By Kate Atwood
Two young women, two wonderful causes, both carry one destiny to make a difference in the lives of others. Lauren O’Brien and LaLona Richards are founders of unique nonprofit organizations here in Atlanta and each carry their own personality of compassion and creativity in striving to improve our community.
O’Brien’s organization, Embraced, exists to ensure that all people have access to quality orthopedic and prosthetic medical equipment that can improve the quality of their lives. The mission of Richards’ foundation, Frankie’s First, is to fight illiteracy in Georgia by providing books to children in need.
Living by Giving discusses the impact of their work on the Atlanta community and beyond:
First, can you both tell us a little about your organizations?
Richards: The purpose of Frankie’s First is to get on-reading-level books into the homes of students in need. It is critical that students have a literary environment inside and outside of school, yet so many of our students living in high-poverty areas do not have access to books at home. Frankie’s First exists to change that.
O’Brien: Embraced is a nonprofit organization that provides orthopedic and prosthetic equipment to those in need, both locally and globally. Embraced sets up collection bins in doctors’ offices, gyms and schools that collect equipment. We redistribute it to those in need.
Why did you start Frankie’s First? What was your inspiration?
Richards: In 2002, during my very first week as a teacher, a 7th grade student named Frankie Ann asked me to walk her home from school. She lived in a very impoverished neighborhood and had a closet-size room that she shared with her little brother. Next to her bed was a stack of Scholastic Book order forms. When I asked her why she had so many order forms, she explained that her grandmother, who was her primary caregiver, could not afford to buy her books, but she wanted to become a better reader, so she read those advertisements every night before she fell asleep. Seeing Frankie’s passion for reading stifled by her lack of resources at home ignited a fire within me. I began this journey as a teacher and advocator and finally was able to fulfill my dream of incorporating a foundation driven by this mission.
As a young founder, what has been the biggest challenges you have faced in getting Embraced off the ground? What has been the biggest reward?
O’Brien: Anything worth doing in my opinion, is difficult. So, I understood that taking on the challenge of starting a nonprofit at the worst economic time, compounded with the fact that I was just 24 years old, definitely put me at a disadvantage. However, I chose to concentrate on my strengths, which are determination, an entrepreneurial spirit and an undying commitment for all to have access to healthcare. Instead of focusing on grants, which can be hard for any young 501c3 organization, I chose to create an event called Battle of the Burgers, which netted close to $40,000 in its first year. Along with great challenges also come great reward, and the biggest reward has been seeing the people, who at first were reluctant to buy into our mission, now understanding and fully endorsing Embraced.
What is your dream for Frankie’s First and Embraced, respectively? If money, time and resources were not an obstacle, what would you like to achieve with your organization?
Richards: I dream of having a dedicated, reliable group of staff members and volunteers at Frankie’s First, who desire to positively impact literacy in the homes of students in Atlanta. I would tackle my list of Atlanta’s most underserved communities and one-by-one ensure that every student had at least one book he or she could read at home.
O’Brien: My dream for Embraced is to provide a resource to those in need. Mobility is so important to me. I am grateful for my ability to walk, run and just move around. I hope that for those that do not have that luxury, whether it is because they are uninsured and can’t afford crutches or because they are missing a limb, that Embraced is able to assist them in becoming mobile again. I do see Embraced growing into a national platform, being able to fully serve the healthcare needs of so many Americans while bridging the gap between the budget deficits of hospitals, health clinics and government programs such as Medicaid.
What advice would you give to someone who is looking for a way to get involved in the community? How does someone take that first step to making a difference?
Richards: Decide what are you passionate about. Whether it is art, literacy, sports, gardening, a disease or ailment that has touched someone you know, there are numerous ways to get involved and give back. To discover your passion and/or find an organization that matches it, visit websites such as www.givingpoint.org (this one is designed for teens.) They can be a big help to get you started!
O’Brien: There is no substitute for passion. Find what it is that interests you, understand the needs of that particular interest, and be open minded about how you can make a positive impact on whatever it may be.
Kate Atwood is the Founder of Kate’s Club and Living by Giving. For more information, visit www.livingbygiving.com
Sidebars:
Ways you can help Frankie’s First
Set-up a Collection Site: Additional businesses are needed to be central collection sites for new and gently-used books.
Volunteer: Help pick-up and distribute books at the designated collection sites.
Donate: Books are needed for pre-K through 12th grade students, but the biggest need right now is books for 5th-8th grades. Cash donations are also needed to purchase books and to cover storage costs.
For more information about Frankie’s First, visit mrsgeorgiaamerica2010.blogspot.com.
Ways you can help Embraced
Donate: Whether it is $20 or $200, financial support is needed to support programs and operations.
Skill-based volunteers: Professionals who want to volunteer their skills to reduce overhead/operational expenses.
To help, send an email to info@embracedatlanta.org. For more information about Embraced, visit www.embracedatlanta.org.
