Much bigger than me

"Synergism is the simultaneous actions of separate entities which together have greater total effect than the sum of their individual effects." Buchholz and Roth

I studied Martial Arts growing up, which is an extremely individual sport.  When the bell rang at a tournament, I was alone, in a ring, with my opponent.  I couldn't rely on anyone to get me through the next 20 minutes.  I couldn't blame a kick to my head on someone else missing a block.  I never really experienced what it was like to be on a team.  I was used to doing things myself and I found comfort in knowing things were going to get done on time and just the way I wanted them.

HALO team members at a fund raising event.

When HALO began, I knew its success had to come from a different formula than what I had used in the past.  I learned quickly that it was impossible to learn enough about P.R. or graphic design or websites to get things going myself.  I didn't start HALO, we did.  

It started as a group of people who made a commitment to work together as a team, each signing up for a specific "job" as an Ambassador Board member.   We were forced to rely on each other and trust that everyone was honestly working toward a common goal to improve the lives of children in need. 

I learned as much as I could about the multiple aspects or "departments" of HALO so I could be an active participant in conversations and decisions, but I was not the expert, the Ambassadors were.  They took their jobs very seriously because they knew that if they dropped the ball, it would immobilize our growth as an organization.

When we worked efficiently together, our full potential was reached and we therefore were able to reach out to more children in need.  This is how we still work today and it is how we have grown to our size with only two staff members.

An integral piece of HALO is that we are committed to a mutual growth relationship with our volunteers.  We want everyone involved with HALO to bring their skills to the table, grow, and feel appreciated.  It takes time to find out where someone may fit and help them grow in that position, but if we inhibit this process, our potential as an organization suffers.

At our strategic planning meeting in Kansas City last week, there was a charged spirit in the room of volunteers.  Raw feedback, honest opinions, and open brainstorming sessions made everyone excited about their role in making HALO a better organization and reaching our goals for the following year.  I was proud to be a part of something that is much bigger than me or anything I could have imagined and I have faith that our team is going to do a phenomenal job improving the lives of children in need. 

If you would like to join our team, visit our website.

Back to our beginning

There is nothing like the energy of a room when people are infected with the spirit of giving. It brings me back to that first day with that group of kids in Missouri who made the birth of HALO possible, and I am astonished.

Events are simultaneously exhausting and energizing. They have made HALO possible. As we strive to become a more sustainable organization with initiatives like HALO Hero and HALO Alliance (our monthly giving campaigns), we still rely on events to raise funding, awareness and give us that strong sense of hope.

HALO started with a determined group of kids from a karate school in Missouri who hosted a Boardbreakathon, raising enough money to send an orphanage of children to school. There was something magical in the air that day that the HALO light bulb switched on.

Saturday was our 5th Boardbreakathon. Last year, the karate schools were not able to do the event because students could hardly pay their monthly dues to keep the school doors open.

This year,  although attendance was down from two years ago, participants' spirits were soaring. With every board smash, the energy of hope in the air became stronger.  The Boardbreakathon made a comeback and people were more thrilled than ever to be helping children in need.


This event was infected with the spirit of giving. The students and instructors were not focused on the fact that they have been dealing with challenging times. They were focused on the footprint they leave in this world, the small changes they can make, even if it is just one small change.

It brought me back to that first Boardbreakathon, when we didn't know what HALO was going to be but we knew it was going to be powerful. Their spirit of giving brought change, impact, overcame challenges, multiplied, became contagious, and literally altered the path of hundreds of children's lives that were at stake. 

We must remember that spirit and strive for it at every day by effectively communicating the need of children around the world.

If you would like more information about HALO, please email halo@haloworldwide.org.

Small Events, Big Differences

I am in Kansas City for the next two weeks. The fall here is so familiar. It immediately puts me at the bus stop after eating a few of my mom's homemade tortillas with jelly, sac lunch in hand.

HALO is hosting 4 events here in the next week, all with different circles of people and each geared toward the same thing - raising awareness and involvement in our mission.

The first is tonight and its called "Females in Flight", to be held in downtown KC at Mildred's. Our Program Director, Lacy Voight and Art Director Kyla DeTienne have gotten female artists and crafters together to donate fabulous art items that will be sold, proceeds benefiting HALO supported girls in Uganda. Join us, read more here.

The second and third are cocktail parties, to be held at the homes of HALO supporters. These events are geared toward raising awareness about the "HALO HERO" campaign, which is truly a great opportunity to give. Once a donor signs up to be a HALO HERO, supporting basic needs of HALO kids, Woodland Charities donates $1,000 to provide a vocational scholarship for a child. Breaking. The. Cycle. More info about HALO HERO.

The fourth event is Sat., October 9th. It is a very popular event for HALO and is the 5th Anniversary event. The BOARDBREAKATHON. This event was the first ever for HALO, started by a group of kids and has raised over $100,000 for children in need. Read more here: BOARDBREAKATHON

There is something for everyone this week. It is exciting to see so many doing so much for the children of HALO. It only takes using your passions, your connections, reaching out to make a big difference.