Happy (Guide) Holidays 2023!
Before ya’ll get started, @KelliDarlin holiday video is at the end of this blog. You are going to have to scroll past some Happy Guide news/updates/humor to get there!
BACKGOUND & UNDERSTANDING
As many of you know, we (peta, mike, and I) published Happy Guide in 2007 with the kind permission of Ms. Anna Quindlen (before gender neutral titles were fashionable.) I have absolutely NO IDEA why the Universe/Jesus/Budda/Ganesha (you pick) allowed this little website to be published, but I have been blessed to have a front-row seat for some of what has occurred since then …
Millions of people have helped raise millions of dollars for millions of people who need help around the world.
HappyGuide.com simply plays a “matchmaker” role between people who are happy to help with folks who are happy for the support. When working with GoDaddy.com on Version 3.0 of the Happy Guide website, the developers asked us, “So what services or products do you sell?” Imagine their confusion when I said, “We don’t sell anything … we do happy.” Hard stop.
WE DO HAPPY
Here’s a quick look at 2023 Happy Guide Projects: Big, Old, and New!
BIG LOVE
Every year we find ourselves in BIG project that require a BIG lift. 2023 was no different and with the generosity of the HappyGuide Community, here’s the top non-profits/charities so many folks digged in extra deep to support.
- CARE.ORG – Bill Mosakowski’s leadership and #PCGCare, CARE.ORG continued their support of victims of the Ukraine War. Don’t care about anyone's geo-political shoulda/coulda/woulda-s, a bunch of people care about kids who need help. #UkraineStrong
- NASCAR Foundation – In honor of Danica Patrick, over $200k was raised and donated by happy race fans to support children who might need just a little nudge to get into victory lane. #DanicaPatrick #RandyRingo #DehrenDull #CrimminalConversationsMovie
- NCSU – Working with Chancellor Randy Woodson at the helm, Wolfpack fans and family came together to support a variety of CHASS, CSC, IEI, LGBQT+, Wolfpack Women and numerous student-focused projects. A couple of Happy Howls and the Wolfpack supporters come running. #GoPack
- Movember – In celebration of Terry Cottrell and leadership of Chy Davidson, #PCGCares brought together over 125 people on #Movember #TeamPCG to donated over $20k to raise awareness of men’s health issues.
OLD & NEW LOVE
Barnstock and Happy Guide have been in the community services business since mid-2000s. We’ve met a ton of folks over the years, and some just keep the love going. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Barnstock Charities – thank you Brown Kids for helping all around the world.
Borderless Arts Tennessee – thank you Lori Kissinger for bringing the music.
DD Storm – thank you Mike Patton for bringing “Yes.”
Make A Wish – thank you Bobby Rhinehardt for bringing wishes.
Team With A Vision – thank you Tony Ong for bringing the vision.
Wonderfund – thank you Lauren Baker for bringing the gifts.
TV TIME OUT – If you believe in Christmas and you hate the idea of a child going without any Christmas presents … please donate cold hard cash right now to WONDERFUND. CLICK on the PHOTO!
Imagine if you don’t donate TODAY, then some kid is gonna wake up w/o anything under the tree. Zip. Nota. Nufin. Imagine 20 years from today, they remake “A Christmas Carol” … do you want them to cast you as Scrooge? HAPPY GUIDE WILL MATCH THE FIRST 50 DONATIONS OF $100 MADE IN HONOR OF MS. ANNA QUINDLEN. LET US KNOW BY POSTING "DONE" IN THE COMMENTS BEFORE 12/21/23 AT NOON AND HAPPY GUIDE WILL MATCH YOUR GIFT. THAT SIMPLE.
All photo/video cred: @Kelli "with an i" Darlin! So, without further adieu (great wordle starter word), here's today's vid-clip:
Tony McLean Brown
A Western NC hillbilly through and through, Tony McLean Brown was born in the small town of Enka-Candler outside of Asheville. His parents re-named him when he was 3 years old to Tony (a nickname provided by his grandfather) McLean (middle name of his Uncle Michael) while retaining his legal surname Brown.
Throughout his career, Tony McLean Brown worked as a farmer, computer programmer, and management consultant – in his adventurous years – author, song-writer, bass player, poet, pilot, mountaineer, certified scuba diver, and competitor in professional bull riding, NASCAR late model racing, Toughman boxing, Crossfit Open, Ironman, pole vaulting, marathon and ultra-marathon running, as well as parenting.
www.HappyGuidetoaShortLife.com has been leveraged to help charities and non-profits across the globe, USA, NC, and Lake Norman area. If you, your family, school, church, or charity has been supported, please take the time to share, like, subscribe, comment, and provide a 5 star review!