Behind the Button

Ever been inspired by a $4 latte?

OK of course not (although I was once quite smitten with a Cafe' au Lait in a Paris cafe) but I digress.

I have been working full time on Buttons of Hope for a little over a year and truth be told I am getting frustrated, maybe exasperated is a better description. You see I think making photo buttons is my life's passion and what I was meant to do. I can assure you that one didn't cross my mind in Mrs. McMannamy's third grade career day! But it's true I love every minute of what I do and I love what what these little buttons are doing for people (a couple poignant examples to follow) but here's the rub with a family, Ryan and Emily in high school and college to come I have got to get Buttons of Hope to tip! I need to be on Oprah!

I am never really sure how many people read my blog, hello, hello, hello.... (please leave me a comment -- so I know you're there!) but if you are reading (duh?) and you think you'd like to help -- order a button and spread the word. If you're new? send me a note and I'll send you a free hope button to get you started -- I don't bite and I won't take advantage of your email either (although we do have a kickin' newsletter)!

So here's the thing for about the price of a Starbucks latte you can inspire yourself and honor a loved one by wearing a button with their picture -- pretty simple yet powerful! I hope you will read these notes I received recently from my customers, my friends. They say nice things about me (OK I like that) but the thing is I think they are genuinely moved and inspired by this little sandwich of plastic, metal and memories. There is magic in a face, a smile that you will never find in a colored ribbon or plastic wristband!

From my friends Jamie and Michelle

"Thank you Michael, I feel so blessed to have found your company and I will be sure to spread the word even further about what a great company this is!  I still plan on writing in the behind the button blog, I just want to make sure I say the right thing. I know I read just one story and that was all I needed to have tears brought to my eyes. I think you have done a wonderful thing in bringing out the reason why people are doing fundraisers. When you have someone's story and photo it makes everything real and not just a fundraiser. So thank you." Jamie Hushower (buttons for husband who committed suicide)

If you'd like to help please visit a great organization American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Oh Mr. Michael, Thank you so very much Me and Tony's brothers were all in tears when we saw the buttons, tears of joy knowing he was a hero. I thank you from the bottom of my heart! I wear my buttons each day to work and everywhere I go. I love them. I will be ordering more, lots more of them for Tony's angel date June 28. OK God Bless you, you really touch me and my boy's life and heart. You are an amazing man, keep up the good work. !!!Hugs Patrick, Lorenzo, Michelle!!! Michelle Brown (son Tony was murdered in New Orleans)

If you'd like to help please make a donation in Tony's honor to the Young Marines

Thanks for listening and continuing to always "be the change you wish to see in the world..."

When hope seems to be all you have.

This is the reason I started Buttons of Hope and why I continue to believe that these little buttons can change the world.

This today from one of my customers and a member of the Hopepond ~
 

I lost my husband Dameon on 10-16-07 devastatingly, to suicide. I am now raising my young daughter on my own and these last few months have been a complete daze. There aren't enough words to express the emotions and the questions the went and still go through my mind.
  I felt that no one could possibly understand what I was going through and I felt so alone. I decided to try some support groups eventually got involved with AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention). I learned about a walk called, "Out of the Darkness" that would be raising awareness about suicide and support for others in the same situation.
   I decided to join the walk and came up with a team name, "Dameon's Spirit Lives On". I thought (photo) buttons would be a great way to keep my husband's memory alive as well as raise awareness and funds for this sad but well needed cause.
  Buttons of Hope really put a face to this cause. I can think about Dameon and know that this will help support others in his memory. I know my family and I can proudly wear our buttons during the walk and have a beautiful keepsake as well. Thank you Buttons of Hope.   ~ Jamie Hushower

Jamie thank you. You are an inspiration for your daughter and those around you. You are the difference!

Ride of Silence | Listen to the Roar!

Yesterday 150 cyclists here in Charlotte NC joined thousands across the globe to ride in silent honor and testament to people who have been killed or injured riding their bikes. Charlotte has had more than it's share of cycling related tragedies recently; losing Rachel Giblin, Todd Weaver, Brian Rau, Andy Antonishak and just last fall Lee Ann Barry and Tom Hoskins. All of these people were normal people with families and jobs, Tom, Lee Ann and Rachel were killed while riding in charity bike rides! What brings our fallen friends and us together is a shared passion for riding a bike!

It's as simple as that. We may ride for different reasons; fitness, sport, giving back, commuting or just the incredible sensation of freedom one gets from rolling down the road.

It shouldn't be dangerous but it is -- but together we can do something about that. Yesterday we rode nine miles in silence to honor our friends, our cycling comrades in hopes that we can make a difference. Our hope and our plea is for everyone to please Share the Road and to give cyclists a break. Is a few seconds delay or frustration really worth killing someone! Visit Share the Road for Rachel here to learn more and get a powerful magnet!

I guarantee that cyclist you're getting ready to pass on the road is....a mom, a dad, a sister or brother a teacher, a doctor, a cop,  your neighbor...but most importantly they are just like you! So please give some thought the next time you see a cyclist on the road -- it might be somebody you know or as the passion for cycling grows who knows someday it just might be you!

Shown here are Buttons of Hope we wore in honor of Lee Ann Barry, Rachel Giblin, Todd Weaver and Larry Schwartz (the inspiration for the Ride of Silence --find out more here)

And thanks to Charlotte's News 14 for covering the event see the TV video here

jdRF Walk to Cure diabetes 2008 | on Squidoo

OK you probably know about the jdRF (juvenile diabetes Research Foundation) Walk to Cure ~ maybe you've been one of the over 500,000 people who walk each year! Walk to Cure is one of the top five charity walks in the USA raising an astounding $95 million last year for diabetes research | according to runwalkride.com

So what the heck is a squidoo? Squidoo is a really unique way for people like me (or you) to build lenses about things that interest them. In this case I have built a lens about the Walk to Cure bringing together information from the jdRf website as well as other sources on diabetes, walking and fundraising. Squidoo lenses don't replace the main Walk to Cure website hopefully they compliment it! So take a few moments to check out my lens on Walk to Cure and check back as I am always adding new and interesting stuff.

And while you're there check out my lens on Charity Walks and the Step Out walk to fight diabetes. And heck why not build you own squidoo lens, everyone's an expert on something!

BEing a Difference | The Police Unity Tour 2008

I have been thinking a lot lately about my favorite quote from gandhi... "be the change you wish to see in the world", thinking a lot about the people who are doing this everyday, the "everyday heroes".

Today my friend and fellow MojoRider, Todd Garrett is embarking on the Police Unity Tour, a 400 plus mile bike ride from Charlotte NC to Washington DC where he and six comrades will meet up with thousands of police officers and supporters to honor the bravest of the brave those police officers who have died in the line of duty.

Todd and this group have a special inspiration as they ride for two shining stars who were mercilessly gunned down here in Charlotte last April 1.

Officers and partners Sean Clark and Jeff Shelton will NEVER be forgotten.

As you go about your life everyday please pause to remember those who are bearing incredible burdens and those everyday heroes who are doing something to help.

We can all BE the change we wish to see in the world, TODAY!