Wendy’s Honduras….

I had continued to get messages that Jon was trying to get in touch with me. It is not rare these days that it would take me a couple days to return a phone call that I didn’t know for sure was going to generate money. I know that sounds horrible, but since the break-up of my marriage of 15 years I have been in “I am woman, hear me roar” mode. It is all about making sure my children aren’t mad at me; they aren’t going to need severe therapy to function in society due to being a product of a broken home and about closing the next big business deal. I was used to living the life of never looking at a price tag and sitting on the dock of my giant bay front home in Margate, New Jersey.

What could Jon want? He probably needs work, which I simply do not have at this time. Everyone is using stock images these days and they don’t want to pay for real photo talent. Jon is an amazing photographer in Philadelphia. Years back, we worked together on a large project for The University of Pennsylvania. At that time we got to know one another. He has always been highly respected by me. Maybe he needed to ask me if one of his new clients is a good pay? Ah...what the hell, I decided to call him back on my way home.

It is passing the Philadelphia airport where “It” happens everyday. “It” is where the transformation happens. I go from Wendy the boss of Octo Design Group and the deal pleaser to Wendy the mom. Sometimes Octo Wendy takes until 6:00 or 8:00PM to completely transform and it was during this residual transformation that I finally connected with Jon.

“Wendy, I was wondering if you would be interested in working on a couple of things for my wife?” Well, immediately this to me meant NO COMPENSATION. Another donation. Octo Design Group participates in a national program each year called the Createathon. It is where graphics services are donated to 501c3 non-profit organizations. I have been doing it in Maryland for the past three years and this year we are also participating in Miami, Florida.

My business philosophy has always been the same as my philosophy on friends. You need to give for the right reasons. You need to give of yourself and not expect ANYTHING back in return. The moment you think you did something, be it either in business or a relationship, and think ‘because I did that for them they will do for me’ -- you will become one disappointed individual. I will be 39 years old in two weeks. It was only a couple of years ago when I was actually able to verbalize this philosophy without feeling as though I sounded cruel and harsh. You need to put business and people in a place in your life that works for you. As soon as you find this place of give and receive EVERYONE in the equation WILL benefit greatly. Did I really have time to even listen to what he would be asking for? I like Jon. Tell Eve to give me a call.

Eve came in the next day and we just clicked. She was telling me about what type of work she was looking for. Just as if it had been a real paying job, I didn’t just want to know that she needed a logo, a flier, a postcard, etc. I wanted to know why. What is this Helping Honduras Kids? Eve, why did you get involved? Tell me more....

Eve explained the mission, the purpose and all who were involved in the project. I heard her. I listened to her every word. I sympathized based on her stories, but I was donating to this project because I really liked Jon and it seemed like a great cause. The pictures of these children began to come to the office. Both my staff and myself began to see what Eve had been trying to explain to us. It looked like something from National Geographic.

I now had an opportunity to change lives. This might sound strange, but it wasn’t the lives of the children I was thinking I would change. It was my life, the lives of my staff and my family. Yes, I wanted to donate my services and we did. We gave our creative talents to design a logo (directed strongly by the folks at HHK). We designed a flyer, event collateral, donation cards, etc. This would help Eve and in turn help the children.

I believe everyone can make a change. I also believe that it wasn’t Wendy Verna or her staff that was going to be able to take these children out of their present situation to give them a better home or life. I was prepared to do what worked best for Octo, and me and in return everyone involved benefited. Let me explain. Sure, we donated many hours, labor, production, work but also...

This helped Eve get the product she needed in order to make her event in Honduras a successful one. This also gave Eve the time to work on fundraising and sponsorship and not laying out a less that superior product. This is what Eve is good at. She was able to spend the time with the kids, the tia’s and the volunteers. Not on mundane work that did not come naturally to her. Helping Honduras Kids, The Children, Jen, Stacy, Wendy, Ashley, Al, Wendy’s kids, and Octo all win!

This helped Octo. Being part of this project and learning all that goes into these efforts touched me as a marketing guru. There are so many ways to approach gift giving and I feel as though HHK has parts of it down right and others they are going about it all wrong. I was able to discuss this process with my staff and we were able to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the organization from a marketing standpoint. This was an amazing exercise and learning scenario. By seeing the project from conception to reality really helped me and my staff witness first hand how good or bad marketing can truly affect the outcome. By offering this trip to my staff to see how all of their hard work was used, as well as viewed, was priceless. It helped me as a boss to boost the moral in the office and open new horizons and experiences to my staff. I believe you are most creative when your work is a product of your experiences. The goal is to have as many experiences, both good and bad. This makes your design work stronger and more effective. Helping Honduras Kids, The Children, Jen, Stacy, Wendy, Ashley, Al, Wendy’s kids, and Octo all win!

It helped Al. Who is Al you ask? Al is my best friend, my boyfriend. He has been a person that has touched my heart in many ways. My philosophies on life are very similar to Al’s even though our process is sometimes different. Al is also a well-respected businessman in Miami. I had asked Al to come along to experience Honduras with me. He has been hearing all about the project and I felt it was an experience that would affect him as well. I couldn’t think of anyone else I would rather embark on this journey with. It helped Al to see and experience first hand the children and their lifestyles. Al told me he has seen first hand the poverty and way of living but had never gotten THAT close to it all. Al’s nature is to protect and nurture. What he saw was hard for him to let be.

It helped Wendy and her kids. My children are 9 and 11 years old. The first thing my daughter asked when I called her the first night from Honduras was “Did the girls like my Barbie's?” Robbie was most concerned that someone sat down with the boys to teach them how to play with their Bey Blades (a top-like toy). He said “Mom, it won’t be fun for them if no one shows them how to use them” They were so concerned that the kids were happy. I have successfully shown my children through stories, photos and my experience with this project what life is truly about. I am looking forward to taking them to Honduras sometime real soon. I believe it is something all children should experience and understand about life. Helping Honduras Kids, The Children, Jen, Stacy, Wendy, Ashley, Al, Wendy’s kids, and Octo all win!

And finally it helped me. Wendy. I have spent the past two years trying to figure out who I am and what I am capable of feeling. I know I am a good person. I know what it takes to be a good person. I do sometimes however lose my way and get caught up in my crazy world as so many others do. Seeing Eve and watching her every move these past four days leaves nothing but a smile that cannot be wiped under any circumstances.

Eve Horowitz is truly here to make a difference. The way she explains the program and puts the real deal out on the table is the way I choose to hear it as well. Eve knows she cannot pack each and every one of these children up and bring them all home to a safe, clean, stable place in the US. But she also knows by reaching out to the right people we can make the lives these children will live more bearable and even happy! I saw happy kids, kids that felt safe, clean and stable in their home that Hogar de Amor built right there in Honduras.

The picture that was painted was appreciation and hope. This picture gave me the opportunity to identify what I felt I could help with. I will continue to hold each and every one of those children in my heart and I intend on going back to visit them again. I thank Eve for letting me find the perfect place for Helping Honduras Kids in my life both professionally as well as personally. It is an experience I will cherish forever.

September 2007

Philadelphia, PA

USA

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