“I cannot do all the good that the world needs.
But the world needs all the good that I can do.”
― Jana Stanfield
#JamieTheBrave
James Brave Salgado chose his own official name just a few months ago, before being diagnosed with thyroid cancer. The name didn’t come easy, but as a transgender teen coming into his own, he needed a name that simply stated who he was. Jamie Brave didn’t know how deeply his name would resonate until finding out that thyroid cancer is rare in children and his lymph nodes had also gotten into the game.
Usually freaked out by needles and all things medical, #JamietheBrave is staring this thing down! He is funny and a little dark, artistic and accepting. A loyal friend.
The Salgados are a low-key, full-of-love family from Richmond, Virginia who have built a life around giving unconditional kindness to others. They’re actually sorta famous for it. Facing Jamie’s cancer diagnosis without health insurance, they now need some kindness – and financial support – to flow in their direction. Thyroid cancer is treatable but requires surgery, lifelong therapy and diligent monitoring. Jamie's diagnosis sparked a whirlwind of worry. Surgery is on the immediate horizon; so is a lot more worry.
This family usually on the side of giving
now finds themselves on the side of need.
Jorge and Patience Salgado have four thoughtful kids (Jamie is #3). Jorge is a small business owner and Patience is a kindness worker and birth/hospice photographer. Several years ago, they minimized their possessions and focused on experiences for the kids and living an intentionally kindness-driven life. Patience has always said that being truly kind, as opposed to ‘being nice,’ can be really difficult and messy and humbling. The same applies to being brave:
“We are learning that being brave is not so much about ‘being strong’ but more about making space for our own humanity, and sometimes falling apart and being loved back together while we face and do hard things.”
Being without health insurance feels messy; it’s humbling and really really difficult. Maybe you can relate, those crazy high deductibles and a premium higher than your mortgage are just too much for a lot of families.
Truth is, we’re all this close to being in the exact same situation OR we know someone dealing with a version of it – perhaps they just haven’t been slammed with an out-of-the-blue cancer diagnosis like the Salgados.
Is kindness ever messy or humbling for you?
What does being brave look and feel like?
Please DONATE now . . . and SHARE this message #JamietheBrave #sharekindness #beingbrave
Send a message of kindness or support to Jamie Brave @kindnessgirl on Instagram.
Support the GoFundMe campaign here.
"No one has ever become poor by giving."
― Anne Frank
THE TIRAMISU FOR BREAKFAST SCHOLARSHIP
Christina is a proud alum of VCU's Robertson School of Media & Culture. She also teaches at the Robertson School, having taught classes such as Content, Completeness, and Professionalism.
The Tiramisu For Breakfast Scholarship supports students in Public Relations, Journalism & Advertising who wish to become involved in their local industry community through conferences and networking events. You can support the scholarship by buying a TFB t-shirt here.
THE ARTS
"The Richmond Performing Arts Alliance is an organization whose mission is to provide diverse local and world-class performing arts, transformative arts education experiences for students of all ages, and inspirational venues - all to strengthen the cultural and economic vitality of the Greater Richmond Region."
Christina served on the Richmond Performing Arts Alliance (then Richmond CenterStage Associates) board for 3 years.
CELEBRATE RVA
CelebrateRVA, an organization committed to throwing birthday parties for disadvantaged children. Some of the children touched by this group have never celebrated a birthday before and had to have the act of blowing out candles shown and explained to them. I’m so excited to work with CelebrateRVA and be a small part of bringing them joy. Christina served on Celebrate RVA's junior board. We encourage you to read up on what they’re doing and volunteer to attend a party if you can.
RICHMOND SPCA
"The Richmond SPCA, founded in 1891 in Richmond, is a non-profit, no-kill humane organization dedicated to the principle that every life is precious." We love supporting the Richmond SPCA, since it is an organization that is very close to our hearts. Our agency mascot, Kitty, was adopted from the SPCA and is considered a "foster failure." (Although foster care begins as a temporary refuge for a homeless pet, some foster volunteers become so closely bonded with the animal that they can’t bear to return the pet and decide instead to adopt. It may be dubbed a “foster failure,” but it’s really the best kind of success: a lifelong, loving home for a formerly homeless pet.)
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES
"Ronald McDonald House Charities®of Richmond is an independent, non-profit chapter of Ronald McDonald House Charities®, providing a “home-away-from-home” for families with children receiving care at local medical facilities through our Ronald McDonald House® on Monument Avenue. They also support a number of in-hospital programs."
Christina serves on the marketing committee for the Ronald McDonald house, and TFB loves supporting the charity through our client partnership with Richmond's 68 McDonald's franchises.
MASSEY CANCER CENTER
"VCU Massey Cancer Center is among the top 4 percent of cancer centers in the country and is one of two in the state designated by the National Cancer Institute to lead and shape America’s cancer research efforts. Founded in 1974, Massey is dedicated to discovering, developing, delivering and teaching effective means to prevent, detect, treat and cure cancer through innovative research, patient care and education."
THE EDGE CAREER CENTER
At Randolph-Macon College, the EDGE is the application of your education. We integrate critical transferable skills with every student experience. Providing full access to self-assessment, career exploration, personal & professional development tools that enable every student to apply their education with purpose, awareness and confidence.
EDGE Center of Career Development and its collaborative partners recognize the value and importance of involving external stakeholders from appropriate fields (business, nonprofits, government, education, industry, artistic partners, and others) in the development, delivery, and promotion of its programs through a strategic advisory council. This group provides a critical link between educators, students, and practitioners in the field in order to achieve program quality and relevance.
The SAC and EDGE Team will work together to ensure that the program is delivering learning that is current, up to date and relevant to current business, industry, labor, and professional employment practices. The SAC will provide support and advice to existing programs, assist in the development of new programs, and identify best practice standards.
SAC members will also serve as ambassadors to the EDGE providing a connection to and ongoing exchange of information and ideas with members of a broader society.
