Why I joined thrive!

When I learned about Thrive! I was moved by its mission of helping people help themselves and wanted to be involved. I regularly contribute to Heifer International and Thrive! echoes the same philosophy of empowering people in order to help them to better their situations. I also love that Thrive! is a local organization devoted to helping people in the Manhattan community. The following are some of the reasons I am proud to be a part of Thrive!
 
I believe in Thrives mission.
The mission of Thrive!  is to help reduce poverty by building skills and relationships that strengthen families and individuals. This model of helping people help themselves really speaks to me and I feel it’s so much more effective and beneficial than merely providing financial assistance. I’ve heard it said that Thrive! gives a hand up, not a hand out. The skills learned and connections made by the Leaders of the families involved in Thrive! can be utilized in so many aspects of their lives and can truly help them succeed
 
I want to be more involved in the community.
I appreciate that Thrive! is a local organization and that 100% of funds go to helping the local community rather than a substantial portion going for advertising or to pay for administrative costs to an umbrella entity.  I’ll continue to contribute to national and world-wide charities, but there’s a different level of satisfaction from knowing your efforts will directly affect people where you live.
 
I want to be more service-minded.
To quote Audrey Hepburn, “You have two hands. One to help yourself, the second to help others.”  I’ve been blessed in so many ways and want to give back. I believe helping others help themselves can have a positive effect that goes beyond the original purpose of bettering someone’s financial situation. There’s a magic that happens when a person succeeds in something and the confidence gained by the success can spill over into other aspects of their life and result in a domino effect that spurs other successes.
 
I was inspired by the stories of Thrive participants
It’s been wonderful to hear about some of the successes of Thrive! Leaders.  I especially love the story of the single mom who recently enrolled in Highland Community College to begin her degree in accounting and how the Thrive! family helped provide her with school supplies, assisted her with enrollment, and drove her to her first day of class and took the obligatory 1st day of school photo!
 
I want to help make a difference.
Finally, my underlying reason for joining Thrive! is a desire to help make a contribution. The problems in the world today can seem overwhelming, but even small contributions can make an impact. We are all here for a purpose, and that is to make a difference.
 
 Sally Garvin