Let's Get Real
A few local companies who have done nothing but support us are the ones who will stand out in our hearts forever.
This might come off harsh but I am so sick of companies or people who don’t keep their word. Whether that be; locations promising you a great venue, working with others as a collaboration, to even a business not paying you as a sponsor. I have been blown away by the lack of professionalism PFF has had to experience.
You would think that being a small nonprofit in our community would protect us from the riff raff of bad business deals, but that is not the case.
I am of course not going to name names of those who have burned PFF but I will say it is very upsetting. My husband says, “you have to get everything in writing” and I see why. Over the past almost five years, the bullets we have had to dodge or things we have backed out of because they were a joke is appalling.
People say you always learn from every experience. What I can take away from those experiences that have left a bad taste in our mouth, is that not everyone is like that. When we do have an amazing company that keeps their word, goes above and beyond for us, we need to show them some love.
With the “bad” ones there are more good ones of course. A few local companies who have done nothing but support us are the ones who will stand out in our hearts forever. They are also successful in their own right and will last-unlike the faux companies/people.
So let’s show a little love to our rockstar companies:
I could probably go on and name a few more, but those are a hand full of the ones that have been a part of the PFF family for years or who have done more than we have asked of them. They are the ones who believed in us when we were a small barely existing nonprofit hoping to make a name for ourselves.
Thank you for your endless love and belief in our cause. If you do not know who these companies are I hope you will check them out!I don’t think any company intentionally was out to get us or cause the foundation unnecessary work, I just sometimes think people don’t know how to work with other businesses. The foundation exists solely from donations and company grants- we are still in business because of the companies listed above. We are a PUBLIC foundation, meaning we have to raise a certain amount and giveaway a certain amount. There are salaries, expenses, and bills to pay just like any other business.
Whether you are a for-profit or not for profit doing business with someone else - big or small, you must work just as hard as they are on the job. The foundation has had to put new rules and steps in place to protect us from phonys.
So lesson is and point of this post is to be respectful of all companies and people you want to collaborate with. Be upfront and honest on what you expect - and remember it is not personal it is business.
“Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming.”
– Richard Branson
Oh The Places You Will Go
As another school year comes to an end, that means the Pearce Family Foundations’ interns are moving on.
“Oh the Places You Will Go”
-Dr. Seuss
As another school year comes to an end, that means the Pearce Family Foundations’ interns are moving on. Hard to believe that only being four years old we have said “hello and goodbye” to four amazing women. I feel beyond blessed to have worked with each one of them and watch them mature into strong, confident women ready to take on their next phase of life.
Over the past year and a half, the foundation has had Kourtnie Martin as our “Event Liaison” and Lindsay Cardoza as our “Family & Community Specialist”. -We felt fun titles would be better than “intern”…because as we all know they do a lot more than just intern.
Before the girls moved on either with the foundation or to new adventures, I wanted them to answer a few questions so that you could get to know them before they take over as Girl Bosses themselves.
Here is a little bio and interview from our event enthusiast, Kourtnie:
Name:
Kourtnie Martin
Instagram:
@kourtnie.renee
Where were you born:
Iowa City, IA
How old are you:
22
Where did you go to college?
Grand Canyon University
What was one of the best life lessons you learned in college?
I definitely learned how to handle tough situations better. I have had some hardships over the last four years and had to learn how to push through them and keep moving forward. This has made me so much stronger and shown me I can handle way more that I thought.
Do you have any regrets?
I don't regret anything. I'm a big believer in everything happens for a reason and each mistake I have made has taught me something and made me a better person.
How did you find out about the Pearce Family Foundation?
Facebook! I was looking for an internship and a family friend sent me Meghan's post!
What was one of your favorite moments at PFF?
I just love seeing the impact the foundation has on the families they help. The toy drive was really rewarding seeing the kids react to the donations.
My favorite event PFF held was…
Runway! I just love the fashion and the overall vibe of the night.
Name three of your favorite foods to eat:
Donuts, chocolate, and pasta
My favorite store to shop at is?
Anything online! I am not ashamed to say I have an online shopping addiction! Lol
Name one of your role models (can be alive or dead):
My grandfather. He was the smartest person I knew but was so humble and caring and always put others before himself. I always admired how calm he could stay in any situation and how strong he was even if he was hurting.
All time classic movie you love:
The Lion King. I have loved this movie since I was a kid and had definitely played a role in my Disney obsession!
Favorite Quote:
Be still. Short and sweet but holds a lot of meaning for me. It keeps me calm in stressful situations and reminds me to live in the moment. Time goes by really fast and I want to enjoy each moment, even the little things. I guess you could say it's my life motto!
I hope to be this in 5 years:
As cliche as it sounds I just hope to be in a happy place with a job I love, great friends, and my family.
Kourtnie will be staying on at the foundation as our Office Administrative Assistant. She will not only be with PFF on a daily basis but also helping with my father and his daily office needs. We are excited to see where the future will take us and glad she found her calling.
Here is a little bio and interview from our Northern Cali girl, Lindsay:
Name:
Lindsay Cardoza
Instagram:
@lindsaycardoza
Where were you born:
Walnut Creek, CA
How old are you:
22
Where did you go to college?
ASU
What made you choose that college?
I liked the big college atmosphere and the town of Tempe. My sister went to ASU as well so that was a bonus. I also liked the idea of going to college out of state and not really knowing anyone. It was a fresh start in a way.
What was one of the best life lessons you learned in college?
I really found my best friends in college, they genuinely care about me which was something I didn’t have in high school. I also have grown and matured in many areas of my life. At this point in my life I know what I want and what I deserve. I also have gained more confidence and self-awareness.
What was one of your favorite moments at PFF?
I loved working with the whole PFF team. It felt like we were a little family. It’s really amazing working with strong women who are passionate about what they do. Working with the girls, I was inspired daily. They always made me feel welcomed and cared for.
My favorite event PFF held was…
I loved all the fundraisers, but I really enjoyed the toy drive. The holiday season is my favorite time of the year and I loved being able to make our kids wishes come true. Moments like that put everything into perspective and help you focus on what is important in life.
Name three of your favorite foods to eat:
carne asada tacos, cheeseburgers and ice cream
If you were stuck in a room for a week and could only watch one TV SHOW it would be:
probably Friends or New Girl
My favorite store to shop at is?
Urban Outfitters (when I can afford it 😉)
Name one of your role models (can be alive or dead)
My dad, it is really inspiring seeing how much he has accomplished in his life despite having a rough childhood. Hardest working person I know!
Favorite Quote:
“Here’s to strong women, may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them”
Lindsay will be graduating soon and is deciding her next steps in the future. I wish her nothing but the best and that she knows she will always have a family here at PFF.
Cheers and congrats to both you girls, you helped when I needed you the most and you stayed when I had no one else. Sending you lots of good vibes and love
Xo
Meghan
This Looks Like the Start of a New Chapter!
In just a blink of an eye, there are so many new changes, additions, and updates that PFF has start to gone through and we couldn’t be more excited!
Can you believe it’s already April?
Yes, sounds so cliché but it is so appropriate for how we are feeling here at PFF. In just a blink of an eye, there are so many new changes, additions, and updates that PFF has start to gone through and we couldn’t be more excited!
To start things off...
this month PFF turns FOUR years old! Okay, wait. It’s seems like just yesterday we were starting things off and meeting our very first Angels Around Us family. Since then we have hosted over 20 huge events, expanded our board, took on a team, started Angel Pups and created long lasting memories. Going in PFF’s 4th year, so many things are changing around the office! We are MOVING. In the next couple of months, we will be taking the old office and moving somewhere new; this will be exciting and refreshing to start on a clean slate and continue to grow. Speaking of growing, we expanded two positions in the PFF team. Meet Hannah our Digital Marketing Specialist and Kourtnie our new Administrative Assistant! You will definitely be seeing Hannah around now and Kourtnie even more as she spent the last year with us as Event Liaison. We are excited to be expanding the PFF team and even reaching into our board. So many great things happening.
It’s always a little scary growing so fast but we are so excited and over joyed with all the success and growth that PFF is going through. We have made incredible new connections, partnered with amazing brands for upcoming events, and scored relationships that will help us give more back into the community.
So, it’s safe to say,
that many changes are amongst the horizon and we couldn’t be happier! We will also be featuring guest influencers on our blog here every month… so message us if you would be interested in a feature! We can’t wait for this 5th year of PFF and connecting with more of you.