SEE BEAUTIFUL™ - Blog

See Beautiful Grant Finalist: PCOS Awareness Association

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 16:00:00 GMT

The feature below is brought to you by PCOS Awareness Association, a See Beautiful Grant finalist. For more information about our giving initiatives, please click here.

To learn more about the featured organization, please visit their website here.

Empowering Change: Support the PCOS Awareness Association in the Battle Against PCOS.

Since its founding in 2012, the PCOS Awareness Association (PCOSAA) has stood at the forefront of the battle against Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), shining a light on the challenges and paving the way for hope and healing. By dedicating ourselves to educating the public and supporting those affected by PCOS and their loved ones, we've become more than just an organization; we've become a beacon of progress and support in the PCOS community.

Our efforts have made waves across the globe. We’ve been instrumental in helping countless individuals gain early and accurate diagnoses, and we've established robust support networks that acknowledge PCOS as the critical health concern it truly is. We're breaking barriers and building bridges through initiatives like virtual events with leading medical experts, a wealth of informative resources, and the annual PCOS CON - a groundbreaking conference for education, support, and advocacy.

PCOS CON: A Catalyst for Growth and Connection
PCOS CON is more than an ordinary event; it represents a groundbreaking revolution in PCOS education and community building. This innovative conference offers a distinctive platform for learning, networking, and personal growth, delving into various topics ranging from cutting-edge research and advanced medical treatments to comprehensive insights on nutrition and holistic management strategies. With a diverse audience, including patients, supportive loved ones, dedicated healthcare professionals, and passionate researchers, the event serves as a nexus for exchanging knowledge, resources, and personal experiences. Attendees depart with a wealth of fresh perspectives, armed with newfound insights and a renewed drive to propel the dialogue surrounding PCOS into broader health spheres.

Our Vision and Invitation
The PCOS Awareness Association is driven by a powerful vision of empowerment, aiming to uplift and support women battling PCOS. Through a holistic approach, we strive to empower these women by providing them with knowledge and resources and a strong sense of community and understanding. We are dedicated to showcasing the resilience, strength, and beauty of women dealing with PCOS, helping them navigate challenges like infertility and mental health issues with utmost transparency, clarity, and empathy.

As an organization led by patients, we are passionate about encouraging women to become advocates for their own healthcare needs. Our ultimate goal is to dismantle stigmas surrounding PCOS and equip women with practical tools to manage their health effectively. Join us in this journey of empowerment and support.

Unite and Shine a Light on PCOS
The impact of our work extends far and wide, fostering a community that's better informed and more collaborative, especially among healthcare professionals, enhancing the lives of those battling PCOS symptoms. This mission, however, is shared. We call upon you to join our cause. Raise your voice, spread awareness, and contribute to this meaningful endeavor. Together, we can highlight the real-life challenges of PCOS and support those affected in leading healthier, more vibrant lives.
Your involvement is crucial. Visit the PCOS Awareness Association's website today to learn how you can be a part of this vital movement and make a tangible difference. Together, we can turn the tide on PCOS, spreading knowledge, understanding, and hope.

See Beautiful Grant Finalist: Atlanta Music Project

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 16:00:00 GMT

The feature below is brought to you by Atlanta Music Project, a See Beautiful Grant finalist. For more information about our giving initiatives, please click here.

To learn more about the featured organization, please visit their website here.

Music and arts education is a fundamental aspect of our society. According to the American Psychological Association (2019), “students who participated in music, who had higher achievement in music, and who were highly engaged in music had higher exam scores across all subjects.” Music education has been proven to help sharpen attentiveness, cultivate dynamic thinking skills, and foster a superior working memory. However, these programs are not accessible to students who do not have the required resources - that’s where the Atlanta Music Project (AMP) steps in.

AMP is based at the AMP Center for Performance & Education in southwest Atlanta in the 30310 zip code where the median household income is $35,848 (U.S. Census Bureau), 25.4% of the residents are below the poverty level, and all schools have a 100% free/reduced lunch rate. Resources and access are limited for students in our under-resourced communities, thus causing a woeful imbalance in the equitability of music education programs in Atlanta. Where families north of downtown easily access high-quality music programs – usually for $3,500+ – south of downtown, there are no competitive youth orchestras and choirs, and the arts education budgets in schools continue to face dramatic budget cuts, resulting in few strong and stable music education programs.

Founded in 2010, AMP intentionally provides world-class, tuition-free music education and performance opportunities right in under-resourced communities where high-quality band, orchestra, choir, and private lesson programs are not typically found. AMP’s first programming was part of the after-school program at the Gilbert House, an Atlanta recreation center. AMP provided music instruction (music theory, choir, orchestra) 5 days a week for two hours to 30 elementary school students. Today, AMP serves 600 K-12 students through seven beginner, intermediate, and advanced band, orchestra, choir, and private lesson programs. AMP students attend rehearsals 1-5 days per week for 1-2 hours per day and collectively perform 50+ concerts throughout Metro Atlanta.

See Beautiful Grant Finalist: Heal with Hearts

Mon, 27 May 2024 16:00:00 GMT

The feature below is brought to you by Heal with HeArts, a See Beautiful Grant finalist. For more information about our giving initiatives, please click here.

To learn more about the featured organization, please visit their website here.

Heal with Hearts' goals for diversity, equity, access and inclusion are a driving force of our mission. We strive to provide educational projects to support the well-being of children with physical, emotional , learning differences and financial hardships.Equal access is a component of Heal with Hearts' mission to provide educational services free of discrimination of race, national origin, gender, religion , disabilities. We support all students and families in a positive learning environment in community centers, the children's hospital and schools to supplement the communities resources. We provide extra support to equal access public education and creative arts therapies.

HwH works hard to continue to increase our impact in the community through excellent creative Visual and Performing Arts curriculum. Also, we advocate for health and wellbeing using the arts as tools to strengthen coping through trauma, life’s challenges and illness. Heal with Hearts is committed to strengthening our community through the Arts, caring for our community and helping the underserved students and families in Charleston and the surrounding areas.

See Beautiful Grant Finalist: Blueprint 58

Mon, 20 May 2024 16:46:29 GMT

The feature below is brought to you by Blueprint 58, a See Beautiful Grant finalist. For more information about our giving initiatives, please click here.

To learn more about the featured organization, please visit their website here.

Blueprint 58 is a community development organization in southwest Atlanta. Our mission is to strengthen our community by empowering youth, equipping young adults, and engaging neighbors. Last year, Blueprint 58 worked with a consulting agency to better understand our overall organizational goal. We realized that the best way to measure our impact was through opportunities for mutual transformation and opportunities for our neighbors to choose flourishing.

Historically in our neighborhood, our community members have had to choose simply surviving over truly thriving. Our hope is that Blueprint 58 can be a small part of our community flourishing. We strive to provide spaces and opportunities for our neighbors to choose flourishing and choose to be the person they were made to be.

Last July, we celebrated the grand opening of our community center. Since opening the doors to our building, we have seen so many neighbors utilize our center as a third space in their own community. It has been a space where neighbors have welcomed new babies, celebrated the lives of loved ones, and discussed the challenges of motherhood. It has been a space where students can play basketball safely, cooking classes can be conducted, and youth groups can laugh. It has been a space for other organizations (especially community-led ones) to have more meetings and a space for long-time program participants to meet for lunch. We have seen neighbors choose flourishing time and time again because they had the space to do so.

This last year, we have spent time talking with neighbors and brainstorming what new community building events we could add to our space to provide more regular opportunities for flourishing. We finally landed on a learning community garden and we couldn’t be more excited.

We have constructed seven large garden beds in which we will garden herbs, fruits, and vegetables. This garden will be a place for students and families to get their hands dirty and use their creativity but also a place for education with garden workshops and sustainability talks. The produce harvested from our garden will be open to residents of our neighborhood free of charge. Our plan is to offer our produce during our open hours each week when produce has been harvested.

A community garden at our building will be a tangible reminder of how we want to support our neighbors in flourishing. So often our community must choose simply surviving and we hope our building and our community garden in particular can be a source of flourishing for our neighborhood.

This garden will be a place where families can learn and participate together. Parents and children and grandparents and friends and neighbors can all learn to build something beautiful and fruitful together. We can’t think of something that would create more beauty than a community garden full of flourishing fruits and vegetables created by a community that chose to flourish instead of simply survive.

See Beautiful Grant Recipient: Restoration Atlanta

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 15:27:24 GMT

The feature below is brought to you by Restoration Atlanta, an organization that has received a See Beautiful Grant. For more information about our giving initiatives, please click here.

To learn more about the featured organization, please visit their website here.

Since 2013, Restoration Atlanta (RATL) has been a space for families in crisis to be seen, known, and loved. We exist because we “See Beautiful” in those around us, and we want to uplift the beauty of others in all that we do. Serving families experiencing homelessness, clients often come to us in the midst of feeling beaten down by the world around them. They have oftentimes lost hope in themselves, and their ability to see beauty in themselves. While we cannot be anyone’s savior, what we can do is remind individuals of their beauty. We can see them as they are, accept them as they are, and walk together.

At RATL, we have always believed that resources and relationships bring restoration. We strive to be a respite for families. While we provide tangible resources, we also believe that mental health is just as important as physical health. There is a correlation between homelessness and poor mental health, and individuals facing poverty do not have equitable access to mental health services. According to Forbes Health, the average cost of one therapy session in the U.S. is $100-$200. At RATL, we believe that receiving mental health support should be easily accessible. Thanks to generous supporters such as See Beautiful, we are able to provide care during our programs to students and their parents.

Recently, we had a mother arrive to pick up her children from the RATL After School Program. With tears in her eyes, she asked if I could talk with her. She shared a lot of heartache with me, the current struggles that were weighing her down, and she even identified that she could really use counseling services. In previous years, I would have had to go on a long journey of referring her to other agencies. If I’m being honest, the referrals are rarely successful. At times, we felt helpless witnessing the immense need for mental health support, yet were unable to provide support ourselves or find alternative options for families. The reality is that there simply are not enough services to meet this demand. Thanks to organizations like See Beautiful, I was so grateful to offer this mom immediate services on-site, at no cost. I am able to have the peace and confidence that we don’t have to just sit back and apologize that “everywhere is full.” We can say “yes” to creating equitable access to mental health.
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A quote from Eric, weekly on site therapist, about the impact he has seen the Mental Health Program have on RATL students - “The value added by including a mental health program is something I view as vital and such a privilege to provide to RATL. Through this program, I have witnessed firsthand the growth that it has fostered in the rather short time it has been enlisted. I’ve watched kids go from instantly reactive to slow to anger. From quiet and alone to connecting strongly with their peers. With these students also coming from low SES backgrounds, giving them a resource like this allows them a place to process, connect and grow from possibly traumatic or difficult circumstances in a safe setting with peers who might be going through similar situations.”

Submitted by: Anna Jackson

See Beautiful Grant Recipient: Love Beyond Walls

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 19:42:23 GMT

The feature below is brought to you by Love Beyond Walls, an organization that has received a See Beautiful Grant. For more information about our giving initiatives, please click here.
To learn more about the featured organization, please visit their website here.

In 2019, Love Beyond Walls launched the Dignity Museum in response to a growing trend in laws and ordinances across the country that create challenges for those without homes in public spaces—fueling mistreatment and fear towards these individuals. Numerous cities, including Los Angeles, Atlanta, San Francisco, New York City, Seattle, Denver, Austin, Miami, Portland, Honolulu, and Las Vegas, have enacted these types of anti-homelessness laws.

These laws encompass restrictions that hinder life-sustaining activities, even when resources are unavailable. They include anti-camping regulations, constraints on sitting or lying on sidewalks, bans on begging or panhandling in specific areas, restrictions on living in vehicles parked on public streets, limitations on distributing food to unhoused people in public, prohibitions on sitting or lying down in designated areas, rules against storing personal belongings on public property, anti-loitering laws targeting homeless populations, and measures prohibiting sitting or lying down in specific public places. These anti-homelessness laws infringe upon the ability of unhoused people to sit, stand, access restrooms, carry belongings, or even find secure places to sleep. This trend has also led to an unfortunate increase in negative perceptions of this population, creating the Not In My Backyard (NIMBY) mentality that we see.

The Museum was created with the aim of humanizing the experience of homelessness and educating people about the other side of this issue, in an effort to build empathy and inspire solutions to help people escape this plight. Housed in a shipping container, it provides an immersive experience that centers the voices and stories of unhoused people, providing a platform to address these issues and emphasize the unique experiences of each person. Love Beyond Walls firmly believes that every person’s story matters and that homelessness itself is not a monolithic experience. Over the past 5 years, Love Beyond Walls has welcomed more than 10,000 guests, each of whom has been challenged, educated, and inspired to become better community members for those without addresses.

One of the most profound outcomes observed is the real-time shift in attitudes and perspectives, a willingness to get closer to the plight through service, and even the generation of ideas to help serve those who find themselves without anywhere to go. When people encounter the personal stories behind homelessness and have a chance to meet those who are suffering, empathy occurs. Proximity sparks empathy and understanding, building a more compassionate community.

As Love Beyond Walls moves forward, the organization is preparing to expand efforts with the Dignity Museum. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a recognition of the critical need to relearn caring, compassion, and empathy for neighbors—especially those without an address.

This led Love Beyond Walls to conceive of The Dignity Center. This center will be a catalyst for innovative ideas and exchanges concerning homelessness, creating an immersive experience that brings the community together with love at the core, inspiring the generation of new ideas that can help people escape homelessness. It will provide education about homelessness, offer insights into its current landscape, and provide training to help create a more equitable world rooted in inclusivity and justice. The center's focus extends beyond immediate solutions, aiming to address the underlying causes and systemic challenges that perpetuate inequality and ongoing distance from this issue.

Love Beyond Walls is honored to have received the See Beautiful Grant, as it aligns with the mission of honoring every person's story and advocating for affirmation of the inherent worth of all people, irrespective of their housing situation. Through education, advocacy, and community engagement, Love Beyond Walls is striving to reshape societal perceptions and policies, ultimately creating a world where no one is invisible.

Submitted by: Dr. Terence Lester

Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 17:35:24 GMT

The feature below is brought to you by Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra, an organization that has received a See Beautiful Grant. For more information about our giving initiatives, please click here.
To learn more about the featured organization, please visit their website here.

The Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra believes that music is a catalyst for connection.

Founded in 2006, GYSO is the largest youth orchestra program in the southeast, encompassing five orchestras, a jazz ensemble, a percussion ensemble, and several instrumental chamber ensembles. Gifted and talented elementary through high school age musicians from across the state are selected through competitive auditions. Our mission is to inspire young people to discover their full potential through creativity and performance, and to build and develop the discipline and spirit to accomplish their musical goals.

What that really means is that we believe music can connect these talented young people to the beautiful potential within themselves. Music is a powerful medium. Studying music has tangible benefits like problem solving, time management and collaboration. It is connected with gains in math, science and critical thinking.

But it also has benefits that are less obvious, but even more beautiful.
The joyful complexity of making music with others helps us connect with our compassion, respect and kindness. The calculated risks of live performance help us connect with our courage.

Attentiveness to sound connects us to our ability to listen and understand others.
Music connects us to history, other cultures, and the complex relationship between composers, society and ideas. Experiencing live music together connects us to others in an increasingly disconnected world.

We believe that GYSO helps students see the beautiful in themselves and in the world around them, and we believe that all students should have access to this powerful experience. That’s why we’re so grateful to See Beautiful for this grant that will provide scholarships for students who might otherwise not be able to afford the opportunity. Increasing access to musical development in a nurturing and supportive environment means that more students will be empowered to create and be heard from their own experiences.

Music does more than simply entertain. It nourishes, creates conversations and strengthens community ties. We imagine a future where we can see, hear and value the beauty of each other and we believe that our GYSO students are preparing for that beautiful future now.

Submitted by: Suzane Tucker

Meg Wah

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 16:26:02 GMT

The feature below is brought to you by Meg Wah, an organization that has received a See Beautiful Grant. For more information about our giving initiatives, please click here.

To learn more about the featured organization, please visit their website here.

Meg Wah, a non-profit conservation organization in Cameroon with a vision to see humans live and thrive in harmony with nature is committed to promoting equity, diversity, inclusion, justice, and peace in their conservation efforts. They believe in involving and engaging local communities, embracing diverse perspectives, and appreciating different cultures. By working closely with community leaders, indigenous groups, and marginalized populations, Meg Wah ensures that everyone has a say in shaping their conservation projects. They also prioritize gender equality and women's empowerment, creating an inclusive work environment where women have equal opportunities to participate and contribute to environmental stewardship. Through targeted training and educational programs, Meg Wah equips children and women with the skills necessary for active engagement in conservation activities.

Education and awareness are at the core of Meg Wah's conservation practices. They organize workshops, community outreach programs, and partnerships with educational institutions to foster environmental literacy and promote responsible behavior. Collaboration plays a crucial role in their approach, as they actively seek partnerships with like-minded organizations, government agencies, and local stakeholders to implement impactful and inclusive strategies. Through research and evidence-based advocacy, Meg Wah addresses underlying systemic issues, influences policy, and tackles environmental injustices. They advocate for the rights of marginalized communities, ensuring that equity and justice remain at the forefront of their conservation work.

Submitted by: Ako Peter Agbor

Community Connections

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 14:26:43 GMT

The feature below is brought to you by Community Connections, an organization that has received a See Beautiful Grant. For more information about our giving initiatives, please click here.

To learn more about the featured organization, please visit their website here.

Community Connections was recently awarded a generous grant from See Beautiful, a philanthropic organization committed to funding projects that create more beautiful in the world. Thanks to See Beautiful, our agency has the opportunity to invest $2,000 into the Closet Connection, a place where children in foster care can find clothes and toys that represent their unique interests and tastes.

In adolescence, children are learning who they are, figuring out what they like, and discovering their skills and interests. Our goal as a foster care agency is to provide safe spaces where the children in our program can just be kids. In the Closet, children find t-shirts with their favorite princesses and superheroes, toys for building and playing pretend, and books whose stories take them to far off lands. The Closet Connection is a place of exploration and self-discovery, where the needs of every beautiful, unique child are met.

The Closet Connection is stocked with donations from the community around us, and we are so grateful that our friends and neighbors see the importance of this resource and give regularly. With this grant from See Beautiful, we have the flexibility to buy new items that our children need but that aren’t often donated. Items like new toothbrushes, cribs, and underwear are necessities for our families, even though they aren’t often in the donations we receive. Funding is essential to fill donation gaps and ensure a positive shopping experience for families and children in our foster care program.

Children entering foster care often come with little to none of their belongings, so we provide them with an entire wardrobe from the Closet, as well as comfort items like knitted blankets and toys. Providing these items allows our foster parents to focus on welcoming children into their home, rather than needing to immediately go out and buy essentials. The transition into foster care can be a busy and stressful time, but we simplify the process by having supplies ready, so our foster families can concentrate on making a good first impression.

We are open to providing homes for all children needing a foster care placement, but Community Connections specializes in providing quality foster care placements to children with medically fragile needs. Given the number of children in our program with medically fragile needs, we make sure a variety of clothes and toys are available so that children of all abilities can benefit from the Closet. Whether it’s the same pair of shoes in different sizes for our child with a prosthetic leg, or pajamas with an adaptive opening for our child with a feeding tube, the Closet is an inclusive resource for all.

We firmly believe there is nothing more beautiful than a safe and happy child, which is why we created a space where children can safely express themselves and their interests. Every time a child smiles, there’s a little bit more beauty in the world. The Closet is a place that inspires smiles and builds confidence, and it is made possible through a community of donors who see this as true. Thank you to See Beautiful for trusting in our mission. We can’t wait to work together spreading beauty through the Closet Connection.

Submitted by: Catie Williams

See Beautiful Grant Recipient: Suzy's Senior Companionship Services

Wed, 11 May 2022 13:35:20 GMT

The feature below is brought to you by Suzy's Senior Companionship Services, an organization that has received a See Beautiful Grant. For more information about our giving initiatives, please click here.

To learn more about the featured organization, please visit their website here.

Our Mission is to provide elderly individuals, individuals with disabilities, and veterans with caring one-on-one companionship and access to affordable health care. As well as assistance in utilizing critical community resources, we improve the quality of life of our clients, enrich the local economy and build profound intergenerational connections.

Since 2012, Suzy’s Senior Companionship Services (SSCS) has provided essential in-home services, medical care, food delivery, homemaking, companionship, and enriching activities to low-income seniors, veterans, and those with a disability living in northern Utah.

Our clients only pay what they can afford, and all our services are offered at subsidized and reduced rates.
Frequently the individuals we serve do not qualify for assistance for basic health needs. Our program fills the gap for low-income individuals in need and refers them to local agencies for additional support, like our local Council of Aging.

The majority of the services we provide fall under three categories: Transportation (e.g., doctor appointments, pharmacy, grocery store), Personal Care (e.g., bathing, medication assistance, transfers), and Attendant Care (light housekeeping, companionship), but our staff is adaptable and frequently pivots to provide nuanced and individualized care to our diverse clientele.

Our extensive supportive services help our clients stay healthy, happy, and independent.

Submitted by: Suzy Larsen

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