People everywhere have altered their lifestyles and plans in the midst of the pandemic in order to stay healthy and safe, and in an era of social distancing, this has also included re-imagining some of life’s important milestones.
And while physically celebrating these special events still looks pretty different, there is no doubt that honoring these moments is still so very important. That’s why I absolutely love what Rhonda Bannard, founder of Inspired Connections, created in celebrating the accomplishments of Arizona graduates.
The Virtual Graduation Project
I had the honor of chatting with Rhonda via Skype to talk about her incredible act of service and kindness, known as The Virtual Graduation Project, which includes more than 30 curated graduation speeches to inspire those promoting from eighth grade, to those graduating from high school and college.
Such a special way to honor and celebrate graduates, indeed! A big thank you to Rhonda, her team and each individual who shared their voice and encouraging words in this project. I’ll personally be sharing The Virtual Graduation Project with my daughter, Ali, as she’s promoting from eighth grade at the end of the month!
Jefferson Parish LA Heartfelt Thanks to Teachers
Speaking of recognizing academic achievements, we truly are thankful for our teachers (near and far) for all of their continued efforts in preparing our students for success. Dr. Cade Brumley, Superintendent of Jefferson Parish Schools in Louisiana recognized the teachers in his district and the purposeful work they put forward, even during social distancing.
CommUNITY Matters
As you know, our goal here on the “Doing More” show is to share positive, inspiring stories that demonstrate the strength, resilience and connection of commUNITY.
We visited Cox Communications in Las Vegas to share their recent generous efforts in donating food from their cafeteria’s refrigerators and freezers to the local Salvation Army food kitchen.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the need to obtain nutritious meals within the community has increased, particularly for families that were already struggling to put food on the table. Recently, the St. Mary’s Food Bank received a $25,000 grant from Cox to help meet the unprecedented demand.
Make-A-Wish San Diego
This next story is so heartwarming and is such a great example of the power of community. Through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a child replaces fear with confidence, sadness with joy and anxiety with hope. This can have a real and tangible impact on a child’s health. We captured Make-A-Wish San Diego’s story and the hope they’re giving to children with critical illnesses…one wish at a time.
For more inspiring stories like these, we invite you to tune in to the newest episode of “Doing More”, now airing! You can catch the show on Sundays at 6 pm, Mondays at 7 pm, Wednesdays at 11:30 pm, and Saturdays at 8:30 pm. And as always, please check your Cox Cable YurView guide for the channel number in your city!
We’d love to hear what you are doing in your community to make a difference! Make sure to tag us on the Doing More Facebook page, we would love to connect.
Keep shining your light, friends…and continue to keep your hopes high!
Host of “Doing More” and your friend,
Erica Cardenas (@ericacardenas1)
