Be Happy

The Women's Fund of Central Ohio has an annual event called the Keyholder. Participants buy tickets and can write tributes to honor someone. Those attending also learn about the granting partners and the recipients of grants from the Women's Fund of Central Ohio. Farrah invited me three years ago and wrote tributes to me and to her daughter Hattie. It was one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me and she also inspired me to make the Women's Fund one of my top philanthropic priorities.

This year I followed Farrah's example and invited my Mom and our friend Kitty to join us for the event and was excited that there ended up being eight of us sitting together! This was the second year the Women's Fund invited a big-name celebrity to headline the event and Goldie Hawn was the guest speaker (Diane Keaton was last year.) I didn't know anything about Goldie except for her brilliant work in Overboard and First Wives' Club! It turns out she's pretty amazing and rather inspiring. Her memoir reflects the idea that joy often blossoms in unlikely places, and that the obstacles we face in life are what help us grow. 

I was honored to submit tributes to honor Mom, Farrah and Kitty...

"How fortunate to be raised by a mother who considered family, friends and the needs of others to be top prioroties. I'm constantly in awe of my mom's selfless acts on behalf of her family and those that are unable to care for themselves. Her kindness to an elderly friend in the cruel throes of dementia or traveling difficult roads to visit far-flung relatives is not for the faint of heart. It is with a strong spirit and a generous heart that my mom has tried to show me how to be a noble and loving woman. I love you, Mom, and I am grateful for you."

"Louisa May Alcott wrote, "'Help one another' is part of the religion of our sisterhood." Farrah embodies this notion every single day. She's never known a stranger and inspires everyone around her to be a little bit nicer and to put the needs of others first. Whether teaching her young daughters to be kind or volunteering for a local cause, Farrah is an amazing friend and a champion for the "religion of our sisterhood."" 

"Perhaps the greatest gift is to recognize and empower the potential of others. Kari Kittrell can spot the potential in someone from a mile away. She's a loyal friend, the unofficial Mayor of Columbus, and anyone who meets Kari is a better person because of it."

Comments

[Farrah]

That tribute will forever be a part of me. You'll never know how much it meant. THANK YOU!