Money? Who needs it?

Working in the nonprofit field doesn't have a lot of monetary perks. Most of us live in poverty right alongside the people for whom we advocate. I haven't had a raise since I was hired in 2008, but I've never asked for one. I've got $200 in my bank account right now, and I'm still better off than most of the people I serve. In a few months, when my divorce is finalized, I won't have health insurance, and then we'll be even.

No biggie.

There are certain benefits that my employer, the Brain Injury Association of Delaware (BIAD), couldn't buy from a health or life insurance company. They couldn't list these benefits on a job advertisement. They couldn't even say for sure that I'd receive them. That's because the benefits I'm talking about are not monetary, but they are invaluable and life-changing.

I recently sat in on a meeting with several executive directors who were talking about - among other things - employee recruitment. One man told about receiving a resume from an M.I.T. graduate who had all sorts of experience and - he thought - would expect a very high salary. Upon calling the applicant and asking her if she was sure she had meant to apply to his nonprofit, and telling her that he knew he couldn't afford to employ her, she said, "I just want to work for [your organization]. I don't care about the pay. I want to believe in my work." Flabbergasted, the executive director arranged for an interview and hired her - at an extraordinarily low rate - on the spot. She's still employed there, and is one of his best employees.

Two months ago, I took a call from an anonymous out-of-state woman who suspected she sustained a brain injury after being beaten repeatedly by her husband. I listened and cried with her, felt her fear and anguish, and begged her to have the courage to leave. Just before that, a man called me in utter confusion because he couldn't figure out how to request his military records in order to apply for a TBI reassessment. I spent ten minutes on the phone with him, filling out online forms, and talking him through the process. The challenge of trying to meet their needs makes me bust my ass, stretch myself, and ultimately, grow.

Although I am fairly certain I won't retire a wealthy woman, I'm aware that the long-term benefits of serving my community will enhance my life to the point that I won't care. I've worked for BIAD for the past three years, and I've seen myself develop beyond my own expectations. I've embraced and adopted aspects of my own character that I put to use to advocate for people who are lost or scared or hurt. And I wouldn't change it for the world. I actually feel bad for people who chase "the almighty buck" every day and don't even know what they're missing.

Money is great, but it's not the reason I'm committed to BIAD, and to valuable local nonprofits. Self-discovery and self-awareness are the payoff. And by working within this field, I've discovered a stronger, resourceful side of myself that will get me through the rest of my life just fine.

Personal Difficulties Make Hobbies Suffer

Life has been quite crazy the past few weeks... I must apologize to my faithful readers that I have not posted frequently enough. I plan on resuming my bi-weekly interview schedule next week. Thanks for hanging in there for me.

Life isn't easy... charities help.

My brother was overseas and had to get home to urgently attend to a family member. He couldn't get a flight. Guess who stepped in to help? The Red Cross. They got him a flight... for free.

Just thought that was pertinent, considering the topic.

A Day in the Life of a Part-Time Executive Director

7:40AM - Wake up
7:50AM - Shower
8:00AM - Get dressed
8:15AM - Drive to local elementary school, unload borrowed sporting goods, carry into gym
8:30AM - Drive home, swap truck with car, change shirt
8:45AM - Make copies of Primo's Prevention Pig Out flyer at library
9:00AM - Drive to Main Street in Newark, Delaware
9:30AM - Ask local businesses to sign up or help find competitors for hoagie eating contest
12:30PM - Get phone call from board member reminding me of a meeting at 2:00PM
1:00PM - Try to remember where the car was parked
1:15PM - Find car, drive to Middletown
1:30PM - Grab lunch at Wawa, gobble it down, nearly choke to death on a pickle
1:45PM - Arrive early for meeting - underdressed - begin putting together report to give at meeting
2:00PM - Meeting begins
2:45PM - Fire alarm sounds, evacuate to parking lot
3:15PM - Fire alam investigated, meeting resumes
4:00PM - Meeting ends, begin drive home to Smyrna
4:15PM - Call best friend (on hands free speakerphone in car)
4:30PM - Arrive home, lay down for "a few minutes"
6:30PM - Hubby wakes me up, says, "Can you PLEEEEEASE watch the kids so I can cut the grass?"
7:00PM - Clueless as to what to make for dinner, order pizza, send hubby to pick it up
7:15PM - Do dishes
8:00PM - Plan Dave & Nate's birthday party, reserve camp site
8:30PM - Bedtime for the kiddies!
9:00PM - Watch Tivo'd Celebrity Apprentice and read BoingBoing
9:30PM - Blog
10:30PM - Bed

"Micro-Charity"

"Micro-charity" is the term coined by one of my favorite authors A.J. Jacobs to describe my blog.

I wrote to him two weeks ago to tell him about my project and how his book "The Know-it-All" helped inspire me to do something unusual with my life this year. He replied, "Micro-charity - what a great way to inspire people."

Micro-charity, if practiced by many, will build. Donations enhance our community's culture, help those who need assistance, and build the value of our communities.

One little idea, if taken seriously and carried out, can change the world forever.