Reflections
From Mary Fagnano, Nick's mom, Thrive in Joy Co-Founder and Executive Director
Besides thanking all of our donors and grantors for their generosity at this time of year, one of my favorite experiences is finding the intersection of our programs in L.A. with our work in the Dominican Republic (DR). A dream of mine came true on our 25th service trip to the DR this October when 40 young people gathered at Casa Misionera's headquarters to participate in Thrive in Joy's C11 Strength of Character workshops. Somehow we managed to pack all three workshops into one day and the students stayed completely engaged. We managed to have everything translated into Spanish and, while I am nowhere near fluent, I somehow felt I understood everything the students were sharing. One of the students said the workshops aligned with an idea that was on his heart of bringing a greater sense of purpose to teens in his community. He hopes to propose to the Nagua school district that he would be the facilitator bringing the C11 strength of character program into their schools.
I'm continually in awe of the incredible young people we are blessed to have as part of the Thrive in Joy community--whether here in Los Angeles or nearly 3,300 miles away in the DR. Our community truly feels transcendent--in every meaning of the word.
As we launch our annual 11 Days of Giving campaign starting Wednesday, 11/11, we'll be reflecting on these past ten years and how what started as one trip to the DR has evolved into a global program that has reached as far as the coast of South Africa to the tea plantations of India where youth in those countries have also participated in C11 workshops. Meanwhile, high school students here in L.A. take on major projects, inspired by Nick's life, that impact their communities as well as their opportunities for the future. We are also blessed with donors who designate their gifts to a specific area of our work while others support growing our leadership team to provide continuity for Thrive in Joy's future. Jay and I still consider the support that surrounds us as somewhat of a miracle based on what we started 10 years ago to simply keep Nick in our lives by carrying forward his selflessness towards others.
Whether you have followed our story or been part of it through your support, we remain eternally grateful that we can share these moments of joy with you, knowing that Nick's light continues to shine, oftentimes in the most unexpected and beautiful ways.
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