Recently, I went to an open house at a nonprofit called The Second Chance Initiative.
I was swept away.
It was my second visit to Second Chance’s headquarters and both times I left there deeply moved by the nonprofit’s mission and the work being done by women overcoming obstacles so they can rebuild their lives.
There is so much good work being done in our communities. Much of it is done quietly and without fanfare, but lives get saved and that’s what matters.
I take my service as a trustee of the Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation seriously.
It’s an honor to do this work. Carl was a generous and kind man. Those of us involved in the Foundation are deeply committed to extending his legacy and his strong desire to help people.
Giving people a second chance in life was a value that Carl believed in. He related to the underdog and always rooted for the David’s in their struggles against the Goliaths of the world.
I don’t know the root cause of that sentiment, but I think that Carl thought of himself as an underdog in many ways. He itched to take on the giants—whether it was competing with the big players in nutrition or challenging the leaders in the energy drink space. Carl was always up for a good challenge.
But as much as he loved business and the challenge of taking on the champs, he truly loved helping those who needed a second chance.
So, when a friend from Delray told me about the Second Chance Initiative, I was all ears. Second Chance is dedicated to changing the trajectory of women’s lives. The program enables women in recovery to work toward self-sufficiency by breaking what they call the “cycle of shame” that often leads to relapse.
Second Chance believes that work in and of itself can contribute to well-being. In a small warehouse in Boca Raton, women in recovery produce mugs, ornaments, and tumblers that they sell on Etsy. Proceeds get funneled back into the program which also teaches job skills and provides a supportive and loving community for women rebuilding their lives.
When a colleague and I conducted a site visit to check out the program a few months ago, I committed a terrible faux pas. You’re supposed to observe the program, ask tough questions and be dispassionate, but we met some of the women and we heard their stories and I found myself….well… I found myself choking up.
I was touched by the stories of women who lost it all—families, children, marriages, homes, careers and their self-worth. And I was moved by the stories of how this program is helping these women rebuild their lives.
They are getting a second chance. They are finding a community of compassion, and it’s powerful to witness. You can feel the love that goes into every coffee mug; it sounds goofy but there’s magic unfolding in suite 312 in a warehouse district on Boca Raton Boulevard.
And so, we thought, our friend Carl would love this mission. It had it all, stories of people overcoming obstacles, women learning business and life skills so they can live good lives. And they were making cool products that we knew the “product guy” in Carl would really appreciate.
Luckily, the board agreed with our recommendation to fund a gift.
When we returned for the Open House, we were greeted by a group of women working at Second Chance. We were treated to amazing stories of resilience by those who “graduated” and are doing well—one day at a time— and we met several friends who support this mission.
This time, I didn’t tear up, but my heart filled with joy. This was a joyous experience, and I was grateful that my friend’s generosity made it possible to help others.
It’s easy to fall in love with philanthropy. Most of us have been on the asking end of the equation as we work to raise funds for our favorite causes. But giving…giving is extra special.
We are trying very hard to make every hard-earned dollar count, to honor Mr. DeSantis’ memory and to help people and communities thrive.
When I come to the office, I long to share what I’m seeing and feeling with my friend Carl, who made this all possible. But he is no longer here. When I shared that sentiment with a co-worker, she assured me that Carl knows what’s happening.
I believe he does too. And I believe that we are going to do a lot of good.
For more information on the Second Chance Initiative please visit https://her2ndchance.org/
