May Newsball 2018
Catching up with the Life is Good Playmakers
This month, we celebrated #TeacherAppreciation week: Seven days that call on one of the most important Superpowers: Gratitude.
Gratis means at no cost, and ‘tude—short for attitude—means a way of thinking or feeling. When combined, gratitude is a way of thinking and feeling that demonstrates appreciation for all of the “unearned” blessings and goodness that we have received from outside of ourselves. What did I ever do to earn the 10 fingers, two eyes, and one brain that I am using to type this message? What did I ever do to earn the opportunity to be loved, taught, and cared for by so many great teachers?
The short answer: Nothing.
Evolving our practice of gratitude is important to our wellbeing. Paying greater attention to the goodness in our lives, while acknowledging the adversity that we face, helps us maintain a healthy perspective on life.
For example, if your car gets a flat tire and you’re late for work, it’s pretty easy to lose sight of the fact that you have a car and a job. If we’re not careful, the grating noise of life’s afflictions can drown out the sweet harmony of life’s blessings.
Gratitude is a practice. We humans never master it. So, if the first week of May came and went and there’s a teacher in your life that you still want to thank, you still can. And If you don’t know where to find them, then just do something good for the world in their honor.
Love & Peace,
Steve Gross, MSW
Chief Playmaker, Life is Good Playmakers
GOOD PROGRESS
Our Work in the Field
Protector of Children
Earlier this month, 70 teachers, leaders, and other care specialists at Wu Yee Children’s Services in San Francisco attended an LiGP two-day intensive retreat. As an organization with a name that means, “protector of children,” Wu Yee is serious about their commitment to play-based curriculum and adapting their approach to meet the needs of each individual child. They recognize the critical importance of investing in their overall culture and in the relationships between their team members and with the children and families that their teams serve. During this two-day LiGP retreat, participants explored the connection between personal and professional wellness as it relates to the healthy development of our children and came away with tactical tools and individual action plans for how to strategically increase capacity for optimism and authentic connection across their organization. Our partnership with Wu Yee Head Start is generously supported by the TripAdvisor Charitable Foundation.
Still Growing the Good in Haiti
On January 12, 2010, a7.1 magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti. Aid from the United States and around the world rushed in to provide the basics: Medical supplies, clean water, food, some semblance of shelter.In addition to these necessities, essential services were provided by doctors, nurses, social workers, and therapists. Leaders from the LiGP were invited to help local childcare providers find the resilience to go back into the field and serve the kids in their community amidst unfathomable conditions. They found our LiGP program, practice, and philosophy so impactful, they asked us to stay. After more than eight years, our Playmaker Programcontinues to operate in dozens of schools, orphanages, and enrichment programs across the country.
Keeping the Doors Open
Earlier this month the LiGP invited more than 40 childcare professionals working in education, health, and enrichments programs to attend a two-day Playmaker Retreat at our Boston headquarters. While the bulk of our work now focuses on partnering with entire childcare organizations, we are still able to offer open registrations to individual childcare professionals on a quarterly basis thanks, in part, to an anonymous family foundation. Our public offerings always fill up quickly. If you or someone you know would like to attend one of our final public retreats in August or November, sign up soon!
GOOD GROWTH
Our Work to Raise Support
Host Analytics Perform 2018
This month, hundreds of technology and systems leaders gathered in Dallas, Texas for the Host Analytics Perform 2018 Conference. To drive even more positive change, the group invited Life is Good Co-Founder Bert Jacobs to speak about the integrated for-profit/non-profit model at Life is Good, and our foundation’s approach to treating the systemic issue of early childhood trauma. The audience was invited to support the LiGP work in schools, hospitals, and social service agencies across the U.S. and Haiti, resulting in more than $10,000 raised in just a few incredible hours.
Rue La La
Through partnerships with other businesses that believe in doing well by doing good, the LiGP is able to raise more funds to support our work in the field. For many years now, Rue La La has been an excellent example of a reliable business partner that also helps us drive positive change. Just as Life is Good donates 10% of its annual net revenue to support our work to help kids heal, Rue La La also gives 10% of their Life is Good boutiques to fund our partnerships with education, health, and enrichment programs across the U.S. and Haiti. That support adds up to more than $30,000 in additional funding for the LiGP each year.
PowerFlow Yogathon
On May 19, hundreds of yogis gathered at Montclair State University to participate in the 2018 Powerflow Yogathon to benefit the LiGP. For 12 straight hours, one yogi per team was on the mat engaged in a practice of mindful movement to promote inner (and outer) strength and peace. The gathering raised more than $16,000 for the LiGP and demonstrated, once again, how doing what you love (and loving what you do) can both spread the power of optimism and fuel the greater good.
GOOD PEOPLE
Our Playmakers
There are a lot of assumptions made around the world about what kids in Haiti need.
As someone who works closely with these kids every day, I can tell you that our kids need what all kids need: Nutritious food, clean water, a warm, safe place to sleep, learn, and grow. Time to play, and people who love them to play with.
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!
