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For years I’ve talked about getting more involved in the community.
Overland Park, Kan. – September 18, 2018 – There was always an excuse … I’m too busy with work, the hustle and bustle of being a mom, and the day-to-day grind of running a household. How could I possibly take on one more responsibility?
No more excuses! Earlier this year I set a personal goal to align with a cause that fuels my passion and provides an outlet for me to make a difference.
I landed with a cause and mission that is highly personal and emotional for me — the American Heart Association. On Feb. 27, 2013, I had a pulmonary embolism at the young age of 39. Basically, I had several blood clots travel through my heart and lodge in my lung. Scary, huh?! Especially since pulmonary embolisms are the third leading vascular diagnosis after heart attack and stroke, affecting about 300,000–600,000 Americans each year. And 25-30 percent of all cases are fatal.
My son was three. On Feb. 27, 2013 we had a big snowstorm in Kansas City. My husband, Casey, and son, Carter, built an awesome snow fort and I managed to snap a photo.
Each year this photo resurfaces as a memory in my Facebook feed. It’s an annual reminder of how this could have been the last photo I ever took and how I could have missed the last five years of my son’s life. I still get teary eyed just thinking about this. Needless to say, my heart is grateful that I’m here each and every day.
So, it’s fitting that I’m advocating for heart health. It’s also why I’m sharing my story publicly for the first time — only a handful of close friends and family even know about this chapter in my life.
Earlier this year I joined the American Heart Association’s steering committee for CycleNation, a high-energy stationary cycling event that aims to help Americans get heart and brain healthy while raising funds to continue community programs that change the course of heart disease and stroke. This is the inaugural event for KC.
Cycling is one way to get heart and brain healthy. It strengthens heart muscles, lowers resting pulse, and reduces blood fat levels.
Get ready for my shameless plug … We’re looking for corporate teams and partners to participate in the relay-style, endorphin-pumping ride from 4-6 p.m. Oct. 4, 2018 at KCP&L. It will be a great team-building opportunity for departments and companies to come together plus it promotes heart health. Contact me if you’re interested in learning more.
Ready to find the right cause for your or your company to support? Below are three tips to help you find the right cause that aligns with your values and beliefs.
Look for a personal connection. What do you, your employees and/or your customers care about? If you don’t know, ask them.
Do your homework. A great resource to browse charities by category can be found on CharityNavigator. On the site you also can see a breakdown of how each charity spends its money.
Go local. Whenever possible look for a local connection to the charity or nonprofit organization. This will allow you and/or your employees to feel like they are giving back to the community where they live, work and raise their families.
Finding the right match can help you reduce stress, meet new friends, feel more connected to your community, and provide you with a strong sense of purpose.
No more excuses.
There’s always time to give back. Get started today.
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Written by Cori Kallenbach, Vice President of Public Relations
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