June Newsball 2017
Playing Catch-Up with the Life is Good Playmakers
Love & Peace,
Steve Gross, MSW
Chief Playmaker, Life is Good Playmakers
GOOD PROGRESS
Our Work in the Field
As part of The Life is Good Playmakers participation in NBC’s Emmy award-winning series, GIVE, we discovered all the good growing at Newton Athletes Unlimited (NAU) – a non-profit offering high quality recreational programs to encourage physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development to individuals with disabilities. This month many NAU staff and volunteers were given the chance to connect and replenish their own practice of optimism through a one-day LiGP retreat.
Parents in Community Action (PICA) is one of National Head Start’s leading programs – serving more than 2,500 families in Hennepin County, Minnesota. For going on three years now, PICA has partnered with The LiGP and engaged our Playmaker Program to evolve how they build optimal environments for the children in their care, and for the men and women on their professional caregiving teams. As of this month, 15 full-time members of PICA’s staff became the on-site core Playmaker team to continue to build their culture of optimism – making our movement truly sustainable.
On May 31, more than 100 community advocates gathered at the South Boston Neighborhood House to engage in a conversation lead by LiGP Chief Playmaker, Steve Gross, MSW. The conversation kicked-off a year long partnership between The LiGP and the leaders of 35 children’s health and wellness programs working to improve the quality of care delivered to kids growing up in South Boston.
GOOD GROWTH
Our Work to Raise Support
Earlier this year Citrix invited Life is Good Co-Founder, Bert Jacobs to speak to thousands of their employees and partners on the power of optimism. Through his address, Bert also offered a chance for those in the audience to support the work of The Life is Good Playmakers, and more than $76,000 was raised in just a few days. This month, Citrix went above and beyond by matching every employee gift made at the event, resulting in another $60,000 of support to The LiGP. Thank you, Citrix!
The LiGP was officially approved for our final round of funding through a three-year, $450,000 grant provided by the TripAdvisor Charitable Foundation. This investment in our work provided the necessary resources for The LiGP to pilot, implement, and evolve our deep impact partnership approach with three leading National Head Start programs: PICA (Parents In Community Action, Inc) in Minnesota, Plaza de la Raza in California, and University Settlement in New York. Thank you TripAdvisor Charitable Foundation!
For the second year in a row a generous foundation (who wishes to remain anonymous) has awarded The LiGP with a $25,000 grant to continue doing meaningful work in our home state of Massachusetts. In addition to other projects, this grant will help fund The LiGP’s new partnership with the South Boston Association of Non-Profits who seeks to inspire a collective, powerful, and compassionate voice across their entire neighborhood. We are so grateful!
GOOD PEOPLE
Our Playmakers
“Officer Chapman loves me.”
For William Chapman, School Resource Officer for Newtown, Connecticut (and fellow Playmaker), that’s the single most important message for him to convey to each and every child.
GOOD NEWS
Highlights & Updates
For the third year in a row, MetroWest Subaru has selected The Life is Good Playmakers as their official hometown charity for their annual Share the Love Campaign. Since December of 2015, this year-end fundraiser has generated more than $142,000 for The LiGP mission. Thank you, MetroWest Subaru!
Hear Steve Gross, Chief Playmaker of The Life is Good Playmakers spread the power of optimism and give voice to the powerful, positive work we’re doing together on the premiere episode of Boston University’s Power of Good podcast.
In early June leaders from PICA (MN) & Plaza de la Raza (CA) came together at The Life is Good Playmaker’s headquarters in Boston for an advanced leadership work and strategy session. It was the first time that leaders from both organizations came together to discover how they could learn and grow from each other’s experiences.
Thanks in part to our lead sponsor Citizens Bank, 150 optimists kicked off the first day of summer at the Life is Good Tavern with award-winning poet, IN-Q and acclaimed singer-songwriter, Will Dailey, in support of kids in need and great art! Relive the live performance on the Life is Good Facebook Page.
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!
