All posts by Lisa Rene LeClair

Lisa René LeClair is a writer, humorist, social media junkie and mom who shares childhood stories and bad advice for your amusement at Sassypiehole.com. She is a co-author in several anthologies and a contributor to numerous online publications, including Scary Mommy, Woman’s Day, Redbook, Good Housekeeping and Town & Country.

Pull Up Your Socks and Donate: How One Innovative Company is Changing How We Give

If you’re anything like me, social media and its targeted approach to advertising fascinate you. It seems the Internet understands us better than we do ourselves, and whenever something we’ve been searching for pops up in a newsfeed, we feel oddly appreciative. It’s almost like having a friend that volunteers their time without being asked – but what if you weren’t looking for anything? What if they just KNEW what you wanted without scraping your hard drive for data? That’s what happened to me the other day.

I was sitting in my office, scanning updates on Facebook when an announcement caught my eye. It was a sponsored post from Bombas, a New York-based sock company that began with an INDIEGOGO campaign. They were promoting a variety of neon-colored socks that offered the one and only feature I had been (secretly) hoping to find: seamless toes—a dream come true. I could almost taste the tears of joy rolling down my daughter’s cheeks when I told her about them. For years, we have argued over uneven stitching and discomfort. And while she whined and moaned because they were either too tight or not thick enough, I continued my search for a more suitable replacement while turning the old ones inside-out. Perhaps this was my lucky day.

bombas socks neon orange
Image courtesy of Bombas

When I clicked on the link to Bombas, I was elated. Right there, on the front page of their website, was proof of their integrity. Written in all caps was something I have never considered: SOCKS ARE THE MOST REQUESTED ITEMS IN HOMELESS SHELTERS. Not only was this company manufacturing high-quality footwear for men, women and children; they were donating a new pair of socks to a homeless shelter for each set purchased online; what a great way to give back to society—SOLD!

bombas socks couple
Image courtesy of Bombas

When the package arrived in the mail, it came with a thoughtful note and a reminder that my purchase had provided socks to four homeless children in need. It seemed like a high price to pay for giving back ($8-12 per pair), but my daughter has never been happier and our lifelong debate over tension and elasticity has ended in a peace-loving way. According to her, these are the most comfortable socks you (and a displaced stranger) will ever own. They stay up, aren’t too tight and never slip down. In other words, they are a perfect fit for anyone, and each unique style comes in a wide array of colors. Who knew that a single pair of socks could make such a difference in a person’s life? Imagine what it can do for the homeless.

bombas womens socks calf
Image courtesy of Bombas

If you have a child with sensitive feet or tenderness issues of your own, I highly recommend giving Bombas a try. They are an honest company, committed to loyalty, with a happiness seal of approval. And, in a world of “what’s in it for me,” it is nice to see someone pay it forward for a change.

Kids Boost: Turning Talent Into Kindness And Paying It Forward

With egotism at an all-time high, it often feels like we have lost touch with humanity. We crave and expect society to comfort our needs while complaining about poor WiFi service and low battery life. It is almost laughable how absurd our demands have become, and when you compare them against those who are truly struggling to survive each day, it makes you second-guess human behavior.

I am a firm believer that goodness comes from within, but how does it get there? How does a child learn to comprehend the effects of their actions without causing harm? Do we wait until they do something they may later regret or empower them with practical wisdom and compassion so they can BE the change we want for this world?

The Bert Show
The Bert Show

Kristen Stocks is a mother, Child Life Specialist and the brains behind Kids Boost in Atlanta. I first learned about Kristen during a live broadcast of The Bert Show’s Big Adventure: a nonprofit organization that provides a magical, all-expenses-paid, five-day journey to Walt Disney World® for children with chronic and terminal illnesses and their families. She was speaking on behalf of one of the kids in her organization, Savanna, who had danced her way into raising $2090 for their cause. I was mesmerized by what this woman created and dropped what I was doing to listen to her story.

jared CHOA
Jared at CHOA

While working as a Child Life Specialist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA), she met a young boy named Jared, who had undergone seven surgeries for a traumatic injury to his arm. He was six years old when it happened but knew, one day, he wanted to repay CHOA for saving his arm and nursing him back to health. At thirteen, he combined his passion for rock climbing with a desire to give back and asked friends and family to pledge a contribution to CHOA for each rock wall that he climbed. In total, he scaled one hundred walls, raised $2500 and became the inspiration behind Kids Boost.

When their work together ended, Kristen was so touched by Jared’s generosity that she wanted to take it to the next level. She wondered what the world would be like if every child had the opportunity to use their gifts and talents to do something positive. Soon after, her inquiry became the reality that is now Kids Boost.

caroline bakesale

Kids Boost meets with boys and girls, eight years old or older, to identify which activities excite them (i.e., sports, music, theater, etcetera). Once established, they take that genuine enthusiasm and wrap it into a lesson on philanthropy by giving the child $100 (donated to the Boost General Fund), a one-on-one coach, and the tools they will need to guide them along the way. Best of all, 20% of the total contributions they receive goes right back to Kids Boost to help another child get started on a charity of their own.

Jared wall climb

The children of today are the leaders of tomorrow. They are sponges waiting to absorb whatever spills at their feet, so why not strengthen their confidence by teaching them about business, money management, and benevolence; it just seems like the right thing to do. As a mother of an eight-year-old girl, I am in love with the concept of Kids Boost. Though philanthropy is a component at my daughter’s school, it is not a required part of their curriculum—yet. Perhaps all they need is a Boost.

To find out more about Kids Boost and how you can get involved, visit them online.

Aidan Cares: How One Kid is Changing the World

Do you believe that a teenager can change the world? There is a boy in Atlanta who thinks he can do just that. His name is Aidan Thomas Hornaday and he is a 15-year-old philanthropist. At age four, he told his mother that he wanted to be a difference maker and that he did not wish to wait until his 18th birthday to do so. He was obsessed with the need to contribute; to be a provider of sorts, but wasn’t sure what that entailed. Then again, he was still a toddler at the time.

Aidan Thomas
Aidan Thomas | Photo by Toren Anderson

A few years later, at age seven, Aidan’s vision grew into the joy of giving that it is today. It happened one-night while dining in a restaurant with his mother and some friends. Like most kids his age, Aidan got bored with the adult conversation and left the table to create his own diversion. He found a stool near the restrooms and pulled out a toy harmonica that was permanently stored in his front pocket. Without missing a beat, he threw his fedora on the chair next to him and disappeared into a musical oasis that caught everyone by surprise. When he awakened from his melodic trance, he was $80 richer and thoroughly confused as to why anyone in his or her right mind would pay him just for taking off a hat. Still, he was elated and couldn’t wait to get back to the table and share his exhilarating news.

Aidan Thomas

When his mother asked what he planned to do with the money, she was expecting a trip to Disney, but Aidan is an old soul with genuine purpose and his response was “to be the change that he desired”. He told his mom that he wanted to use the money to buy pills for children in Africa so they could fight off parasites and end their suffering. It was something that he remembered her telling him about once and he saw this as an opportunity to help. That decision turned into a movement that transformed into a non-profit organization dedicated to lifelong giving. His foundation, AidanCares, has since inspired youth from over 30 countries to create their own giving initiatives locally, nationally, and internationally. Aidan, with the help of his mother, has dedicated his life to making a difference for schools, non-profits, shelters, hospitals, and more. He is a global messenger for kindness who continues to share his mission through harmony and eloquent discourse. In other words, he is a difference maker.

In 2015, Aidan was invited to give a TED Talk to share his passion for music as well as his need to serve others. He began by playing live blues on the instrument that started his whole campaign in the first place: a small harmonica that he keeps in his front pocket. When he finished playing, he told the story of how running to need, not away from it, has set him on a journey to lead others toward philanthropy. It is one of the most articulate and powerful presentations I have ever seen, and he was only fourteen when he gave it. If a teenager with the ability to change the world seems absurd to you, it shouldn’t. These children are the future, and if they believe there is a chance to brush off the embers of indifference in our world and spin them into gold, then maybe we should listen.