Quite serendipitously, actually. I came upon CWC a number of years ago as a result of searching for organizations focused on single-mothers and followed it online for a few more years. Subsequently, in about 2022, I was introduced to someone casually at my daughter’s volleyball game who was tangentially involved with CWC and I expressed an interest in approaching the firm for sponsorship, she took my card and the rest is history. The why is easier, when my circumstances changed and I became a single parent, I became acutely aware of how challenging it is to raise children alone, frankly it feels impossible a lot of days. I became equally aware of how fortunate I was to have already completed my education and have a career. Said another way, I am on the lucky end of this, and it is so hard. If I can do anything, maybe I can help reduce the stigma, increase awareness and help some raise funds to help someone else turn the corner and give their children a chance, don’t we all just want to give them that.
In 2023, I dropped off holiday Care Packages at a transition home and in chatting with the women who worked there, I asked where they receive support in excess of government funding and they calmly said, “from the women who leave” and recall thinking, with what? That really resonated with me, we think generosity is sometimes a big amount, but often it truly is a big amount of what you have.
I think it is a social responsibility and a business imperative. Stakeholders are asking more of businesses and, as a result, a sustainable business plan now must include a societal impact. Customers/clients and employees are seeing it is a differentiator. Corporate philanthropy, best incorporated into a corporate purpose and values, will increase employee engagement, enhance corporate culture, and can therefore prove to be a competitive advantage.
Life is for the living.
Being a single mother is often not a bad choice, its bad luck. Anyone can have bad luck.
