Dear Friends,
A very, merry happy new year to you and your loved ones. As I type this, a quick story comes to mind on creativity and adaptation from a shopping experience over the holiday break. After a store associate narrowed my gift options on women’s clothing, something else came up: the size. The item I chose had strategically made the biggest size of their brand “small” and all the other options: smaller, extra small, or extra, extra small.
The psychology and innovation of a simple idea made me smile and realize the creativity it takes to achieve success in a very competitive apparel industry. This innovation is a microcosm of what we all have had to do to get through 2020. Despite challenges, we found unique creative ways to keep in touch with loved ones, work, learn, stay safe and healthy. Necessity is the mother of inventions, and 2020 was a year like no other for us all to be innovative and creative.
In 2020, the year of significant decline in charitable giving, we achieved a lot despite the pandemic. We achieved tax exemption status on donations and received the seal of transparency from GuideStar. Organizing virtual fund-raising event was not a common thought a mere 12-months ago and we did so successfully raise funds to help the needy.
So, why continue to utilize our platform to give back? The availability of modern healthcare is critical to building thriving communities. Devoted Skies remains committed to our vision and turning it into actions. Innovation in non-profit is no different. Our model of in-person delivery of medical goods fosters partnerships with rural communities beyond charitable giving. We could not do this without you. We have heard of the shortages in COVID vaccine supplies and seen dogsleds deliver medicines to remote villages in Alaska. These are all realities of common, medical supplies in developing countries. Lifesaving medicines should not be only for the privileged. Emergency C-sections should not automatically imply mortality in some parts of the world. Although we were not able to visit our partners outside of the US to give back last year, we participated in numerous local events including the Community Food Bank, Autism Walk, and Local Food Pantry distribution. We remain activists in the fight for equity in access to modern healthcare.
We are excited and ambitious for 2021. Our goal is to conduct our inaugural mission project in October of 2021. We are already in close contact with a few NGOs developing needs assessment to create a 3-day workshop of clinical services and care, modern health and lifestyle workshops, and healthcare delivery and administration sessions. Devoted Skies is very appreciative of our supporters, volunteers, donors. Please continue to share your stories and feedback with us on email or our social media platforms. I learnt to give not because I have much, but because I know exactly how it feels to have nothing.
Optimism is a moral choice. So is generosity.
With warmth and gratitude,
Funso + The Devoted Skies Team
Funso Olufade, Ph.D., MBA
Founder & CEO, Devoted Skies