'I think we've got something special'
'I think we've got something special'
The first one
Hi, hey, hello–I’m nervous.
When I finally decided to embark on this new adventure, quite a few people messaged me saying how excited they were about it, and to be honest, that made me so nervous. I started feeling like this wouldn’t be good enough or that I wasn’t good enough. Then I remembered what Glennon Doyle said: If you can’t beat fear, just do it scared.
So here I am, sending you this while hiding under the covers and listening to this song on repeat.
So what exactly is this next great adventure?
❥ I’ve decided to reinvent the practice of generosity through my new Philanthropic Group! Boom—it’s out there now.
So what even is a Philanthropist? Here’s what Google says—Philanthropist: a person, typically a wealthy one, who has an altruistic concern for human welfare and shows it by donating money, property, time, or work to aid people in need or to support institutions that serve the public.
Oftentimes when we think of Philanthropy we think of people like Oprah or MacKenzie Scott (who I'm obsessed with—have you seen Loot on AppleTV?) But I’ve learned that a Philanthropist is anyone who contributes their resources to help others.
So I made my own definition—Philanthropist: A compassionate individual who demonstrates a selfless commitment to human well-being by contributing their resources and time to assist those in need or to champion people who are doing good in their community.
Doesn't that sound more accessible? And here’s the good news—you too are a Philanthropist! Don’t believe me? Well, remember when you donated to Smile On Me? Remember how you helped us host our very first summer camp (more wild stories about camp coming soon 👀 ) or hosted a Tiny Talk, or donated space for one of our events? Count that as your selfless commitment to human well-being! And even if you've never been part of Smile On Me, I'm certain you've backed causes—be it buying Girl Scout cookies, volunteering, or extending a helping hand to someone in need.
👌🏼 In essence, your actions, big or small, demonstrate the spirit of philanthropy within you, affirming that you are indeed a Philanthropist in your own impactful way.
So, welcome to Everyday Ribbons 🎉
(I’ll explain later what that name means and how I came up with it). A place for aspiring Philanthropists and do-gooders.
Here’s how this space will work:
✌️You’ll hear from me twice a month as I share what I’m discovering about the state of giving.
🌎 You’ll learn more about my foundation and the vision I have for a self-sufficient world.
😎 You’ll be introduced to some pretty cool people who are doing great things in their communities.
Most importantly, I want to use this space to reimagine the idea of generosity together. I want to us to answer questions like: Does giving really matter? Why is it so hard to do good? Can I really make a difference?
➕ For my paid subscribers—In addition to the above, I’ll share more about life through my (Warby Parker) lenses, like:
🙃 How I’m navigating the trenches of motherhood
😊 What I’ve added to my 2024 bingo card
🙄 What it’s like being married to a 38-year-old man who still thinks he has a shot at making it in the NFL
&&: I’m excited to support you in discovering your giving habits! You’ll get access to:
My ‘Giving Personas’ quiz (to help you get started)
Best research practices to help you find causes that really speak to you
Advice column filled with all my entrepreneurial learnings over the years
I can’t wait to get started. This is going to be so much fun! 🎉
—you’ll notice I use the word ‘so’ quite often. you’ll also most likely notice bad grammar and the overuse of commas and punctuation in my writing—so yea