“That felt really good!” tween-aged son James proclaimed after our spur-of-the-moment, late afternoon, Christmas Eve delivery to Good News Partners a few decades ago. Volunteers gleefully helped unload our unexpected carload of treats, sweets and presents that our family had received, but would never use. After a few minutes of silence, James continued, “Let’s please do that again next year — but make it even better!”
I jumped on this request; it honored the true spirit of Christmas! The next Christmas Eve, the other five members of our nuclear family joined James and me in delivering and distributing new warm winter coats, hats and mittens, as well as piles of sweets and treats, to every Good News client — about 150 men, women and children. Afterwards, I enjoyed our own elaborate dinner and Christmas Eve church service much more than prior years, too.
Since then, every year, I motivate myself to purchase Christmas presents for our already abundantly blessed family and friends by first “shopping” for those in far greater need of help and support. And, because I’m naturally inclined to bring others along for joy-inducing activities, I launched “Warming Hearts & Hands,” gifts of new winter outerwear, blankets and hygiene kits for the homeless through qualified nonprofits. Originally, this program was sponsored by North Shore Magazine, for which I wrote a column. Audience members and advertisers donated money or things knowing that 100% of the proceeds went to the mission of winter warmth and better hygiene for the homeless.
View this post on Instagram
Eventually I started my own magazine and community resource, called Make It Better in 2007 and embedded the Warming Hearts & Hands sensibilities and strategies into much of it. We grew by helping the nonprofits that were important to our affluent, educated audience. Because this audience was 92% more likely to change their brand loyalty if they believed that it would make the world a better place — it was an even more powerful and engaging strategy than we had anticipated.
If you are reading this, likely you also enjoy abundant blessings — like a safe home, good education, loving family and, or, outstanding resources to facilitate your lifestyle and provide excellent expertise when needed. Likely, you also yearn to pay forward your good fortune too; because, contrary to the implications of most headlines, the vast majority of Americans want to do the right thing by others.
Since that first Warming Hearts & Hands delivery in 2006, we’ve worked with 35 unique nonprofits to deliver more than 14,000 new winter coats and 3,300 accessories such as blankets and hygiene supplies for individuals in Chicago, California and beyond. More significantly, Make It Better developed a strong, trusted reputation for vetting and promoting the most outstanding nonprofits too. Launching the Make It Better Foundation and Philanthropy Awards super charged development of this reputation, too.
Importantly, we’ve also learned that the voice and engagement of every member of our audience — including you — is incredibly powerful and valuable. So, I’m leaning even harder into my urge to connect, help and spread joy, so that this platform will become even more powerful helping you and others, too. That’s why, starting January 1, 2024, our “media company” evolves entirely into the Make It Better Foundation, with a mission to identify, support and promote the most impactful nonprofits in their sector, thereby accelerating efforts to make life, and the world, better. Absolutely everything we do and publish — including Better’s online content, our Better Letters, Events and videos on MIB TV — will provide you with inspiration, as well as helpful advice from and connections to the most impactful nonprofits in your community.
This article is included in a Better Letter email newsletter which demonstrates how the Make It Better Foundation will work going forward. Our Guide To Giving makes it easy for you to learn about and support nonprofits that have been carefully vetted by Make It Better. Many of these nonprofits have previously won our Philanthropy Awards, too! Please think of this guide as a stronger, more robust version of “Warming Hearts & Hands.” Through worthy community organizations, we made it easy for you to help not only those who face homelessness, but also a cornucopia of other issues and needs. This article about gratitude is an outstanding example of the kind of “You Said It” submission that could earn a nonprofit a $1,000 donation, as it also provides thoughtful audience members, like you, with outstanding advice, too.
This also means that YOU will be able to help your favorite nonprofit earn more money and broader engagement too! We hope to learn about a cause that is important to you. But also, we promise to continue to provide you with outstanding, engaging, helpful content and recommendations that connect you to leaders in our positive powerful community, too.
Speaking of you and community — we’re very grateful for you!
As mentioned above, your attention and engagement are more valuable than ever. When you read, trust, share, recommend Make It Better Foundation and Better content, you lift up everyone else looking to live, love, work, play or give with greater purpose and joy through Make It Better, too. You literally help to make the world a better place, faster! This engagement makes you an even more important element of our ever-expanding virtuous circle, too.
I’m extra grateful to my son James, as well. Not only did he provide the initial suggestion back in the day that our family should intentionally do and give more to help others as we celebrated future Christmases, but as the thoughtful adult he has become, James nudged me and the Make It Better team hard toward this foundation-only Make It Better iteration. And this is going to be great! I’m also grateful to the rest of my family for their support of and participation in this new concept, too.
So, with abundant gratitude for the past and present, and excitement for the future, on behalf of our Make It Better family, I wish you happy, healthy holidays and a Make It Better and Be Happier New Year.
Please send any questions, ideas or comments to me at Susan@Better.net.
Joyfully,
Susan B. Noyes
Founder
How to Help the Homeless This Holiday Season
“Housing is a human right in a just society.”
The solution to homelessness is within grasp, but it requires dedicated funds going to the right places and for society’s general perception on our homeless community members to change.
If you’ve ever wished you could give something more impactful than your spare change to the homeless, here are some ways to help:
- Support organizations doing important work in Chicago, the suburbs and beyond to help the homeless. Please consider donating or volunteering to support the critical work of these organizations.
- Share this resource list with anyone in need. This card lists organizations vetted by Better that will provide food, shelter, or other helpful services in the Chicago region.
