malcolm Gladwell says  the key to achieving expertise is dedicating 10,000 hours of practice to your craft. I'm pretty sure I spent at least that much time with the boys (and a cat) sitting in my lap as together we discovered how a book can open the door to any possibilities you can imagine. Dreams become reality when you're between the front and back cover of the book...and often ideas live on after the reader closes the book.  Judith Viorst's Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, monumentalized one day in the life of young Alexander. Allow me to share  with you the story of my yesterday... with a working title of Maggie and the Stressful but Exciting, Inspiring, Grateful, Hopeful, Really Wonderful Day!

So yesterday at 1:59 in the afternoon marked the end of week 2 of Allstate's Purple Purse Challenge. It was a big week as the 3 agencies that raised the most money during that week, would earn a $10,000 bonus. We're competing with about 125 agencies across the country... and they're all working hard for the survivors in their communities, so we have some really stiff competition! Stressful.

Watching the leaderboard!

As 2 pm approached concluding the end of week 2 of the Challenge, I was in the company of about 25 women who were enthusiastically watching the leaderboard and supporting Wellspring's campaign in every way they could. All eyes were glued to the cell phone screens as the fundraising totals for all agencies kept changing ("We're in 3rd- by $1,000... another agency just got a $5,000 donation... oh Wellspring just moved ahead!...can we hold the lead?)" Exciting

While Tuesday's conversation was certainly about the Challenge, this isn't the first time we've gotten together to talk. We've talked before about educating youth, about reducing stigma, about how to talk to a friend who may be experiencing abuse, about changing attitudes that contribute to  abuse... and mostly about what they can do to end relationship and sexual abuse. Wellspring's not alone in this... we've got a community supporting our vision. Inspiring



Karen Charbonneau, Willie Miranda, me and Karen Totino

We had a quick moment of celebration when Wellspring placed 1st in the nation in the week 2 challenge and- yes!- got the $10,000 bonus funds for programs  and services here in Saratoga County, but then all went back to our busy lives. I left there and headed to the ribbon cutting for the Saratoga Home Team. On their really special day as they launched their new business, Karen Charbonneau and Karen Totino chose to share the spotlight to support Wellspring, raising funds and awareness about our work. Grateful
 
Throughout the crowd were friends of Wellspring who've championed our work over the years and were following the leaderboard all afternoon. We've always said the key to ending abuse doesn't rest solely in the hands of Wellspring advocates assisting survivors... we'll only achieve or our vision by engaging everyone  to create the change so that abuse isn't acceptable  in our community. Everywhere I went Tuesday, I saw we're on that path. Hopeful

When I'd read to my sons about Alexander's bad day, I'd always tell them that tomorrow's a new and different day with new possibilities.  Unlike Alexander I had a magnificent day yesterday... but it was just one step along the path. We've got less than 2 weeks left in the Challenge... and a lot of work to do to maintain our standing (and maybe advance into the first place position) so spread the work and let folks know they can help by clicking here. And then we've got some more work do to do to create the change needed to end relationship and sexual abuse. But, together, we can do it!