DRUM ROLL PLEASE....WEEK 52!!

I can't believe it has been a year already!  I am now on Week 52 of my project "52 Weeks - 1 Difference"!

Looking back...

This project started as a discussion with my husband in December of last year.  It was my response to a number of issues that were weighing on my heart and my mind as we wrapped up the year.  It was 2011 when a devestating Tsunami hit Japan.  It was, also, December 2011 when they found the body of the missing and beautiful, 7 year old, Jorelys Rivera in Canton, Georgia.  As a mother of 5, this story shook me to the depths of my soul.

Feeling helpless, I started to really question the world we live in.  I was doubting humanity and I was doubting God.  But, then I took a step back and looked at how many others were feeling the same way and realized WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF GOOD IN THIS WORLD.  We aren't helpless.  Things aren't hopeless.  And even if I was on my own, I was going to do SOMETHING to make a difference...to prove to myself AND TO MY CHILDREN that the world is what you make it.  With one foot in front of the other, for 52 weeks, I was going to make a difference.

So here we are...52 weeks later...

Ironically, a year later, I find myself in the same state of mind, as people are picking up the pieces of their lives following Hurricane Sandy.  My heart is broken, again, as I mourn the loss of the 20 children and 6 adults in Newtown, Connecticut.  But after 52 weeks, I can tell you that THERE IS HOPE.  I have spent this year alongside hundreds and thousands of people from our community who are feeding the hungry, providing outreach to at risk-youth, cleaning up parks and rivers, helping at churches, supporting our law enforcement, caring for the sick, honoring our troops, and building homes for the homeless.  I was never alone in any of these tasks.  I have met so many selfless people along the way. 

This project was about raising awareness, building community, creating hope and making a difference (whether big or small).  I didn't know then, but I know now, that the impact I made was big.  I also know that it doesn't stop here...

52 Weeks - 1 Difference MADE!!

Thank you to the following organizations/events for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of all of the positive things you do to meet the needs in our community:

In no particular order... Wells Fargo Blood Source

St John’s Shelter for Women and Children

Ronald McDonald House Charities

Grace Foundation

Sacramento Zoo

Sacramento Children's Home

Birthday Magic

March of Dimes

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Shamrock'n Half Marathon

March of Dimes

Walk to Remember Bryan E. Hall

Wellspring Women’s Center

Helping Hayden Fundraiser

March of Dimes Walk for Babies - Sacramento

Walk for Wishes

SPMA Outreach Meeting

Sacramento PRIDE Parade, 2012

Breakaway Camp

Out of the Darkness Walk

Five-O Showdeo

UC Davis Honey Bee Haven

Birthday Magic

Volunteer Center of Sacramento

Five-O Showdeo

Junior League

Greenway Foundation

GRID Alternatives

Excelsior Elementary

Sacramento Valley AIDS Run/Walk

Habitat for Humanity

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services

Sacramento Kings

Salvation Army

Run to Feed the Hungry

Shriner's Hospital Visit Sacramento Horseman's Association Cycles for Hope Childrens Receiving Home of Sacramento Boys and Girls Club

Sharing Wells Fargo Environmental Blog - Highlights Green Team Conference I attended in October

I am sharing with you a blog post from the Wells Fargo Environmental Forum.  It highlights a Wells Fargo Green Team conference I participated in back in October.  I am lucky to work for a company that is so committed to the environment and the community.

http://blog.wellsfargo.com/environment/2012/12/green_team_planning_for_2013.html

This past October, more than 60 company leaders representing our many Green Teams and business partners convened in Denver, Colo. for our 2012 Green Team Leadership conference. Team members representing Green Teams from across the enterprise (including international representation from India) met to discuss best practices, learn from internal and external sustainability practitioners and prepare for the coming year. Just as we did last year, we carefully considered our costs and emissions and decided to move forward with a slightly smaller event for 2012. The conference this year provided us all with valuable time to dig into the details of our revised environmental commitment (released in April) and learn about our new Green Team business planning process, which we hope to continue to share with our Environmental Forum readers throughout 2013.
Our event started with a community volunteer project held at Centennial Park, where more than 40 volunteers dressed in Wells Fargo red, helped Denver Parks and Recreation staff prepare the grounds for winter weather -- and not a moment too soon as snow arrived in Denver later that week. Post-volunteering, team members were treated to a farm to table meal at Coohill’s a local restaurant focused on sustainability and community engagement.
On Wednesday, the team assembled in our downtown Denver offices for a day filled with environmental presentations. The morning started with a panel discussion of our company’s new environmental commitment with representation from the Environmental Affairs corporate team and a great question and answer session with our extended network of Green Team leaders.  The next item on the agenda included a presentation on the role of our many Green Teams in helping to achieve our environmental goals and an overview of a new business planning process that the teams will use for 2013.
The business planning process is new for our Green Teams and something that we hope will help us to better share the value and impact our volunteer teams have for our business and communities. Our many Green Teams will be documenting their plans to promote environmental stewardship at work and in the community. We are also working with True Impact   to help document the financial and environmental savings that our Green Teams can offer. Our goal is to share these results with our business leaders to further engage the many layers of our organization and garner more support for our environmental efforts.
To help inspire our plans for 2013, we were joined by speakers from The Greenway Foundation , a local nonprofit who helped in planning our conference, and regional representatives from The Trust for Public Land , who presented their story of transforming the South Platte River from an industrial waste site to a beautiful recreational space used by all residents of the Denver metro area. Local organizations also shared their stories of environmental success ranging from Denver Water’s Use Only What You Need campaign for water conservation to the Denver Mayor’s Sustainability Office’s support of bicycle sharing services like B-Cycle .
Based on conference feedback, our Green Team leaders are energized, inspired and looking forward to the coming year. We’d love to know more about what you all are planning for 2013. Please share your stories and ideas with us in the comments section.