My Nonprofit Reviews

Why I #LoveParks & The Seattle Parks Foundation

#MyGivingStory is not an inspiring or courageous one. Amy's #MyGivingStory (http://woobox.com/kxdcce/vote/for/11104736) about the Boiler Room Shelter (www.ptbr.org) in Port Townsend Washington is. Jenny's #MyGivingStory (http://woobox.com/kxdcce/vote/for/11185836) about Michael's diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma is (http://defeatdipg.org/). And so are hundreds more that you can read and vote on at (https://www.facebook.com/GivingTuesday/) where the winning non-profits can receive a $5,000 grant. Voting ends Tuesday November 24th.

Compared to those two and the many others, it's horrifying to try to write any story. When it comes to charitable areas of giving, parks and outdoor spaces are usually at the bottom of the list when compared to the more pressing needs of physical, mental and emotional health.

From Yosemite to Central Park, our parks come in many flavors. But in today's fast moving society, I believe that our outdoor spaces are more imperative than ever to enable our long term physical, mental, and emotional health. I give to The Seattle Parks Foundation (https://www.seattleparksfoundation.org) because they enable local citizens to take charge of the space around them. The photo attached is highlight from their fall 2015 newsletter illustrating just one of their many efforts.

I'm inspired by people like Carmen Martinez and the Duwamish Valley Youth Corps. I'm inspired by Amy and Jenny and humanity's capacity for compassion and sacrifice. This holiday season, what inspires you to give and why? The contest portion of #MyGivingStory concludes this Tuesday so submit your own and vote on others! The conversation, however, keeps going both online and offline. What is your #MyGivingStory?