May Newsball 2017
Playing Catch-Up with the Life is Good Playmakers
When I was growing up, I often heard people say that the grass is always greener in someone else’s yard. Today, I hear people say that the grass is always greener where you water it. Looks like we’ve made some real progress in the past 40 years.
I am happy to report that The Life is Good Playmakers (LiGP) did a whole lot of watering last month and the good is flowering up all around.
This month we celebrated a new phase of work with such remarkable partners as Minnesota Children’s Hospital, the town of Newtown, CT, and PICA Head Start.
We were given the chance to work on behalf of thousands of children with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston.
And we got to open our doors to hundreds of optimists to celebrate the love of Mom.
Yes, the good continues to grow. We appreciate you watering it with us.
Love & Peace
Steve Gross
Chief Playmaker, LiGP
GOOD PROGRESS
Our Work in the Field
This year launched the next phase of The LiGP curriculum, our 303. For our deep impact partners (professional childcare organizations working with The LiGP at every level, from executive leadership to frontline care providers), this phase focuses on sustaining a safe, loving, and joyful culture for all of the children each organization serves, as well as for all of the adults these organizations employ. Our current deep impact partners engaged in this next phase of work are Minnesota Children’s Hospitals, the community of Newtown, CT, and Parents in Community Action (PICA) Head Start.
This month The LiGP continued our deep impact partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston with a two-day Playmaker workshop that welcomed staff from 10 different city clubs. All participants walked away with the necessary framework and tools to innovate and adapt their daily work in service of creating optimal environments for kids to continue to connect, engage, and explore.
Over the weekend of May 6, The LiGP welcomed 39 New England based teachers and childcare professionals into our Life is Good headquarters for our spring public two-day Playmaker intensive. This retreat provides an opportunity for anyone working with children to connect, refuel, and establish self-care and disposition as critical tools in helping children learn and heal.
GOOD GROWTH
Our Work to Raise Support
On May 11, just in advance of Mother’s Day Life is Good Co-Founder, John Jacobs and LiGP Chief Playmaker, Steve Gross welcomed 150 optimists into the Life is Good Tavern for a fundraising event we called, For the Love of Mom. A night of inspiring stories, touching tributes, and everlasting gratitude for the person many of us are fortunate enough to consider the first great loves of our lives: Mom.
This month the ASUG Annual conference offered three days of strategy, networking, and education of SAP applications – along with a good dose of optimism. Life is Good Co-Founders, Bert & John Jacobs delivered an inspiring keynote at the conference, and invited all 20,000 conference attendees to support The LiGP through our Giving Tee program. The appeal raised more than $50,000 in less than two days. Thank you ASUG Conference attendees!
Early this month The LiGP wrapped it’s first corporate partnership with the Patient Engagement team at Vertex Pharmaceuticals to help them create an inviting and authentically engaging presence at events that support the cystic fibrosis community.
GOOD PEOPLE
Our Playmakers
“I believed that if EVERYBODY could participate on a team sport that the world would be a better place. I didn’t quite know how, but I knew that team play had to start as soon as possible. It had to start with kids.”
This month The LiGP pays tribute to an essential member of our team, Emily Saul.
GOOD NEWS
Highlights & Updates
One June 21 come celebrate The Art & Soul of Optimism with award-winning poet, In-Q, acclaimed singer-songwriter, Will Dailey, and the Founders of Life is Good, Bert and John Jacobs.
On May 10 more than 570 Playmakers (childcare professionals who are making positive differences in the lives of kids at pivotal times) tuned in for our quarterly Facebook Live get together with Emily Saul to catch up on Playmaker news and to meet our newest teammate, Chomba Kaluba. If you’re a Playmaker who’s NOT currently a part of our closed Facebook book, email Morgan Cirillo and she’ll set you up!
Do you ever shop on Amazon? If so, you can now shop Amazon and support the LiGP all at the same time (and without spending an additional dime). To have a portion of all your Amazon purchases support The LiGP, just visit https://smile.amazon.com/ and choose “The Life is Good Playmakers” as your charitable organization. Same prices. Same site. More good!
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!
