The end of the year brings joy, reflection and charity. For nonprofits of all sizes it’s a critical time for organizations to bring in their final streams of donations. Having been a supporter of nonprofit organizations for many years prior to beginning my professional career, I can say firsthand that generous contributions, large and small, are appreciated and truly make a difference in lives and communities. Although Giving Tuesday of 2018 has come and gone, donations made through the end of the year are just as significant for such organizations and may provide tax benefits for donors. In the spirit of giving and gratitude here are charities I support and their missions toward creating a brighter future.
Jasmine's Journey
Planning a Houston Bachelorette Weekend and Six Lessons I Learned from it /
From meetings and schedules to social events, I’m a planner and its something I enjoy. Last year my cousin, Jasmine, called me with exciting news followed by a pretty special request later on that year during my Thanksgiving visit home. The love of her life asked for her hand in marriage and she chose me to be her maid of honor, and what an honor it was.
As the maid of honor, my one job was to plan her bachelorette weekend and in doing so I had three goals I wanted to accomplish outside of making her happy.
Read MoreCalifornia Adventures: My Favorite West Coast Experiences /
Two years ago I entered a new chapter as I moved from Louisiana to California to begin my journey and career. Within those two years I’ve seen several mountains and valleys, but the highs have certainly outweighed the lows.
My favorite memories have been during visits from my family, with my cousins here and through fulfilling work experiences at United Way and TGR Foundation. Although I’m not close to seeing or doing everything on my California Bucket List, here are 10 experiences I’ve enjoyed most since my move.
Read MoreIt's Lit: Six "Real World Reads" to add to your fall reading list /
I’ve planned to read 12 books for the past two years. I haven’t achieved this yet, but this year I’m getting close.
I started working toward a dozen with “The Wait.” After diving back into the communications I revisited books from grad school. I’m currently reading “Social Media: How to Engage, Share and Connect by Regina Luttrell taking tips from her experiences interviews and communications model.
While I may not get to them before the end of 2018 the following books are on my reading list. Should I fail to meet my goal of a dozen reads this year, I will in 2019. The best way to finish is to get started.