In the last weekend before school started, I spent some time packing up the sand buckets from our beach trip and also spent some time purchasing school supplies. I couldn't help but buy a new highlighter, some pencils, and a new notebook for myself as I was purchasing supplies for others. I woke my teenage son up on the first day of school with words I thought were inspirational, "It's a new year, a clean slate, a new sheet of paper to write on!". He grunted and rolled over to grab a few more minutes of shut-eye before letting his feet hit the floor a lot earlier than they had in a while.

I have thought this month about new beginnings and clean sheets of paper. There is something about a clean sheet of paper that brings out creativity in all of us. There is something about a new beginning, a new chapter in our life that is always exciting. As I thought about that I have thought about United Way. We are into a new season for fundraising. A new sheet of paper for us to write upon with the hopes to reach a goal that will be momentous for our organization. Our goal is to raise $4 Million dollars this fall. This is the highest goal ever been set, and we believe it is attainable with YOUR help. Every dollar matters.

As I think about new beginnings and clean sheets of paper, my mind goes quickly to some of the wonderful stories told in our 2014 campaign video. There's the story of a young veteran named Will. He needed a place to start over, to begin again, after having experienced things in life many of us find even too graphic to view, even in movies. He found that place at Small Miracles with the staff and a horse named Tucker. Will says of Small Miracles, "They treat you like family when you come here." And then there's the story of Courtney. At the age of 15, she had dropped out of school and didn't see herself going further than her 8th grade education. She speaks from her heart of the depth of despair she felt but how she discovered, "My past mistakes didn't define who I was going to be." Through the program for struggling adolescents at Link House and a lot of determination to leave behind her past, she is now a junior in college majoring in Psychology. Courtney describes herself with inspiring confidence and states, "I'm a completely different person."

So whatever your walk in life this fall, join me in a new beginning. It's a chance to personally and together to write a new story on a clean sheet of paper. A chance to create A Better Life For ALL in our Greater Kingsport community.

Live United,
 

P.S. Click below to view the 2014 United Way of Greater Kingsport Campaign Video!