H.E.L.P.

Thanks to my Intro to Social Entrepreneurship professor, myself as well as a few others in my class were able to attend the "academy awards" for nonprofits.  It was hosted by the Center for Nonprofit Management and gave out 9 awards and a boat load of money to specific nonprofits in Middle Tennessee.  The CNM has over 700 members and 200 of those are actually here in Nashville!  To be in the same room as some of those people was definitely a blessing.  I had to hold back tears for a good portion of the ceremony because I was simply overwhelmed with the selflessness and help coming from each organization.  We can never say that no one cares because I have seen at least 200 people who care and are taking action to make others lives a little bit easier.  I always think of nonprofits as "good" business who do their share of helping out but never knew how much dirty work is involved with keeping one afloat.  These people are not only coming up with ideas, but sacrificing their lives to help other people every single day.  There is something about helping others that gives them (and myself) and natural "high."  Like a man said tonight,"Once you've volunteered, you're hooked."  I just sat back in my chair in awe of the individuals who each gave their lives to serving and are more joyful than anyone I've seen.  There joy does not come from success, granted it is a success to see your organization do well and grow, but their joy comes from serving.  Because it is when you fully give yourself to helping someone else, you truly see just how meaningful your life can be.  I cannot even begin to remember every organization I saw tonight, but I do know that they are all making a difference.  Some way or another they are making someones day because they had a vision and took action to support it.  That is what I have been learning in my Social Entrepreneurship class-- social entrepreneurs are on a mission to create social value.  One of my books even calls them "change agents."  They see a need and come up with creative ways to fix it.  I am so pumped about everything going on with the nonprofits around this area and just needed to share my experience with good ol blogger buddy so that I do not forget the feeling I had right after I left that ceremony.  The feeling of wanting to get involved, do something... help somebody.