A Message of Gratitude from CEO Ann Gaasch

As we enter the season of gratitude and giving, I have been thinking about a gratitude practice introduced to our staff by stress management trainer and coach, Drake Powe. This fall, through a partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health, our staff have had the opportunity to attend grounding, bi-weekly wellness sessions led by Drake.  

The “gratitude game” is simple. You can practice it by yourself or with a group of family, friends, or colleagues. The goal is to come up with four things that you’re grateful for in the moment. The sense of joy and abundance that comes from the practice is contagious.   

In trying and challenging times, finding hope is more important than ever, and there is so much that I’m grateful for today. Here are just four things that have given me hope: 

It is heartening to see communities coming together to make sure families have the support they need. The other day, a staff member was working with a mom at risk of losing SNAP benefits; previously panicked, the mom shared that she wasn’t as scared because her church and a few other local organizations had stepped up to help families with food and other resources. She didn’t feel alone – she had places to turn to for help. 

We’ve been sharing our work with Rotary and other local groups lately and have been encouraged by community members’ questions and eagerness to get involved and support our mission. Some of our community partners, like Cady Business Technologies, have been responsive to families’ needs by signing up for our holiday giving program, helping fulfill wish lists for over 500 people.  

As always, I’m hopeful as I watch our staff care for themselves and each other and find creative solutions as they help parents navigate difficult times. One of our staff recently helped a young parent connect to a food shelf, get transportation support, and find housing despite a program waitlist. Establishing stability made it possible to finish her GED and enroll her daughter in Head Start.  

Finally, I’m so grateful for the partners and supporters who join us in supporting kids and families in our communities, preventing child abuse, and helping children to thrive. As one longtime donor shared, “I support FamilyWise because I know how hard it is to be a parent. I remember feeling overwhelmed as a new parent, and I was lucky – I had a lot of help from my family. I know not everyone has that kind of help, and I’m grateful that FamilyWise is there for parents who may not otherwise have resources.” If you’d like to join us, learn how you can get involved on our website.  

Sincerely, 

Ann Gaasch 

FamilyWise CEO 

Ann Gaasch, FamilyWise CEO