 Giving back to the community has been central to Kerry and Colleen Rock's relationship. For their first date, Kerry promised Colleen Margarita's at Guadalajara if she volunteered with him at Loaves and Fishes. Doing volunteer work together became the foundation of their relationship.
In early 2017, Kerry and Colleen took a big step forward with their volunteering efforts. Kerry, a military veteran, was introduced to the Chris Long Foundation and its goal of bringing a reliable source of clean water to villages in East Africa. Kerry and Colleen united with military combat veterans, former athletes, and clean water advocates to raise funds to build 3 new wells to bring 7500 people clean drinking water daily. Conquering Kili participants committed to raising $10,000 and hiking Africa's tallest mountain, Kilimanjaro. While Kerry would represent the couple on the hike, it was a team effort to raise the required $10,000. For seven months between June 2017 and February 2018, Kerry and Colleen were doing fundraising events across Charlottesville. It was a grassroots effort focused on leveraging their existing relationships with owners of local establishments. While they debated the final total raised, Kerry was off to Africa to represent their efforts. When Kerry reached the summit, he had a little surprise for Colleen: a wedding proposal delivered via video. The experience of raising money for Conquering Kili taught Kerry and Colleen a lot about the ins and outs of fundraising. The experience solidified a focus on helping other organizations achieve their goals. Once back in Charlottesville, they focused on local causes within our community. "We knew we needed to be a bit more organized. We needed a brand so people understood what we were all about." While Kerry and Colleen decided against formalizing within a 501c3, they launched Do Good Cville in 2018, focusing on helping local charities raise funds and connecting donors with local charities. With a passion for helping the local homeless community, the Winter Wear Drive has become one of their signature initiatives. An effort that started as a single-day event that raised 300 items has grown into a 2-week, multi-site event that raised over 3,000 items this year. In early December, the items were distributed at the Pavilion, providing critical winter coats and clothing to patrons of the Haven, International Neighbors, International Rescue Committee, and other local organizations. Do Good is committed to ensuring every donated item finds a home with a person in need. At the heart of Do Good is a passion to have a positive impact regardless of size. Once a month, you will find Kerry and Colleen running their Dab for the Good Charity Bingo Night at Random Row Brewing Company. The monthly event raises between $1,000- $1,300 for a local charity. Charities that have benefited from the effort may not be top of mind within our community. Some charities impacted by bingo night include the Ishan Gala Foundation, SARA, and Girls on the Run. "We are trying to support organizations that may not have much visibility. Whether connecting them with donors or running an event, we are trying to make a positive impact." Kerry and Colleen also find continued motivation from their children. "Our oldest child is now more aware of our work. She has seen it firsthand; seeing the light in her eyes means a lot. She understands we are helping others." One of the secrets to Do Good's success is Kerry and Colleen's recognition that small acts can have a significant impact when combined. They encourage others looking to make a positive impact to start small and not overlook the little things that can impact our community. "If you do good, it will build the good inside you. Don't get lost in having to change the world. You can start changing the world by doing the smallest thing." If you are interested in learning more about Do Good's work, take a minute to visit their website and follow them on Instagram and Facebook. They are always looking for volunteers and potential charities with a need.
Stay Positive Cville!!
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 What do you get when you mix a family that values social impact with a mom renowned for her mouthwatering wedding cakes? The result is an inspired 17-year-old woman on a mission to make a positive impact on our community. Meet Sahana Gupta, the founder of Hani's Heroes, an uplifting initiative that is bringing smiles to foster children in Charlottesville one homemade birthday cake at a time.
Sahana grew up enjoying the elaborate birthday cakes baked by her mom, Anita, a professional baker. More importantly, Sahana has been inspired by her parent’s involvement in social impact initiatives. From her Mom’s engagement in Mom’s Demand Action to her family’s regular volunteer efforts at The Haven, Sahana has seen first-hand her family make a positive impact in our community. Sahana, a senior at Charlottesville High School, officially launched Hani's Heroes in 2022 after a conversation with a former teacher who was fostering two nieces. Inspired by the birthday cakes her mom created for her, Sahana saw an opportunity to create equally special memories for kids in need in our community. With the support of her family, Sahana reached out to Community Attention Foster Families (CAFF) in Charlottesville, and they wholeheartedly embraced the idea. Over the past year, Sahana has baked and delivered more than 70 homemade birthday cakes to foster children in our community. Interested CAFF families can place orders through her website, where children get to choose cake flavors, icing, filling, and sprinkles. Sahana then connects with the families via email to learn more about the child and the specifics of the birthday. Her ultimate goal is to bake a personalized cake that excites and brings joy to each child. “I want these kids to have the same feeling of excitement and joy I had when they see their cake.” To meet the growing demand, Sahana has relied on her supportive family and the generous Charlottesville community. To cover the approximate $15 cost of each cake, Sahana has raised funds through her website, and the entire Gupta family has actively contributed to the in-house operation. Sahana's love for Charlottesville and our community shines through her work. She recognizes there are numerous individuals dedicated to improving their community, which continues to inspire her. What's most impressive about Sahana is her unwavering commitment to Hani's Heroes. Balancing the demands of the college application process, a rigorous STEM-focused academic curriculum, and preparing to defend a 4x100-meter relay outdoor track state title in the coming spring, Sahana remains undaunted. With dreams of becoming a pediatrician, Hani's Heroes allows her to channel her passion for children into tangible action. "The kids are my heroes. Making these cakes is a way to blend my love for children and my desire to make a difference. It's incredible to see this small effort make birthdays more special for these kids." As Sahana heads off to college next year, she is committed to carrying forward the legacy of Hani's Heroes. She envisions expanding her efforts through bakery partnerships and involving local students interested in making a positive community impact. In a time when our youth face countless challenges, Sahana's work serves as a shining example of how simple acts can have a profound impact on the lives of others. As a former foster parent, I can personally attest to Sahana's impact within the foster family community. Sahana is doing incredible work. If moved by her story, I encourage you to consider one or all of the following:
Stay positive, Cville!  I've passed by Stone Creek Village, adjacent to Monticello High School, countless times never realizing there is a hidden gem within those aesthetically pleasing buildings with their inviting pool. It's only when you see the Village through the lens of JoAnne (Jo) McTague that you truly grasp that something special has emerged at the corner of Scottsville Road and Mill Creek Drive. I had the privilege of meeting Jo in her mobile office, the Stone Creek Clubhouse, and little did I know how profoundly her story would impact me during our brief encounter. Back in 2017, Jo, a Charlottesville resident of three decades, was enjoying her post-retirement life following a successful career at American Express. Alongside her husband, Jeff, they embarked on a new venture, rehabbing homes. A friend’s question over dinner, “Have you ever thought about making your houses available for families of pediatric cancer patients who are in town for extended periods of time?”, ignited the spark leading to the birth of Yellow Door Foundation. However, the true inspiration for Jo's courageous leap forward can be traced back to a deeply personal desire—to honor her grandmother, who had succumbed to cancer when Jo was just 10-years-old. "I couldn't fathom families of critically ill children sleeping in their cars in our town. Once I understood the need, I hoped I’d be able to make a difference.” Throughout our conversation, it became evident that Jo is not one to shy away from a challenge. Armed with limited knowledge of how to tackle starting and building a successful 501c nonprofit foundation, Jo relied on the skills honed throughout her professional career. She sought insights from those directly affected, including cancer patient families and UVA's dedicated staff. With each conversation, a vision of the possible began to emerge, even though Jo admits she was improvising as she went along. "While we initially focused on providing lodging, our vision also encompassed addressing the collateral damage inflicted on families with a pediatric cancer diagnosis. We aimed to meet the needs of immune-compromised patients and make every effort to keep families together during treatment." Two of Jo's closest friends stepped up as initial sponsors, and Yellow Door took its first steps towards realizing its mission to provide free, long-term lodging for families of immune-compromised pediatric patients for the duration of the child’s treatment at UVA Health Children’s Hospital. A serendipitous conversation that her husband, Jeff, had at a local cigar shop connected Jo with the Perry Foundation, who joined forces to provide funding for apartment furnishings. In February 2018, Yellow Door Foundation opened the doors to its first family. Fast forward to today, and Yellow Door boasts seven apartments, having recently welcomed its 89th family. Yellow Door’s individual, specially outfitted apartments allow families to stay together, and help ensure the best outcomes for the patients. Each apartment is lovingly supported by a sponsor who makes a generous three-year, $30,000 per year commitment. While Jo remains laser-focused on lodging, Yellow Door has evolved to meet the growing needs of these families, thanks to support from the Emergency Food Network, Wegmans, local churches, and a dedicated team of volunteers who address food insecurity.
Yellow Door has hosted families for as long as 11 months and Jo’s team remains engaged with each family during their entire stay. Jo operates a lean organization where 90% of all funds directly contribute to the mission. Yellow Door relies on the love and generosity of many, including the Stone Creek community. During my visit, I had the chance to meet one such resident. Lydia, a long-time Stone Creek resident, who had recently lost her husband, Bill, after 72 years of marriage. Lydia shared the immense joy she derives from engaging with the families and being a small but significant part of their journey through challenging times. I could sense the profound sense of purpose that Yellow Door had brought into Lydia's life. It was an unscripted, genuine interaction that demonstrated how Yellow Door's positive impact extended far beyond the hosted families.
Later in our meeting, Jo received a call from one of her families, and we were off. The family had just received an update regarding their four-week-old child, indicating the need for an extended stay and additional accommodations to meet the needs of their other child. Although this extension posed scheduling challenges, Jo's sole focus was on providing emotional support for the family. "These families have become lifelong friends of mine. They bring immense joy into my life. Our team has the privilege of making a significant difference every single day," Jo shared with heartfelt sincerity. But Jo's work is far from over. Her vision extends to an eighth apartment, "The Annex," designed to provide a dedicated, on-ground space for better family support. The Annex will facilitate a more personalized family intake process, offer temporary (1-3 days) housing for families returning for check-ups and create space for a community to thrive, including an expanded focus on family food support. As soon as Jo receives a sponsorship commitment, The Annex will become a reality. Apart from the continued need for sponsors and major donations, Yellow Door relies on our community for time and resources to support its operations. Jo has set a goal this year to raise $5,000 in monthly recurring gifts, and it's been more challenging to achieve than one might expect. Jo acknowledges that there are still many people in our community who are unaware of Yellow Door's mission. Recurring gifts are critical in helping offset the increased operational costs of meeting the Foundation’s mission. "Charlottesville is filled with kind and wonderful people, we just need to keep spreading the word. The best way to truly understand our mission is to come and see us," Jo affirmed. As I concluded my conversation with Jo, I couldn't help but express that my time with her was the highlight of my day. I also couldn't resist asking her about the choice of the name "Yellow Door." Her response was both simple and profound: "Yellow inspires hope, positivity and all the good things." For a blog focused on positivity, I couldn't agree more. As I drove away from the parking lot, I saw Jo in her car, diligently working the phone to meet the needs of her beloved families. Now, how about we all rally together to help Jo achieve her goals?
Website Yelllowdoorfoundation.org Instagram @yellowdoorfdn Facebook @yellowdoorfoundation Let's continue to spread positivity in Cville! Hello Cville,
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