Our Corporate Mantra and New Year’s Resolution
They say that, for every “yin,” there exists a “yang.” That is to say, for every cloud, there is always a silver lining…a brightness that offsets and balances the darkness. This holiday season, we are choosing to focus on the “yang.” The brightness. The rays of hope.
Both as a company and as individuals, we are purposefully and optimistically choosing to embrace and celebrate “The Power of Positivity” this year. Not only has this become something of a corporate mantra for our agency during this gift-giving season, we also promise to extend our embrace of positive thinking into our New Year's Resolutions as well!
The Power of Positivity in Action
One real-world example and daily reminder of the power of positivity comes in the form of one of our nonprofit partners, The Macomb Charitable Foundation. You may recognize their name as the charitable cause we collaborate with each holiday season for their annual adopt-a-family program.
What you may be less familiar with is the work they do throughout our community every day of the year!
Their mission statement reads,
“...to help children living at or below poverty level in Macomb County. Our goal is to alleviate the suffering of children and their families by providing financial assistance for items such as but not limited to; food, clothing, personal care items, rent/utility assistance, vehicle repair, educational assistance and when available personal & spiritual mentoring.”
And while it’s important for us (and others!) to support their work during the holiday season, it’s equally important to celebrate the power of positivity that this organization has committed itself to since its founding more than 40 years ago.
Producing Positivity Where Little Once Existed
The Macomb Charitable Foundation was founded in 1982 by Shelly Penzien, a local woman who saw tragedy firsthand and chose to take it upon herself to do something about it. To hear her story told in her own words is to understand what the power of positivity can do to impact an entire community:
In 1982, I was a young employee in a Macomb County school district that had a large population of low income housing. There were children attending school without necessities, oftentimes they were hungry. Teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria workers and other school employees would rally around these children and supply them with clothing, food, shoes and other needed items. One child in particular tugged at my heart.
It was early fall when I noticed he was not wearing clothing suitable for the weather. No socks, shoes with holes, no coat or warm weather gear. I knew from working at the school that he lived in less than desirable conditions. My mom and I provided him with a bountiful Christmas. Completely anonymous. He didn’t know it was from us and we didn’t see him open the packages. My mom always imagined him opening his gifts and exclaiming with joy that it was his best Christmas ever!
I was a young newlywed, we didn’t have much, but we had more than he did. It felt so good to bless this young boy.
The next year we found another child to “adopt.” My aunt and sisters jumped on board. The year after that friends became involved.
Year after year the program grew. Around 2002, one of our generous supporters offered us a 501c3 nonprofit license. We have remained an all-volunteer group helping homeless and poverty-level children in Macomb County ever since.
Penzien adds, “Hundreds and hundreds of Macomb County children will be spending Christmas somewhere other than ‘home’ this year. Many will be sleeping in area shelters. Some will be in motel rooms or on the couch or floor of a friend or relative. We can’t buy them all a home. We can’t change some of the horrific stories they’ve lived. But we can provide them with some basic necessities and love this Christmas!”
And we can’t think of a better embodiment of the power of positivity! Some 42 years later, Penzien and her team collaborate to fulfill the Christmas wishes of more than 500 families in our community each year! May we all take a lesson from her vision, her commitment, and her perseverance!
See the Macomb Charitable Foundation story in action and see the lives they’ve touched:
Join Us in the Pursuit of Positivity!
Especially this time of year, but all year long as well, we hope you will join us in celebrating “The Power of Positivity.” Have a story to share with the world regarding the power of positivity in our personal or professional world? Let’s hear it!