The other day I read yet another article about one nonprofit's lack of integrity. A director paying herself
excessively while programs meant to serve people were put on hold. Stories like that are disheartening. Yes, there are people who step into nonprofit work for the wrong reasons-focused on status, gain, or personal recognition rather than the mission.
But for every story like that, there are dozens more of people quietly doing the work for the right reasons. People who see a need and step in. People addressing injustice, serving meals, mentoring children, caring for the environment-simply because they believe
matters.
I can't speak for everyone, but I can speak for myself. When I started LifeLine 20 years ago, it was
because I wanted to make a difference. I wanted people to know they have value-that each of us has gifts and the ability to move forward. Have I done everything right? Not even close. I often say I could write a book about my mistakes. But I've kept going, hoping that along the way, lives have been changed and communities made stronger.
Twenty years is a long time. I've celebrated small victories and grieved what didn't work. I've worried
about finances and struggled with broken systems. But when I ask myself-Is it worth it? The answer is
always yes.
Is investing 20 years into a family worth it? Yes.
Is 15 years of after-school programs helping children succeed worth it? Yes.
Is a community center that gives people access to resources worth it? Yes.
This work isn't easy. There are days I want to give up. Days I wish we had more funding, more momentum, more solutions. Days I wish change came faster. But then there are the other days-the
ones that remind me why we started.
An intern discovers their calling.
A child grows up and goes to college.
A senior finds community over breakfast.
Those moments matter.
And the truth is, none of this happens alone. It takes a team-staff, interns, volunteers-and a network
of other nonprofits working side by side to build safer, stronger, more hopeful communities.
We need each other. We believe this: "Our life story is not our life sentence. Our current situation is not
our destination. And together, we get to co-author something better."