December Gratitude 2017
At Life is Good, gratitude is a superpower.
It’s pretty easy to be grateful when our glass is overflowing. It’s not so easy to be grateful when our glass is empty. The superpower of gratitude is often most powerful when – regardless of the amount of liquid we have in our glass – we never lose sight of how fortunate we are just to have glass in the first place. And even if our glass is dirty and covered in spots – we remain grateful that we GET TO clean our glass and even get to help clean the glasses of others.
One of the most filthy, dirty spots on humanity’s collective glass is toxic stress and early adversity in the lives of children. Decades of research by the CDC and the U.S. Administration for Children and Families have proven that toxic stress and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) weaken children’s brain architecture – making ACEs the greatest health risks to our kids.
Now, here’s a glimmer of light that comes through that same research – the U.S. Administration for Children and Families has also concluded that the healthy development of our children heavily relies on responsive relationships with adult caregivers.
At The Life is Good Playmakers (LiGP) we call those caregivers, Playmakers.
The data tells us that childcare professionals working in health, education and enrichment programs are uniquely positioned to help heal the trauma that poverty, violence, illness and other ACEs leave on our kids.
Thanks to your loyal support this year The LiGKF remains unique in (and committed to) responding to the overwhelming need to support and invest in our childcare professionals.
Because helpers need help, too!
As you review our annual Gratitude Report – an overview of all the good you’ve helped bring to children and those who dedicate their careers to caring for them – please know that you are seen, you are appreciated, and you are essential to spreading the power of optimism and helping kids heal.
Love & Peace,
Steve Gross, MSW
Chief Playmaker, Life is Good Playmakers
YOU HELPED A MILLION CHILDREN IN 2017
For decades now, The Life is Good Kids Foundation has been investing in tens of thousands of professional childcare providers (Playmakers) to improve the quality of care delivered to millions of children across the United States and in Haiti.
In 2017, we partnered with dozens of leading childcare programs in the areas of education, health, and enrichment. We helped build a foundation of optimism across school systems, foster care, and adoption organizations, as well as launched community-wide initiatives in Newtown, Connecticut and South Boston. We also focused on growing the good in children’s hospitals from coast to coast.
Through various keynote presentations, on-site workshops, retreats, and on-going coaching services this year alone, our collective efforts helped approximately 640,000 more children.
GOT NEWS?
If you have news about a program, fundraiser, or event in support of The LiGP, let us know. We love hearing from you!
TOGETHER, WE EXTENDED OUR REACH TO MILLIONS
This year, you helped build The Life is Good Learning Experience, our digital classroom that will revolutionize how many childcare organizations that The Life is Good Kids Foundation can simultaneously serve. See how your loyal support and friendship continues to evolve the way we deliver our services in a Life is Good Learning Experience presentation, specially designed for you by our Founder, Steve Gross, MSW.
Watch the video to the right for a sneak peek of one of the 14 mini-documentaries that will be featured on the Life is Good Learning Experience. This mini-doc is on the Superpower of Gratitude and features Life is Good Playmaker and supporter, Michael Franti.
AND HELPED RAISE A MILLION DOLLARS
Events & Gatherings
We love to get together, and we love it even more when great events and gatherings support a really great cause. Through our Tavern Series concerts and performances at our Life is Good headquarters, along with conferences and fundraisers across the country, thousands of passionate supporters have raised over $397,000 so far this year. Major thanks to Citrix, Gartner, SAP, ASUG, and Metrowest Subaru for making these events possible.
Underwriting & Partnerships
This year, corporate underwriting for our partnerships with child care organizations, along with unique product partnerships, have raised approximately $586,000 towards our mission to help kids heal. This extraordinary level of support would not have happened without the renewed generosity from the TripAdvisor Charitable Foundation, a select group of family and charitable foundations, Eastern Bank, ALEX AND ANI’s Charity by Design, Rue La La, and Designer’s Choice.
Individuals
Nearly every single day the LiGP receives generous contributions from individuals who simply want to invest in the good growth of others. On average, 800 Life is Good online shoppers support The LiGP by adding a tax-deductible contribution to their shopping cart each month. Thousands more click the “Donate” button on our homepage throughout the year. And, with year-end giving still going strong, individuals are estimated to give just over $90,000 to support our work in 2017. So whether you can give $10 a month, $1 a day, or upwards of $1000 a year, it all adds up to positive change.
