Guest Post by Cassie LaMere

Event Officer, CharityBash
Communication Manager, Bounce

Sometimes it seems easy to forget that there’s a bigger picture. Donating my time to charity and
planning non-profit events help me stay reminded of that broad-based reality. Whenever you’re having
a bad day, someone’s is far worse, whenever you are facing an unbearable challenge, a task even more
life-changing is being handed to someone else. That's how the world works; and for every moment of
struggle you have, there is another person sharing in that with you.

So when Alex approached me to chair September’s CharityBash, I took it as another opportunity to do
my part to give back. After initial planning meetings and a delegation of responsibilities, I hit the ground running with only a few weeks to make things happen. What followed next was an outpouring of helping hands, willing sponsors and offerings of assistance that made every puzzle piece fall into place. That’s why I love planning events, it’s one big puzzle where I look at my desired end result, and then work backwards to find all the right pieces to make it complete.

I was taken a-back by the kind spirited, hard-working people I encountered. Everyone from the venue,
the sponsors, the photographers, volunteers and most of all, the guests, stepped up without hesitation
to support Colin’s Hope. Together, and I mean truly together because none of this would have been
achieved standing alone; we raised over $6800 for the charity.

Here’s to you, Austin. After a long day, you can sit back, let out a big sigh and say, “Today was a good
day because I attended CharityBash and did my part to support a local non-profit.” Given that we throw these events every month, you have the opportunity to recognize the big picture twelve times a year. That’s a whole lot of good karma.