Merriam-Webster defines the noun altruism as: “unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others.”  What Merriam-Webster doesn’t give, however, is a description of the feeling created by the act.
 
Last week For Kids Foundation received a request from a newly single dad of three.  Current family, life, and work situations have left dad struggling to meet the immediate needs of his children.
 
After providing Dad with referrals to the Children’s Cabinet and the local Boys and Girls Club for additional resources, For Kids Foundation approved funding of up to $500 for three quality twin bed mattresses.  We were able to obtain the mattresses at a deep discount from Reno Mattress Company, a local company supporting many nonprofits in town.  With the remaining funds, the Board approved the purchase of new shoes. 
 
I met Dad and the kids at Famous Footwear at the Outlets at Legends last week and was able to purchase one pair of “cool” shoes for each child.
 
Here’s where the feeling of altruism came into play:  After seeing the joy on their faces and hearing the gratitude expressed by Dad, as I drove away, I experienced a lump form in the back of my throat and my eyes stung from held-back tears.  This is what it is all about—easing the burden, bringing joy, and offering nonjudgmental help to another human being.
 
Last Friday was really no exception: every day I get to celebrate the positive effects of our work. I’ve been given the amazing opportunity to be a steward of funds to provide financial aid to kids in need in Northern Nevada.  Some needs are simple and relatively inexpensive; whereas, others are costly and may even be life-altering.  Yet each and every need plays an important role in a child’s life.
 
How would you describe the feeling of altruism?

We first told you about Joshua Southworth back in March. The teenager is now wheelchair bound after he was paralyzed in a trampoline accident in the back yard of his family's home in Red Rock, just north of Reno.

"Josiah came in and said Joshua just seriously got hurt," recalled Joshua's brother Jeremiah during our interview back in March. "We need your help and come outside," he was told.

The family has rallied around Joshua and provided him positive support as he focuses on recovering from his injury.

Whew! Was January a busy month or what?!  January 1 we hit the ground running. The Foundation processed nearly $7000 of awards for kids in need.  We funded everything from dental procedures, to prescription medications, to college application fees, to even new beds for a family of three kids.  

I've been having a blast sharing our mission with some really cool folks around town like at Inspire Reno, Communities in Schools, the Children's Cabinet, Vaughn Middle School, and the Sierra Sunrise Toastmasters' group, just to name a few.

​So, we thought February would be a great time take a break, enjoy a drink and a snack, and introduce you to some of the people who are passionate about our mission of helping kids get the care/services they need.

Thanks to a generous partnership with local restaurant Louis' Basque Corner and Board Member Therese Shanks, we are proud to announce our "Happy Hour Meet and Greet" Wednesday, February 28, 5-7 p.m.  I hope you'll join us.  I can't wait to share what's in store for March!

Does your family have a unique or interesting holiday tradition?

My two daughters were raised in a "French-American" household.  They were fortunate enough to grow up bilingual, attending a French-American elementary school.

I think they really got "the best of both worlds" especially when it came to holidays because we celebrated with both a French and American flare.

One special "French" touch to our Christmas was we didn't put out the traditional cookies and milk for Santa Claus. 

First of all, it was Papa Noel (not Santa)!

Next, rather than milk and cookies, we left a nice plate of French cheese with a crusty baguette, a much more palatable treat for a hard-working French Papa Noel, wouldn't you agree?  It was always great fun to take a nibble off the plate after the girls went to bed and to see their faces in the morning after Papa Noel had passed by to drop off presents!

What cool tradition does your family have?